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  • Biblical Studies Journal Volume 2, Number 1

    February 16, 1998

    Questions about Baptism

     

    The Questions:

    Early in January, we received the following questions.  I reproduce them here, with answers, because I think they lead us to understand the significance of New Testament baptism.
    "If baptism is needed for salvation how is it that Jesus told the thief on the cross that if he believed he would be in paradise with Jesus. This man was not baptized. And many times Jesus said your sins are forgiven go and sin no more, I don't believe that he told them to be baptized too and your sins would be forgiven. If baptism is needed for salvation was the work of the cross incomplete?" -- P.M.
     

    The Reply:

    Dear P.M.

        I will try to address your questions in this fashion: 1) what is the meaning of baptism? 2) what does baptism's meaning tell us about its relevance for the "thief on the cross?", and 3) what results from baptism?  Based on the answer to these questions, I'll try to answer P.M.'s question, "If baptism is needed for salvation, was Christ's work at the cross incomplete?"

            I'll make it as brief as I can, allowing for scripture citations. Pardon my usage of "Old" American Standard version of 1901.  You can verify the passages with the NIV, NASV, or KJV as you see fit.  (Hey, you have to verify the usage of a passage within its context anyway.)

    1) What is the meaning of baptism?

            Regarding Faith:         c. Baptism gets its significance from it's object and baptism's object is the same as faith's.

            Regarding Baptism:

     

    2) What does this tell us about baptism's relevance for the "thief on the cross?"

     3)  What results from baptism?

    4) "If baptism is needed for salvation, was the work of the cross incomplete?"

    Before you decide how to respond, please consider that our ears are open and our hearts are listening.  I believe we can turn to God's word, the Bible, to answer the critical questions of life.  We can turn to the scriptures for judgements without resorting to our own personal ones.  I rejoice for any help I can get along the way, from anybody, to gain a better understanding the Bible

        -- William Moore, one of the WebServant's
     
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     (c) 1998 The Fishinger & Kenny Roads Church of Christ, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
     
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     Footnotes:
     Ephesians 2:8-10, "for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them."