• Introduction
    • Only the Bible has the right answer. II Timothy 3:16-17; II John 9; I Corinthians 4:6
  • The problem of sin and God’s promise to save
    • Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world. They broke His commands. I John 4:6. Sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2. Adam and Eve were separated from God and doomed to eternal condemnation.
    • God immediately promised victory over sin and eternal death through the seed of woman who is Jesus. Genesis 3:15. It was fulfilled when the virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. Every human being since Adam and Eve has been offered the hope of forgiveness through this promise. Galatians 4:3-4; Matthew 1:18-22
  • Jesus is the answer to the sinner’s problem of sin
    • When mankind sinned, God’s justice demanded eternal death as punishment. Heaven is not a place for sinners, and with sin they cannot go to heaven. However, God offered an escape from sin. Titus 2:11
    • “Grace” in this text means “unmerited favor” or a “gift” given to someone who does not deserve it. The gift of God’s grace was in giving his only Son as a sacrifice to take away the sins of the world. John 3:18; I Timothy 1:15; I Corinthians 15:3; I Peter 2:24.
  • What is the power in Jesus’ death that takes sins away from sinners?
    • The blood Jesus shed on the cross. Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Revelation 1:5.
    • Jesus proved power to take away sin in His resurrection, showing power over Satan, sin, and death, as foretold in Genesis 3:15; Acts 2:22-24.
  • What do we have so far?
    • Those who sin are separated from God.
    • God wanted to save sinners.
    • God sent His Son to shed His blood to take away their sins.
    • Jesus proved the power of His blood over sin and death in His resurrection.
    • Now, the most logical question: “If forgiveness and remission of sin comes through the blood of Christ, how does the sinner today come in contact with that blood to have his sins forgiven?” In some way, sinners must join Jesus’ death to contact the cleansing power of His blood.
  • How does one join with Jesus’ death, or “die with Christ”?
    • Must be crucified or die with Jesus. Not literally, but figuratively, to be saved. Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:20; 3:3
    • Again, how does one join with Jesus’ death, or “die with Christ”?
  • Paul explains it very clearly in Romans 6:3-11
    • Romans 6:3 – Baptism connects one with Jesus’ death where His blood was shed. If one can be saved without or before baptism, he can be saved without or before contacting the blood of Christ.
    • Romans 6:4 – To join Jesus’ death naturally means joining His burial. One is “buried with Him” in water “through baptism,” Acts 8:36. Some define baptism as sprinkling or pouring, but its real meaning is dipping or immersing to completely cover like a burial. We have read of the importance of Jesus’ resurrection to prove His power over sin and death. God raised Him to “newness of life” without sin. A sinner is “buried with Him through baptism,” so God can raise him “to walk in newness of life” as well. Did Jesus enjoy “newness of life” before or after His burial? Does the sinner enjoy “newness of life” before or after burial with Christ in baptism?
    • Romans 6:5 – Death, burial, and resurrection through baptism is a likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. I Corinthians 15:1-4.
    • Romans 6:6 – When joining Christ’s death through baptism, the “old man” and “body of sin” is “crucified with Him (Jesus)” and “done away with” . Is the sinner’s “old man” and “body of sin” “done away with” before baptism or after baptism?
    • Romans 6:7 – This sums up the “old man” being “done away with”. One is not freed from sin until after
    • Romans 6:8 – Death through baptism (Romans 6:3). To “live with Him” describes “newness of life” (Romans 6:4).Galatians 2:20; I Peter 2:24. One cannot live with Christ, free from sin, until after being baptized with Him in His death and not before baptism.
    • Romans 6:9-10 – Jesus could not have had dominion or power over sin and death until after He had gone through His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. If He had not risen, His death would have been like any other’s.
    • Romans 6:11 – Referring to Romans 6:9-10, just as Jesus proved His power over sin when He was raised from His death and burial, the sinner can also “reckon” himself to be “dead indeed to sin” and be made “alive” having been raised from baptism. “Dead indeed to sin, but alive to God” comes after baptism and not before.
  • What is Romans 6:3-11 teaching?
    • With baptism: What happens to the sinner?
      • Put into Christ
      • Joins Christ’s death
      • Contacts Christ’s blood shed in His death
      • Joins Christ’s burial
      • Joins Christ’s resurrection
      • Gains newness of life
      • Crucifies the old man and body of sin
      • Freed from slavery to sin
      • Made alive to God
    • Without or before baptism: What happens to the sinner?
      • Not in Christ
      • Not joined to Christ’s death
      • No contact with Christ’s blood
      • Not joined in Christ’s burial
      • Not joined in Christ’s resurrection
      • No newness of life
      • Old man and body of sin not crucified
      • Not freed from slavery to sin
      • Not alive to God
  • The rest of the New Testament considers baptism necessary to salvation
    • Disciples were made by baptism – Matthew 28:19
    • One is saved after he believes and is baptized, Mark 16:16. If one is not saved after baptism, then he is also not saved after believing. Belief and baptism are equally necessary for salvation.
    • Water baptism is required for remission of sins. Mark 1:4; John 3:23
    • Remission of sins in baptism, Luke 24:46-48; Acts 2:38. Remission of sins came after If believers were saved before baptism, they were also saved before remission of their sins.
    • Baptism washed away Paul’s sins, Acts 22:!6. Before his baptism, he believed, but still had sin. After his baptism, his sins were washed away. Remember, he wrote Romans 6!
    • Become sons of God through baptism, Galatians 3:26-27. Baptism is how to “put on Christ” and get “in Christ”. If one is a “son of God” before baptism, he is a son before he has “put on Christ” or is “in Christ”.
    • Sin is cut away in baptism, Colossians 2:11-13. If one can be saved before or without baptism, he can be saved before or without sins being cut away or forgiven and without being raised to be alive with Christ.
    • Baptism saves, I Peter 3:20-21. Noah was saved by water. If one can be saved before or without baptism, he can be saved before or without being saved!
  • What sinners in the first century were taught to be saved
    • Believe in Jesus, the Son of God, that He can take away sins. John 8:24; Acts 16:31
    • Repent by turning from sin to follow Christ. Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38
    • Confess faith that Jesus is the Son of God. Romans 10:9-10; I John 4:15. While all of these are necessary for salvation, one thing they cannot do is remove sin. But one is …
    • Baptized to wash away sins. Acts 22:16
  • Conclusion
    • The answer to “Will only the baptized be saved?” would have to be “YES!” With all these things depending on baptism, it is evident that one who is not baptized is not saved. Mark 16:16. Anyone can be dunked in water, but true baptism requires genuine faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel in order to be saved.