I have done some study about salvation and baptism, and have come to some conclusions that are in seeming disagreement with the doctrine of salvation through baptism. Undoubtedly, baptism is connected with the forgiveness of sin, an integral part of salvation, and commanded by Jesus. Yet my understanding of salvation is that it is a whole made up of parts ( faith, repentance, perseverance, baptism, etc). Does the Bible really speak about exactly when a person is "saved," or can we even say that it happens at any one of the points mentioned earlier? -- Jon Sherwood (Gainesville, Florida)
While I agree that salvation has several components--not to mention the fact that it has a future aspect as well as past and present aspects--I cannot agree that there is no specific time at which one is saved.
To wit, how can anyone be saved if still in his/her sins? It is the moment at which sins are forgiven that one comes into the light. Please read Acts 22:16. As you have seen, the N.T. consistently associates baptism with this moment, as does most of the patristic literature. Not that salvation isn't a process.
Even after we become Christians we are still "works in progress." But it stands to reason that there is a specific point in time at which one crosses over from death to life, from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12-13).
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