Articles
Grace and Baptism
To say that baptism is essential to salvation does not at all contradict the truth that we are saved by grace. We can never earn our salvation. Baptism is a condition of salvation. The following points have often been made by others, but they need to be stated again.
Dipping seven times in the Jordan was a condition for Naaman to be cleansed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5). And washing in the pool of Siloam was a condition for the blind man to receive his sight (John 9).
Neither man earned his cure. Neither man could boast about what he had done. Each knew he was healed by the grace of God.
God could have used other means in their cases if He so chose. In fact, Jesus healed both lepers and blind men without the use of water (Matt. 8:2-4; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 17:11-19). But neither Naaman nor the blind man of John 9 could expect a cure unless they went to the water.
In the same way God makes baptism a condition of salvation. Just as in the cases of Naaman and the blind man, God has chosen water as an element in our healing.
Was there something about the Jordan River water that could cleanse lepers? Could the waters of the pool of Siloam in themselves make blind men see? Surely it is obvious that in both cases the power of God healed these men—on the condition that they wash in the water which God specified. This was a test of their faith and obedience.
No, water does not wash away sins, but the blood of Christ does. When? At the moment we are buried with Him in baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Col. 2:12-13).
Praise be to God for His marvelous grace!
