Most of the denominational world does not believe that baptism is essential for salvation. This arose from Martin Luther's attempt to reform the Catholic Church; he considered they had become a system of works, neglecting faith, and so he threw out baptism as essential, considering it to be a work (though considering that Jesus calls belief a work, John 6:28-29, should he not also have thrown out belief as essential?).
Hence, the sinner’s prayer. Those who dismiss baptism as essential say that one need only pray, asking for forgiveness, and one will be saved.
But what do the Scriptures say? Do they regard baptism as essential to salvation? And if they speak differently than man, whom do we believe, the Word or man? Seeing as we shall be judged by the Word at the judgement, John 12:48, we should obey the Word, and reject men when they teach differently.
Consider:
“‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’
“Now when they 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?’
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”[1]
Peter, in response to the question, “What shall we do?,” speaking by inspiration, that is, speaking the words of God, says, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” God, by grace, has provided the solution to the problem of man; for every man has the very real problem that, because of his sins, he has been separated from God.
Therefore, if a man believes that Jesus is the Christ, repents, and is baptized to have his sins remitted, God washes him in the blood of Christ.
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, Christ has stated it another way, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”[2] This plainly states that baptism is essential to salvation.
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, God has shown it further, “And now why are you waiting? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”[3] The need that man has is the removal of sin, for sin condemns him to death. This is accomplished by being washed in the blood of Christ.[4] When does God wash a man in it? “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins.” We should also not overlook another very important fact in the conversion of Paul – he had seen Christ, and believed, even confessing him as Lord, yet until he was baptized, he was still in his sins.
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, Peter again says, “…baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience.”[5] In baptism, a man makes his appeal to God for cleansing from sin. And God, by his word, obliges.
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, Paul again, “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…For he who has died has been freed from sin.”[6] The new life doesn’t begin until after baptism. Christ died, and was raised, never to die again. We are buried in baptism, and are raised again, never to die the second death, the eternal separation from God in the lake of fire. The new life is after baptism, not before, and we are not freed from sin until we have been buried with him in baptism.
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, consider this: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”[7] Judge for yourself; who is saved, who is the one who is forgiven: the one who belongs to Christ, or the one who doesn’t? Now, he plainly says, “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.” When does one get the Spirit? At baptism, “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, before baptism, one does not belong to Christ, as he does not have the Spirit; he is outside, as it were, his sins still with him. After baptism, he belongs to Christ, his sins washed away (which is what he needs).
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”[8] Who is the heir of the promise? The one who has put on Christ. And how does one put on Christ? “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Only after baptism are we in Christ, where we “are all one.”
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, one more. We know the Scripture says there is one baptism. [9] What then does it say? “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…”[10] One cannot be in the body of Christ unless he has been baptized. Consider; does God save those in the body of Christ, or those outside the body of Christ? “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.”[11] He saves those in the body of Christ.
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Okay, I know I said one more, but one more. Baptism is a correlation to circumcision, “(A)nd in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”[12] Originally given to Abraham[13] and later carried over into the law of Moses, circumcision was a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham and his children. Whoever was not circumcised was to be cut off from the people; any Gentile who wished to be joined to Israel, had to be circumcised. When we are baptized into Christ, we are spiritually circumcised with the circumcision of Christ. Therefore, anyone not baptized has not been circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, and therefore is not in covenant with God.
Now, suppose a man doesn’t believe this verse. Christ has spoken: “…he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
Endnotes
[1] Acts 2:36-39
[2] Mark 16:16
[3] Acts 22:16
[4] Revelation 1:5
[5] 1 Peter 3:21 (NASB)
[6] Romans 6:3-4,7
[7] Romans 8:9
[8] Galatians 3:27-29
[9] Ephesians 4:5
[10] 1 Corinthians 12:13
[11] Ephesians 5:23
[12] Colossians 2:11-12 (NASB)
[13] Genesis 17:9-14