Interesting Questions-44
On being baptized to be saved
Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, January 1997, p.3
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE in attending your worship
service was due to the promise I made to my roommate.
During the worship service, I did not expect to
see members solemnly praying. This scene touched my heart, more so
when the minister expounded on the true Church which Christ built
and which He will save. I learned that one must enter
the fold to be saved from God's punishment come Judgment Day.
My confusion set in when I heard Jesus Christ's
promise to His chosen people.
In John 14:2-3, He stated:
"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where
I am, there you maybe also." (New King James Version)
I do not doubt Christ's promise because every
promise He spoke will come true. But how about those who
believe in Him but have not been baptized? Will they
receive salvation or eternal life on Judgment Day?
Peterson Bagasbas
Metro-Manila, Philippines
Editor's reply:
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior
is, indeed, very important. Apostle John wrote that "whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (cf. Jn.
3:16, New International Version).
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn.
3:16, NIV)
On the other hand, those who do not believe in
God's only begotten Son have already been condemned (cf. Jn.
3:18).
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in
the name of God’s one and only Son. (Jn. 3:18, NIV)
Thus, we firmly embrace and uphold the teaching of
the Scriptures to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, believing in Christ is not all one has to
do in order to be saved. The Bible records this, thus:
"So Jesus said to those believed in him,
'If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples'." (Jn. 8:31,
Today's English Version)
Believing in Christ is not enough.
For one to be considered His true disciple, he must obey
the teaching of the Savior. What is Christ's teaching
for a man to become His disciple? One must be baptized
to be considered as Christ's disciple (cf. Mt. 28:19).
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Mt.
28:19, NIV)
Those who believe in Christ and have been baptized
are the ones assured of salvation as affirmed by the Savior Himself:
"Go into all the world and preach the good
news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mk.
16:15-16, NIV)
Indeed, it is necessary for a man to receive
baptism—and not only to simply believe and accept Christ as personal
Savor—in order to be saved
However, not everyone who claims they have been
baptized are assured of salvation. Those who have been baptized
according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ are found in one
body:
"For we were all baptized by one spirit into
one body—whether Jews or Greek, slave or free—and
we are all given the one Spirit to drink." (I Cor.. 12:13, Ibid.)
The one body Apostle Paul referred to is the
Church of which Christ is the head (cf. Col. 1:18). This is the
Church of Christ or Iglesia ni Cristo (cf. Acts 20:28, Lamsa).
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence. (Col. 1:18, NKJV)
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which
the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of
Christ which he has purchased with his blood. (Acts 20:28, Lamsa)
Thus, those who have complied with the Savior's
command to be baptized and thus be saved are not scattered in
different religions but are gathered in one body, in one Church—the
Church of Christ.
___________________
Note:
Verses in smaller font
were added for clarity. Emphasis ours.
Bible Study
Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free
to visit the
Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or
an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question
you have in mind.