Mike,
bmerr here. I'd agree that baptism is for believers, since we cannot please God without faith (Heb 11:6). However, the Bible tells us that "...baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh [dirt], but the answer [appeal, request] of a good conscience toward God) by the ressurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 3:21).
So baptism is not a bath for the body to wash away dirt, but an inquiry, or appeal (marginal reading from ASV) of a good conscience toward God.
It's saying, "Okay God, I believe that Jesus died for my sins and was raised from the dead. You said that if I repent of my sins, and submit to baptism by the authority of Christ, then you'll clear my record of sin. It doesn't make much sense to me, but I'll trust you to do as you've promised."
Baptism is not a picture of
our anything. It's a form of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, a form of the gospel, and like as He was raised by the power of God, even so we should rise to walk in newness of life.
There's no doubt that we are justified by faith, as the many Scriptures you alluded to state. But the Bible also states quite clearly that we are not justified by faith only.
I know that's one against a multitude. But the Bible only has to say something once for it to be true. The words "faith only" are only found once, and they're preceded by the words, "not by".
Please understand that I mean no slight to the requirement of faith! As stated earlier, without faith, it is impossible to please God. It's also impossible to obey God without faith, and Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey him (Heb 5:8, 9).
If you think about it, to believe is to obey. Look at 1 Pet 2:7:
Unto you therefore which
believe he is precious: but unto them which be
disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.
Those who believe are presented as the opposite of those who are disobedient. Conversely, unbelief is the opposite of obedience. So believe is to disobedience as unbelief is to obedience. They're opposites. In short, belief = obedience, and unbelief = disobedience.
yet? I'm writing this, and I'm about turned around, myself!
Of course, there's the kind of belief the chief rulers had in John 12:42, 43 which reads,
Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him: but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Now you affirm salvation/justification by faith alone. The faith you speak of is mental affirmation of the facts of Jesus, unless I have it wrong (and please correct me if I do).
By that definition, are you not kind of cornered into saying that these men were saved?
Like I said, I may have your position wrong, and I'm very willing to be corrected if that is the case. But if
no works of any kind are required for one to be saved, then it seems to me that these men would have to be saved.
However, if works of obedience, (which James tells us are what makes faith perfect, or complete), are allowed, such as repentance, confession, and baptism, then these men were clearly not saved, since they knew who Christ was, but did not confess Him (Luke 12:8-9; Mat 10:32-33).
The Scriptures are very clear that "by
deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight..." (Rom 3:20). However, Peter (Acts 10:35) and James (James 2:17-26) both affirm that there is a class of works that is required to be accepted by God.
I really don't think we're all that far apart on this, Mike. I think if we can figure out what the different Bible writers meant when they spoke of "works", we can come to an agreement, or at least get closer to one.
Other duties earnestly call me away for now. I'll talk to you later.
In Christ,
bmerr
