Baptism and Salvation

by Micky Galloway

“Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is a sign of regeneration, or the new birth” (Article 17, Methodist Discipline, 1910 Edition). “Baptism is not essential to salvation, for our churches utterly repudiate the dogma of 'baptismal regeneration'; but it is essential to obedience, since Christ has commanded it. It is also essential to a public confession of Christ before the world, and to membership in the church which is his body. And no true lover of his Lord will refuse these acts of obedience and tokens of affection” (The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, by Edward T. Hiscox, pages 20,21).

The preceding statements are but samples of similar statements that could be cited regarding the general attitude and teaching regarding baptism. Though they are worded differently, they have one thing in common; they each deny the necessity of baptism for salvation. The first statement says baptism “is a sign of regeneration, or the new birth.” The idea implied is that the individual is already regenerated, that he has already experienced the new birth and that baptism is simply a “sign of profession” and a “sign of regeneration.” This is similar to the common statement that “baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace.” The “inward grace” referring to the fact that the person is already saved before he submits to baptism, the “outward sign.” This means that baptism is nothing but a work of show, as it in no way affects the soul of the person being baptized; it is simply an outward sign or a way of announcing to the world that “I am righteous,” or that “I am a Christian!”

Those who teach this must take a command of the Lord Himself, to which Christ has connected salvation, and deny its necessity! Do you believe one must obey the commands of Christ? Do you believe one must contact His blood in order to be saved? If your answer to these questions is “yes,” then please read further. Baptism is necessary to salvation because of where it stands.

Baptism Stands Between:

1. The sinner and salvation. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
2. The sinner and the remission of sins. “And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
3. The sinner and the washing away of sins. “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).
4. The sinner and his entering Christ. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
5. The sinner and his walking in newness of life. “We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
6. The sinner and his contacting the death of Christ wherein the blood of Christ was shed. “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death” (Romans 6:3).
7. The sinner and his entering the one body wherein is reconciliation. “And might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:16). “For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:13 ).

However, notwithstanding the preceding Scriptures, many remain convinced that baptism has nothing to do with salvation. Please consider the following:

1. Jesus said, “Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). And “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). In Matthew’s account we read, “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
2. Peter said, “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Peter also said, “which also after a true likeness doth now save you, (even) baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21).
3. Paul said, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Further Paul taught that we are saved “not by works (done) in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
4. Ananias said to the believing, miserable and penitent Saul of Tarsus, “And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Though the Lord had appeared to him on the road, he yet retained the guilt of his sins. Saul’s response to the command, “And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized” (Acts 9:18).
5. The Samaritans, “when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).
6. The Eunuch in a deserted place immediately said to Philip after being taught, “Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized” (Acts 8:36). He understood the urgency of his obedience.
7. The Philippian Jailor “ took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately” (Acts 16:33).
8. Lydia, “whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household…” (Acts 16:14,15).
9. The Corinthians who, “hearing, believed, and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
10. The Ephesians who were “sanctified and cleansed … by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26).
11. The Colossians who were “buried with him in baptism…”, “raised with him through faith…,” were “made alive and forgiven of all your trespasses” (Colossians 2:12,13).
12. The Romans were “baptized into his death” and were raised to “walk in newness of life,” being “then made free from sin,” having obeyed “from the heart that form of teaching” (Romans 6:3,4,17,18). When were they made free from sin? When did they enjoy newness of life?
13. The Galatians were “baptized into Christ … put on Christ,” and became “heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29). Who put on Christ if not those baptized into Him? Who became an heir of the promise (See Acts 2:38-39)?

Indeed, we are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8; 3:2). We are saved by Christ (Ephesians 2:5). We are saved by faith (Romans 5:1-2) and the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:14; Revelation 1:5), by confession (Romans 10:10) and by repentance (Luke 13:3). We affirm that all these items are necessary! But who is man to remove baptism “for remission of sins” from the Lord's plan of salvation? Christ put it in when said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” He did not then take it out by saying, “He that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Do you desire salvation? Then remember that Christ is “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).