“Does Baptism ‘Save’?” (1 Peter 3:21)

1. 

   Joel de Leon

   April 20, 2009 at 3:18 am

   The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it: but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers. (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXVII, Section iii)
   The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time. (WCF, XXVIII, ix)
   1. 

      Nollie

      April 20, 2009 at 3:30 am

      Thanks, Joel, for reminding us what WCF says. Another Reformation document, the Belgin Confession, also says this about baptism:

      For that reason He has commanded all those who are His to be baptized with plain water, into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19). By this He signifies to us that as water washes away the dirt of the body when poured on us, and as water is seen on the body of the baptized when sprinkled on him, so the blood of Christ, by the Holy Spirit, does the same thing internally to the soul. It washes and cleanses our soul from sin and regenerates us from children of wrath into children of God. This is not brought about by the water as such but by the sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God, which is our Red Sea, through which we must pass to escape the tyranny of Pharaoh, that is, the devil, and enter into the spiritual land of Canaan. – BC Article 34
2. 

   Mikes@Your Daily Word

   April 19, 2009 at 2:34 pm

   Good analogy between baptism and the flood. Indeed Baptism doesn’t save the people but the process of being one with the Lord, being immersed in His presence will. The ceremony is then to declare what had happened. Jesus did show forth as well when he ascended to Heaven with 500 witnesses.
   1. 

      Nollie

      April 19, 2009 at 9:03 pm

      Baptism is indeed a “declaration” or signification of what had happened: God has cleansed the one being baptized of sin. Not a declaration of what he has done, i.e., accepting Jesus into his heart or whatever thing evangelicals do today. It is a sign and seal of what God has done, not our own “declaration.”

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