Longhenry/Olson Debate on Baptism

 
 
 Proposition: 
 The Scriptures teach that immersion in water for the remission of 
sin is necessary for salvation. 

Affirm: Ethan R. Longhenry (ELDV) 
Deny: Lloyd A. Olson (LAO)

 OUTLINE OF FIRST DENIAL 
I. REBUT OF SETUP. 
___Definitions 
___Methodology

II. REBUT OF SPECIFIC VERSES. 
___Matt 28:18-20: Greek confusion 
___Mark 16:16: Dubious Foundation. 
___Acts 2:38: Israel. 
___Acts 8:34-37: The Grilling 
___Acts 10:47 Temporal Sequence 
___Rom 6: Book Context 
___Gal 3:26-27: Spiritual Language 
___Col 2:12: God's Operation. 
___I Pet 3:19-21: OT Context.

III. CONCLUSION.

I. REBUT OF SETUP. ELDV's definitions illustrate the classic 
hermeneutical error in which the Bible is used to support 
denominational half-truths rather than using the Bible as the 
basis to discover God's view. ELDV did not properly define either 
"remission of sins" or "salvation" using Bible.

DEFINITIONS. REMISSION OF SIN. A 100% survey of "remission of 
sin" and "forgiveness of sin" shows they come in the following 
contexts: the Great Commission, Israel's national repentance to 
prepare for Jesus, and a result of saving faith – alone.

1. Great commission. Remission of sins in Luke 24:47 is generic. 
The parallel Matt 28:19 shows baptism (baptizw: a participle) is 
dependent upon discipleship (matheteuw: the main verb). Thus, 
remission of sins comes when one is made a disciple – not by 
water baptism.

2. Prepare Israel for Jesus. John, Jesus and Peter (Matt 3:2, 
4:17; Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38) preached baptism and 
repentance to prepare national Israel for their Messiah and His 
Kingdom. Even James at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:16) still 
looked for this Kingdom. Paul shows that this baptism and 
repentance doesn't save (Acts 19:4).

3. Saving Faith. Every other verse relates the "remission of 
sins" to saving personal faith in Jesus without any mention of 
water baptism. In Luke 1:77, knowledge of Jesus brings salvation. 
Remission of sins is before baptism (Acts 10:43) by faith in 
Jesus (Act 13:38-9, 26:18; Rom 3:25; Eph 1:7,13,14; Col 1:4,14). 
Forgiveness of sins is through Jesus' circumcision by a baptism 
made WITHOUT HANDS (Col 2:7, 11). In Heb 10:18, Jesus' death 
bought remission of sin stopping any further need of self-
righteous obedience or sacramental rite as it secures eternal 
life. Remission of sins is by faith – alone; in Jesus – alone.

ELDV's faulty definition illustrates the illegitimate semantic 
domain transfer. This can best be shown using the following 
sentences. __1. I run a race. __2. My nose is running.

The English word "run" is the largest semantic domain in the 
English language with 50+ semantic definitions. Native English 
speakers don't get confused for they understand the word in 
CONTEXT. It is a violent wrenching of linguistics to take the 
definition of "run" from sentence #1 and thrust it upon sentence 
#2 mindlessly ignorant of context.

Likewise, the "remission of sins" that brings salvation is 
nowhere in Scripture associated with water baptism. ELDV has 
taken the definition of "remission of sins" as given to national 
Israel and has violently thrust it upon the Great Commission and 
generic saving faith passages. Common sense rules of linguistics 
must be followed to rightly divide God's Word.

SALVATION. ELDV's salvation begins with INITIAL justification by 
faith in Jesus. To this, water baptism and other human works of 
enduring faithfulness are required to produce a certain (ill-
defined) level of perfection. Salvation is a conditional PROCESS 
in which the believer must become self-righteous.[fn1]. FINAL 
justification will only be awarded to the saint who achieve and 
maintain the (ill-defined) level of perfection.

ELDV wrongly makes justification depend on sanctification for who 
can reach the (ill-defined) level of perfection – even with 
divine assistance? Scripture affirms that the human heart is so 
desperately wicked that it is beyond knowing (Jer 17:9). All – 
every one – of our righteous deeds are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6). 
Indeed, even in our best of states, we are still nothing but 
vanity (Psa 39:5). Let's not be fooled! In any obedience scheme – 
any one sin is the equivalent of breaking the entire law (James 
2:10). The entire race is dead in sin (Eph 2:1, 5) in desperate 
need of an EXTERNAL source of salvation. ELDV's human-centered 
salvation is an unwitting avenue to death.

