Because members of the Church of Christ believe, teach, and emphasize the essentiality of baptism, many times we have been accused of believing in water salvation.  Nothing more is further from the truth.  We do not teach and we do not believe in water salvation.  We do believe that Jesus is Savior, and that to be saved one must comply with the conditions outlined by Him in His holy Word (Matthew 7:21; II Thessalonians 1:8-9; Hebrews 5:9).  We firmly and sincerely believe that baptism is one of these conditions (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-6; Galatians 3:2i7; I Peter 3:21).

In order to be cleansed of his leprosy, Naaman was commanded to dip seven times in the river Jordan.  When he obeyed, his flesh was cleansed of its leprosy (II Kings 5:1-14).  The cleansing power was not in the waters of Jordan, but in God.  Yet, God placed the waters of Jordan between Naaman and the cleansing of his leprosy.  Likewise, the water in baptism does not save - but Jesus as Savior has placed the waters of baptism between the sinner and salvation, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

Tim Arthur

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