Julia recently posed a dilemma she is facing with her daughter in this article. It’s a difficult issue, since as Christian parents our duty is to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

We began by addressing the role of belief and repentance, in Part One of our series.

Next, let's look at the issues of confession and baptism:

One must confess belief in Jesus as the Son of God

Matthew 10:32: Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven."

Nicodemus (John 3) and others were afraid to openly acknowledge Jesus, however, Jesus requires this of us as believers in order to be pleasing to Him.

Romans 10:9-10: "... 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 with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

As has been stated, there isn’t one “magic bullet” to make one “saved.” There are many layers all entwined, and this verse captures that by showing believers must confess and believe. In our verses in the section under “Belief,” believing is linked with other steps, showing a progression of faith, and a multi-faceted approach to salvation. Each step of which we need to ensure our children understand, or have the capacity to understand given any mental health issues that may exist.

Baptism in water

Acts 8:36-39: "As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" “And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him."

Notice belief is yoked with baptism in these verses. Additionally, note that the text says that they went “down into the water.” This indicates immersion, not sprinkling, or pouring (both of which could be done from dry land).

Acts 2:38: Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Here baptism is linked with repentance. As we have stated throughout this series, salvation is a multi-faceted issue, involving many layers, each of which must be understood by those contemplating it!

Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Belief and baptism are necessary to enjoy salvation, according to these verses. Does the person wishing to be saved have the ability to understand this, and comply?

Matthew 28:18-20: “...Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...”

What is a disciple? One who follows the teachings of another. How is a disciple made? This verse says it’s through baptism.

John 3:5: Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus did not understand what Christ meant, however, we can understand because we have the Bible in written form now (something Nicodemus did not), and we can look at the “steps” of salvation in their totality and see that Jesus commanded baptism in order to become a disciple.

Acts 2:41: “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

How can one show s/he has “accepted” the message of Christ? This verse says it is through baptism.

Romans 6:4-6: “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

In this passage, baptism is compared to a burial. How is one buried? This would suggest one goes completely under water in baptism, just as one goes completely under the ground in order to be buried.

Galatians 3:27: “...for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

How do we “put on” Christ? This verse states that it is through baptism.

Colossians 2:12: “Having been buried with Him in baptism ...”

Again, baptism is analogous to a burial.

1 Peter 3:20 - 21 “ ...in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you ...”

Just as the human race was saved through their safe passage on the ark, baptism is the vehicle by which we are now saved.

Acts 10: The whole chapter is about a devout and righteous man named Cornelius. This man did so many good deeds and wonderful things, but the text states that he still needed to do something in order for his sins to be remitted (verses 47-48).

Next, in Part Three of our series, we'll look at the question raised in the initial post: Can one's "saved" state be "lost"?

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