Deadly Water 2

I have witnessed to hundreds of Campbellites (Church of Christ) that believe you have to be baptized in 'their' church, in their water, and by their Campbellite minister in order to have your sins washed away.  Campbellites (Church of Christ) never know for sure if they are going to heaven when they die. That is because they are trusting in themselves in someway to get to Heaven.  They were still working and enduring and trying and laboring. What a dreadful way to live. They think they have to endure and hope to the end, and then 'maybe' they will be saved after death, if they're good enough. 'Baptismal regeneration' is a devilish teaching and delusional at best.

This is not true salvation. See I John 5:13. True salvation brings assurance and true knowledge (the witness of the Holy Spirit - a gift from God). Only the Holy Spirit will give true assurance II Pet 1:2-3) to the soul trusting in the blood sacrifice of Christ.

Does water baptism help save from sin?  No.
Does it wash away sin?  No.
Does it contribute in any way to the new birth and the free forgiveness of sins?  No.

I have been baptized in water, but I am not trusting in it at all to save me from the wrath of God when I die.  I have been saved by water, but not by earthly waters. The waters of wrath that overflowed the Lord Jesus on Calvary *Psalm 88:7* have saved my soul. (Luke 12:50)  The water of life of Isaiah 55:1 and Revelation 22:17 has satisfied my longing soul. The water of life is FREE, not earned or kept by me.

Below are a few verses that the Church of Christ like to chew on, but these verses only grind their teeth to powder and leave them with bleeding gums and full of misery.  I am a Baptist by denomination, but I don't place one bit of trust in a denomination.  I am trusting in a PERSON (the Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His Precious Atoning Blood), not just a belief, doctrine, teaching, or denomination. I am a sinner and nothing at all, but Jesus Christ is my all in all.

Acts 2:38 -- the Jewish people were baptized for sins already remitted (pardoned), not to have their sins forgiven and washed away.

John 3:5 -- (water and the Spirit) water here is speaking of fleshy birth (see John 3:6). The Spirit convicts us and converts us.  The washing of the water of the word, and the work of the Spirit gives us the new birth and plants (engrafts) the incorruptible seed (word of God, divine nature, and eternal life) within our hearts.

Galatians 3:27 -- this baptism is the Spirit baptism mentioned in I Cor 12:13, this is a spiritual baptism not physical in water. The word water is not in Galatians. The believer at the new birth is immersed by the Holy Spirit into Jesus Christ (I Cor 12:13) and is crucified (Gal 2:20), buried (Rom 6:3), and resurrected (Rom 6:1-4, Eph 2:5); and seated in heavenly places (Eph 2:6)

Romans 6:3 - Here again, this is a spiritual baptism, not in literal water -- the word water is not in the book of Romans. Remember - There is more than one type of baptism in Scripture. Outward baptism in water is an open profession of what has already happened to a born-again believer on the inside (in the heart and in Christ).

Acts 22:16 -- the sins here are washed away by calling on the name of the Lord (see Rom 10:12-14, Acts 9:14), not by arising or being baptized. Righteousness is given to us by faith alone. Phil 3:8-9 all our good works are dung and filthy rags in God's sight. We can't satisfy God's holiness and the demands of the law but Jesus did by His sinless, spotless and his death, burial and resurrection.

I Peter 3:18-21 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

Noah and his family were saved by water, but never got wet. The water in Noah's day was the wrath of God. The wrath of God came upon Jesus Christ on the cross and He endured my penalty for sin dying in my place (the waters of wrath) See Psa 88:7; Psa 69:2,14-15; Psa 42:7; Jonah 2:2-9 (sign of Jonah); Luke 12:50; II Sam 22:5, etc.) When Jesus was baptized in Jordan, this was a picture of the waters of wrath he would endure three years later for us on the Cross and then be raised from the dead and then be glorified by the Father. I don't believe the baptism in I Peter 3:21 is water baptism. I believe it was the baptism of suffering the Lord Jesus underwent for us on the cross and then rose victoriously from the grave after three days.

Luke 12:50 -- But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Jesus was baptized with the baptism of suffering.  Jesus became sin, died, conquered death, and rose from the dead. The waters of Noah's judged the world, but saved Noah. Christ's suffering judges the world, but saves me. Noah was saved by the same "water" that judged rest of the world. So also, the waters of God's judgment and wrath poured out on Christ at Calvary for the sins of the whole world became the means where all who are in Christ are saved.

