Questions:
- Is salvation about my decision, or God’s action?
- Am I born again by saying a sinners prayer and accepting in my heart that Jesus is my saviour?
- Is Baptism required for salvation?
Are we “born again” from:
Faith alone (the moment we decide to follow Christ)
- John 3:3–5 NIV. “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”
Jesus links being born again not just to belief, but to water and Spirit—a strong allusion to baptism, according to nearly all early Church Fathers.
. - John 1:12–13 NIV. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
This says they are given the right to become children—not that it automatically happens the moment they believe.
. - Romans 10:9–10 NIV. “If you declare 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 profess your faith and are saved.”
It shows that belief and confession are essential to salvation. This doesn’t exclude baptism, which Paul elsewhere says is how we are “buried with Christ” and “raised to new life” (Rom 6:3–4 NIV. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”).
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Baptism (the moment we are freed from original sin, become a member of the body of Christ, receive the Grace of justification and adoption)
- The New Testament explicitly says baptism is the moment of new birth (regeneration) and adoption (sons of God).
Galatians 3:26–27 NIV. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Titus 3:5–7 NIV. “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
. - Baptism is how we are joined to the Body of Christ, which is the Church.
1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
. - Baptism is clearly tied to the forgiveness of sins, which includes both original sin and personal sin, especially for adults.
Acts 2:38 NIV. “Peter replied, “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.”
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Edge cases:
The thief on the cross
- Luke 23:42-43 NIV. “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”.”
The thief was not baptized, nor did he have the opportunity to perform good works or participate in the church. His salvation appears to hinge on:- Faith and Repentance: He expresses faith in Jesus’ kingship and acknowledges his own sinfulness, showing a heart of repentance.
- Divine Mercy: Jesus, as the one with authority to grant salvation, extends grace in this unique moment.
This suggests that in extraordinary circumstances, where baptism or works are impossible, sincere faith and repentance can suffice for salvation, particularly when directly affirmed by Christ.
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Zacchaeus
- Luke 19:9 NIV. “Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, seeks to see Jesus and hosts Him. He pledges to give half his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he defrauded (Luke 19:8). Jesus declares, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9).
The text does not mention baptism or an explicit confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Instead, salvation is linked to:- Repentance and Restitution: Zacchaeus’ actions demonstrate a transformed heart, aligning with Old Testament calls to repentance and justice (e.g., Leviticus 6:1–5).
- Faith Implied: His eagerness to see Jesus and willingness to host Him suggest an openness to Jesus’ message, which may imply faith.
- Jesus’ Authority: Jesus’ pronouncement indicates that He recognizes Zacchaeus’ heart and grants salvation.
Salvation here is tied to a demonstrable change in behavior (fruits of repentance, cf. Matthew 3:8) and Jesus’ direct affirmation, even without explicit mention of baptism or a formal confession.
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Scripture suggests that while faith and baptism are the normative means of salvation, edge cases like the thief on the cross and Zacchaeus demonstrate that God can grant salvation based on:
- Sincere faith and repentance (thief on the cross).
- Demonstrable repentance and transformation (Zacchaeus).
- Divine mercy in extraordinary circumstances (Cornelius, Old Testament figures).
- God’s judgment of the heart and available revelation (those without access to baptism or full knowledge).
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Early Church Fathers:
Justin Martyr (c. 100–165)
- “They are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated… This washing is also called illumination, because they who learn these things are illuminated in their understandings.” (First Apology, 61)
Justin teaches that baptism is not symbolic—it is the moment of regeneration and spiritual illumination, meaning it is necessary to enter the life of grace and salvation.
Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202)
- “For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord… Being baptized, we are made clean.” (Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus, 34)
Irenaeus ties cleansing from sin directly to baptism. This shows baptism is not just symbolic but an essential, grace-giving act.
Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170–235)
- “The Father of immortality sent the immortal Son and Word into the world… who came to man in order to wash him with water and the Spirit… in order that we might be born again and obtain eternal life.” (Discourse on the Holy Theophany, 8)
Baptism is presented as the way to be born again and to receive eternal life—a direct tie to John 3:5. It is portrayed as salvific and essential.
Origen (c. 185–254)
- “The Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants… the stains of birth are washed away by the sacrament of baptism.” (Homilies on Leviticus, 8:3)
Comment (excluding infant focus): Origen clearly believes baptism washes away sin and is necessary to be spiritually clean. This reflects the view that baptism is the point of entry into salvation.
My Conclusion:
- Is salvation primarily about my response to God (faith)? Or is it primarily about God’s action through Grace and Sacraments/Baptism?
- Although salvation cannot come without faith, Scripture never says that a private, one-time decision to “accept Jesus” is the moment of being born again.
- Faith is completed and made effective through baptism, where the person is actually born again and made a child of God.
- Exceptions like Zacchaeus and the thief on the Cross emphasise God’s grace and sovereignty, but they do not negate the importance of baptism (Matthew 28:19–20).