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January 15, 2006, Vol.5, No.2. Baptism Part 10 Keith Sharp Colossians 2:10-12 On this passage Mr. Lane simply reiterates the arguments previously made. Please look at the passage. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11-12) Verse eleven compares the forgiveness of sins available in Christ to the fleshly operation of circumcision. As in circumcision, in which the flesh was cut away, Christ performs an operation without hands on our hearts in putting off the body of sins. Verse twelve explains when the operation takes place. We are buried with Him in baptism (once again demonstrating water baptism is immersion in likeness of His burial) and then raised with Him from that grave. For this operation to be effective, we must have "faith in the working of God." It’s not a mere mechanical act, but the obedience of faith. Before baptism the body of sins envelopes our hearts. When we in faith are buried with Christ in baptism, He removes the body of sins from our hearts. Then we are raised with Him. To have the body of sins removed from our hearts by Christ, we must be buried with Him in baptism. Baptism and our adoption by the Father Galatians 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27) Mr. Lane teaches extensive error on the biblical doctrine of imputation, but, since this does not directly pertain to the purpose of baptism, I will refrain from replying to it. He does comment, "Justification comes about because of spiritual union with Christ." (101) That’s precisely correct. He explains this as being "a spiritual process of becoming joined to Christ in such a way that we share in the benefits of his death, burial and resurrection." (102) Amen! And when does that union take place? "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27) Of course, Mr. Lane tries to explain this away as just a metaphorical reference to baptism. He contends baptism is just a sign of the believer’s adoption and justification. These dodges have already been repeatedly answered. The truth is, water baptism stands between the sinner and entrance into Christ, where we are justified and become God’s children. Baptism and our regeneration through the Holy Spirit Titus 3:5-6 But when the kindness and the 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, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7) Mr. Lane comments, "Paul says here that God saved us not by our works but by the work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating us."(103) No, Paul says we are not saved by our own "works of righteousness" or "works done in righteousness." (American Standard Version). Since, as Mr. Lane admits, the "washing of regeneration" in verse five is a reference to water baptism, and since Paul uses it in contrast with "works of righteousness," baptism is not a work of righteousness that will not save. There is nothing in baptism that merits or earns us salvation. If we tried to earn the forgiveness of sins by doing good deeds for people or giving sacrifices to God (What do we have that God needs? - Psalm 50:7-14), we would be attempting to earn salvation by our own works of righteousness. But no amount of good deeds will make up for even one sin. (Luke 17:10) Only the blood of Christ will take away our sins. (Hebrews 9:13-14) Meritorious works is the fallacy of the Catholic penance system. Obedience to divine terms of pardon does not earn salvation but demonstrates our faith. Noah was saved by grace through faith when he obeyed God and built the ark. (Genesis 6:8,13-17,22; 7:1; Hebrews 11:7) Abraham was justified by faith when he obeyed God and left his home and kindred to go to Canaan. (Hebrews 11:8) Israel was saved by grace through faith when they marched through the Red Sea on dry ground (Hebrews 11:29) and "were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) Israel received Jericho by grace through faith after they marched around the walls of the city thirteen times, the priests blew on the rams’ horns and the people shouted. (Joshua 6; Hebrews 11:30) Naaman was cured of his leprosy by grace through faith after he dipped seven times in the Jordan. (2 Kings 5:1-14) We are saved by water baptism (Mark 16:16), not as a "work of righteousness," but as the response of faith that puts us into Christ where God’s grace is given. (Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 2:4-7) There is nothing meritorious about baptism. It’s not an act of kindness toward men or of sacrifice to God. It is a simple act of faith that expresses our dependence on the blood sacrifice of Christ and by which we receive the benefits of that sacrifice (Romans 6:3-4). Salvation by water baptism nullifies neither God’s grace nor our faith, but unites them.
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