• Attitude check: Proverbs 10:8; 15:22; 19:20 – Listen to get wise!

  • Isn’t baptism an outward sign of an inward grace? (continued)

    • Notice what scripture says …

      • Acts 22:16 – Paul was baptized to wash away his sins

      • Romans 6:3-4 – We are baptized into Jesus – not baptized because we are in Jesus.

      • I Corinthians 12:13 – We are baptized into one body.

      • Galatians 3:27 – “baptized into Christ”

      • Colossians 3:12 – “buried with Him in baptism”

      • I Peter 3:21 – “baptism now saves you”

      • Note: The Bible never says that baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace.

    • Observe the experience of those baptized

      • When people in the Bible were taught about baptism, they acted quickly, realizing their souls were in jeopardy until they were baptized.

      • The fact that they treated baptism as an urgent matter harmonizes with the idea of salvation being granted at the point of baptism.

      • We also read of people rejoicing after their baptisms. Again, this makes sense if people realized they were getting baptized “into Christ.”

      • Acts 8:26-40 – The Ethiopian didn’t wait until other people were present so that he could have shown his baptism as an “outward sign.”

    • What about verses that say we’re saved by faith?

      • They were absolutely true (and should be taken in context).

      • Romans 4:1-3

      • The words “faith” and “belief” can certainly include actions.

      • Noah was saved by faith. Faith caused him to build an ark!

      • People today are saved by an obedient faith.

    • John 3:16 – The word “believes” is synecdoche. There is more involved than just mental assent.