Much Water

"And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was MUCH WATER there: and they came, and were baptized." (John 3:23)

Lord willing, we will be baptizing sister Lainey Miller tomorrow after our preaching service. There will be MUCH WATER in the baptistry and an opportunity for those who believe and have yet to join the Lord's church to ask,

"See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts 8:36).

The answer today is the same as it was in the 1st century,

"If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." (Acts 8:37)

BAPTISM SAVES

There is a SALVATION in baptism in the form of declaring the risen Lord before men and following the Savior's example in gospel obedience.

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us" (I Peter 3:21a)

TIMELY SALVATION

It is TIMELY in that it affects things in the here and "now." In other words, it does not remove one's sins or play any role whatsoever in determining where someone will spend eternity.

"(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" (I Peter 3:21b)

CONDITIONED ON OBEDIENCE

It is CONDITIONAL in that one must willingly and actively choose to submit and obey this ordinance through the spirit's ever-present enablement (I Corinthians 10:13). This makes the salvation of baptism distinct from our unconditional eternal salvation. All of God's chosen sheep shall be eternally saved unconditionally (Matthew 1:21) and shall receive the full benefits thereof (Romans 8:31-39). That salvation is utterly independent of one's willing and active participation (Titus 3:5, Romans 9:16). But the salvation available to us in baptism is conditioned upon our willing and active obedience.

BAPTISM IS A CONDITIONAL TIME SALVATION

There is perhaps no clearer demonstration of the principle of Conditional Time Salvation than the ordinance of baptism. Lord willing, this opportunity will be open to believers who desire to follow their Lord's example tomorrow, so that all who have faith in Christ might declare:

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6:2)

- Elder Daniel Samons