To me, one of the great mysteries of the Christian world is how folks can read Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned," then tell someone who wants to be saved that baptism has nothing to do with salvation. I have no idea what prompts a person, who accepts the passages that teach the necessity of belief and repentance for salvation, to reject the verses that teach that baptism is also necessary. When did the plan of salvation become so subjective that folks can pick and choose what they want to do to be saved and toss out what they don't like? It is unfortunate that such a clear and important topic has become the source of so much confusion and discontent. Because some who claim to worship Christ assert that baptism is not necessary for salvation, and others, also claiming to worship Christ, strenuously assert that it is, a study of the issue is always relevant and important. This article serves that purpose.

I suppose the most important question, and the one really at the heart of the issue, is: Is baptism essential for one's salvation? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to determine what the Scriptures tell us actually takes place when we undergo baptism.

Let's begin by examining the Acts 2 account of the first proclamation of the full gospel. One of the major themes of Peter's sermon in that chapter was the guilt of those who handed Christ over for crucifixion. By verse 37, we observe a dramatic change within these people's consciences and thinking. They believed what Peter said to them, proving conclusively Paul's words in Romans 10:17: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Because they believed, and because they were feeling the unbearable sting of their guilt, they cried out to Peter and the other apostles: "Brothers, what shall we do." (v. 37)

What were these people asking? Were they asking what they should do now that they had already entered into a relationship with Christ? Were they asking what they should do now that their sins had been forgiven? When we read Peter's sermon and observe their reaction, it immediately becomes apparent that they were asking what they needed to do in order to have their sins removed and begin life as saved men. Peter answered in the very next verse: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (v. 38) He could not have made it any clearer. If a person would have his sins remitted (forgiven) then he has to do it in the waters of baptism. Some folks say that Peter told them to be baptized because their sins were already forgiven. Not only is that obviously not what Peter said, but it would also force these folks, in order to be consistent, to put repentance in the same boat. Since our Lord said, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5), it is obvious that repentance precedes salvation. Peter said that baptism also does.

This is not the only passage that links baptism to forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 5:26 speaks of Christ's relationship with the church. The verse says that the church has been "cleansed by the washing of water with the word." One might ask, "Cleansed from what?" Peter gave the answer in Acts 2:38, and we can also find it in Ananias's words to Paul as he reflected on his conversion. Acts 22:16 says: "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name."

If you wish to tell someone that baptism is for washing away a person's sins, how would you do it? Wouldn't Acts 22:16 do the job? What can we conclude from the Scriptures we've studied thus far? The only conclusion possible is that baptism is for (in order to) the remission of sins. Now friends, after reading these Scriptures, would we not have to conclude that only a dishonest individual would teach otherwise?

However, baptism does yet another thing for the one who receives it. Galatians 3:26-27 says: "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." I don't know a single person who claims to worship Christ and says that people are saved if they have not put on Christ. Did you notice that Paul, in these verses, told us how to put on Christ? The one who has been baptized into Christ has put on Christ. My friends, those are Paul's exact words! If you wanted to tell someone what it takes to put on Christ, what would you say? Could you make it any plainer than Paul did in Galatians 3:27?

A common question we hear concerns our reason for claiming that one contacts the Lord's blood in baptism. It's a good question, and Romans 6 provides the answer. This wonderful chapter teaches that each person who submits to Christ in baptism symbolically joins with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Space does not permit inclusion of the entire chapter, but please take the time to read and study it. Verse 3 says, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Was it not in Christ's death that He shed His blood (John 19:34)? The Scriptures teach that one is baptized into Christ's death; John 19:34 shows us that Jesus shed His blood in death; thus, we come in contact with His blood when we are baptized into His death. My friends, this is not our teaching; it is the teaching of Scripture.

Later in this article, we will discuss the question, "Who is a candidate for baptism." But before we do, I would like for us to examine another verse. 1 Peter 3:21 says, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." This passage absolutely thunders, does it not? The simple fact is that those who claim that baptism is not necessary to salvation, at the same time, concede that they do not believe what the Bible teaches. Let me give you something to think about; in the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and his wife that that they could eat of every tree in the Garden, save the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If they ate of that tree, they would surely die (Genesis 3:16-17). Satan came along and tempted the woman to eat of the tree. Do you remember what he said to her? "You will not surely die." (Genesis 3:1-4) Now we come to 1 Peter 3:21, where God, speaking through Peter, tells us that baptism "now saves you." And yet there are those who claim baptism does not "now save you." Sounds eerily familiar, doesn't it?

Who is a candidate for baptism? This also is a good and important question. Remember the Acts 2 folks whom we discussed at the beginning of this article? They were people who believed in Christ. They did not know much at that point, but they knew enough to believe that He really was God's Son, that they were guilty of His death, and that He had risen from the grave. Peter told them to be baptized. Perhaps the best Bible example of one who was a candidate for baptism is the Ethiopian eunuch about whom we read in Acts 8. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?' And Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he replied, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." (Acts 8:35-38)

The eunuch's confession really shows us who is a candidate for baptism. It is the one who believes with all of his heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (and all that accompanies that belief).

Notice a few other points from this account. An infant or young child does not constitute a candidate for baptism. An infant does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God and certainly cannot confess that belief. The Lord does not require any person who lacks the capacity to believe in Christ Jesus to be baptized; the simple fact is: that person does not have the ability to understand what he needs to do. Also, please notice that Philip and the eunuch went "down into the water." Philip did not sprinkle a little water on his head; he took him down into the water and immersed him. Remember, we are baptized into the burial of our Lord Jesus. Sprinkling does not constitute a burial, and it never has.

Is baptism essential for salvation? After what we have read from the Scriptures, can any honest person deny it? If you are not a Christian, I beg you to study closely the verses that have been presented. Read Romans 6 and learn about the significance of submitting yourself to Christ in the waters of baptism. If you are part of a group that claims baptism is not essential for salvation, go to your leaders and make them explain these passages. Should you realize that you have not done what the Bible teaches concerning salvation, and you need to be baptized for the remission of your sins, we would love to help you begin your relationship with Christ. Please do not hesitate to contact us using the information on the front of this publication. Souls are at stake, my friends. Won't you take the necessary steps to secure yours?

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Brother Litmer has done an excellent job of covering the importance of baptism in God's plan of salvation. Following is a list of simple questions about baptism that you should ask your religious friends who contend that baptism has NOTHING to do with their salvation.

1. Why was the Lord baptized? (Matthew 3:16,17)
   
   
2. What takes away our sin? If your answer is the blood of Christ, where do we contact it? Please give a Bible passage to support your answer.
   
   
3. Read Colossians 2:11-13. Explain spiritual circumcision.
   
   
4. Why were both Saul and Cornelius baptized if their Holy Spirit experiences had already saved them? (read carefully Acts 9:6 and Acts 10:48)
   
   
5. Why do all conversions in the book of Acts end at the WATER?
   
   
6. What about the instructions the Lord gave in the Great Commission? (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Like 24:44-47) Do we have to follow ALL of the instructions?
   
   
7. Does one have to obey ALL of God's commands to be saved?
   
   
8. Can you show one person, after the cross, who was saved without baptism?
   
   
9. Why is baptism not required when it is found in the same Bible as faith and grace?
   
   
10. Read Romans 6:3,4, and explain why one's life is now NEW? What has changed and why?
    
    

I don't understand why men fight so hard against baptism, instead of humbly submitting to God's will. Perhaps they've reached the conclusion that they can achieve salvation based on what they WANT instead of what God CALLS upon them to do? (KMG)