To answer this one must be familiar with the TEACHINGS of this church so I went straight to their website to read their “Core Beliefs Statement.” As I went down the list of their beliefs, I was surprised that nothing was said about their belief in Christ’s Deity, His Incarnation, His sinless humanity, His atoning sacrifice for sin on the cross, His resurrection, His ascension, or His Second Coming. Other vital doctrines were also missing, especially the doctrine that one is saved through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. Here is the second doctrine on their list: “BAPTISM BY IMMERSION IS REQUIRED FOR SALVATION. We believe baptism by immersion is an essential part of salvation through Christ. It is the only way to be baptized into Christ so we may enter into His everlasting covenant. According to the scriptures, we believe the path to salvation is: Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance of sins, verbal confession of our belief, and Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”

This is a grave error, for to add anything to the “finished work of Christ” is teaching that one is “saved by good works.” We read in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast.” I have met preachers from this sect who have told me that I am not saved if I haven’t been baptized and then they proceed to tell me (with pride) how they “OBEYED the Lord’s commandment to be baptized for the remission of sins.” I normally respond by referring to the saved thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) who was never baptized and then I quote the verses above. I also read Galatians 5:2-4 to them, “Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become CIRCUMCISED, CHRIST WILL PROFIT YOU NOTHING. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be JUSTIFIED BY LAW; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE.” In Acts 15:1 we see there were Jews teaching new concerts that they had to be CIRCUMCISED TO BE SAVED, and this question was taken up by the assembly in Jerusalem and that teaching was rejected (Acts 15:6-11). When Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia, he upheld the truth that if you ADD ANYTHING to being saved by faith in Jesus Christ, His work on the cross will not save you. The Church of Christ today is ADDING BAPTISM to be saved and thus they are in error and should not be considered a “biblical church.”

Their error is the result of “cherry-picking verses” to support their view and in doing so they are guilty of taking them out of context. One of their main “proof texts” is Acts 2:38 where Peter said to his fellow-Jews, “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Before we see what this really means, it is vital to see that salvation and forgiveness of sins are always taught to be by “faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” (see John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 20:30-31; Acts 10:42-43; 13:38-39; 16:31). Baptism is NEVER mentioned in any of these passages. Paul made it very clear that BAPTISM IS NOT REQUIRED for salvation in 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 21: “For Christ DID NOT SEND ME TO BAPTIZE, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power of God…it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached TO SAVE THOSE WHO BELIEVE.” God’s word will NEVER contradict itself so “salvation is by grace through faith ALONE.” The reason Peter told the Jews to be baptized was so they would show, by identifying with Christ in baptism, that they were wrong to have rejected Christ and have Him crucified. It would PROVE THEY HAD BELIEVED IN CHRIST! Verse 41 also proves they had already believed for it says, “Then those WHO GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD were baptized.” They BELIEVED the gospel and then they were BAPTIZED. Some may be thinking, “But didn’t Peter say ‘be baptized…FOR the remission of sins?’” He did, but the word “for” is the Greek word “eis” which can mean “because of” and not “for the purpose of.” Peter was saying, “Be baptized BECAUSE OF the forgiveness of sins you have through faith in Jesus Christ.  (DO) (718.3)