A Statement of Doctrinal Clarification
Pastor Brent T. Lively
Deep Roots Christian Church, Las Vegas, NV
November 15, 2009

The “Baptism” that now Saves you from 1 Peter 3:18-22

Many evangelicals have lost the meaning and significance of baptism and water baptism. My goal in the sermon on November 8, 2009 was to fully expose the truths of baptism and to show the relationship to water baptism, passing through the waters of judgment safely (in Christ), dying and rising with Christ, having our sins washed away (by the blood of Jesus), and how these aspects are all tied to the meaning of “Water Baptism”. These truths are momentous and ought to be an occasion for giving great glory and praise to God. I hope the following statements will further clarify what I was saying last Sunday in that Sermon.

1. Justification is by faith alone. “By grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of your own doing, it is the gift of God- not because of works, let any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

2. Baptism (regeneration) is necessary for salvation but not “water baptism”, because otherwise it would be relying upon works and would be ‘under a curse’ (Gal. 3:10) and we would fall away from grace (Gal. 5:4). No work is needed for salvation. However, water baptism is essential as part of the One Baptism of Ephesians 4:5. In addition, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is essential for the believer as well.

3. There is one baptism, yet three distinct baptisms (similar to The Trinity of God). Ephesians 4:5; the one baptism encompasses a trinity of baptisms clearly identified in scripture. First, the baptism into Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Second, the command of “water baptism” Acts 2:38 “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”. Matthew 28:19 records Jesus command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”. The third baptism is of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16) “He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”.

4. Water Baptism is part of the “One Baptism”. That’s why Peter says in 1 Peter 3:21 “Baptism now saves you” and qualifies it with a negative and a positive. In 1 Peter 3:18-22, Peter is clearly speaking of the baptism into Jesus’ death. (Matt 20:22; Luke 12:50 “I have a baptism to undergo”. Jesus was clearly identifying a baptism different than what He experienced at the Jordan River by John the Baptist in Luke chapter 3. In Romans 6:3 Paul says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” The water baptism to which he refers in this verse signifies a person’s prior faith in Christ or an “appeal for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21) and prior experience of having been crucified with Christ, buried with Him and raised with Him. Paul further elaborates on the connection between water baptism and being baptized into Christ’s death in Romans 6:3-11. This first aspect of baptism, which involves us being identified with Jesus in and by faith entering into His death, burial and resurrection, must be included in the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5. It is the baptism which Jesus told His disciples that we would be baptized with. So the first baptism, “Regeneration”, is the foundation for “water baptism” which is also a means of grace. This also is verified in Jesus’ own completion of the one baptism (1 John 5:8) “…the spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.”

5. Jesus as our example: He was conceived and born of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18- 20); and a subsequent experience of the Holy Spirit in Luke 3:21-22 at His water Baptism, and His baptism of blood, (death burial and resurrection). Jesus is our example in all things; He was born (baptized) of the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood. Jesus did not begin His ministry until after His water baptism and subsequent empowerment of the Holy Spirit coming upon Him. Jesus, from this time on, is referred to as “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1).

6. Completing whatever is missing: In Acts 2:38, Peter preached to “believe and be baptized and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. However, Acts 10 gives an account of a believer who received the gift of the Holy Spirit before they had been water baptized, and Peter commanded them to be baptized in water. The important thing to see here is that wherever any one of the three aspects of baptism was lacking, the apostles hastened to complete the missing experience. When Cornelius’ household had been converted and had received the Holy Spirit coming upon them, but had not been baptized in water, Peter immediately commanded them to be baptized. Acts 10:44-48.

7. This is a great mystery: On one hand, we are saved by grace through faith, and so at the point of saving faith we are thoroughly saved and yet a subsequent means of grace (water baptism) and filling (Holy Spirit Baptism) coming upon you is also evident. We must not remove the mystery from Baptism.

