Baptism

So over the past couple of days, I've been "confronted" by a view that I don't necessarily agree with my new church on. My church, Cornerstone Christian Church, believe in baptism as a "essential" step in salvation. Here's our "who we are" page. See, after talking to one of the pastors, they believe that the biblical model is to believe and be baptized. Acts 2:38 says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." This perplexes me because Peter does not tell the people there to believe, like Paul says in Romans 10:9-10, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Peter specifically says to the people who were "cut to the heart" (Acts 2:27) to repent and be baptized.

Was it Peter's intent to set baptism as a pre-requisite to salvation? Here when he was talking to the people, he was speaking primarily on David and his faith that the Lord would restore his throne and send a Redeemer (and has in Jesus), and I think that Peter was saying that if you believe this, like David, then repent and be baptized.

Penny and I are just about finished with 1 Peter, but we went through Ch 3 and looked at vv 18-22 where it discusses Jesus proclaiming victory to the "spirits in prison" and the analogy of water in "rescuing" Noah - but I don't think the water was a saving force, but more as the means of a judgment from what I've studied in a few commentaries. Peter says that the water symbolizes baptism that now saves us also, "not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven, and is at God's right hand..." (3:21-22)

Now - most of you are probably pretty familiar that I believe as baptism as the public demonstration of our inward conversion by the Holy Spirit (I learned a big word the other day - "monergism"). For example verse one of "Blessed Assurance" ends with the line "born of His Spirit, washed in His blood."

Well - back to my discussion with the pastor. We discussed it for like 20 minutes, and he described being a Christian like being married. He asked "Are you married when you walk in the church, or is it when you exchange rings, or how about when the officiant pronounces you husband and wife? Or even further, is it when you consummate the marriage?" (good point - does anyone know the answer?) Well he said it's the same as with our baptism, to which I ask: If I led someone to Christ, and we were walking across the street to get baptized, and got struck by a truck, would that one person be in Christ's flock? He said, "Yes."

Where we differ is that he believes baptism is connected essentially to "salvation" where I believe it is necessarily connected to "salvation." As Christians, I believe we are commanded by Jesus to follow in His example in baptism. However, it is not essential for God to see us as cleansed and forgiven.

Ian was clear in stating that nothing "special" happens when people get baptized except get wet (phew!).

So, where do I stand right now? I believe what I believe still - and respect my new churches too. But I don't think that what we were discussing is a dichotomy that requires me to separate from them. Why? Because of the application of the theology. In our church people have been moved by the Holy Spirit to believe...and then what next? They are baptized - the biblical model. I like that there's no "waiting period" to "examine" if the faith is "genuine."
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Well - this is certainly a big rant, but hopefully I'll get some good feedback. Talk to you all soon!