Does Baptism Really Save Us? Debating Early Christian Beliefs

Lesson Transcript

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now, this one is a real stretch because the early Christians read this verse; they thought it's saying, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you." I mean, can you see where they would read that into there and think it's saying, "Baptism now saves you"? Because we know baptism does not save us.

That was apostasy when they began thinking that we are saved through baptism, or at least, you know, it's part of the salvation process. But can we be generous to the early Christians, even though we know better that they would read this and think it's saying, "Baptism now saves you"? Okay? So, I mean, can we just learn to be generous.