WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT BAPTIZED?

  Peter wrote “Baptism now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21) There are several other passages of Scripture that reinforce this Biblical teaching - that water baptism is part of the salvation act.

  However, there are many people in the religious world that reject that teaching. And one of the most common arguments these critics will be to ask:
 “If someone dies, and they have not been baptized in water, will they go to hell?”

   Now, that’s a loaded question.

   If the answer to that question even comes close to saying “Yes, they can still be saved even if they’re not baptized” then the critic will reply “AHA! Then baptism ISN’T necessary for salvation.”
  But if the answer is “No, they won’t be saved” then the questioner will dismiss the response as legalistic and judgmental. Either way – they win!

   Like I said, it’s a loaded question, and those who use it are often a bit dishonest. They aren’t appealing to Scripture, they’re appealing to emotion – never a good place to start your theology.
  In addition, the question is a trap. It attempts to force the proponent of baptism into “playing God” by decreeing who is saved and who isn’t.
  But since we’re not God, we can’t legitimately do that. It’s foolish to pretend we know something the Bible doesn’t say. But, if the Bible says baptism is part of my way to “appeal to God for a clear conscience” and that it “saves me” I can’t simply reject God’s statements because I don’t like the implications.

   Now, this is not to say this is not a legitimate question and that the implications aren’t troubling. In fact, I struggled with this dilemma early in my ministry. Someone challenged me with that very question and I wasn’t sure how to answer them.

  Then, one day, as I was teaching a youth class about the Old and New Testament, I stumbled onto an illustration that helped me answer that very question. I asked the kids if they understand what a “Testament” was and got nothing but blank stares. Then I asked if they knew what a “Covenant” was and got the same silence response. Then, I asked if they knew what a “Contract” was… and all their hands shot up. Suddenly, I knew how to answer “the question” about baptism. I used to sell real estate in Fort Wayne, Indiana and I remembered something I learned there about contracts.

 THE ILLUSTRATION:
  Let’s say that you have a house you want to sell. You come to my real estate office and ask me to list it for $200,000 (and it’s worth every penny). But then you make an unusual stipulation: the above ground pool out back of your home does NOT go with the house. You are very clear about that as you sign the papers with me.
  The next day Fred comes into my office and he’s excited. He’s just seen my sign on your property and indicates he’s always loved the property. He’s just come into an inheritance and he wants to know how much for your home.  “$200,000? No problem” he says as he pulls out his briefcase and proceeds to place stacks of bills on my desk totaling that amount. Then he says “You know what sealed the deal for me? It was that above ground pool he has out back. I’ve always wanted one like that and they don’t sell that style anymore.”

  Now - I have an offer (your house) and an acceptance ($200,000 on my desk).
  Do I have a deal?
  The answer is “No.” In real estate it’s called “the meeting of the minds.” As long as there is a disagreement on something as simple as the color of a light switch, there’s no contract.

  Can I say to Fred “No problem. The house is yours!”?
  Answer: “No.” Why not? Because I don’t own the house. YOU do. I can’t speak on your behalf in this matter because I don’t have the right.
  Can I say to Fred “There is NO WAY he’ll will sell you that house with that pool?” Again, “no.” Why not? Because I don’t own the house. If you want to accept Fred’s offer, that’s your business - but I’m just the agent, not the owner.
  In real estate, we solve this conundrum by having the buyer present a “counter-offer” such as: “I’ll give you an additional $5000 for the house if you’ll just throw in the pool.” The agent can then present the counter-offer to the owners, and the owners can accept or decline as they see fit.

   Now, what happens if I just “forget” to mention the pool thing to Fred? I get the papers all signed, and I walk away with my commission… what’s going to happen?
  Answer: There are going to be 2 very unhappy families when Fred tries to move in, and I will end up being sued and probably lose my license. I might even face jail time for fraud.

 THIS IS HOW THE ILLUSTRATION PLAYS OUT.

  God has a house for sale – it’s called salvation. And He’s already paid the purchase price – the blood of Jesus. However, the Bible tells us there are a few “conditions on the sale”: Faith, Repentance, Confession, Baptism and the Commitment to live the rest of my life for God.
  If someone comes to God and expects to receive salvation without accepting one of those conditions (for example: baptism), they’ve essentially offered God a counter-offer.
  Now, can God accept that person’s counter-offer? Of course He can. God owns the house and it’s His option and right to accept any counteroffers if He wishes. HOWEVER, that’s not the way the contract is written.
  If the real estate agent (preacher, teacher or whatever) tries to modify the contract, they do so at their own peril. They don’t own the house and therefore they don’t have the right to tell folks that God will accept less than what He’s stated in the contract.

  That’s the warning in James 3:1 “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Just as a real estate agent might lose their license… if we leave something out of the contract that God put there, we could lose far more.

 ONE MORE THOUGHT

  When you sign a contract to buy a house, does your signature on the contract BUY the house?
  Answer “No.” It’s the money you borrow from the bank that does that.
  Can you buy the house without signing the contract? Again “No.” It is not a legal contract until you’ve signed on the bottom line.

  In the same way baptism is like signing the contract to accept God’s gift of salvation. Your baptism doesn’t BUY your salvation (the Blood of Jesus did that, and there is no way you can ever repay His sacrifice) but according to the contract in Scripture – until you are baptized you have not “signed the contract” and have not legitimately accepted His grace.

   If you haven’t completed your appeal to God for salvation, now is the time to act. Act upon your faith and your repentance and find someone who will bury you in the waters of baptism. Then rise from the waters of baptism to walk in newness of life.