I realize that causation and correlation are terms typically used in mathematics and statistics. There might be a correlation between two variables, but a change in those variables does not imply that the change in one variable is what caused the change in other. Here I am simply adapting the language to talk about something related to salvation. 

There are various fallacies that occur in discussions about biblical salvation. One of them is the charge that those who believe that faith requires action also believe that they are earning salvation by works. If we say that we have to do anything, then we are claiming the glory for ourselves and not glorifying God. This is wrong on at least two counts: 1) it is a misapplication of faith (trust), and 2) it commits the fallacy of equating correlation with causation. That is, again, if two things occur together, then one must be the cause of the other. However, correlation does not imply causation. Just because one believes that X occurs in correlation with Y does not mean that one is teaching that Y occurs because of X. 

For example, if one believes that repentance and baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), then one may be charged with believing that baptism is the cause of salvation rather than God. That misses the point. Baptism correlates with salvation, but it does not cause salvation (as if it is an independent work apart from anything God does). God is always the cause of salvation. Always. “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet 1:3). 

It is a false dichotomy to suggest that because God causes salvation (as He does), then this means a person need not do anything at all as if that act of obedience takes glory from God. To the contrary, any time we obey God in faith, we do so to His glory (cf. 1 Cor 10:31). If God correlates particular actions with the salvation that He gives, then He must have His reasons for doing so, even if we did not understand. Who are we to deny or question His authority on the matter? Do we tell God, “We know you said to do this, but since works do not save, then we do not believe it is necessary right now. We can set it up to do it later”? Are we essentially going to tell God that we’ll just obey later and we expect Him to save us anyway? 

To see this further, note Colossians 2:11-13: 

“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…” 

If God correlates particular actions with the salvation that He gives, then He must have His reasons for doing so, even if we did not understand. Who are we to deny or question His authority on the matter? First, the context of baptism compares with the context of circumcision in one particular sense: there is a “putting off” of something. In this case, sins are cut away. Read Colossians 2 again. This is not the same aspect of circumcision being discussed in Romans 4 relative to Abraham, which speaks in terms of Abraham being justified by faith prior to circumcision (circumcision had not yet been commanded, but as soon as he received the command, he did it). 

Second, baptism is specifically referred to as a burial, “in which you were also raised with him…”  (compare this with Romans 6:3-5). The text teaches that one is dead in trespasses and the “uncircumcision” of the flesh, but then one is “circumcised with a circumcision made without hands … by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism…” Dare we say that baptism is unrelated to salvation here? It’s not even that baptism itself is the circumcision. Rather God performs the circumcision without hands by cutting away sins (forgiveness). This happens in His mind since He is the cause of it. Baptism is the submission to what God correlates with that. Will God still perform that operation if we refuse to get on the operating table? Are we willing to take that chance of disobeying God while still expecting Him to perform the operation? 

Third, notice in the text the cause of salvation. This is the “circumcision of Christ.” One who is baptized is buried and raised with Christ “through faith in the powerful working of God.” Then, “God made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.” God is the cause. Our faith is in His “powerful working,” not in our actions. God is the One who makes us alive and cuts away our sins. It is His work that makes forgiveness happen. 

What we have here is this: God is the cause and active agent in saving us. Baptism is the correlation given by God (we didn’t make it up; it is from God’s mind). Ours is, by faith, to submit to this and trust His powerful working. Real faith is about trusting God, taking Him at His word, believing that what He says and commands will be exactly as He has promised (cf. Acts 27:25). Faith will not separate the promises from what God correlates those promises, for that would be a manifest show of distrust and self-will on our part. That would not be faith (cf. Heb 3:18-19 where unbelief and disobedience go hand in hand). Refusing baptism because one thinks it is a meritorious work not only misunderstands baptism (it is in no way meritorious), but also fails to demonstrate faith in God’s powerful working (baptism is an act of submission to what God has expressed in His will). There’s the irony of one who dismisses baptism as an unnecessary work, for it fails to demonstrate trust. 

