Online Sermons
Lesson #12 – Baptism According to Peter & Paul
Series: Baptism 101 - What The Bible Says About BaptismLesson #12 – Baptism According to Peter & Paul
1) Is it healthy hermeneutics (rules of interpretation) to pit Paul against Peter?
Both Peter and Paul are apostles.
Both are inspired by the Holy Spirit – cf. Jn.16:13 and Heb.2:3-4
? Paul writes in Eph.2:8-9 7
For by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
Paul emphasizes that salvation comes by grace through faith and not of works.
Did Paul view baptism as a “work” that originated with and was generated by men?
If so, why did he write Rom.6:3-4 and Gal.3:26-27?
? Peter writes in 1Pet.3:21 7
And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - - not the removal of the dirt from the flesh,
but an appeal to God for a good conscience - - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
Peter draws a parallel between the ark and baptism - - both were God’s instruments of salvation.
Surely no one would argue that those who entered the ark earned their salvation.
Peter doesn’t hesitate to declare that baptism SAVES.
Surely we can conclude that these two apostles did not contradict one another!
2) Furthermore, did Paul contradict himself?
If we are to properly understand Eph.2:8-9, it needs to be studied side by side with Titus 3:5 7
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness,
but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
The latter part of this verse blends perfectly with our Lord’s teaching in Jn.3:5 7
…Unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God
3) Does the Bible anywhere say that baptism is a WORK?
If we’re not saved by works, but we are saved by baptism, it only makes sense that baptism is not a work.
We cannot earn our way into the kingdom of heaven, but thankfully God’s grace has provided a way.
We cannot be saved by our own works, but true faith issues in full obedience to the will of God.
We cannot save ourselves in baptism. God is the one doing the saving in our obedience to baptism.
This is why it is so vital that we teach clearly that one is BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS.
Baptism is God’s means of clothing us in with Christ. cf. Gal.3:27
