Saved By Water
For years now, we all have heard that cry against us concerning baptism. “You all believe in a water based salvation.” The problem with such a cry is that people do not understand the nature of salvation. Do we believe that water plays apart in salvation? Absolutely. Do we believe that water alone can save? No.
God has used water to save man before. Let us look at a few of these examples in the Old Testament so that we can understand how it is that baptism saves us today.
The Flood
In Gen. 6 we read of a civilization that was so wicked that the only thought on their hearts was “only evil continually (Gen. 6:5).” The sad reality was that it was not always this way. God made man upright. When he looked upon his whole creation he said that it was very good (Gen. 1:27). In Gen. 4:26 we read of a generation of people that began to call on the name of the Lord. Within a few generations, that changed. Man turned against God and did what was right in his own heart. Because of this God set forth a plan to save man.
We first learn that God was going to destroy man (Gen. 6:8). But, one man, Noah, found favor, or grace, in the sight of God. While the whole world would be destroyed, this one man and his family would be preserved. Thus through God’s grace he was saved.
How would God save Noah? He told Noah to build an ark. This ark was to be built according to the specifications which God gave and filled with what God spoke. God saved Noah by His word.
But, had Noah not obeyed God, he would not have been saved. Thus, Noah’s faithful obedience saved him.
When God sent the flood waters upon the face of the earth, the very thing which was used to destroy the wicked man was used to save the righteous man. Why did that water save Noah? Because God allowed it too. It was His chosen vessel to save man.
The Red Sea
In Ex. 14 we read of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery. The previous 13 chapters informed us how it was the Israel came to Egypt (Ex. 1:1-7), how they came to be in bondage (Ex. 1:8), how they came to need salvation (Ex 1-2), and whom God chose to give them that salvation (Ex. 3-4). God also informed Moses that he would deliver Israel because of the promise that he gave to Abraham in Gen. 12. After eleven signs were performed in the sight of Pharaoh he let God’s people go. To his own demise, he changed his mind and pursued Israel with his chariots. How was God going to save man this time?
He told Moses what must be done. He told Moses to “Lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel will go through the midst of the sea on dry land (Ex. 14:16). Thus, God saved Israel by His word.
We also know that had Moses and Israel not believed it would have failed. “By Faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land (Heb. 11:29).” They were saved by Faith.
When Egypt tried to pass through that same divide in the waters, God used the water to destroy Pharaoh and his army. Thus God used the water to save Israel.
The Leprosy of Naaman
Naaman was a captain of the army of the Arameans. He was a valiant warrior that was highly respected. Despite his greatness, he was also a leper. (II Kings 5:1). Being that he jumped at the chance to be healed of this dreadful disease, it was likely knew that no power or prestige that he had achieved was going to grant him the chance to be clean. However, he was informed of a man, a prophet, that could cleanse him. So, he sought out Elisha in Samaria. How then did God choose to cleanse Naaman of his impurities?
We first learn that it was in a manner that not expected. Namaan thought that that Elisha would have at least come out and speak to him. Furthermore, he thought that his cleansing would have come from something more than dipping in the Jordan river seven times. God cleanses in ways that man thinks to be ridiculous.
We learn yet again that Namaan was cleansed by God’s word. Elisha a prophet, or mouth piece of the lord. He spoke that which God told him to speak. Thus Namaan was cleansed by God’s word.
Even still, it took faithful obedience on Naaman’s part in order to be cleansed. We see that Naaman was at first unwilling to dip in the Jordan (II Kings 5:11). After a little coercion from his servants he went and dipped seven times in the Jordan. Thus showing that Naaman was cleaned by faithful obedience.
Lastly we again see water as the chosen vessel of God. God could have chosen dust. He could have sent Naaman on a great quest, but instead he used the water to cleanse Namaan’s impurities.
Baptism
Baptism is much like previous three examples. Through God’s grace we are saved (Eph. 2:8). But, that alone does not tell us through which means God was chosen to give grace to us. Just as it was true with Noah, we must keep God’s commandments. If we do not keep them all, then our “boat” won’t float. Christ himself commanded that we be baptized in Mark 16:16. How then can we say it is not needed? To Noah say the window was not necessary?
In Naaman’s case, the doubters are dealt with. In all honesty, if you were told how to receive the washing away of your sins required you to do some “great act” would you not do it? The answer is likely the same as it was with Naaman. A resounding yes.
Furthermore, could the water alone save any of there people? Absolutely not. The water only had saving/cleansing power when God’s word and man’s obedience were combined.
-WTK