W. C. Fields (American actor and comedian) was a self-avowed Bible skeptic & atheist. On one occasion a friend entered Field’s dressing room and was shocked to find the famous old comedian reading a Bible. When asked why, Field’s quickly shut the Book, & looking rather embarrassed, replied, “Looking for loopholes, just looking for loopholes.” ("The Sinai Summit," Rick Atchley, Sweet Pub’g, 1993, p 138). The website merriamwebster.com defines “loophole” as “an ambiguity or omission in the text through which the intent of a statute, contract, or obligation may be evaded.” Remember that definition as we think for a few moments about New Testament teaching about baptism.
Brother Edward Wharton wrote: “According to the New Testament writers’ own statements of its purpose, baptism, preceded by repentance, is an expression of faith in Christ to receive forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) and to bring us into union with Christ (Romans 6:1-7) . . . It is, then, at baptism that the lost sinner is united with Christ as His own possession” (commentary on Galatains, "Freed For Freedom," p 118). Jesus taught baptism is involved in saving us after we believe the gospel (Mark 16:15-16). Both men and women in Samaria were baptized “when they believed Philip” as he preached the gospel in their city (Acts 8:18). When Lydia heard the gospel preached by the apostle Paul, her heart was opened to heed and “she and her household were baptized” (Acts 16:15). Later in Acts 16 a Roman jailor came to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized after midnight (verses 25ff, esp’ vs 34). Saul of Tarsus (who became Paul the apostle of Christ) was confronted by Christ for persecuting Christians in Acts 9:1ff. After being without sight and neither eating or drinking and praying for three days, a disciple named Ananias was sent to Saul by Jesus to tell him what the Lord wanted him to do (Acts 9:9-11). Years after those dramatic events, Paul testified that when Ananias came to him, he said, “And now why are you waiting? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). The apostle Peter wrote that baptism is involved in saving us (1 Peter 3:21), not from any dirt on our bodies, but from sin on our souls. Colossians 2:10-13 teaches we are “buried with Him [that is, Christ] in baptism” and then “raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Baptism is a work, yes it is! But it is not the penitent sinner who works nor the baptizer. Rather, the apostle declares, God is working, excising a person’s sins in a “circumcision made without hands,” making the baptized person “complete in Him” and “alive with Christ” and “forgiving you all trespasses”!! Galatians 3:26-27 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” [the NIV says “clothed yourselves with Christ.” In these passages, the purpose and place of baptism in the conversion process is clear.
Here’s the take-away point. All these words about baptism are inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). What preachers’ and theologians’ say about them are not! Look, and look long as you want, but there is no “faith alone” loophole that allows us to evade or escape inspired teaching about baptism. God’s pronouncements are clear, not ambiguous. Baptism was an essential and beautiful part of the plan Christ and His apostles taught. There are no loopholes in God’s Word. God help us to faithfully proclaim the same gospel they did.
by: Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
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