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The Persecuted Church

 

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Is baptism a work and what is a work according to the Bible?

A work is something we physically do. A good work would be anything conformed to the will of God in Christ (Eph.2:10). In Ephesians 2:8 is specifically says we are not save by works; salvation is “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast.”

A work is something that is physically done to accomplish a task, which is seen. Belief, faith is exercised without lifting a finger. The Bible emphatically states that we are not saved by works. If we were, we would surely boast in ourselves, just as it says in Ephesians 2.

Is baptism considered a work? Absolutely. Another person is required to be there, and both participate in a physical activity; it is a ceremony. In the Old Testament people’s sins were covered by faith, but they had to do a work with their faith in order to show their faith - they had to sacrifice. Forgiveness from God and reconciliation with Him involved a blood sacrifice. A person bought an animal to the high priest, as a mediator he would then sacrifice the animal to the Lord. In the New Testament Jesus, our high priest has done this for us and we only need to exercise faith in his one time act.

Baptism is a physical work of man, this is why is not part of the gospel that says we are save by grace through faith. In other words we depend on what work another did for us to be saved, God through Christ. Faith is what the heart and mind agree on, what Jesus did already for us. We trust in His work for us.

“we are NOT saved by WORKS” (Eph. 2:8), even those we are commanded to do. Those who say baptism is necessary for our salvation do not see it as a work. So the definition of what is a work, and the works of the law, must be understood. A work is any physical, religious ceremonial or moral activity that would be required for a believer to gain salvation, to be justified. Works of the law are those things specifically mentioned in the Old Covenant Law of Moses. Paul writes of Israel in Rom. 9:31-33: “but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

Jesus was the stone the builders rejected.

Gal. 2:15-16: “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” The works of the law would the commands of Moses.

if you add anything to "faith" in Christ to be saved then that faith doesn’t save you.

Any work done to receive salvation is never completed because one is dependent on what THEY DO, not what Christ has DONE. On the other hand, when one understands grace and the gospel message he ceases working for it and is able to rest in Christ because he understands the meaning of the gospel and has experienced its power unto salvation (Heb. 4).

We relate to God by our position in Christ, we obey out of love that comes from our new position in Him; we are not obeying to receive His love or grace but because we have already received it.

Baptism is put in the same category as any work. What if someone believes the gospel, that Jesus died for their sins but also feels they must be baptized. That is adding works. And there are other works, they must tithe, witness, keep the 10 commandments (or the Sabbath) etc. to have this salvation? They have removed themselves from the gospel of grace. All these things are done after we receive the free gift salvation. To get salvation or maintain it by works is mixing mans ability with God’s. This makes what Jesus has done as insufficient. One must already believe in the gospel to be baptized. If baptism saves then you saved yourself. The gospel cannot save if you are not trusting in the Lord alone, they are not calling on Him to save but are mixing a human work (physical work like baptism) alongside the gospel to save them.

The gospel is based on faith not on our works. Baptism like prayer, witnessing, is a human work. The Bible is clear that we are not saved by any work that we do, even a work that is sacred, religious that God requires. No amount of reading scripture, knowledge, actively witnessing, giving money to the church, the poor, feed the homeless can be part of the gospel and give salvation. It is all the work of God’s Son and it has been done. God became man paid the price for sin by dying, shedding His blood as the lamb and then raising from the dead. According to the gospel writers, the apostles, this is the gospel

It s offered freely to all people, rich or poor, healthy or not healthy, all ethnic groups. All you need to do is believe the message trust in it as if your life depend on it, because it does.

The Bible teaches that believers are saved to do good works to the brethren and those outside the Church. Titus 2:7: “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works” Titus 3:8: “Those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Titus 3:14: “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” We will be rewarded for what we do. Our works are related to the rewards we will inherit. If they are done in Christ promoting God's will they will last and if  done for any other reason they will burned (1 Cor.3:13-15).

The relationship of faith and works, need to be understand that good works are produced from faith. It is “the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). What we hear of the word we put into action. So we are told “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-14). We have received our salvation and now we live out what we possess.

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