The Washing of Water by the Word – Baptism and Salvation

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.