Christ Jesus went to the cross with two pieces of wood and a few nails and built an 'ark of safety' for me to enter. He did all the work, all I have to do is enter. Just like the animals that walked up the plank and entered the ark, they trusted totally in Noah's work and enjoyed the ride and were saved. The ark took and endured the wrath of the storm, and they (Noah, his family and the animals) were never touched by the judgment of God. After the storm of God's wrath, the ark 'rested' on the mountains of Ararat. This flood in Noah's day is a picture of the death, burial, resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin is real, judgment is coming, the ark (Christ's finished work) is our only hiding place. After the flood was over (Christ's suffering), God made a wind to pass over the earth (the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is now reproving men of sin, righteousness and judgment in this world. Some looked at the ark, some talked about it, some sneered at it, but the wise ones entered in and were saved from the wrath of God. When Noah left the ark, this was a picture of Christ leaving the tomb after three days. Noah's sacrifice was a sweet smelling savour to God, so was Christ's sacrifice (Eph 5:2). When Jonah left the belly of the whale, this was also a picture of the resurrection.

We are saved by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:21). Christ's suffering for sins, the Just for unjust (3:18), being put to death in the flesh, quickened by the Spirit, and resurrected from the dead to justify all who believe. This is what saves us, not what we DO, but what He has DONE. I have trusted in Jesus' baptism of suffering (Luke 12:50) to save me. I simply trust His suffering for me. His baptism of suffering and resurrection saves me freely. Jesus rose from the waters of wrath and death victoriously. When Jesus did this he fulfilled 'all righteousness." After I trusted in Christ's finished work, then the Spirit baptized me into Christ (I Cor 12:13, Eph 4:5; Gal 3:27) by grace through faith in His atoning blood (Eph 2:8-9). This was all a work of grace when I looked to Jesus simply by faith.

Titus 3:5 - the washing of regeneration here is the work of the Holy Spirit, not physical water baptism, the renewing (new birth) of the Holy Ghost happens when we trust Christ as our sacrifice for sins. "not by works of righteousness which we have done." The washing of the water of the word (Eph 5:26). The water of word is what cleanses us in the heart, not outward baptism.

Mark 16:16 - Baptism is commanded, but not mandatory. Jesus at end of this verse re-emphasized this by saying, that 'he that believeth not shall be damned.' This does not teach that baptism saves. Notice: It does NOT say, "he that is baptized not shall be damned." See John 6:47 'Me' is the key word. 'Me' plus nothing.

Colossians 2:12 -- Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. This is a spiritual circumcision, not literal. The operation of God is circumcision made without the hands of man, but by the hand of God. Rom 2:28-29

The blood of Christ is obtained by faith, not by being baptized in water at a Church of Christ building. (see Rom 3:24-25). Salvation is a free gift. (see Romans 5:15-18)

When does the new life in Christ begin and when does the new birth take place? See Romans 10:10-13 It is when you call upon His name.

The Biblical conclusion is in Romans 3:28 and 10:4. The word genuine faith focuses on and trusts to is "BLOOD", the Church of Christ focuses on "Baptism." The application of the blood of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins comes by grace through faith in Jesus alone, plus nothing.

The scriptures don't teach that baptism comes before salvation. Water baptism is a public act of obedience from a born-again believer. The water in the baptismal pool or the 'actual act' of obedience has nothing to do with salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus' atoning blood alone. If someone is on their deathbed or in a life-or-death situation, baptism is not required. Example: Thief of on the cross. If we could earn salvation, why did Jesus have to die. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. I am resting all the weight of my soul on what JESUS did for me. My own repentance and faith is a gift from God. To God be the glory, great things He hath done. Eph 2:8-9, II Tim 2:25

There are seven types of baptism in scripture. Do you know all seven? Which one are you trusting in to save you? Paul said in Ephesians 4:5 that there is one baptism, but the scriptures contain seven. I am trusting in the finished work of Christ (Luke 12:15), and the work of the Spirit baptism of I Corinthians 12:13.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Now remember - Baptism is mentioned in Romans, but the word 'water' is not in Romans. It is a Spirit baptism in Romans. The same is true in Galatians.

Where are your sins this very minute? On your soul or on Christ. If they are on Christ, can they ever be put back on you? After you are baptized to remove sins, do you have to re-baptized to take them away again, after you sin in thought, word or deed?

The Law says, Thou shalt not - and you have.  The Law says, Thou shalt - and you haven't. See James 2:10, If you offend the law in one point, you are guilty of it all.

In I Corinthians 1:14, Paul thanked God he didn't baptize ANY of the Corinthian converts, not 'some' of them.  Did he leave them there lost in their sins to perish without water baptism?

If Alexander Campbellites have repented, believed, been baptized, and are enduring and it still doesn't bring the witness of the Holy Spirit and true assurance of eternal life, they need want to look to Lamb of God for He alone can save. John 1:29, The Lamb of God takes away our sin in the wilderness of forgetfulness never to be remembered by God ever again.

God is well pleased with His Son, not me. I have fled for refuge and hidden in his Son, now God doesn't see me or my sins anymore, I have been hid in Christ forever and ever. (Colossians 3:3)

Glory be to the Lamb of God, Let Him be Magnified! Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev 5:9,12 -- Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.