In contrast, the Bible is Christ-centered. Christ's life of 
righteousness and obedience is the basis for right standing with 
God.  Faith is the instrument – not the measure – that enables 
God's declaration of righteousness.  Justification is an EVENT 
completed at the moment of faith in Jesus. At that moment, God 
imputes Christ's righteousness to sinners (2 Cor. 5:21), declares 
them just and perfect (Rom. 4:5), translates them into heaven 
(Col. 2:13), forgives all their sins (Col 2:14), and adopts them 
into His covenantal family. Justification and sanctification are 
related; yet distinct. While sanctification is important; 
justification is primal. Sanctification rightly depends on 
justification.

METHODOLOGY. Most biblical hypotheses are verified by the great 
weight scripture. In contrast, ELDV's Trentine theology of 
justification twists verses conducive to misinterpretation by 
denomination rhetoric and then uses these violated verses to 
repudiate the great weight of scripture. His method pits the 
Bible against itself. In contrast, Reformed methodology 
harmonizes these verses.

When one begins with verses – isolated from context – infected by 
human centeredness – and biased by errant presuppositions, then 
any system is likely – even expected. His methodology would 
enable a system of carousing from: "Eat, drink, and be merry for 
tomorrow we die!" (Luke 12:19, I Cor 15:32). This silly example 
highlights ELDV's ignore context approach - exactly!

Let's see how ELDV has violently wrenched each supposed "proof" 
out of it common-sense Christ-centered context.

II. REBUT OF SPECIFIC VERSES.

MATT 28: GREEK CONFUSION. ELDV fails to use even first year 
Greek. The main verb is "make disciples" (matheteusate) while 
"baptizing" (baptizontes)is a participle. All participles are 
directly dependent upon the main verb. Thus, "make disciples" 
(justification) comes first and baptism (sanctification) comes 
AFTER justification – not BEFORE.  Note how proper exegesis 
supports the Reformation harmony of justification with 
sanctification.

MARK 16:16: DUBIOUS FOUNDATION. The first problem with using this 
passage is that verses 9-20 are not found in the most reliable 
Greek manuscript traditions.[fn2] ELDV builds a system on verses 
which don't show up in the Greek manuscripts until the third 
century. ELDV has presented a hoax that has been perpetrated upon 
Christendom.

Even if one accepts the fraudulent verses, they are abused by the 
negative fallacy error. A better way to understand Mark 16 is as 
follows. Whoever wins the Super Bowl and celebrates shall be 
champions; but whoever doesn't win they shall not be champions.  
No celebration does not imply no victory! One can be champion 
without celebration.

While baptism seems to be linked with faith for salvation, the 
denial of faith by itself (Mark 16:16b) is enough to condemn a 
person to an eternity in hell. John 3:18 also severs the link 
between faith and water baptism. In fact, given John's single 
purpose of instructing what must be done in order to inherit 
eternal life (20:31), it is noteworthy that he only mentions 
faith in Jesus' name and purposely avoids linking water baptism 
to salvation anywhere in his gospel or epistles.

While believing (justification) and baptism (sanctification) 
certainly lead to salvation, only believing is required for 
sanctification depends on justification. The negative fallacy 
error amplifies ELDV's confusion of justification and 
sanctification with respect to salvation.

ACTS 2:38: ISRAEL. ELDV completely ignores the context of this 
verse. In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked, "Lord, wilt thou at this 
time RESTORE AGAIN the kingdom to Israel?" In Acts 3:19, Peter's 
second sermon, he preaches, "Repent ye therefore, and be 
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the TIMES OF 
REFRESHING shall come from the presence of the Lord."

If Peter is looking for the restoration of national Israel BEFORE 
and AFTER Acts 2, then he is IN Acts 2. With proper context in 
mind Peter first shows his fellow countrymen that they have 
crucified their Messiah (2:23). Jesus rose from the dead, will 
return, and will execute Messianic vengeance upon His enemies 
(2:35; Psa 110:1-2; Isa 61:1-2;l; Jer 46:10). He reminds them 
that they crucified the One (2:36) Who is both "Lord and Christ." 
Repent and be baptized (2:38). Save yourselves "from this 
UNTOWARD GENERATION" (2:40).

It is deceptive manipulation to misrepresent the great weight of 
scripture by a verse intended only for first century Jews looking 
for national restoration and wishing to avoid God's wrath on 
their UNTOWARD GENERATION before judgment falls in AD 70. Common 
sense context shows that Acts 2:38 is not a normative principle 
today.

ACTS 8:34-37: THE GRILLING ELDV ignores Philip's grilling. We 
know from 1 Cor 1:14-17 that baptism is not part of the gospel 
message. So, it is evident that Philip preached more than the 
gospel. Philip would not allow water baptism unless he had a 
confirmation that the Eunuch had already been baptized by God's 
Spirit. Philip only baptized him AFTER his profession of faith in 
Jesus. Faith is the first step of justification; water of 
sanctification.

