Having laid the foundation for this discussion last week, we will now lay out some arguments as to why baptism is not a work. As previously mentioned, the concept under discussion is that of salvation by grace, through faith, and apart from works as expressed by Paul in, for example, Ephesians 2:8–9. We must help others see that by “works” Paul does not have baptism in mind.
First, I would point out that the Paul who wrote Ephesians 2:8–9 is the same Paul who wrote Romans 6:1–4, 1 Corinthians 12:12–13, Galatians 3:26–27, Colossians 2:11–13, and Titus 3:4–5. He also spoke the words recorded in Acts 22:16. Paul obviously does not have any problem connecting baptism with salvation. Such a recognition should be a major red flag for those wanting to label baptism as a “work.”
Second, by “apart from works,” Paul does not mean “and you cannot do anything.” What Paul is doing in passages like Ephesians 2:8–9 is contrasting two systems of salvation: a system of grace and a system of works. A system of grace is one in which a gift is freely given by one to another. It is benevolent in nature. The gift is not earned and the recipient can lay no claim to having deserved the gift; the recipient can only render a “thank you.” Examples of such a system include a parent giving a gift to a child, or freely giving assistance to someone in need. This is the only system by which we can think of our relationship to God: he has given us the undeserved gift of salvation, and all we can return is “thank you.”
A system of works on the other hand is transactional in nature. In such a system, two people agree on specified deeds for specified pay. Upon completion of the deed, pay is given as proper due. There is no gift or “thank you;” there is work and earned pay. We all recognize such a system: it’s called a job. When you do your work and receive a paycheck, your boss is not being benevolent, he is giving you what you’ve earned. This is the type of thinking that a Christian absolutely cannot have when approaching God. As soon as we begin thinking of our actions (whether belief, baptism, prayer, good works, etc.) as somehow compelling God to act on our behalf, we have entered into a system of works-salvation, a system foreign to Christianity.
We must show that a system of grace still allows for the recipient of the gift to do something to receive the gift. Again, the recipient does not earn, but receives. By way of analogy, unwrapping a present in no way diminishes the fact that it is a present! But how about a biblical example: the exodus from Egypt. In the exodus, God is rescuing the Israelites because of His covenantal love for them. They are slaves, in need of rescue, and can only cry out to God – no earning salvation here. When God goes to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, He tells them to sacrifice a lamb and put the blood on their doorposts. Then, the people are to follow Moses to the Red Sea which God divides for them so they can walk across. Now, by sacrificing the lamb, putting the blood on the doorposts, following Moses, and crossing the Red Sea, do the Israelites in any way earn their salvation? Of course not. Did they have to do all those things to participate in the salvation God was bringing about? Yes! In the same way, we in no way earn salvation by baptism, even though we must do it to participate in the salvation brought about in Christ Jesus.
In short: baptism is not a proscribed work, but a prescribed act to receive the gift of salvation. I hope these articles on baptism have been helpful. May God bless you. Thanks for reading.
Studies in the Bible 