Attitude check: Proverbs 10:8; 15:22; 19:20 – Listen to get wise!

Isn’t baptism an outward sign of an inward grace? (continued)

Notice what scripture says …

Acts 22:16 – Paul was baptized to wash away his sins

Romans 6:3-4 – We are baptized into Jesus – not baptized because we are in Jesus.

I Corinthians 12:13 – We are baptized into one body.

Galatians 3:27 – “baptized into Christ”

Colossians 3:12 – “buried with Him in baptism”

I Peter 3:21 – “baptism now saves you”

Note: The Bible never says that baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace.

Observe the experience of those baptized

When people in the Bible were taught about baptism, they acted quickly, realizing their souls were in jeopardy until they were baptized.

Acts 2:41

Acts 8:36

Acts 16:33

Acts 22:16

The fact that they treated baptism as an urgent matter harmonizes with the idea of salvation being granted at the point of baptism.

We also read of people rejoicing after their baptisms. Again, this makes sense if people realized they were getting baptized “into Christ.”

Acts 8:26-40 – The Ethiopian didn’t wait until other people were present so that he could have shown his baptism as an “outward sign.”

What about verses that say we’re saved by faith?

They were absolutely true (and should be taken in context).

Romans 4:1-3

Romans 4:4 – Works are described as earning something that is due. Abraham was a good man, but God certainly never owed him salvation.

Abraham certainly needed to obey God!

Acts 7:2-4; Genesis 11:31

Genesis 12:9

Genesis 12:7-8; 13:3-4

Genesis 14:20

Abraham is used as an example to show that “man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:21-24)

James 2 is using the word “works” differently than Romans 4 (James 2:14-26)

The words “faith” and “belief” can certainly include actions.

Acts 16:34

Hebrews 11:4, 7, 8, 17, 24, 27

Noah was saved by faith. Faith caused him to build an ark!

People today are saved by an obedient faith.

John 3:16 – The word “believes” is synecdoche. There is more involved than just mental assent.

Context: John 3:1-8 – Nicodemus is told what he must do to be saved.

Numbers 21:6

Harmony: Acts 11:18; Mark 16:16; James 2:14-26; John 12:42-43; Romans 5:1 (1:5; 16:26; 6:3-4); Acts 16:34 (16:31-33)