Faith and Works FAQ
Question:
What you are teaching makes me furious/angry/upset and I'm going to email you and let you know about it!
Answer:
You will join many others who have done so. The pattern of such exchanges is very predictable. A person emails with some of the questions I have dealt with here in this FAQ. I email back the same questions (email me and you'll get them too!):
- How can anyone say faith only saves when James 2:24 explicitly says it doesn't?
- If we can be saved without baptism can we be saved while in sin (for baptism washes away sin, Acts 22:16), without becoming a new creature in Christ (baptism does this too, Romans 6:4ff), and without being "in Christ" (Gal. 3:27). How is this possible?
- If baptism doesn't save why does the Bible say it does in 1 Peter 3:21.
No one has ever answered any of these questions. Most just get angry with me and quit answering my emails. Here is a sample from a lady I'll call "Rita." Watch how Rita handled the fact that her position on baptism directly contradicted what the Bible says. I sent Rita several true or false questions (in italics). Her responses (in bold) are amazing:
6. "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and WASH AWAY YOUR SINS, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16). TRUE OR FALSE: Baptism does not wash away sins.
Baptism does not wash away sins.
7. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27). TRUE OR FALSE: Baptism does not put one into Christ.
Believing in Jesus, having that relationship with Jesus puts you into his family.
8. "There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," ( 1 Peter 3:21). TRUE OR FALSE: Baptism does NOT save you.
Baptism does not save you.
Read carefully and observe how Rita's responses directly contradict scripture. Acts 22:16 says that baptism would wash away Paul's sins. Rita reads it, then immediately writes, "Baptism does not wash away sin." Wow! Galatians 3:27 says baptism puts one in Christ, but Rita immediately says "believing in Jesus puts you into His family." Note that Rita has NO scripture reference for any of her beliefs, she just says it and that's it. The topper is 1 Peter 3:21. Read it again. It clearly says baptism saves. Does Rita accept the Bible? No. She directly contradicts the scriptures by saying "Baptism does not save you." Peter says "baptism now saves us." Rita says "baptism does not save you." Wow! Who should you believe? Rita or the Bible?
In summary, you are welcome to send your questions and comments on this matter to me. I am always glad to discuss such an important matter as salvation and see what the Bible says. However, please plan to do better than Rita! If you are going to just contradict the Bible start out by saying "I don't care what the Bible says, this is what I believe anyway." That will help me immeasurably to understand exactly what I'm dealing with.