ACTS 10:47: TEMPORAL SEQUENCE ELDV ignores the easy to see 
temporal sequence. Peter preached the remission of sins 
(justification) by simple faith in Jesus' name (v43). While he 
was yet speaking, God's Spirit descended on those who heard and 
believed (v44). Only after the dramatic visible proof of the 
Spirit's saving presence did Peter make a move to baptize with 
water (v47). Peter emphasizes that these Gentiles were saved in 
exactly the same way as the apostles (v48). The Spirit's baptism 
(justification) comes BEFORE water baptism (sanctification).

ROMANS 6:3-7: BOOK CONTEXT ELDV ignores the first five chapters. 
God condemns human obedience (Rom 1:19-3:19). Only Christ's 
righteous satisfies God (Rom 3:20-31). Abraham is the example of 
justification by faith apart from sacraments (Rom 4). 
Justification by faith (Rom 5). Only after these does Paul 
mention baptism. Since the word "water" is not used anywhere in 
the chapter or the entire book, this baptism must be seen as the 
Spirit's saving baptism that comes at the moment of faith. Works 
of obedience (sanctification) only start in Chapter 8. ELDV 
violates the inspired contextual sequence.

Gal 3:26-27: SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE Can one physically put on Christ 
in baptism? If you can see the baptism, then it is only temporal 
(2 Cor 4:18). Only the unseen Spirit's baptism (1 Cor 12:13) is 
eternal. ELDV wrongly redefined spiritual as physical.

COL 2:12: GOD's OPERATION. ELDV uses less than half of the 
context. The right thing to do is to use the entire context. Let 
Scripture explain itself! Context begins in v7 where believers 
are permanently rooted and established by faith. Believers are 
permanently complete in Jesus (v10).

ELDV ignores the 2:11a reference to circumcision done WITHOUT 
HANDS.  He misses the 2:11b reference to Christ's spiritual 
circumcision.  In 2:12, he misses that saving baptism is God's 
operation. The spiritual symbolism continues in verse 13. Paul, 
in Roman 2:25-29, also contrasts symbolic righteousness of 
physical circumcision with real heart circumcision made WITHOUT 
HANDS. ELDV misses the contextual flow that links vv11-13 and 
describes them as a temporal event.

Everything here refers to spiritual salvation; not some earthly 
physical sacrament.[fn3] This is consistent with the rest of 
Scripture for it is God's Spirit Who immerses us into the body of 
Christ and seals until the Day of Redemption (I Cor 12:13; Eph 
1:13, 4:30). 

The thrust of this passage can be stated two ways. Negatively, if 
human hands are involved in a baptism, then that baptism does not 
save. Positively, real salvation is God's operation through 
Jesus' circumcision. It is the pinnacle of human-centered folly 
to think that temporal human rites could replace Christ's 
spiritual circumcision and God's operation.

I PETER 3:19-21: OT CONTEXT. ELDV fails to use OT context. 
Context (Gen 6:8-9; 7:1) shows Noah had ALREADY found grace in 
God's sight. Noah was ALREADY just, perfect and righteous. The 
whole Flood Saga to which Peter referred happened 120 years AFTER 
Noah's justification. Water baptism is associated with 
sanctification – not justification. Should our baptisms also wait 
120 years after justification? Justification comes first, only 
then sanctification.

III. CONCLUSION. Scripture teaches that water baptism is temporal 
(2 Cor 4:18), comes AFTER justification, and is only for 
sanctification.

As justification does not mix with sanctification, so also grace 
does not mix with works (Rom 11:6). If salvation is by works, 
then it isn't by grace. This contrast of 
justification/sanctification and grace/works is recast in this 
debate via a terminology shift; namely, a Christ-centered system 
does not mix with a human-centered system. If justification 
depends on human activity: (1) faith is voided, (2) God's 
promises are nullified, and (3) the Cross is canceled (Rom 4:14; 
I Cor 1:17c).

ELDV's presentation ignored context, broke rules of linguistics, 
and twisted common sense interpretations by denominational bias. 
His unbiblical human-centered system is now exposed and 
thoroughly discredited. Therefore, his water-baptism-saves 
proposition must be rejected today with the same vigor that the 
Reformers rejected this same system in the sixteenth century.

May Jesus be the center of our worship and theology! Lloyd A. 
Olson

FOOTNOTES: [fn1] Carpenter, "A Question of Union With Christ? 
Calvin and Trent on Justification," WTJ 64:2 (Fall 2002): 368.

[fn2] Aland, The Greek NT, 2nd ed. (New York: UBS, 1966, 1968), 
196-98.

[fn3] Beisner, "Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?"