The biblical practice of baptism demonstrates a person’s commitment to Jesus Christ.
By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings. (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38; 16:30-33; 22:16; Rom. 6:1-6; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12, 13.)
Baptism not a way to earn salvation. Instead, baptism is a public expression of faith in Jesus Christ, who has already saved people through his death. Baptism is an outward demonstration that a person has accepted Jesus's gift of salvation and is willing to follow him in death.
Like I said, but if you do not do it, you are disobeying a command. This act of disobedience puts the soul’s salvation in question. Why would a soul claim faith in Christ and have his first act to be disobedience? Why not be as the Ethiopian Eunuch that was converted and said (paraphrase) there is water right there what is to prevent me from being baptized?
There is no humble, obedient way to refuse baptism. Those that do so, put their souls at risk unnecessarily. You can say I have faith in Jesus, but Jesus told you to get Baptized, so what’s the problem?
Several scriptures come to mind.
If you love me, keep my commandments. Those that love Jesus will wholeheartedly get baptized and have the members of their house baptized.
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Can God save a soul without Baptism? Certainly, He is God. There is the Baptism of desire and the Baptism of blood, those that die before they are able, yet would have obeyed if they had the opportunity, and those that die a martyr’s death upon conversion.
We learn from Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the desert, just because something is in scripture , it is not always a good idea. Those that refuse Baptism are as those that would throw themselves off the tower to prove God would save them, but will God save them? I cannot answer that definitively. God has mercy on those that are ignorant. Forgive them Father, they don’t know what they are doing, but God is never obligated to save anyone. Because if He was, it would no longer be love but rather debt. For love to be love, it must be free.
God also says, I desire obedience rather than sacrifice. Those that refuse Baptism would be those that say, Not so Lord. I believe in the sacrifice of Jesus, so I do not have to obey. Really? Did they read the Bible?
That is why regeneration is not complete until a soul submits to Baptism. A regenerate disobedient soul is oxymoronic, it just does not exist.
We call Baptism the instrumental cause of justification for this reason. It is not faith that saves. Faith is just another outward sign of an inward reality as you say. The reality of justification is that we are saved BY grace, through faith, it is not of yourselves, and grace would not regenerate a soul just to have them disobey, that would make the word of God of no effect. Ephesians 2:8-10. We are saved unto good works and our first good work is obedience by being Baptized. Would not saying a sinner’s prayer and asking Jesus into your heart also be a work? You do have to move your body to do it.
We also see in 1 Cor 13 that the theological virtues, the ones that come from God alone by grace alone are Faith, Hope and Charity, not faith alone. 1 Cor 13 even says if I have faith to move mountains, yet have not Charity, I am nothing. Charity is not just loving people and being nice. It is divine love, which is whole hearted obedience to the commands of Our Lord, even if the whole world thinks it foolish. We can also see in 1 Cor 13, if we have not Charity, our words become as a tinkling cymbal or a sounding brass. They are nothing because they mean nothing without obedience.
You can believe anything you want about Baptism. God gives you free will, and it is not my words that will convince you. Scripture says no one comes to obedience in Christ unless the Father draws him (paraphrase). Given all of scripture, if you refuse Baptism, I would not want to be you before the judgement seat of Christ. You risk being among the goats that say Lord, Lord, and He says I never knew you.
That is too scary a thought for me. I am baptized along with my house. I pray for your soul, peace be with you
