By J. Soares
I was water baptized before I was one year old because I was about to die and my mother wanted me to go to heaven… so, would I be saved then? Maybe so, by the faith of my mother, since I was a new born and could not decide for myself…. The only sin that I had to be forgiven was the sin of Adam and Eve – the original sin - that I inherited from my parents. Since my mother DID have the faith to want me to be with Jesus, then would I have died I would indeed be in heaven. Would I be saved through the water of baptism? Not really, I believe I would be saved by the faith of my mother.
When I grew up I had to make my own choice. Now I would have to make my own stand. I had my own sins to deal with and therefore I had to find the way to salvation myself… I made my own choice to accept Jesus Christ sometime between 10 and 12. My mother and my family were not church goers, but I wanted to know Jesus and understand His word, so I asked my mother to let me go to church and learn about God. For the most part, I ended up learning the catechism… the Catholic doctrines, which are just a set of rules - works that we need to do in order to be saved, and keep saved. I did my First Communion, the Confirmation and the Solemn Communion. Was I really saved then? I believe so - not because I followed these traditional religious dogmas but because in my heart I really believe in Jesus, I wanted Jesus and I did love Him. I have no doubt that there are millions of people in the world that follow Christian religious rituals and actually do not believe in Jesus Christ and do not confess Him as their Savior.
The Bible said: “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). One might receive the water of baptism but does that person have the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost? The baptism are the works and works do not save: Ephesians 2:8,9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”.
Water baptism is mentioned in the Bible and there is nothing wrong with it. Communion is in the Bible and there is nothing wrong with it. Both could be considered manifestations of our faith. However, one, the latter, was performed by Jesus, the other, the former, was not. Jesus never really baptized anyone. He did not even baptize (with water) His own disciples - He told them they were clean: Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you (John 15:3). However, Jesus shared communion with His disciples and told them to do so in remembrance of Him.
Water baptism, is part of the Old Testament, (Matthew 11:13) a shadow of things to come. Matthew 3:11: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”.
One might chose to be baptized with water as a symbol or manifestation of salvation, however if Christ is sufficient onto salvation, abstaining from water baptism could also testify to His sufficiency”
Now, you may read the following verses in Galatians and replace circumcision, a practice of the law, with water baptism, another practice of the law: Galatians 3, verse 2: “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”. Verse 3: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”. Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
In summary, we are to be baptized with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Christ’s Baptism. Christ's baptism is to be the inward receiving of the promised Holy Spirit, whereby the believer is immersed in Jesus' power, purity, and wisdom. This baptism is the essential Christian baptism: an experience of cleansing from sin that supplants old covenant rituals.