Expert: Marvin Howard - 4/13/2008

Question
Hello! I haven't sent a question in awhile, but, I have a friend that has sent me this in a message and I don't know how to respond to it...

"Baptism is a work right? Yes. Now if salvation is based on an act then your saying salvation is based on works. Does the Bible not say in Ephesians 2:8-10, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." So if you believe in the Bible, you believe that you can not earn salvation through works. Baptism, as is worship as the act, not the way of life, is an action. The simple truth...they won't get you to Heaven."  

Answer
Hi!

David, please forgive my long delay in answering. I am approaching the end of my first semester of college classes, and I am simply overwhelmed at trying to do finish my major projects and take care of my other obligations.

There are several points you can use to answer this. The first is that faith is a work (2nd Thessalonians 1:11, 1st Thessalonians 1:3, Galatians 5:6). Therefore, tell this person, "Since you believe in faith without works, you believe in faith without faith." That will rattle a person who holds this false doctrine.

With that in mind, the second thing to teach is that baptism is a work, but that works justify us (make us right before God) in order that we might be saved; not after we are saved. The passage in Ephesians 2:8-9 is removed from its context by these teachers. Paul and James had completely different types of works under consideration in their respective passages. Paul spoke of works of man (specifically Moses, but any man) where one could say he/she is better than another. James spoke of works prescribed by God. Doing these makes you no better than the next person.

The third thing you need to do is provide a couple of examples in modern day parables. I have two suggestions for you.

1. You are sick (corresponding to the sickness of sin). You go to the doctor (corresponding to the Great Physician). He writes you a prescription (corresponding to the instructions in the Bible). You have faith that your doctor will help. What do you do? Do you take the prescription and lay it on the table stating, "My doctor will make me whole. I do not have to do what he says by taking the medicine." No. If you have real faith in your physician, you will take the medicine. When you are made whole by taking the medicine, did you earn your health? No. Likewise, if you do not follow his instructions, and place the medicine on the table, do you really have faith? Again, you do not have faith. You have a belief, but it is empty and will produce no desired results.

2. Suppose you are hungry. There is no way you can buy food. A gracious benefactor goes to the store and pays the price for your food in advance. Upon finding you, since the benefactor is not going to carry the food all the time awaiting your response, he says, "Go to the store and collect your food." Would you say you have faith in the benefactor and are filled without going to the store? That is not faith, but the same, empty belief in Jesus held by the trembling devils. You will go to the store, identify yourself, and collect the food. Walking from the store with your food, did you earn it? No. Did you pay for it? No.

The penalty for sin is death; the shedding of blood. Jesus paid this price already. Our collecting this payment in baptism is not our paying the penalty. Our paying of the penalty is our destination in Hell if we do not accept the conditions imposed by our benefactor.

David, I hope this helps. I see you have another question awaiting me, so I will turn my attention in that direction. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know. I am placing myself on vacation for the next, eight days to finish my college projects. I will be available after this.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard