A man or woman seeking eternal life may ask, "Should I be baptized to be saved?" The answer to their sincere question should be easy to find and read in the Bible. Unfortunately, different churches, religious websites and seminary doctrines often confuse the truth to a simple question.

Other things can even further complicate the simple question about baptism. One's family religious background, favorite preacher or best friend's beliefs about receiving salvation may lead one to misunderstandings about baptism. However, if we are willing to read and believe what God says about baptism the answer to "Should I be baptized to be saved?" will always be easy to understand and obey.

Our Sins Are Forgiven

A ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with Him" (John 3:2). He knew Jesus was a "teacher" approved by God. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (3:5). Our new birth and entering God's kingdom includes "water" baptism. In the same chapter we read, "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized" (3:23). The water baptism of John the baptizer was for the forgiveness of sins. "John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4, ESV).

After the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the good news was preached in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Historians estimate the population of Jerusalem during the Passover and Pentecost to be 100,000 to 250,000 people. "And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5). Peter and the apostles preached Jesus and said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." After men "heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'" (2:37). The words "cut to the heart" means they were regretful and repentant. Peter answered, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (2:38, RSV).

What was the result to the large audience's question and Peter's simple answer? "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them" (Acts 2:41). That's amazing! The simple question was "what shall we do" and the simple answer was "Repent, and be baptized...for the forgiveness of your sins" (2:38).

God is love and "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). God provides additional Bible passages to describe the saving purpose of water baptism:

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16).

"baptism now saves you" (1 Peter 3:21).

"be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16).

"Should I be baptized to be saved?" The simple Bible answer is "Yes" because water baptism is for the "forgiveness of your sins".

We Died To Sin

In the Romans epistle, God revealed His great treatise of salvation by faith - not by perfect law keeping (cf. 4:1-8). God explains His desire for all men to give "obedience to the faith among all nations for His name" (1:5). In an epistle about salvation by faith, not "faith only" (see James 2:20-26), God in Romans 6 explains the meaning and purpose of baptism.

After affirming "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20), some people may draw the wrong conclusion of "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" (6:1). God says, "Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (6:2-3).

This is one of the most compelling statements by God about baptism! At what point has a man or woman "died to sin"? Words like died, dead and death means "a separation." James described this separation, "For as the body without the spirit is dead..." (2:26). God's answer is when he or she is "baptized into Christ Jesus" and "baptized into His death". When a sinner by faith is baptized "into Christ" he or she "died to sin" - is separated from past sins by God's grace and forgiveness. The guilt and slavery to sin is removed.

In describing being dead to our past sins and alive to God through baptism, God says, "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin" (6:6-7). At what point have we "died" from sin? "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death" (6:3-4).

Our Newness Of Life

Romans 6:4 perfectly connects baptism with receiving a "new life" in Jesus Christ! "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." The Greek language had two exclusive words for "new." Kainotēso means "not simply an experience similar to the past, but a qualitatively different one," a completely new kind (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). Neos means "to have a new or another experience the same as in the past" (ibid.). In Romans 6:4, "newness of life" is kainotēso. Its root word is used by God to describe the "new heavens and a new earth" vs. this old earth and heavens, our "new man" after salvation vs. the old sinful man, and "all things new" living in Heaven vs. living in this world (2 Peter 3:13; Ephesians 4:24; Revelation 21:5). It is used two times in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Each of these passages describe "not simply an experience similar to the past, but a qualitatively different one," a completely new kind - eternal life! Baptism "into Christ" places a man or woman into a "newness of life" and hope for eternal salvation. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27).

We Are Buried In Baptism

Many religious groups teach baptism is administered by "pouring" or "sprinkling" of water on the believer seeking salvation. This "religious rite" is of human origin and is not found in the Bible.

In Acts 8, Philip the evangelist teaches the Ethiopian eunuch about Jesus Christ from Isaiah 53:7-8. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him" (Acts 8:35-38).

This Bible passage clearly demonstrates how baptism is not "pouring" or "sprinkling" because "both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him". Why didn't Philip the preacher simply use a canteen to "sprinkle" or "pour" water on the eunuch's head? Because baptism is a burial or immersion in water.

Again, Romans 6:3-4 teaches us baptism is a burial in water. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" Our salvation and "newness of life" are received after we are "buried" with Christ in water baptism.

"For" or Because" Sins Are Forgiven?

We read in Acts 2:38, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." Does the little word "for" mean "in order to obtain" forgiveness of sins or "because" one's sins have already been forgiven before baptism?

God provides us the answer! In Matthew 26:27-28, Jesus finished eating the Passover. After supper, He instituted the Lord's Supper. "Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'" Now, notice how Jesus used the exact same words and grammatical construction as the apostle Peter used in Acts 2:38:

"let every one of you be baptized... for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).

"My blood... which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).

When Jesus said His blood would be shed for many "for the remission sins" clearly He meant "in order to obtain" the remission of sins, and not "because" the remission of sins had already occurred! With rare exception, the Greek word "for" (eis) always means "into, to, unto, toward". As Jesus shed His blood on the cross to obtain the "remission of sins" for sinful man, baptism also is to obtain the "remission of sins".

In Acts 2:38 "be baptized" is joined by the conjunction "and" to the command to "repent." Both are commanded by the apostle Peter to receive "the remission of sins." Just as the people were commanded to repent "for" (in order to obtain) the remission of sins, equally the people are commanded to be baptized "for" (in order to obtain) the remission of sins.

Baptism is obedient faith towards God. It is not salvation by works or earning our salvation. We can never do enough good works to atone for our sins and earn God's grace. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). When you ask the question "Should I be baptized to be saved?" what simple answer does God give in the Bible? Our eternal salvation will hinge on our trusting the word of God or the frail words of men. "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

- Focusing On Truth, June, 2016