Baptism: A Biblical Study

Jack Cottrell challenges the new traditions of the Church whereas the sinner's prayer is substituted for water baptism. He shows you that water baptism is more than a mere symbol its the time and place where God pours His grace upon the one responding to the Gospel in faith and repentance. If you read this book alongside of your Bible it will open your eyes to the confusion the modern day church has allowed to creep in. It makes you wonder that if the devil attacks the doctrine of water baptism so harshly then it must be more to it than visualizing what is going on in a person spiritually. I would suggest you also pick up Everett Ferguson's Baptism in the Early Church. You will see Jack Cottrell's teaching on water baptism is not some new teaching, but the original teaching as the early church fathers testify to. It was not until Ulrich Zwingli began teaching water baptism as a symbol that the modern church picked up on this false teaching. Coming at the time of the Reformation it spread like wildfire as it attached itself to the Protestant movement. Below is a small taste of what you will see in this book. May it restore the Church to its original roots.Matthew 28:18-20: In the Great Commission Christ made the sequence clear: preach the Good News, baptize those who receive His message, and teach these new disciples to obey all that He had commanded. Why, we must ask, is baptism singled out from all of the commands we are to obey? It appears that it occupies a unique place and is set apart from the good works belonging to the Christian's sanctification following his conversion. In other words it seems to go more with the conversion experience.Romans 3:20 teaches us "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight..." Is baptism one of these works of the law? If so then we know that baptism has no connection with the salvation process. However, could it not be one of the conditions the Lord requires for someone to personally receive the benefits of His saving work? If so baptism joins faith and repentance as conditions for entering into the New Covenant. Thus baptism would not be seen as a work of the law, but one of personal response to what the Lord has done on the person's behalf.Mark 16:15-16: In Mark's account of the Great Commission we see the intimate link between faith and baptism. Many people become disturbed with this link though they do not seem upset over verses linking saving faith with other conditions. In Acts 2:21 calling out to God in prayer is linked to faith in God for salvation. Then in Mark 1:15 and Acts 20:21 repentance toward God is linked to faith in Christ. Over in Romans 10:9-10 it seems that confession was linked to believing in Christ's saving work for salvation.Acts 22:16: Ask anyone in church, at what moment did Saul of Tarsus get converted? You will probably hear "on the road to Damascus." That is what it seems like if you read only Acts 9. However, when you read what the Apostle Paul shared in his own testimony later in Acts 22 the timing of his conversion becomes obvious. After he had his encounter with Christ he still had not become a Christian. Notice that when Ananias arrived three days later he said Paul was still in his sin and needed them washed away? In fact, this is reminiscent of Peter's sermon at Pentecost where the Apostle linked baptism to the forgiveness of sins. Ananias even referred to water baptism as the way one calls out to God for salvation. This is why Ananias was urgent in telling Saul to get baptized.Romans 6:3-4: The Apostle Paul eludes to the fact that it is Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection that saves us. At the same time the apostle points to baptism as the time in which these saving acts are bestowed upon us. No, the water is not magical nor is the person's act of being baptized what causes a person to be saved. It is by God's grace and power alone that anyone is saved.Galatians 3:26-27: Let us consider how Evangelicals see baptism. The sinner repents and puts his faith in Jesus for salvation. Then this "believer" follows up their profession with baptism which represents what has already happened in them spiritually. Yet the verse does not read "All those who put on Christ were baptized." The reverse is true: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."1 Peter 3:21: Baptism is a sinner's pledge to the conditions of the New Covenant, "his request for forgiveness of sins and a new heart," and his visual prayer of faith in Christ's saving work through His death and resurrection. Baptism is not a work of man obligating God to save him. Baptism is saying to God "I need you to save me. I come into the water as you have instructed to receive the promises you have graciously offered to me. I want to receive your gift of grace now." Still salvation is by God's grace alone. Still salvation requires a response from man. Peter says baptism is man's response of faith to God's grace.

I don't agree with the authors position, but if you want to know what Restoration movement teaches, this book will teach that position.

This is a thoughtful, Scriptural analysis of baptism. For those desiring a good conscience about baptism, read this with an open heart for the Spirit of God to impress you with baptism’s significance. “By grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:8 NIV) will have an even greater impression upon your understanding, after reading this exposition. I could only smile, when I read Martin Luther’s response to those, who questioned his understanding of baptism. “Yes, it is true that our works are of no use for salvation. Baptism, however, is not our work but God’s.” I was privileged to make acquaintance with this author’s work, and “their deeds will follow them” (Revelation 14:13 NIV).

Jack Cottrell builds the foundation of his study on 12 key passages that allegedly support the view that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He gives detailed exposition through the passages, leading the reader into his proposition: "Baptism [is] a new condition for salvation in the New Testament era" (p17). The rest of the book is a defense of this view held by the Church of Christ. Perhaps a better title for this book is, "Baptism: A Condition for Salvation."I started reading this book thinking that it was a biblical study like the title said, but I was surprised to find out that it was a defense of baptismal regeneration. The author forces the passages into his theological position while neglecting to address the abundance of Scriptural teaching on salvation by grace alone through faith alone (Romans and Galatians). Anyone can make the Bible say what he wants it to say, when he comes to a verse with presuppositions and then fails to interpret the verse within its immediate context and broader context of Scripture. This is how many deviate from God's truth, including the author of this book.For all my childhood and teenage years I thought that you had to be good enough to be saved and go to heaven, so I tried to do good things. I stayed out of trouble for the most part, obeyed my authorities, went to church, and even was baptized. But I had no idea what true salvation really was, till about 5 years ago. God spoke to me through the Bible from Romans 1-2. He showed me how bad my heart was and that my good actions were not good enough to be saved. The Spirit of God showed me that I needed to abandon trusting in my goodness and trust in Jesus alone. That day I turned away from turned away from my sin and put my faith in Christ, and He saved me! He changed me! There was no water no preacher, only the Spirit of God convicting me through the Word of God. God called me, and I responded by believing that what He said about my sin and about Jesus' work on the cross was true.I know that I am saved, not because of a prayer I prayer, a work I did, or ceremony I was in, but because I trust in Jesus finished work on the cross for my sin. I don't have any reason to boast except in what God has done through the cross of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:9; Galatians 6:4). This is why I am writing this now, because I love telling people about what Jesus did for me. May God continue to save others who trust in finished work of Christ alone, and keep many from being swept away on the waves of false doctrine.

The careful explanations of the teacher and follower of Jesus will reveal these truths stand. 50yrs ago I studied these truths. Today they are stronger and more evident as we discover from documents now online written by the early followers of the Way. The political social Roman organization of the 3-4th century twisted God's teaching as revealed in Acts, John and others. Come out of Babylon and her divided daughters. Where do you stand on the commands of Jesus?