It seems that nothing separates those who profess faith in Christ like the subject of baptism. The division over baptism is quite ironic considering the significant role it played in the ministries of Jesus and His apostles. Many today distort its purpose, downplay it’s importance, or totally disregard its necessity altogether.

By teaching that baptism is essential for salvation we are often ridiculed and accused of discounting grace or of trying to earn our salvation. Many will argue that one only needs to believe to be saved.

What Does the Bible Say?

What do the Scriptures reveal about baptism and the role it plays in our salvation? I believe they show that baptism is not only essential in our transition from sinner to disciple, but that it is the very point at which God’s grace is applied and we are saved by faith.

It is important to point out that baptism alone cannot save us. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Baptism only saves when it is coupled with faith. The question is what must one believe? It’s not enough to just believe in God. James says even the demons believe this (2:19)—even acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:24). To be saved one must believe the gospel taught by Jesus. We must believe that His death, burial, and resurrection paved the way for our salvation. In addition, we must believe that His teachings are the words of eternal life (John 6:68), and those words demand our obedience, including the action of baptism.

Baptism Brings About the Forgiveness of Sins

There is no shortage of passages in the New Testament discussing baptism and helping us to see what it accomplishes. First we learn that baptism washes away sins. After Saul of Tarsus met Jesus on the road to Damascus and had prayed and fasted for three days, Ananias came to him and said, “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). In spite of all that he had experienced, Ananias speaks of Saul’s urgent need to be baptized. None of the things Saul had endured were able to take away his sins. Only baptism was capable of doing so. The same was true for those who heard Peter preach on Pentecost. He commanded them to repent and be baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

Baptism Brings Life

We also see that baptism makes one alive after being dead. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3 that he needed to be born again to see the kingdom, explaining in verse five that this was a spiritual rebirth. Paul further explains this passage from death to life in Colossians 2:11-13. He says that we are buried with Christ in baptism, raised with Him through faith, and made alive together with Him. Paul uses very similar language in Romans 6:3-8.

• We cannot be born again unless we die.
• We cannot be raised unless we are buried.

Baptism, thus, marks the point where the old man of sin is buried, and we rise up as the new man of faith. There is no way a person can call themselves “born again” unless they have been baptized for the remission of their sins.

Baptism Makes One a Disciple of Christ

We further note that baptism makes one a disciple of Christ. Jesus commanded the apostles saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt.28:19-20). The very construction of this passage shows that one does not become a disciple until after he/she is baptized. It is cause and effect. Baptism is the cause and becoming a disciple is the effect. In Galatians 3:26-27 Paul says that we are “baptized into Christ” and that in baptism we “put on Christ.” There is no other way found in the Scriptures to get into Christ.

Baptism Brings Salvation

“There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet.3:21). In the previous verse, Peter speaks of the eight souls on Noah’s ark that were saved through water. He then connects their salvation through water to our salvation through water (baptism). Clearly, Peter connects salvation to baptism and shows its necessity. The words of Paul agree. Paul says, “according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-7). The “washing” is baptism, and the “renewing” is the new life we have in Jesus through His word.

To say that we are saved any time prior to, or outside of, baptism, is to ignore the simplicity of the Scriptures.

Diminished Faith and/or Grace?

Some might scoff that such emphasis on baptism diminishes the role of grace and faith, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Baptism is the point at which both grace and faith come together to achieve our salvation (Eph.2:8). God demonstrated His grace by the sending of His Son, and without that gift we cannot be saved (Luke 24:46; Titus 2:11). Salvation through faith requires the demonstration of our faith (Matt.7:21; Rom.1:5; James 2:18), and that begins with baptism. Paul makes this connection in Romans 6:3-4 when he said we are buried with Christ (grace) and raised to walk in newness of life (faith). The power of the gospel to save comes from God’s gift at the cross, but that power only affects change in those who respond to God’s grace with obedient faith. Emphasizing baptism does not weaken salvation by grace through faith. It highlights and magnifies the wonderful saving power of our Heavenly Father.

Often, people will try to ask unanswerable questions to dismiss clear teachings of the Bible. For example, “What about the man who wants to be baptized but is killed on the way?” I will not pretend to know what God will do in these cases. I trust Him to be just and merciful. I do, however, know what He has commanded for those who wish to be saved, and clearly, God

commands baptism for the remission of sins. Like I heard another preacher once say, “I’d rather be the man who wanted to be baptized but died before he was able, than the person who could be baptized, but refused!”

“He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” That’s plain.