The Washing of Water by the Word - Baptism and Salvation

Only those sinners who have been cleansed of sin can be saved. Paul says we are cleansed by the washing of water by the word. How are we to understand the "washing of water" of which he speaks?Baptism is essential to salvation but there are many non-believers. I want to deal with one passage today that teaches this but which is seldom used because the word baptize is not found in the passage. The phrase used is "washing of water" as found in Eph. 5:25-27.

Eph. 5:25-27, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (NKJV)

The phrase "washing of water" is a direct reference to baptism. "By the word" signifies the reason for the baptism – God’s word. God’s word directs one to be baptized.

Some think they can be saved outside the church. There is no way that can happen. Why? Because Christians are the church. The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23); "He (Jesus – DS) is the Savior of the body." (Eph. 5:23 NKJV) Nowhere does the Bible teach that one can be outside of the Savior (his body, the church) and be saved. Is there anyone who would argue that one can be outside the body of Christ and be saved? I did not think so for that would be the equivalent of being outside of Christ.

Eph. 5:25-27 teaches that Jesus sanctified the body and cleansed it by the washing of water (baptism) – that is what it says; read it for yourself. Since you and I are the church that is how we are cleansed and sanctified. We are as living stones "being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5 NKJV)

Jesus is the chief cornerstone of this building (1 Peter 2:6-7), this spiritual house, this body of Christ, the church. Paul says, "You are God’s building." (1 Cor. 3:9 NKJV) We are the temple of God. (1 Cor. 3:16)

Jesus cleansed this church, you and I, by the washing of water – baptism. To argue with that is to argue with an inspired apostle – Paul. If you are thinking that possibly the phrase "washing of water" might mean something else other than baptism then take a look at 1 Cor. 12:13, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." (NKJV) "By one Spirit" is the same as "by the word" in Eph. 5:26 for the word is the mind of the Spirit, the Spirit speaking to us, leading us to faith and obedience.

Paul also tells us elsewhere how we enter this body of Christ, enter Christ himself spiritually speaking. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27 NKJV) See also Rom. 6:3.

Eph. 5:25-27 teaches that baptism is essential to salvation for note some things that are true if we fail to be washed of water. If you are not washed by water then you are not sanctified. To sanctify means to purify, to cleanse, to make holy, and to consecrate. True, the Bible teaches we are sanctified by a number of things, not just the washing of water, but which one of those number of things given in the Bible by which we are sanctified will you cast aside as of no account on your own authority? Will it be the washing of water? If so it is on your own authority.

The wise man says if God said it I believe it and it is essential to believe and obey to the very best of my ability. We do not have an option of picking and choosing. We cannot legislate for God. Can you be sanctified without the washing of water? (To sanctify means to make holy, purify, cleanse, consecrate.) If so remember that you are the one that said it, not Paul. Our attitude ought to be that everything that is said concerning sanctification and how it comes is true and essential.

But let us move on for there is more in the text. Not only are we not sanctified without the washing of water neither are we cleansed without it. If the washing of water is the way Jesus cleansed the church, meaning you and me – Christians, and that is what the text says, then if I have failed to be baptized I have not yet been cleansed. Do I here howls of protest? I think I do. Cleansed of what? What is there to be cleansed of? Sin.

But there is much more on this washing. In 1 Cor. 6:9-10 Paul lists a number of sins and says that those who do those things will not inherit the kingdom of God. He then goes on and says, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11 NKJV) "By the Spirit of our God" means the Spirit was involved but we are not told how he was involved, not here. We are told in the passage that is the subject of this article – Eph. 5:25-27. It was by means of the Spirit working through the word. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. (Eph. 6:17) It leads a man to faith and obedience. In their washing the Corinthians were cleansed as much so as the Ephesians.

Of Christians the Hebrew writer says, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10:22 NKJV) If a person has not had his body washed with the water of which the Hebrew writer is speaking (baptism) then he is not qualified to draw near. He may well attempt to do it anyway and tell himself he is being successful but he is at odds with the Hebrew writer.

Peter speaks of how to deal with this evil conscience and rid oneself of it. He says, "There is also an antitype which now saves us – baptism" which he says is "the answer of a good conscience toward God." (1Peter 3:21 NKJV) That is the man who can "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." That is the man who has had his body "washed with pure water." It is the man who was led by the Spirit.

There is more. In Acts 22:16 Ananias told Saul to "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins." (NKJV) What was Saul going to be baptized in? Water. What was going to happen as a result? The washing away of sins.

I have heard people who do not understand baptism say things like there is nothing in water that can wash away sins the idea being that sin is like dirt on the body that can be washed off. Well, no sin is not like dirt on the body where a little water, soap, and a wash rag will take care of it. But, there is something in the baptismal waters that will take care of sin. What? The promise of Jesus, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:16 NKJV) If a man is saved he has had his sins remitted.

In America today, among those who call themselves Christians, not many believe what Jesus said. They believe, "he who believes and is not baptized will be saved" just as well as he who believes and is baptized. Among other things that baptism is it also seems to be a matter of faith or should I say a test of faith? Whose faith is the one that saves? Is it the one who believes and obeys, to the best of his ability, every statement or command Jesus gave or is it the one who says yes, I know what it says, but it does not mean that. I do not need to obey that. It is not necessary.

Baptism is essential to salvation just as much as faith and repentance and the confession of Jesus but there are non-believers who will neither believe nor obey. They are in God’s hands. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31 NKJV) When you will not obey what he has clearly commanded it is indeed a fearful thing to fall into his hands. Preaching for Man Accountable to God
The Audio Sermons of Waymon Swain
By Denny Smith