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Significant differences exist in the religious world concerning baptism’s role in salvation. Some claiming to follow Christ do not consider water baptism necessary for salvation, while others do. Both sides cannot be right. God’s Word must be examined to determine the truth.

If we search the scriptures for the words “baptize(d)” and “baptism” (i.e. “immerse” or “immersion” – see Acts 8:38-39), we find the following commands and examples taught about water baptism:

Jesus’ “Great Commission”: Matt. 28:19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: and Mark 16:16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Peter’s words when asked by sinners what to do: Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The penitent believers’ response to this: Acts 2:41a: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:

Believers’ response to Philip teaching the Gospel: Acts 8:12: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

The eunuch’s response to hearing Jesus preached: Acts 8:36: And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

Example of the Corinthians: Acts 18:8: And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Ananias to Paul: Acts 22:16: And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The apostle Paul to the Romans: Romans 6:3-4: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia: Galatians 3:27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The apostle Peter: 1 Peter 3:21: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

These passages only scratch the surface of biblical evidence that baptism is necessary for salvation. God is not ambiguous on the topic.

Many objections to God’s teaching on baptism result from a misuse of His statement “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

These verses teach that we do not earn or deserve salvation. Salvation is a gift of God (cf. Romans 6:23) given to those who walk by faith. What the verses do NOT say is that (1) God cannot require works from us to receive salvation (cf. Phil. 2:12), or (2) man is saved by faith only.

To know what God thinks of “faith only,” we can turn to the scripture where He uses this phrase, James 2:24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. We are saved by grace through faith, but we are NOT saved by faith only or faith alone, just as we are not saved by bapstim alone.

If we look at the “complete picture” of God’s Word, we will see that God’s grace and our faith in Christ are among things essential for salvation, as is baptism.

Baptism is how we can get into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27), and is necessary for remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

– Michael Hickox

2 Timothy 3:10-12: But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Persecution is unpleasant but inevitable for Christians. Jesus told His disciples in John 15:20, “if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;”

Physical persecution was common for early Christians. After Paul was converted, he was “in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft” (2 Corinthians 11:23). He said, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods” (verses 24-25a). His persecutions included being stoned and left for dead at Lystra (Acts 14:19; cf. 2 Timothy 3:11).

Reflecting on this can make one wonder, “Am I living a godly life in Christ? I don’t seem to face persecution like Paul did.”

We must realize though that persecution is not always physical. When Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matthew 5:11), He referenced mental persecution.

Christians are often ridiculed. The tenderheartedness of the meek and lowly can lead to oppression from the proud and greedy. Standing for the truth often angers those whose choices defy it.

Jesus summarized the cause of His disciples’ persecution in John 15:19: If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Jesus also taught the proper response to persecution. Matthew 5:44: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you…

In the parable of the sower, Jesus said that the person who receives seed in “stony places”…that is, the one who has a shallow faith…will fall away when persecuted (Matthew 13:20-21). We must have a faith that endures persecution.

Enduring persecution is made easier when we remember what Paul said of his persecutions: “Out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Timothy 3:11b).

The temporary suffering Christians face is “not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). May this hope anchor us as we live godly lives in Christ Jesus and remain faithful to the Lord no matter how difficult that may be.

– Michael Hickox

“Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”—Mark 10:44-45 (WEB)

In the above passage, Jesus contrasted the world’s view of greatness with what God sees as great (cf. verses 42-43).

The teaching came just after James and John asked to sit on Jesus’ right and left hands in His glory. Like James and John, people often seek prestige, position, and power, believing this is what greatness is.

Yet Jesus pointed out that this attitude is the opposite of what God calls great.

Before leaving the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:35, Paul told them “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” To follow Jesus’ steps, we must focus on giving. We must seek to serve rather than seeking to be served.

Jesus not only taught servitude, but also exemplified this. When He washed His disciples’ feet, He stated “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Shortly after He washed His disciples’ feet, Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many. There could be no better example of putting others ahead of oneself.

May we follow His lead of servitude.

– Michael Hickox

2 Corinthians 13:5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…

After noting that some of the Corinthians were testing him (2 Corinthians 13:3), the apostle Paul turned the emphasis to who Christians should foremost test: ourselves. The need for self-examination is seen throughout Scripture.

Centuries before Paul wrote to the Corinthians, certain Jews had returned to Jerusalem after being taken captive. Upon their return, God intended for them to rebuild the temple, but they had not yet done so when God sent the prophet Haggai to them. God through Haggai exhorted them, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5,7).

Examining ourselves and considering our ways does not mean reflecting on (1) how we “measure up” to others (2 Corinthians 10:12) or (2) how “successful” we are at living how the world says we should (1 Corinthians 3:19). Rather, it is an honest reflection of how closely we measure up to God’s will (cf. Psalm 119:59).

There can be a temptation to examine ourselves with a fear of finding that we are in error. This can lead us to shy away from topics that might lead to big and unpleasant changes if we find out we’re wrong.

This is exactly the opposite of the approach we should have to self-examination. We shouldn’t be afraid of discovering our sins. We should be concerned about not discovering our sins.

Consider the example of Paul prior to his conversion. Jesus said he was kicking “against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). Like an ox who rebelled against his master and thereby caused himself harm, Saul was wreaking havoc as he rebelled against Jesus.

His recognition of how wrong he was did not lead him to say, “There’s no way I have been wrong all of this time,” and then run from the truth. Instead, Saul showed a desire to make things right immediately by saying “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).

May we have a similar mindset as we search the Scriptures, reflect on how we can better serve God, and become “doers of the Word” when we find things that need fixed (James 1:22).

“Consider your ways…Examine yourselves.” Self-examination is important to be pleasing to God.

– Michael Hickox

The book of Job details Job’s loss of children, servants, and possessions (Job 1:14-19). After Satan also harmed Job physically (Job 2:7), Job’s wife asked, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die” (Job 2:9).

Job did not understand why his sufferings came upon him. Despite his uncertainties, Job answered his wife, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (verse 10).

As Job indicated, obedience to God should not be grounded on having our way.

The song “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” expresses a mindset that is pleasing to God. “Mold me and make me after thy will” is very different from, “if God makes my life what I want, then I will serve Him.”

The latter mindset is one of selfishness.

Loving God with all of the heart, soul, mind, and strength leads to pleasing God, controlling what we should, and being content with things out of our control.

Job’s wife saw obedience as something that is contingent on God giving us what we want. Job saw obedience as something that comes with no contingencies.

The answer to the question, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity?” should always be, “Yes.” Our obedience must be strong, in good times and bad.

– Michael Hickox