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Objections to Necessity Objections to Necessity of Water Baptismof Water Baptism

Galatians 1:6-9Galatians 1:6-9

2 Corinthians 11:42 Corinthians 11:4

Jude 3Jude 3

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Mark 16:15-16:Mark 16:15-16:15 And He said to them, Go into all 15 And He said to them, Go into all

the world and preach the gospel to the world and preach the gospel to every creature.every creature.

16 He who 16 He who believesbelieves and is and is baptizedbaptized will be savedwill be saved; but he who does not ; but he who does not believe will be condemned.believe will be condemned.

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Acts 2:38:Acts 2:38:Then Peter said to them, Then Peter said to them, RepentRepent, and , and

let every one of you let every one of you be baptizedbe baptized in in the name of Jesus Christ for the the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinsremission of sins; and you shall ; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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““You believe in baptismal You believe in baptismal regeneration.”regeneration.”

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Billy Graham on BaptismBilly Graham on Baptism

Q: Is baptism necessary for salvation?Q: Is baptism necessary for salvation?A: Mr. Graham has stated: “I believe baptism A: Mr. Graham has stated: “I believe baptism

is important, and I have been baptized. But I is important, and I have been baptized. But I think think we violate the Scriptureswe violate the Scriptures when we when we make baptismmake baptism the prime the prime requirementrequirement for for salvationsalvation..““If baptism were a requirement for salvation, If baptism were a requirement for salvation, we would certainly say that. But you couldn’t we would certainly say that. But you couldn’t support that knowing, for example, that the support that knowing, for example, that the thief on the cross had no opportunity for thief on the cross had no opportunity for baptism or church membership…” baptism or church membership…” (www.billygraham.org)(www.billygraham.org)

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Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc.Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc.

• Letter dated 3Dec1990 from Dr. Victor B. Letter dated 3Dec1990 from Dr. Victor B. Nelson, Exec. Assistant, to Mr. Wilton BlackNelson, Exec. Assistant, to Mr. Wilton Black

• “…“…baptism is an baptism is an outward signoutward sign and symbol and symbol of what the cleansing power of the blood of of what the cleansing power of the blood of Christ Christ has donehas done in washing away our sins, in washing away our sins, indicating that they have been atoned for on indicating that they have been atoned for on the cross of Calvary.”the cross of Calvary.”

• ““Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5-6 make very Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5-6 make very clear the fact that clear the fact that we can do nothingwe can do nothing to to attain our salvation attain our salvation except believeexcept believe.”.”

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Titus 3:5Titus 3:5

HE SAVED USHE SAVED US

Not byNot by

Works Works (we have done)(we have done)

But byBut by

Washing of Washing of RegenerationRegeneration

According to His MercyAccording to His Mercy

-Ferrell Jenkins, GOT, 20Dec90

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Washing of RegenerationWashing of Regeneration

• Church cleansed with the Church cleansed with the “washing “washing of water”of water” by the word, by the word, Eph. 5:26Eph. 5:26

• Born of water & the Spirit to enter Born of water & the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God, John 3:5John 3:5

• ““Arise and be baptized, and wash Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins…” away your sins…” Acts 22:16Acts 22:16

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Titus 3:5Titus 3:5

HE SAVED USHE SAVED US

Not byNot by

Works Works (we have done)(we have done)

But byBut by

BaptismBaptism

According to His MercyAccording to His Mercy

-Ferrell Jenkins, GOT, 20Dec90

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Washing of RegenerationWashing of Regeneration• Baptism is the means by which God’s Baptism is the means by which God’s

mercy saves, mercy saves, Eph. 5:26 (Rom. 6:3)Eph. 5:26 (Rom. 6:3)

• Obedient faith does not equal “earning Obedient faith does not equal “earning salvation”salvation”– Eph. 2:8-9:Eph. 2:8-9: Saved by grace through faith Saved by grace through faith

– Lk. 17:10: Lk. 17:10: Obedient yet unprofitable Obedient yet unprofitable

– Acts 10:35:Acts 10:35: Work righteousness Work righteousness

– Jas. 2:24:Jas. 2:24: Justified by works (of faith, Justified by works (of faith, obedience), not by faith onlyobedience), not by faith only

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““Paul was sent ‘not to Paul was sent ‘not to baptize, but to preach.’”baptize, but to preach.’”

