WATER IN THE PLAN

By Tyler Young

In no uncertain terms the word of God declares that in order to be saved by Jesus Christ, we must be baptized (immersed) in water  for the remission of sins. “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin” (Acts 2:38). Most who claim to be Christians reject this clear teaching of scripture, claiming that salvation is by faith only. “Baptism is important, but it is not necessary to be saved,” they argue, “because water doesn’t save us—the blood of Christ does.” Of course, the churches of Christ have never argued that water saves, but the blood of Christ only saves us when we submit to the conditions he has given, which include immersion in water.

When Elijah told the Syrian captain Naaman to dip in the Jordan river to be cleansed of his leprosy, “He went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God, and his flesh was restored…” (2 Kings 5:14). Did the water cure his leprosy? No—God did. But not until he did what God said by getting in the water.

Jesus anointed the eyes of a blind man with clay and told him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam…So he went and washed, and came back seeing” (John 9:6-7). Did the water cure his blindness? Of course not. Jesus performed a miracle and made him see, but before the man received his sight he had to go to the water. The Lord could have healed the man on the spot with but a word, but he commanded him to wash with water. The blind man was not so foolish as to say, “But Lord, water can’t save me....” He did what the Lord said without question.

It is tragic that many today refuse to submit to the Lord as that man did. Instead they reject Christ by refusing to accept his simple words, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Peter said, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removing of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)(1 Pet. 3:21). Jesus saves us, but not until we get in the water.

God put water in the plan. Those who want to take it out by saying we are saved before baptism are perverting his plan and rejecting his Son. The Lord’s church teaches there is no cleansing by the blood without the water. Please study this. Salvation is at stake. Contact us if we can help.