One of the essences of
having a deep knowing of the scriptures is to increase our trust in the Father.
Your level of love and intimacy is only synonymous to how clear you have an
understanding of Him. Hence, it is important to know, which our responsibility
is after being saved.
I have been in a bible
class where the subject of water baptism came up and one of the students asked
if a man who is not water baptized can make it to heaven. So, I want us to look
into that question this week.
John the Baptist came
with the ministry of baptizing with water in preparing men for the coming of
the saviour. All of what John was preaching and doing in his ministry was just
to make the heart of these men ready for the coming of the saviour himself.
There was no faith in
operation as at this time because of the fallen nature man carried. They could
only relate with physical things in connection to God. This explains the import
of the system of practically coming forward for water baptism as a symbol
before everyone that you have actually come to say no to the old way of life.
So, baptism was a physical symbol of an internal reality. On its own, it had no
supernatural significance. John himself made this clear when the Pharisees and
the Sadducees came to be baptized.
“Then
he said to the multitude that came to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? …so, the people asked him saying, “What
shall we do then? He answered and said to them, He who has two tunics, let him
give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise…” Luke
3:7-11
These guys thought by
coming for the baptism they were saved from wrath, however, John made it clear
from his word that this would amount to an ordinary bath without turning away
from the old way of life. The water changes nothing as it would amount to
obvious hypocrisy. So, we see that baptism is not what saves a man, it is only
faith. And it is only a person who is already saved who comes for baptism. The
baptism was just a symbolic action of what has happened to the man inside. This
directly shows that if a man is not water baptized does not mean he is not
saved. The only criteria is to believe in Jesus (John 3:16).
Let’s bring it to what
we can relate with: a very pretty young lady is married; she goes around with
her wedding ring on. This is a public symbol of telling the world she is now
taken. If for whatever reason she decides not to wear the ring on a particular
day, this does not in any way mean she has suddenly lost her marriage or now
qualified to be called an unmarried. To you seeing her for the first time, she
may be single, but to her husband (her Lord) they are always married. The
marriage is a vow between a man and a woman which they chose to uphold in their
heart. The ring was only there to prove to the public that her status had
changed. In same way, the water baptism isn’t a guarantee of eternal life; the
real guarantee is faith in Jesus.
“For
by grace are ye saved through faith and not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: not of works, lest any man should boast- Eph 2:8-9”
So, what does the
scripture mean in Mark 16:16, isn’t it that He who believes and is baptized
will be saved? Cornelius and his household were saved before they went for
baptism. How do I know this? The scripture records that as Peter spoke they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in new tongues (Act 10:34-45). This
is a sign that follows those that believe. So, there is more to that verse.
If you pay closer
attention to the scripture, it further says those who believe not will be
condemned, not those who are not baptized and believe not. And, there are signs
that follow those that believe, not those who believe and are baptized. So, it
remains a discretionary attachment. The emphasis is on believing not the water
baptism.
Does John 3:5 also not
say except a man is born of water and of the spirit he cannot see the kingdom
of God?
This was Jesus speaking
to Nicodemus and the first statement Jesus made was that Nicodemus had to be
born again. This sounded strange to the teacher of the law. How could he go
back again to be born a second time in his mother’s womb? Then Jesus made the
statement that unless a man is born of water and of the spirit, he cannot see
the kingdom of God. This was a representation of the physical birth and not
water baptism.
It becomes clearer that
what Jesus made reference to here was the physical birth and not water baptism
when Jesus went ahead to explain the difference between the two births he just
mentioned: “He that is born of the flesh is flesh and he that is born of the
spirit is sprit”. Hence, a man has to be born again from his fleshly nature to
the spiritual to earn the kingdom.
The only standard to
earning the kingdom remains believing in Jesus and His finished works. There is
nothing man can do to earn this or to help make it surer. Jesus has done and
finished it.
Does this discredit
going for water baptism? Definitely! Not. It is a beautiful event when
approached within the context of the reality of what Christ has done; however,
discrediting who for any reason has not gone for water baptism as going to hell
will be a dangerous conclusion.
I feel there are more
ways to display your faith in Jesus more obviously in our present world by
extending His love to the people around you, allowing His Spirit become so
alive in you and carrying His presence everywhere you go.
I do hope this is
clear.
Be
Innovated
Olufemi
Ibitoye
Enlightening
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