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.

    • Acts 2:41

    • Acts 8:36

    • Acts 16:33

    • Acts 22:16

  • 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 8:38-39; 16:33-34

  • 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

    • Romans 4:4 – Works are described as earning something that is due. Abraham was a good man, but God certainly never owed him salvation.

    • Abraham certainly needed to obey God!

      • Acts 7:2-4; Genesis 11:31

      • Genesis 12:9

      • Genesis 12:7-8; 13:3-4

      • Genesis 14:20

    • Abraham is used as an example to show that “man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:21-24)

    • James 2 is using the word “works” differently than Romans 4 (James 2:14-26)

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

    • Acts 16:34

    • Hebrews 11:4, 7, 8, 17, 24, 27

  • 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.

  • Context: John 3:1-8 – Nicodemus is told what he must do to be saved.

  • Numbers 21:6

  • Harmony: Acts 11:18; Mark 16:16; James 2:14-26; John 12:42-43; Romans 5:1 (1:5; 16:26; 6:3-4); Acts 16:34 (16:31-33)