In the age-old argument of whether baptism is necessary for salvation, our next objection is the “Hail Mary” of all objections. It is often employed as the last desperate effort of an anti-baptism proponent to reason out that baptism is absolutely not necessary for salvation. It comes at a pretty high cost when we think everything through logically. So, what is this final desperate objection?
“What about someone on their death bed?” This is an argument based on timing. This is an argument which appeals to emotion. Here’s what it says.
“It is inconceivable that a person on their death bed who makes a sincere commitment to Jesus, that Jesus would not recognize their inability to participate in water baptism and Jesus should therefore save them.” In other words, if someone is unable to be baptized, God should see their heart and make an exception to His well established Biblical Plan of Salvation as presented in The Great Commission. He should let them into heaven because they are dying and can’t obey the Gospel in water baptism. If we remove the timing aspect, we get down to the core of the argument… “God knows my heart and He knows my intentions are finally right.”
It can get emotional!
This becomes a really emotional argument because we all know deeply devout loved ones who were religious believers and have died but were never baptized in any way shape or form. If we believe water baptism in necessary for salvation, it leaves these dearly departed souls in an unsaved state. We look at their pious life and reason out a way of salvation that offers and excuse for their inability to obey the Gospel. We know that our dear ol’ Aunt Katie was a true Christian because she never missed a church service and tithed without fail.
This frames the first problem with this position. Without realizing it, we make dear old Aunt Katie’s salvation based on her good deeds and works during her time here on earth. We don’t want to do that, especially when we so ardently proclaim that we are not saved by our good works. It does not matter how awesome Aunt Katie was or how she served the poor and ministered through her church to the orphans in Zimbabwe. We are not saved by works.
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