See our playlist "Dealing with "Saved by Works & Baptism", "Church of Christ" at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBD55090718DA6D3D with 89 videos. Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (YouTube channel: CANSWERSTV at https://www.youtube.com/user/CAnswersTV, websites: http://www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG, http://www.HISTORYCART.COM & http://www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM) has attended Dayspring Fellowship in Austin, Texas (website: http://www.DSF.ORG; 5500 Avenue G, Austin, TX 78751) from1981 until the present & Jackson Boyett has been the pastor there until 2011 when he & his wife were killed by a drunk driver. Pastor Boyett has an earned degree from the University of Texas at Austin & a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Seminary. To hear other messages by Pastor Boyett click on https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Jackson%5FBoyett where 2359 sermons by him can be found.

What does 1 Peter 3:21 mean? "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (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." Are infants "born again" (John 3:3-8) & then suddenly become Christians when they are sprinkled with water? Is salvation found in being water baptized? Do you have to be a believer in Christ to be water baptized?

The following is an excerpt from our newsletter "Christian Debater Guide, "Church of Christ," Vol. 2, #1" (found at our website www.BibleQuery.org, click the icon menu on the upper left of the homepage & then click on newsletters): "

Q:In Acts 2:38, does this mean water baptism is necessary for salvation? A: No, Jesus is necessary for salvation. Neither repentance nor water baptism merits our salvation. Those are our responding to Jesus' work. Baptism is to be an outward sign of our prior inward faith and repentance. Note that Acts 2:38 was a command not a formula. Some might erroneously conclude that loving God, faith, believing, and trusting God are unnecessary, as they are not mentioned here. All who come to Christ should be baptized, and that is as true today as it was then. However, It is Jesus' blood, not our baptism that saves us.

Q: In Acts 10:45-48, is water baptism essential to be saved? A: Four points to consider. 1. They spoke in tongues prior to being baptized with water. 2. Speaking in tongues is a sign (but not the only sign, 1 Cor. 12:1-13) of being filled with the Holy Spirit. 3. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is only for those who are born again. 4. Those who are born again are saved. So, they were born again prior to being baptized with water. See the discussion on Acts 22:16 for a second example of being saved prior to water baptism. See also the next question.

Q: In Acts 10:45-48, since this passage was a very special occurrence, does this negate using this passage to show water baptism is not essential for salvation? A: No. This passage does describe an important transition for the church, but that does not disqualify us from understanding all of its teaching. Three points to consider. 1. Gentiles could be filled with the Holy Spirit, and thus be saved, prior to baptism at this time. This was not impossible for God to do and still be true to His Word. 2. Thus, it is possible for people to be saved , prior to baptism at other times, without God breaking His Word. 3. If your interpretation of the Bible requires that God cannot be true to His Word if anyone after Christ is saved prior to being baptized, perhaps it would be your interpretation, and not God's Word, that is wrong.

Q: In Acts 22:16, how do people get baptized and wash away their sins? A: Is it OK to say that people wash away their sins here as long as you remember four points. 1. The power to wash away is with God, not magic in the water. 2. God is not restricted to being "unable" to save people who are not baptized, because the thief on the cross was with Jesus in Paradise. 3. For our part, the pledge of a sincere conscience before God is more important than the water, as in 1 Peter 3:21. However, being baptized with water is a command for every single Christian. 4. The Jews were familiar with ceremonial washings in the Old Testament Law. Thus, Paul's audience understood what he meant and did not mix it up with the errors of "magic water" or "a restricted God". The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament p. 418 sheds some helpful light on the Greek here. The phrase "calling on His name" is a Greek aorist participle, which "refers either to action which is simultaneous with or before that of the main verb. Here Paul's calling on Christ's name (for salvation) preceded his water baptism. The participle may be translated, "having called on His name."

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