IS WATER BAPTISM NECESSARY?

Hugo McCord

The City Mayor, or the Vice-Mayor, of Butuan City, Philippines, will be the moderator in a “formal public debate” at the Rizal Plaza on August 27, 1995. Climaco Solis will affirm “that a person is now saved by Grace through Faith Only according to the Bible,” while Agapio Catamora will affirm “that Water Baptism is essential for salvation according to the Bible.” The contract of the debate will be subscribed and sworn to before the City Legal Officer of Butuan.

“In order for the truth to triumph, a thorough preparation is really needed,” writes Brother Catamora, and he has sent seven questions which he believes may be in the discussion:

1. Romans 11:20 of the Revised Standard Version and the Easy-to-Read Bible use the word “ONLY.” This text may be used by my opponent to defend “faith only saves.” What can you say about this? Is this the original translation of the Bible from the Greek?

The word “ONLY” is an insertion found in no Greek manuscript known to me in Romans 11:20, but it is found in all the manuscripts known to me in James 2:24.

2. Does the one Spirit of 1 Corinthians 12:13 refer to “Spirit baptism”?

If the baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13 is Holy Spirit baptism, then a person goes into the “one body” (“the church,” Colossians 1:18) without water baptism. A preacher today who believes in Holy Spirit baptism and baptizes people in water is holding on to two baptisms, contradicting Paul’s statement that there is “one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).

In the only two examples of Holy Spirit baptism in the Bible those baptized could talk in foreign languages (Acts 1:5; 2:4; 10:46; 11:15). If the baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13 is a third example, we would expect all of those baptized at Corinth to be able to talk in foreign languages, but some could not (1 Corinthians 12:30). Thus the third alleged example falls short.

If the baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13 is Holy Spirit baptism, then afterward those baptized drank of “one Spirit,” which means their baptism lacked something, namely, the drinking of one Spirit. On the other hand, if the baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13 was water baptism, their drinking of the one Spirit afterward was proper and in order, namely, their reception of “the gift of the Holy Spirit” following their water baptism (Acts 2:38; 5:32).

If we say that 1 Corinthians 12:13 should be understood to say “by [the baptism of] one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, ...”, then water baptism is completely eliminated, for there is for us today only “one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). If the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the “one baptism,” then Peter did wrong in commanding “water” baptism (Acts 10:47), and Philip did wrong in baptizing people (Acts 8:16), and any preacher today who baptizes people in water is wrong.

If we say that 1 Corinthians 12:13 should be understood to say “by [the teaching of] one Spirit we were all baptized into the one body, ...”, then Peter and Philip and preachers today who baptize in water were and are doing right.

If the baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13 is Holy Spirit baptism, a baptism that only Christ can administer (Matthew 3:11), then Christ did wrong in commanding his apostles to go into all the world teaching and baptizing disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).

3. What is the difference between “by faith” and “through faith”?

Unless there are two plans of salvation, one for the “circumcision” (the Jews) and one for the “uncircumcised” (the Gentiles), there is no difference between “by” or “through” faith. The two prepositions both carry the meaning “by means of,” or “one the grounds of,”: God “will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcised through faith” (Romans 3:30, NASV).

4. Is the word NOW used in 2 Cor. 6:2 the same meaning of the “NOW” in 1 Peter 3:21?

Paul’s “now” in my opinion refers to the span in time of the new covenant, from the day of Pentecost, A.D. 30, until Jesus shuts the door at his second coming (Luke 13:25; Hebrews 9:28). It is the time during which sinners have an opportunity to believe in Jesus, to repent, and to be baptized (John 8:24; Acts 2:38).

All those baptized on the day of Pentecost and afterwards were called “the saved” (Acts 2:47). Each saved person can rejoice that “now” his faith has saved him (Romans 10:9-10), that “now” his repentance has saved him (Acts 11:18), that “now” his baptism has saved him (1 Peter 3:21).

5. What is your explanation of Ephesians 2:8-9?

His grace saves us by faith, but not by faith only, for even the devils have faith (James 2:19, 24). We are saved by “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26; John 3:36).