8. Summation: We are baptized into Jesus’ death (Col 2:12). This is why water baptism is so significant, “Anyone in Christ is a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come.” 2 Cor. 5:17. Water baptism immerses us into the full meaning of baptism, our new identity in Jesus Christ and the death of the old person. Therefore, those who are water baptized into Christ (who have been saved by grace through faith) are entering Christ into the waters of judgment and death (Gal 2:20), and when they come up out of the water, they have come safely through God’s judgment only because of the Grace of Jesus Christ, with whom they are untied in his death and resurrection. This is why Peter can say in 1 Peter 3:21 that baptism corresponds to the saving of Noah and his family from the waters of judgment in the flood. Most New Testament baptisms always followed saving faith. New Testament writers always assumed that those who were water baptized had also trusted in Christ and experienced salvation (Gal. 3:27). There is no evidence in Romans chapter 6, or in the New Testament that actual physical movements or immersion that are involved in baptism were accorded as ‘symbolic meaning’ alone. If you’ve received saving faith, you must be water baptized! The early believers were baptized immediately. Have we forgotten how many souls were baptized on Pentecost after responding to Peter’s sermon? Have we forgotten that in most nations today, whenever a converted Muslim, Mormon, or Buddhist is baptized and subsequently water baptized into Christ, that they are denounced from their families? Water baptism signifies in a powerful way our identification in Jesus Christ and our forsaking of all else. Water baptism will have to be reclaimed in American Churches but first, it will have to be preached.

Anyone who is interested may obtain a copy of my sermon manuscript by requesting it through email. If you have any further questions, please email me at deeprootschurch@embarqmail.com

For His Glory,
Pastor Brent T. Lively

Three thousand years ago, Joshua conquered Palestine with an army of worshiping servants. They were trained and understood God’s redemptive purpose in their assignment. God promised them that wherever their feet would tread, God would give them (Joshua 1:3). We too are called to exercise dominion on the earth for the glory of God through Jesus Christ and the New Covenant (1 Peter 4:11). That means mobilizing an army. Mobilizing an Army requires sacrifice, coordination and submission. I have been preaching God’s Word through 1 Peter which calls the church of God to greater works through five primary revelations: Salvation, Security, Submission, Suffering, and Serving. I want to encourage you to read 1 Peter and catch God’s vision for raising up an army of warrior/redemptors through Jesus Christ as the end draws near.

I had a vision two years ago of an army of warriors in canoes. This vision was very encouraging to me. Ten years ago, we didn’t start out in a cruise ship, but in a “canoe.” The Lord showed me a vision of canoes because He wants the church to be able to mobilize quickly and swiftly to do the will of the Lord in difficult assignments.

Right now we are praying and mobilizing an Army at Deep Roots, even though we started out ten years ago in a canoe, so to speak. God’s favor is upon us as we take further steps to mobilize an “Army” to “invade” this City for Christ. To get ready for this blessed invasion, we are having a Ministry Fair on October 4, 2009. At the Ministry Fair, we will be showcasing our ministries at Deep Roots to involve more people in God’s work here and abroad. Every one will receive a ministry passport and they’ll get to meet all the different ministry team leaders and coordinators. It’s going to be a lot of work but also a lot of fun. Then we are hosting our first Leadership Conference from Nov 1st -4th with Wallace Henley, from 2nd Baptist Church in Houston. Wallace has a lifetime of experience in equipping great leaders. Our purpose is to equip pastors and leaders from all across the city. Please pray for us as we are led by God’s Spirit to mobilize His “army” in Las Vegas.

Our job right now is to focus on equipping and training to expand and enlarge our ministry to our community in Northwest Las Vegas. Las Vegas is one of the worst hit cities economically in the nation. Unemployment has now topped 12%. Our city is ridden with pornography, addiction, teenage trafficking, crime, drugs, and just a mass of human hurt. Recently a woman came in off the street that had planned to kill her self that morning. She was so greatly moved during worship that she came forward for prayer, and immediately received powerful healing and deliverance. Remember Jesus said, “I have come to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free”. It’s thrilling to see things like this happening every week.

As I write to you, God’s Spirit is moving mightily in mobilizing pastors in Las Vegas too. Recently I had 12 pastors come together for prayer and fellowship, and now many are praying and uniting together to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe a day is coming when we will help equip and strengthen pastors all over America.

Please pray over me, as I travel to the FCCM conference in Waxahachie, TX in October, to join with pastors from our fellowship of churches for our annual meeting, and another trip to minister in churches in Ensenada, Mexico during Thanksgiving week. Thank you for your support to meet my families needs, enabling me to travel and to minister life, hope and healing to pastors in difficult places. Thank you for remembering us and helping to mobilize an Army to reach this city for Christ!

For His Glory,

Pastor Brent T. Lively