Baptism: Work of God, Or Work Of Man?
Baptismal remission advocates insist that water baptism is " the work of God", and that man's role is " passive " during the actual act of baptism. It is God who is active, and not man, during a " proper " immersion, they conclude. By " proper " I mean that you understand that you are contacting the blood of Christ at the precise moment that you are being baptized. These apologists claim that the only " working " that was being done as you were being baptized was done by God Himself. At this point common logic begs the question " was there any toiling or physical labor done by man at the time you were being baptized"? If the answer is " yes ", then how can it be a " passive " role on man's part? The words " deeds " or " works " in the New Testament have the same meaning . It is the Greek word " ergon", and is defined as " to toil ". We get our word " ergonomics " from this word which means " the study of toiling ". When the Bible says that if Abraham were justified by works in Romans 4:2, It means by ANY works. Religious people, in an attempt to teach justification by works and inherent righteousness, teach that " works " here mean " works of the Law ". Nothing could be farther from the Truth. It was not possible for Abraham to be justified by the works of something that did not exist; the Law. He could have attempted, however, to be justified by " works of righteousness which we have done " ( Titus 3:5 ), something man has been trying to do since man has existed. Baptism, as a requirement for Salvation, is a requirement of works for Salvation because it is a requirement of man's toiling to accomplish Salvation. It is the very essence of Salvation by works, because it is obligating man to perform physical labor in order to be saved. It is in no way " passive " when toiling is involved regardless of what baptismal remissionists say. God is not " working " when man is baptized; man is. The apologists of this doctrine contend that God is " working " when one is baptized, and reference Colossians 2:12 to prove this. Actually, the word " operation ", being used here, means " power ", and not toiling. It is defined as the Greek word "Energia". If you look closely at the context of Scripture, it is FAITH IN this " power " that relates to baptism in this passage of Scripture. The emphasis is placed on " faith " and not " power ". You will never hear a baptismal remission apologist emphasizing faith over works, and it is no different when they interpret this passage of Scripture. Faith is ALWAYS passive; water baptism is NEVER passive, as defined by the baptismal remission advocate. Those that are saved by water baptism are saved by works, because Salvation is not possible unless MAN TOILS. When does this " toiling " ( works ) take place by man during immersion? When the one being baptized " labors " to get into the water, and when the one(s) baptizing " labor " to immerse the candidate. No toiling, no Salvation. Baptismal remissionists may insist that water baptism on man's part is " passive " ( no work involved ), but this claim is negated by the simple facts. The Judaizers taught that you are saved by circumcision, a ritual that required " toiling ", and baptismal remissionists demand that you are saved by a proper baptism , a ritual that requires " toiling ". This is Salvation by works in it's purest form, and anyone denying this is denying reality. Every baptism that I have ever witnessed involved at least two persons toiling (works ); the one walking into the water, and the one immersing into the water. I have never seen God do any " toiling " when a person was baptized, and neither have you. Those that teach Salvation by water baptism need to unashamedly proclaim that man is saved by the toiling of man ( Salvation by works ), and stop insisting that man does not work to be saved. No one was ever saved by works, and Salvation by water baptism is Salvation by works. Do you want to trust man's works to be saved, or belief on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Jesus always offered Salvation to the one who believes, not to the one who works, and it is no different today. Fully trust Him. He is "able " to " save to the uttermost " ( Hebrews 7:25 ).
Baptismal remission advocates insist that water baptism is " the work of God", and that man's role is " passive " during the actual act of baptism. It is God who is active, and not man, during a " proper " immersion, they conclude. By " proper " I mean that you understand that you are contacting the blood of Christ at the precise moment that you are being baptized. These apologists claim that the only " working " that was being done as you were being baptized was done by God Himself. At this point common logic begs the question " was there any toiling or physical labor done by man at the time you were being baptized"? If the answer is " yes ", then how can it be a " passive " role on man's part? The words " deeds " or " works " in the New Testament have the same meaning . It is the Greek word " ergon", and is defined as " to toil ". We get our word " ergonomics " from this word which means " the study of toiling ". When the Bible says that if Abraham were justified by works in Romans 4:2, It means by ANY works. Religious people, in an attempt to teach justification by works and inherent righteousness, teach that " works " here mean " works of the Law ". Nothing could be farther from the Truth. It was not possible for Abraham to be justified by the works of something that did not exist; the Law. He could have attempted, however, to be justified by " works of righteousness which we have done " ( Titus 3:5 ), something man has been trying to do since man has existed. Baptism, as a requirement for Salvation, is a requirement of works for Salvation because it is a requirement of man's toiling to accomplish Salvation. It is the very essence of Salvation by works, because it is obligating man to perform physical labor in order to be saved. It is in no way " passive " when toiling is involved regardless of what baptismal remissionists say. God is not " working " when man is baptized; man is. The apologists of this doctrine contend that God is " working " when one is baptized, and reference Colossians 2:12 to prove this. Actually, the word " operation ", being used here, means " power ", and not toiling. It is defined as the Greek word "Energia". If you look closely at the context of Scripture, it is FAITH IN this " power " that relates to baptism in this passage of Scripture. The emphasis is placed on " faith " and not " power ". You will never hear a baptismal remission apologist emphasizing faith over works, and it is no different when they interpret this passage of Scripture. Faith is ALWAYS passive; water baptism is NEVER passive, as defined by the baptismal remission advocate. Those that are saved by water baptism are saved by works, because Salvation is not possible unless MAN TOILS. When does this " toiling " ( works ) take place by man during immersion? When the one being baptized " labors " to get into the water, and when the one(s) baptizing " labor " to immerse the candidate. No toiling, no Salvation. Baptismal remissionists may insist that water baptism on man's part is " passive " ( no work involved ), but this claim is negated by the simple facts. The Judaizers taught that you are saved by circumcision, a ritual that required " toiling ", and baptismal remissionists demand that you are saved by a proper baptism , a ritual that requires " toiling ". This is Salvation by works in it's purest form, and anyone denying this is denying reality. Every baptism that I have ever witnessed involved at least two persons toiling (works ); the one walking into the water, and the one immersing into the water. I have never seen God do any " toiling " when a person was baptized, and neither have you. Those that teach Salvation by water baptism need to unashamedly proclaim that man is saved by the toiling of man ( Salvation by works ), and stop insisting that man does not work to be saved. No one was ever saved by works, and Salvation by water baptism is Salvation by works. Do you want to trust man's works to be saved, or belief on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Jesus always offered Salvation to the one who believes, not to the one who works, and it is no different today. Fully trust Him. He is "able " to " save to the uttermost " ( Hebrews 7:25 ).
