Even though water baptism is not the basis or means by which we receive salvation, it still has its purpose. Baptism is a
symbol of salvation in that it pictures Christ's death, burial and resurrection and our identification with Him in these experiences. In reality, believers are literally saved by what baptism
symbolizes--Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Baptism would have no meaning without Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, but Christ’s death, burial and resurrection would still have meaning, even if there were no baptism. In other words, Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is the substance and baptism is the
symbol. Without the substance there would be no
symbol.
A man and a woman become united through their wedding vows and the ring
symbolizes this. Just as we become united with Christ through faith and water baptism
symbolizes this. Strictly speaking, the husband is united to his wife because of the marriage vows rather than the ring. Yet since the latter is the sign of their union, it is natural to speak of the ring to mean the reality it represents. "With this ring, I thee wed," although the ring is not the actual cause of the change in the marital status, just like water baptism is not the actual cause of our salvation status.
Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been
justified by faith, (and baptism? NO simply faith) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have
access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Water baptism is not the only "water" mentioned in scripture and don't forget about the word. (John 4:10,14; 7:37-39; John 15:3: Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:23)
Believing unto salvation preceded baptism and just as in John 20:31, through believing, we have life in His name.
Every time a believer is immersed, he washes away his sins in the same sense Paul did: not literally, but figuratively, pointing to the blood of Christ by which sins are actually washed away. (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5)
The washing of regeneration is not accomplished by water baptism. The word "washing" in the Strong's Greek Concordance with Vine's Number 3067 - (Loutron) "a bath, a laver" is used *metaphorically of the Word of God, as the instrument of spiritual cleansing,* (
Ephesians 5:26; and
Titus 3:5), of the "washing of regeneration."
Washing refers to spiritual washing or purification of the soul, accomplished by the word of God through the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
Again, Peter goes on to explain in what sense that it saves us -- (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, it's not the mechanical act of being water baptized that literally saves us.
ice? TRUE!
