This week’s topic is baptism and whether the act of baptism results in salvation for the person being baptized. Jesus commanded Christians, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…”[1] Jesus did not command us to baptize disciples and forget to teach them before and after baptism. We make disciples by going, baptizing and teaching. We are going to look at two parts of this topic. First, I want to examine some survey data. Second, I want to look at two sections of Scripture that addresses baptismal regeneration.
In my research this week I found some interesting statistics for the Southern Baptist denomination from the 1990’s. I looked for a more recent report, but I could not find newer data on the same questions. I also looked for a report that included a wider range of protestant denominations, but I did not find it either. With that being said, I am confident the results would be comparable today to the survey results then. Not only that but the data would apply to other denominations as well.
The multiple-choice survey of 1350 people, at least 18 years old, baptized between October 1, 1992 and September 30, 1993 asked several questions. One question asked was why they decided to get baptized. In their answer only 40.5% were new converts and 40.4% were rededications.”[2] An additional 13.7% were baptized to “transfer [their] membership from another denomination.”[3] The report does not give an answer to the remaining 5.4%.
To help put this in perspective we can understand, let’s analyze the Southern Baptist records but keep in mind this is across all protestant denominations. Southern Baptist records indicate that in 1992 there were 367,847 baptisms and in 1993 there were 349,073 baptisms.[4] If we average the years to cover the 12 months discussed above, we get 358,460 baptisms. While there are no hard numbers the article estimated 150,000 adults were baptized in 1993.[5] So now if we consider those under the age of 18 that were baptized in that 12-month period around 200,000, we must ask how many were baptized again later for rededication? In addition, out of those under 18 “more than 3000 … were 5 years old or younger.”[6]
Now apply those same percentages to the 2018 baptisms in the Southern Baptist churches of 246,442. I am not going to do the calculations for the sake of space, but you get the picture. A whole different issue you will also note is the decrease in baptisms that cannot be addressed in this post.
So, can the act of baptism in itself bring salvation? The clear answer is no. Jesus in His conversation with Nicodemus gives us the answer when He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”[7] Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. If there is no acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then there is no inward change. If there is no personal relationship with Jesus Christ with a repentant heart, baptism is just getting dunked in water.
Many Christians, pastors and churches are not being obedient to Jesus’ command to teach. A misinformed understanding of the ordinance of baptism will result in Jesus Christ saying, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”[8] The great white throne judgement will be a terrible day for so many people throughout the ages who will come to the understanding that baptism does not secure eternal life in heaven.
I close with Paul’s words to Titus,
“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”[9]
Search your heart and go to Christ with a repentant heart if you have not turned your life over to Him. He died for all; you only need to accept Him.
In Christ,
Don
[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 28:19–20.
[2] Thomas Ascol, “Troubling Waters of Baptism,” The Founders Journal: Troubling Waters of Baptism, Fall, no. 22 (1995): 6.
[3] http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/7962,13-Apr-1995.PDF, Accessed 7/3/19.
[4] http://www.sbclife.net/article/2306/pastors-task-force-releases-report-on-declining-baptisms, Accessed 7/3/19.
[5] Ascol, “TWB,” TFJ:TWB,: 5.