THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 14,  MAY 4, 2003

PUTTING ON A RED’S JACKET

            One of the regular listeners to our radio program sent me a very thoughtful and kind e-mail last week.  In it, he questioned what we have been saying that the bible teaches concerning the necessity of baptism for salvation.  One of the points that he made was, “Baptism is like wearing a Red’s jacket.  It shows who our loyalties are with, but it has NO saving power.  It is a human work, not an outpouring of grace.”  This was such a kind spirited letter from a man who is obviously deeply spiritually minded.  It breaks my heart to see such a person so misled as to make a statement that is not only without scriptural support – but is absolutely contrary to what scripture actually teaches.

            In Galatians 3:26 – 27, Paul wrote, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”  Elsewhere Paul taught, “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”  That we are saved by grace through faith is unquestionably true.  The faith that saves is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who have faith enter into a spiritual relationship with God.  They are born again and become His children.  This is undeniable.

            Galatians 3:27 begins with the word “for”, or “gar”.  That helps us to understand.  Verse 27 relates to verse 26 by way of explanation.  It explains how people become “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”   Everyone who has become a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus has done so through being baptized into Christ.  The text says that we are “baptized into Christ”. 

            The question that must be asked is, “Is salvation found in Christ?”  According to Ephesians 1:7, it certainly is.  That verse says, “In whom (the ‘whom’ is Jesus, g.l.) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”   If redemption, forgiveness of sins, is found “in Christ”, and we are “baptized into Christ”, than to argue that baptism has nothing to do with salvation is to argue that salvation is not found in Christ.

            Ephesians 1:7, also tells us that our redemption is “through his blood”.  That begs the question, “When, or where, did Jesus shed His blood?”  The answer to that is in His death on the cross of Calvary.  Into what are we baptized?  Romans 6:3 – 4 states it so plainly that a person truly needs help to misunderstand.  Paul wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”  If baptism has nothing to do with salvation, than neither does the blood of Christ, which He shed in His death. 

            What about the Red’s jacket?  Galatians 3:27 does use a phrase associated with the idea of putting on clothing.  The word, “put on” means “to dress, clothe”.  It points to a specific event – what happened when they were baptized into Christ.  In the act of baptism, they clothed themselves with Christ.  Literally the word refers to putting on clothes; figuratively it refers to taking on the characteristics, virtues, and intentions of Christ.  What the kind writer of the e-mail has done is to focus entirely on the last phrase of verse 27 and on verse 26, and dismiss the part of verse 27 that explains it all.

            We often hear, as the e-mail writer included in his e-mail, that baptism is a human work.  The idea behind that statement is that we are making baptism a work whereby man earns his salvation.  I deny with every fiber of my being that baptism is such a work.  The bold statement that baptism is a work whereby a person earns his salvation is completely contrary to what the scriptures actually teach.  Baptism is nowhere called a work, and is specifically stated not to be such a work.  I get tired of people making such a bold assertion that is nowhere supported by scripture.  If something gets said enough, people will just begin to believe it is true and repeat it like a parrot.

            Consider Titus 3:4-5.  Paul wrote, “But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”  Baptism is not a work of man’s own righteousness, it is included in God’s righteousness.  It is a part of God’s way for  making man righteous, just as much as belief is (John 6:28-29). 

            Eric might wear a Red’s jacket, but that doesn’t make him part of the team.  I wear a Bengal’s jacket, and that doesn’t make me part of the team.  But when I am “baptized into Christ”, I become part of the team, I “put on Christ”, taking on His characteristics and virtues.  Being on the team and just sitting in the stands wearing a jacket are two different things.

                                                            Greg Litmer

SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE CLASS

The Third Prediction of His Death (Matt. 17:22-23, Mk. 9:30-32, Luke 9:43-45)  The Temple Tax (Matt. 17:24-27)  Discussion of Who Shall be the Greatest (Matt. 18:1 – 5, Mk. 9:33-37, Luke 9:46 – 48)