I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD (Part 21)

And of course the personal covenant that God makes with us is through baptism and the promise of salvation. That will cause some to grimace, because some believe that salvation comes prior to baptism. But really baptism is a necessary part of one’s salvation. Because one has decided to follow Jesus. I have no doubt in my mind that salvation emanates from the grace of God and only that grace saves. I also have no doubt in my mind that it is not the washing that cleanses the body but that baptism means so much more than what man is willing to accept. Baptism for salvation is not a work, as some would say. It is the final sealant on a covenant we have to obey God. We are participating in His death, burial, and resurrection. We are also obeying what James said when he said, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Unless I demonstrate to God that I believe Him by obeying Him, then how does He know that I am telling Him the truth. Why else would Paul, as Saul of Tarsus, be exhorted to, “Wash away your sins, calling on the name of the LORD” (Acts 22:16). If Paul could have been saved just by calling on His name then there would be no need for Ananias to have spoken the words beforehand. We are urged to do exactly what Peter says, “Repent and be baptized and you shall receive the gift of Holy Spirit.” What is the gift of the Holy Spirit? Eternal life, Salvation, whatever you chose to call it. (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8) One cannot then say that salvation comes prior to this because the gift of the Holy Spirit is the grace that God gives: 1) for obedience, 2) as a connection with the resurrection of Christ, and it cannot come prior to baptism. The connection of baptism to salvation is that both remove sins, baptism being the operator of salvation.