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Water Baptism Saves?
The Catholic church contends that baptism is necessary for salvation:
| "The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for
salvation." Pg. 320, #1257 |
All Catholics should be aware that the Lord does not
agree with this statement. The Bible teaches that salvation is a free
gift that works can never buy. This doctrine was devised by Catholicism:
| "The Church does not know of any other means other than
Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude..." Pg.
320, #1257 "The faithful are born anew by Baptism..." Pg.
311, #1212
"Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons
of God; we become members of Christ, and are incorporated
into the Church..." Pg. 312, #1213 |
The Bible could not disagree more:
| "But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on his name:"
John 1:12 |
Despite Bible verses like these, the Catechism teaches that:
| "Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes
the neophyte 'a new creature,' an adopted son of God, who
has become a 'partaker of the divine nature,' member of
Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy
Spirit." Pg. 322, #1265
"By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all
personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin." Pg. 321,
#1263 (See pg. 257, #985) |
All these doctrines violate a host of Scriptures. The Bible teaches
that only Christ can forgive our sins,
performing a "good work" like baptism will never do it:
| "In whom we have redemption through his (Christ's)
blood, the forgiveness of sins..." Ephesians 1:7 |
If baptism is necessary for salvation, would the Apostle Paul have
proclaimed:
| "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the
gospel..." 1 Corinthians 1:17 |
Or would this same great man of God have stated:
| "I thank God that I baptized none of you,
but Crispus and Gaius;" 1 Corinthians 1:14 |
John the Baptist's message was:
| "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 3:2 |
After people repented, then they were...
| "... baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Matthew 3:6 |
Listen to what the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip as they discussed
the subject of baptism:
| "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth
hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If
thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:36-37 |
The Bible teaches that baptism should occur after salvation, not as a
requirement for salvation. When the Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?" Paul answered:
| "Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
and thy house... And he took them the same hour of the
night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and
all his, straightway." Acts 16:30, 31, 33 |
First, they believed, then they were baptized. Baptism always follows
salvation! Here's another example:
| "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue,
believed on the Lord with all his
house; and many of the Corinthians hearing
believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8 |
In Acts chapter two, Peter, the supposed first pope, preached. When
he finished:
| "... they that gladly received his word
were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41 |
Again, they were baptized, not to become sons of God, but because
they already were sons of God.
When Philip preached to the people of Samaria, first came salvation,
then baptism:
| "But when they believed Philip
preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women." Acts 8:12 |
Soon after in that same passage, Simon, a deceiving sorcerer,
followed the same path:
| "Then Simon himself believed
also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip..."
Acts 8:13 |
The Catechism states:
| "All the sacraments are sacred links uniting the
faithful with one another and binding them to Jesus Christ,
and above all Baptism, the gate by which we enter into the
Church." Pg. 248, #950 |
Just before his death, the thief on the cross next to Jesus put his
faith in Jesus Christ. Obviously, he was never baptized, but he still
went to paradise. Why? Because salvation is through faith in Christ, not
through baptism.
The Catechism also contends that when a person is baptized, it is
really Jesus Himself who is doing the baptizing:
| "By his (Christ's) power he is present in the sacraments
so that when anybody baptizes, it is really Christ himself
who baptizes." Pg. 283, #1088 |
Simply stated, this is another Catholic tradition not found in God's
Word.
Another Contradiction
Here is another Catholic doctrine:
| "Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." Pg. 324,
#1274 |
But the Bible disagrees again, stating that the eternal destiny of
God's children has been sealed with the Holy Spirit:
| "... in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"
Ephesians 1:13
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of
redemption." Ephesians 4:30 |
Conclusion
Is baptism necessary for salvation? Catholic tradition and God's Word
are at odds. The Catechism says "yes." God's Word says "no."
Who will you believe?
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