Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

Noah Was Not Saved By Water Baptism

The most important question a man will ask is what he must do to be saved. No question has a greater consequence than how this question is answered. Deciding one’s salvation will change whether a man enjoys eternal life or dwells in the pits of darkness in perdition. Two choices are all that are given, and finding the right answer is vital. Many teach that salvation is in water baptism. They believe that if a man believes with all his heart and enjoys a religious experience; yet refuses to be baptized in water – he will be lost. This contradicts what is found in scripture and the story of Noah and the flood.

During the days of Noah, it grieved the heart of God how wicked man had become. Realizing there was nothing to change man’s heart, the Creator decided to destroy all of His creation with a global flood. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and because of his faith, the Lord instructed Noah to build an ark for the saving of his household. Through the grace of God, Noah found salvation. Having believed faith in the providence of God, Noah built the ark in the pattern given to him by the Lord. When the day of destruction came upon the world, Noah and seven other people entered the ark. God shut the door, the rain descended, the flood covered the earth, and all that had the breath of life perished on dry land.

Noah was saved by faith. He was never baptized in water for the remission of his sins. He did not need to be baptized. God chose to save Him by grace. The Lord spoke to Noah and told him that he would be saved. Mrs. Noah was not baptized. Their sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth, were never baptized for the remission of sins. The wives of Ham, Shem, and Japheth were not baptized in water. The eight souls on the ark were saved by the grace of God and their faith. God never suggested to Noah and his family any requirement for water baptism. All they had to do was build an ark and believe. Faith saved the eight.

Today when people seek to understand what they must do to be saved, they can rely on the story of Noah to help them see the light of God’s word. Thankfully, God promised never to destroy the earth by a flood, so the need to build an ark is not necessary. Faith saves. Grace saves. Praise God because man can be told what to do to be saved. Like Noah, if a person believes they are saved. By grace, a man is saved, like Noah. There was never any mention of water baptism. Those who try to impose water baptism as necessary for salvation need to read the story of Noah. They will find that God saved these people without water baptism. Noah moved with godly fear believing in the promises of God. That is all a person must do to be saved. This has been satire.

There are none so blind as those who cannot see and continue to believe that anyone can be saved, like the thief on the cross. The possibility of salvation, like the thief, is as plausible as arguing salvation under the same conditions as Noah. Water baptism is unique to the gospel of Jesus Christ. God gave circumcision to Abraham as a sign of the covenant, not water baptism. Circumcision identified a person as in covenant with God. To be out of the covenant was to be uncircumcised. David was not saved through water baptism, but he had to be circumcised to be saved. No one living before Jesus rose from the dead could be saved by water baptism through the blood of Jesus. Everyone after the resurrection of Jesus were commanded to be baptized for the remission of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ.

The thief could not confess Christ as Lord because Jesus had not died. There were no requirements for water baptism before the resurrection of God’s Son. Trying to find salvation in the thief on the cross is the most destructive doctrine deceiving the hearts of many to believe such a pernicious lie. If you believe salvation is like the thief on the cross, you might as well go ahead and start building an ark. The results will be the same. There is no flood coming, and there is no forgiveness of sins apart from the spiritual circumcision Paul called – water baptism!