We are not saved by works of the law of Moses (Romans 3:28), nor by our own works of righteousness (Titus 3:5), nor even by our mental work in believing (we sinners contribute nothing to our salvation).

But we cannot be saved without believing (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24), nor can we be saved without “working righteousness” (Acts 10:35). But the righteousness which we work is not ours, but God’s: “This is the work of God, that you believe” (John 6:29), and this is the work of God, that you repent (Luke 13:3), and this is the work of God, that you be baptized (Acts 22:16). “All thy commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172). “He who practices righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7). Jesus insisted on baptism in water “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

The Israelites could rejoice in being delivered from Egyptian bondage not by faith only, but only after being “baptized” (1 Corinthians 10:2). After God had done for them what they could not, they put forth work in walking across the bed of the Red Sea, but who among them would have claimed that their walking was the means of their deliverance from Pharaoh? Rather, they would have sung “by grace are we saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of our works, lest there be boasting.”

6. The opponent used Hebrews 6:1-3 to prove that baptism is no longer necessary for salvation. What is your explanation?

Brother Agapio, your statement implies the opponent believes that at one time baptism was “necessary for salvation.” Surely he does not believe that.

The word “baptisms” in the KJV, ASV, and NIV in Hebrews 6:2 leaves a wrong impression, making one think that the inspired author is talking about New Testament baptisms, which he is not. The word translated “baptisms” in the Greek text of Hebrews 6:2, baptismos, is the same in Hebrews 9:10 where the KJV, ASV, and NIV change from “baptisms” to “washings.”

The context in both places mentions “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14) with reference to Old Testament Jewish washings. The NASV has removed “baptisms” from Hebrews 6:2 and uses “washings” as in Hebrews 9:10. The first three editions of the FHV have “immersions” in 6:2 and “washings” in 9:10. More consistently, the fourth edition will have “washings” in both verses.

But if the above reasoning does not convince the opponent that Hebrews 6:1-3 does not eliminate New Testament baptisms, he would also have a problem in explaining why the baptism Jesus commanded for salvation was to last to “the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20).

7. What are the probable charts to be used for these propositions?

A large painted chart with the following words ought to have a lasting effect on the opponent and on the audience:

CLIMACO SOLIS: HE THAT BELIEVES IS SAVED, AND SHOULD BE BAPTIZED.

JESUS CHRIST: HE THAT BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED (MARK 16:16).

Brother Agapio, I am sending copies of this article to several gospel papers. If it is published, I am hoping some able Bible scholars will write to you with additional suggestions in regard to your seven questions. For that purpose I am inserting your address: Church of Christ, Lumbocan, Butuan City, 8600 Philippines, P. O. Box 60. God bless!

	JOHN’S	HOLY SPIRIT	COMMISSION	FIRE
Administrator:	John Matt. 3:11	Jesus Matt: 3:11	Jesus’ disciples Matt. 28:18-20 Acts 9:10	Jesus Matt 3:12 Rev. 20:15
Element:	Water Matt. 3:11	Holy Spirit Matt. 3:11 Acts 1:5; 11:16-17	Water Acts 8:36; 10:47; 22:16 Eph. 5:26 Tit. 3:5 Heb. 10:22 I Pet. 3:21-22	Fire Matt. 3:12 Mark 9:43-48 II The. 1:7-9 Rev. 20:15
Subjects:	Believing penitents Matt. 3:5,8 Acts 19:4	Apostles and Cornelius’ house Acts 2 & 10	Believing penitents Acts 2:36, 38; 8:37	Wicked Matt. 13:42 Rev. 21:8
Purposes:	Remission of sins, preparation for Christ Mark 1:4 Matt. 3:3 Acts 19:4	To qualify apostles and to convince Jews of Gentiles’ acceptance John 14:26; 16;13 Act 10:47; 11:18	Remission of sins, gift of Spirit, entrance into Christ, church Acts 2:38 Gal. 3:27 I Cor. 12:13	Punishment II Thess. 1:7-9
Time:	Before cross Acts 19:4	Ended, before 62 A.D. Eph. 4:5	To end of world Matt. 28:20	At end of world Rev. 20:15