Not Saved By Works - i.e. Baptism

"BAPTISM IS A WORK, AND WE'RE NOT SAVED BY WORKS"

Baptism is a work, or a thing done, and we're not saved by works of a distinct kind, that is, works of merit. We are impressed with what many people in the religious world have been exposed to in the way of false teaching about baptism, and why they're leery of believing that baptism has anything to do with man's salvation.

Our Roman Catholic friends believe baptism is a work of merit, i.e., the act itself merits salvation whether any faith exists behind the act or not. For example, the following quotations from several official Catholic publications show that baptism often is not an act of faith at all:

Likewise, Catholic sources teach one need not even be conscious when he is baptized:

On baptizing infants, Catholics teach:

Two of the most amazing statements showing Catholics don't view baptism as an act of faith, but a mere meritorious work, are the following:

These statements regarding baptism as a meritorious work not contingent on the faith of the subject are as repulsive to us as to the one who argues that since baptism is a work, it has nothing to do with our salvation. However, just because Roman Catholicism goes to one extreme about baptism, we shouldn't go to another extreme where we don't teach the truth about baptism either. The argument that works have nothing to do with salvation is just as as false as the idea that meritorious works do.

For example, the statement that works have nothing to do with salvation is not just an argument against baptism, but also an argument against repentance, for it is a "thing done." Likewise, confession is a work - not a meritorious one, but certainly "unto salvation" (Ro 10:9-10). Similarly, faith itself is a work, for Jn 6:28-29 says:

Thus, if works have nothing to do with our salvation, then faith itself would have nothing to do with the salvation of a person!

The truth of the matter is, GOD works in baptism. Paul said in Col 2:12,

In the next verse Paul told about the work [operation] God does when we are baptized with this faith:

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

When we have "faith in the working [operation] of God," rather than thinking baptism has nothing to do with our salvation or perhaps even being unconscious to the act, and are baptized, God forgives us our sins, and raises us up with Christ to walk in newness of life.

[A COUPLE OF FINAL POINTS:

So my faith in God and in the death of His Son for my sins prompted me to submit to the "spiritual operation" of baptism, in which God did His wonderful work of cleansing by the blood of Jesus and regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Ti 3:5)! -- MAC]

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