Obedience Before Baptism

Syllogism #1

1. Believing = Obeying (Scripture says this and John agrees)

2. One believes before baptism.

3. One obeys before baptism

Syllogism #2

1. Repenting = Obeying

2. One repents before baptism

3. One obeys before baptism

Syllogism #3

1. Confessing = Obeying

2. One confesses before baptism

3. One obeys before baptism

Syllogism #4

1. Calling upon the name of the Lord = Obeying

2. One calls upon the Lord before baptism

3. One obeys before baptism

Syllogism #5

1. Humbled and contrite = Obeying

2. One is humbled and contrite before baptism

3. One obeys before baptism

Syllogism #6

1. Knowing God = Obeying

2. One knows God before baptism

3. One obeys before baptism

Syllogism #7

1. Coming to Jesus = Obeying

2. One comes to Jesus before baptism

3. One obeys before baptism

Now, it was agreed, in my debate with John Gentry (and other "Church of Christ" apologists also), that faith saves when it is coupled with active obedience. The disagreement came over the precise time when one "obeys" the Lord. John contended that one does not obey God till he is baptized in water. Prior to that time, he is possessed of a "dead faith" and a "disobedient faith." Thus, I could reconfigure the syllogisms above in this form.

1. One does not obey God till water baptism.
2. One believes, repents, and confesses before water baptism.
3. Believing, repenting, and confessing, are not acts of obedience to God.