This will be our final article in this series considering how Saul saw salvation. We have considered many Scriptures which evidence the necessity of baptism for salvation; yet, there are more. Even so, we will not be able to cover them all.
Many recently celebrated the resurrection of Jesus in the holiday called Easter. They are commended for recognizing, in a small way, the significance of Jesus being raised from the grave; however, the world needs to know that His resurrection is far more significant that one day out of each year. It is the reason we are to meet every Lord’s Day (Sunday) to worship Him (cf. John 4:23–24; Acts 2; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10). It is the reason we look forward to and long for the final resurrection in the last day (cf. 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). It is the reason we are able to have eternal life.
Saul (Paul) wrote to the church at Rome, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Earlier in that same context, he wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:3–5).
Eternal life through Jesus Christ is truly a gift from God. We could never earn it. Yet, in order to receive this gift, there are things we must do. We must believe that Jesus is the Christ (John 8:24; Mark 16:16). We must repent of serving sin (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–6). We must confess that Jesus is the Christ (Romans 10:10; Acts 8:36–39). And, as Paul has indicated here in Romans 6, we must be baptized. It is in baptism that we literally obey the gospel (death, burial, and resurrection). If we are not buried with Christ in baptism, we cannot be raised with Him to “walk in newness of life”—“eternal life” (Romans 6:4, 23).
Furthermore, the same man wrote to the church at Colosse how that the Christians there were “buried with Him [Christ] in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). If we want to be “risen with Christ,” we must first be buried with Christ. Paul says this burial and resurrection take place in baptism. As plain as these passages are, still many will deny or twist them. Will you believe Jesus (cf. Mark 16:16)?
Clifton preaches for the Coldwater church of Christ in Coldwater, MS.
