The meaning of Baptism and Salvation

1. The meaningof Baptism and Salvation – 9th
August 2017
“He saved us, not because of righteousthingswe had done, butbecause of hismercy. He saved us
throughthe washing ofrebirth andrenewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus3:5).
Whensomeone decidesto“getrightwithGod,” part of the “outwardsign”of acceptingJesusastheir
saviorisdefinedasbeingbaptized. Salvationisbeingsavedfromthe righteousjudgmentof Godupon
the sinner.The belief thatbaptismisnecessaryforsalvationisknownas "baptismal regeneration."Itis
our contentionthatbaptismisanimportantstepof obedience foraChristian,butwe adamantlyreject
baptismas beingrequiredforsalvation.We stronglybelievethateachandeveryChristianshouldbe
waterbaptizedbyimmersion.Baptismillustratesabeliever’sidentificationwithChrist’sdeath,burial,
and resurrection. We canread thisfrom Romans6:3-4, “Or don’tyou know that all of us whowere
baptizedinto ChristJesus were baptizedinto hisdeath? 4
We were therefore buriedwith him through
baptismintodeath in order that, just asChrist was raisedfrom the dead throughthe glory of the
Father, we too may livea new life.” The actionof beingimmersed inthe waterillustratesdyingand
beingburiedwithChrist.The actionof comingoutof the waterpicturesChrist’sresurrection.
RequiringanythinginadditiontofaithinJesusChristforsalvationisaworks-basedsalvation.Toadd
anythingtothe gospel istosay that Jesus'deathonthe cross was notsufficienttopurchase our
salvation.Tosaythat baptismisnecessaryforsalvationistosay we must addour owngood worksand
obedience toChrist'sdeathinordertomake it sufficientforsalvation.Butasbelieverswe mustbearin
mindthat Jesus'deathalone paidforour sins as we learnfrom Romans5:8, “But Goddemonstrates his
own lovefor us in this:Whilewe were still sinners, Christdied forus.” As to the reason we get an
understandingfrom 2 Corinthians5:21, “Godmadehim whohad no sin to be sinfor us,so that in him
we might become the righteousnessofGod.” We can learnthat Jesus'sacrificial deathisthe payment
for our sins whichisappropriatedtoour“account” by faithalone:“ForGodso loved the world that he
gave hisone and onlySon, that whoever believes in himshall not perish but haveeternal life.” (John
3:16). Thiscan be furtherunderstoodwhenwe read Ephesians2:8-9,“For it is by grace you have been
saved,through faith—andthisisnotfrom yourselves,it is the gift ofGod— 9
not by works, so that no
one can boast.” We can also learnfrom Titus 3:5, “He saved us, not because of righteousthingswe had
done, butbecause of hismercy. He saved us throughthe washing ofrebirth andrenewal by the Holy
Spirit.”
Baptismisan importantstepof obedience aftersalvationbutcannotbe a requirementforsalvation.
Yes,there are some versesthatseemtoindicate baptismasa requirementforsalvation.However,since
the Bible soclearlytellsusthatsalvationisreceivedbyfaith alone inthe above verses,theremustbe a
differentinterpretationof those verses. Butwe needtoknow that Scripture doesnotcontradict
Scripture.InBible times,apersonwhoconvertedfromone religiontoanotherwasoftenbaptizedto
identifyconversion.Baptismwasthe meansof makingadecisionpublic.Those whorefusedtobe
baptizedwere sayingtheydidnottrulybelieve.So,inthe mindsof the apostlesandearlydisciples,the
ideaof an un-baptizedbelieverwasunheardof.WhenapersonclaimedtobelieveinChrist,yetwas
ashamedto proclaimhisfaithinpublic,itindicatedthathe didnothave true faith. Unfortunately this
may evenapplytodayincertainpartsof the world.

2. Therefore letusquestion,if baptismisnecessaryforsalvation,whywouldPaul have said in1
Corinthians1:14 -15, “I thankGodthat I didnot baptizeany of youexcept Crispus andGaius, 15
sono
one can say that youwere baptizedin my name.” Againwe getanotherquestionasto whyPaul would
have said,“For Christdid not sendme to baptize, but to preach the gospel—notwithwisdomand
eloquence,lest the cross ofChrist be emptiedof its power.” (1 Corinthians1:17). Yesin thispassage
Paul isarguingagainst the divisionsthatplaguedthe Corinthianchurch. Butif Baptismwas a priority
needforsalvation,whywouldPaul possiblysay, “Iam thankful that I did not baptize…” or“For Christ
did not sendme to baptize…” If baptismisnecessaryforsalvation,Paul wouldliterallybe saying,“Iam
thankful thatyouwere notsaved…”and “For Christdidnot sendme to save…”That would be an
unbelievablystatementforPaul tomake.Further,whenPaul givesadetailedoutline of whathe
considersthe gospel aswe findin 1 Corinthians15:1-8, whydoeshe neglectto mentionbaptism?If
baptismisa requirementforsalvation,how couldanypresentationof the gospel lackamentionof
baptism?
We have identifiedcertain verse thatrefertobaptismbutdoes notreferto it beingabsolutelyrequired
for salvation. First:we can take Acts 2:38, Peter replied, “Repent andbe baptized, every one of you,in
the name of Jesus Christfor the forgivenessof yoursins. Andyou will receive the giftof the Holy
Spirit.”Second:we canread in Mark 16:16, “Whoeverbelievesand is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned.”Thirdwe canreadin 1 Peter 3:21, “…andthiswater
symbolizesbaptismthatnow saves you also—notthe removal of dirt fromthe bodybut the pledge of
a clear conscience towardGod.It savesyou by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Forth we can read
fromJohn 3:5, Jesusanswered, “Very truly I tell you,no one can enter the kingdomofGodunless they
are born of water and the Spirit.” Fifthwe can learnfrom Acts 22:16, “ Andnow whatare you waiting
for? Get up,be baptized andwash yoursins away, callingonhis name.”Sixth:Asfoundin Galatians
3:27, “ …
for all ofyou who were baptizedintoChrist have clothed yourselveswith Christ.”We can
observe thatnone of the above versesrefertoBaptismas beingaprerequisiteforsalvation.
Therefore we cansurmise that Baptismisnot a prerequisite forsalvation.Baptismdoesnotsave from
sinbut a statementof one’s Christianbelief tothe worldatlarge. Peterclearlytaught the people that
baptismwasnot a ceremonial actof physical purification,butthe pledge of agoodconscience toward
God. We can readabove from 1 Peter3:21 it isa pledge of a clearconscience towardGod. It savesyou
by the resurrectionof JesusChrist.Baptismisthe symbol of whathasalreadyoccurredinthe heart and
life of one whohastrustedChristas Savior.We can readthisin Romans6:3-5; “Or don’tyou know that
all of us who were baptized into ChristJesus were baptizedintohis death? 4
We were therefore buried
with himthroughbaptisminto death inorder that,just as Christwas raisedfrom the dead through the
gloryof the Father,we too maylive a new life. 5
Forif we have been unitedwith himin a death like
his,we will certainlyalsobe unitedwith himin a resurrection like his.”
Therefore we needtoknowthat Baptismisan importantstepof obedience thateveryChristianshould
take.Baptismcannotbe a requirementforsalvation whichis possibleonlythrough onesfaithin Jesus
Christ.“ Soin ChristJesus youare all childrenof God throughfaith…”(Galatians3:26).