Colossians 2 shows that there is correlation between baptism and forgiveness, but the cause of the forgiveness is God Himself. One who is baptized by faith is not claiming merit in any way; rather faith is being demonstrated by trusting God and His promises in such a way that we will submit to what He tells us. This does not equate to “baptismal regeneration,” as some claim, but rather submission to God’s expressed will in view of His promise of forgiveness. God regenerates. There is nothing magical about the water. Baptism’s correlation with salvation is not because we get physically clean. Rather, we “appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). God is the One who cleanses the conscience by the blood of Christ (Heb 9:14). Yet how can we legitimately claim to have a conscience cleansed by God before we have actually appealed to Him for that good conscience? How can we rightly deny the baptism that God correlates with this appeal? 

Compare this with just about any event in biblical history that involves salvation and judgment. Joshua and the children of Israel did not cause the walls of Jericho to fall (Josh 6). People can march around a city and shout all they want to, but God caused those walls to fall. However, what if the people refused to march and shout? Did they earn anything by trusting God and doing what He said? What if they had thought, we’ll wait until after God makes the walls fall down, then we’ll march around and shout as a show of our faith? 

Did Noah cause his family to be saved by building the ark? Were it not for God’s grace (cf. Gen 6:8), Noah and his family would have been just as lost as everyone else. Yet Noah trusted God and built the ark. Did he earn anything by it, or does all the glory go to God? What if Noah refused to build the ark? What if he had thought, we’ll wait until after God saves us from the flood, then we’ll build the ark as a show of faith and obedience? 

Receiving the grace of God is not what causes the grace to happen. God is the giver of grace, and ours is to accept that grace on His terms, not ours. If God commands baptism in conjunction with this, then who are we to kick against the goads of His authority and sovereignty on the matter? “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). If we do not obey the Lord, we cannot see life. We cannot claim the promises of God when we refuse His terms, and no theological system that is superimposed over Scripture can change that. 

All of this means that while human action occurs in correlation with salvation, those actions are not the cause of salvation any more than was Noah’s building of the ark or the Israelites marching around Jericho. This is God’s will, and only God can cause salvation. If a man is drowning, and another throws out the lifesaver, the action of accepting the lifesaver is not what caused the saving event. The response is an acceptance of the offer to be pulled out of what will kill that person. On his own, the one drowning could not save himself. No amount of flailing in the water would have accomplished his salvation. Without God as the cause of our salvation, we have nothing. With God as the cause, who are we to deny the need to do what He told us to do? That is pride on our part, not humble faith. 

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:37-38)

They were not being told they could earn anything or be the cause of their own salvation. Their salvation was still caused by God, but their repentance and baptism was their response to what God told them to do in correlation with His offer. Our actions depend on His actions and demonstrate that we agree with (i.e., confess) and accept what He causes to happen (forgiveness). Let’s not confuse the causation with correlation. Yet let’s be clear: if we refuse to act upon God’s offer, we stand condemned in our sins. Again, “whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life.” Disobedience always brings condemnation. As Peter asks, if God’s own people are tested, “what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet 4:17) 

God is the One who commands; God is the One who saves. Ours is not to negate something that God orders, and we do not have the power to make His expressed will obsolete because we think it ought to be another way. In God’s wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and authority, He correlates baptism with salvation. 

We also want to make it clear that correlation, in this case, is not like it would be in a bi-lateral covenant relationship. We are not in the business of negotiating our salvation with God as if He needs something from us or depends on us. We accept His terms or we lose out on the offer. There is no bypassing Jesus on this (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Correlation, in this case, is a matter of submission. We bring no demands to this table; we have no treasure to offer. Rather, we surrender ourselves to His will and in this covenant, He provides salvation on His terms, His will, His way. We cannot provide additional terms as if we have the power to do so, nor can we deny His original terms as if we can nullify His expressed will. All glory is God’s! None belongs to us. 

Praise God for His powerful working and for giving us the opportunity to be enfolded in His saving grace!  

Doy Moyer