1 Corinthians 1:171 Corinthians 1:17

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Preaching and BaptizingPreaching and Baptizing

• Point of emphasis is the message, not Point of emphasis is the message, not the messengerthe messenger

• Jesus commanded: Teach, baptize & Jesus commanded: Teach, baptize & teach, teach, Matt. 28:19-20Matt. 28:19-20– Was Paul disobedient since he baptized Was Paul disobedient since he baptized

some? some? 1 Cor. 1:14-161 Cor. 1:14-16

– PointPoint: Lest someone use his name is a : Lest someone use his name is a divisive way,divisive way, 1 Cor. 1:11-131 Cor. 1:11-13

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““Not…but”Not…but”

• Emphasis is placed on second part Emphasis is placed on second part without negating the firstwithout negating the first– ““He who believes in Me, believes not in Me He who believes in Me, believes not in Me

but in Him who sent Me.”but in Him who sent Me.” John 12:44 John 12:44– ““Let not yours be the outward adorning… Let not yours be the outward adorning…

but let it be the hidden person…”but let it be the hidden person…” 1 Pet. 3:3-4 1 Pet. 3:3-4 (RSV)(RSV)

– ““did not send me to baptize, but to preach” did not send me to baptize, but to preach” 1 Cor. 1:171 Cor. 1:17

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““In Acts 2:38, baptism is In Acts 2:38, baptism is ‘because of’ remission of ‘because of’ remission of

sins.”sins.”

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““Because of” or “in order to”Because of” or “in order to”

• Translations (30 versions)Translations (30 versions)– KJV: “KJV: “forfor the remission of sins” the remission of sins”

– ASV: “ASV: “untounto the remission of your sins” the remission of your sins”

– NIV: “NIV: “so thatso that your sins may be forgiven” your sins may be forgiven”

– TEV: “TEV: “forfor the forgiveness of your sins” the forgiveness of your sins”

– French: “French: “in order to obtainin order to obtain the remission” the remission”

– Spanish: “Spanish: “for the purpose offor the purpose of the remission” the remission”

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Context Rejects “because of”Context Rejects “because of”

• Object of questionObject of question: What must be done to : What must be done to remove the guilt of sin? remove the guilt of sin? (Acts 2:37)(Acts 2:37)

• Object of answerObject of answer: To remove their guilt and : To remove their guilt and save them from their sin save them from their sin (Acts 2:38-40)(Acts 2:38-40)

• ActionAction: About 3,000 accepted his word and : About 3,000 accepted his word and were baptized were baptized (Acts 2:41)(Acts 2:41)

• ResultResult: Saved : Saved (Acts 2:40-41, 47)(Acts 2:40-41, 47)

• Added together Added together afterafter (not before) baptism (not before) baptism

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The Definition of The Definition of eiseis Rejects “because of”Rejects “because of”

• ““Preposition governing the accusative Preposition governing the accusative & denoting entrance into, or direction & & denoting entrance into, or direction & limit; into, to, towards, for, among” limit; into, to, towards, for, among” ((ThayerThayer, 183), 183)

• Coordinate conjunctionCoordinate conjunction that connects that connects two verbs of equal rank (repent & be two verbs of equal rank (repent & be baptized) baptized)

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eis eis as Used in Other Versesas Used in Other Verses

• Matt. 26:28:Matt. 26:28: untounto remission of sins remission of sins

• Acts 3:19:Acts 3:19: thatthat your sins may be blotted out your sins may be blotted out

• Acts 11:18:Acts 11:18: God has also granted to the God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance Gentiles repentance toto life life

• Rom. 10:10:Rom. 10:10: Believe & confess Believe & confess untounto salvation salvation

• Heb. 10:39:Heb. 10:39: believe believe toto the saving of the soul the saving of the soul

• 2 Cor. 7:10:2 Cor. 7:10: Godly sorrow produces Godly sorrow produces repentance leading repentance leading toto salvation salvation

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““Requiring baptism Requiring baptism restricts opportunities to restricts opportunities to

be saved.”be saved.”

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Unable to be Baptized?Unable to be Baptized?

• The man in the desert (North Pole, etc.)The man in the desert (North Pole, etc.)– Ethiopian was in a desert, Ethiopian was in a desert, Acts 8:26, 36Acts 8:26, 36

– He was obligated & able to be baptizedHe was obligated & able to be baptized

• What about rejected opportunities?What about rejected opportunities? (2 Cor. 6:2; Acts 22:16)(2 Cor. 6:2; Acts 22:16)

• We are to obey God’s commands, not We are to obey God’s commands, not negate them for our conveniencenegate them for our convenience

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““Mark 16:9-20 is not a Mark 16:9-20 is not a part of inspired Scripture.”part of inspired Scripture.”

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Is Mark 16:9-20 Genuine?Is Mark 16:9-20 Genuine?

• Believers turn skeptic attempting to Believers turn skeptic attempting to discredit water baptismdiscredit water baptism

• External evidenceExternal evidence– Not in Vatican & Sinaitic MSS (4Not in Vatican & Sinaitic MSS (4thth cent.) cent.)

– But, quoted in 2But, quoted in 2ndnd & 3 & 3rdrd centuries centuries

– Also in all ancient translations that pre-date Also in all ancient translations that pre-date Vatican & Sinaitic MSSVatican & Sinaitic MSS

• Last leaf may have been destroyedLast leaf may have been destroyed

• Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21…Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21…

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“…“…but if it is of God, you but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest cannot overthrow it—lest

you even be found to you even be found to fight against God.”fight against God.”

-Acts 5:39-Acts 5:39

Do not fight against God!Do not fight against God!Believe, be baptized, be saved!Believe, be baptized, be saved!