Does justification by faith eliminate baptism as a factor in salvation?
No, it does not. Although justification is essential to salvation it does not comprise the totality of salvation. Salvation includes forgiveness, reconciliation, sanctification, renewal, etc. The need for baptism is not displaced. But more to the point, when we examine the faith that justifies and saves, we find that that faith is never alone, we are justified and saved by a perfected, obedient faith. Faith without love, even the faith that could move mountains, is nothing. Raw faith, mere mental assent, without obedience is dead and useless. (James 2: 14- 26; 1 Corinthians 13: 2) When Abraham was offering Isaac, God prevented him and said, For now I know that you fear God. Stop the presses. God knew before. This was not news to Him. This statement was made for Abraham and you and me. James in explaining justification referred to this very incident. He said, And the Scripture was fulfilled which says. AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and he was God
