The charge is often made that baptism is excluded from the plan of redemption because it is a “work.” And since no one is saved by “works” (Eph. 2:9), baptism cannot be essential to salvation.

Is baptism a meritorious human work? Absolutely not. It cannot be a meritorious human work because our Lord commanded it when He said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

The Bible clearly teaches that we are not saved by works (Titus 3:4-7; Eph. 2:9). Yet the Bible also clearly teaches we are saved by works (James 2:14-24). Since the Bible does not contradict itself, it is obvious that two different kinds of works are under consideration in the above passages. » Continue reading “Is Baptism A Human Work?”