Are we justified by faith or baptism

CARM

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A common question asked from all kinds of people in all kinds of churches is are we justified by faith or baptism?

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We are justified when we believe, not when we get baptized. Let me explain.

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The Bible says in Romans 4, 1 through 5, What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, is found?

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For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

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For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.

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Now, what was credited as righteousness? His belief. Look at verse 4. Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but what is due.

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And verse 5 is critical here. But to the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

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Two things here. Notice in verse 5, to the one who does not work, but believes. This is faith alone.

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You have two things there. Faith and works and works is negated. To the one who has faith, not works, then his faith is credited as righteousness.

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The same thing in verse 3. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. So justification, according to the scriptures, is being credited with righteousness.

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That's what it is. In Romans 5 .1, it says, therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our

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Lord Jesus Christ. Now check this out. For to you, it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake.

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It is God who grants that we have faith. And in John 6 .29, Jesus says, this is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

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So check this out. God grants that we have faith and that faith is in Christ. Simple.

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See, we're justified by faith without works, Romans 4 .5. We're justified by faith,

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Romans 5 .1. God grants us faith, Philippians 1 .29. The faith that God grants us is in Jesus, John 6 .29.

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Since we are justified by faith, then we're justified by faith when we have faith.

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Not when we perform a ceremony like getting baptized. Otherwise, we're not justified by faith.

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Check that out. Think about it. If we're justified by faith, then we're justified by faith when we have faith.

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If you say you're justified when you get baptized, then when you have faith, you're not justified and that contradicts scripture.

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Baptism is not necessary for salvation. It is not the thing that justifies us. It is faith that justifies us because the faith comes from God and that faith is in Christ and it is what he has done.