In part one of “Is Baptism Required for Salvation? An Alternate Look” I wrote about the argument used with the thief on the cross. Now I want to directly deal with what the Bible says about baptism, and I want to make one assertion very clear before I begin. I do not believe that baptism alone is required for salvation. I think that there is a large misconception that those who believe that baptism is required for salvation believe that only baptism is required for salvation. I do not believe that baptism alone is required for salvation, but that other factors are involved as well. I believe that the Bible teaches that for salvation one must hear the gospel of Christ, believe, repent of their sins, confess Christ, and be baptized. The Bible does not teach that any one of these aspects alone is all that is necessary for salvation.
Now to consider the subject of baptism, I simply want to list a few verses in the Bible which deal with baptism with just a few comments on some of the verses.
- Mark 16:16: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” It is often said that this verse advocates that one does not have to be baptized to be saved because of the second half of the verse. However, something to consider: Would someone be baptized if they did not believe?
- John 3:5: “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” This verse is taken from a section of Scripture in which Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. I think when considering this passage, as with all sections of Scripture, it is important to read the entire context.
- Acts 2:38: “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This verse is a case in point that baptism is not the only thing required for salvation (repentance is also mentioned here).
- Acts 22:16: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” Here the Bible states that baptism washes away sins.
- Romans 6:3-7: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”
- 1st Peter 3:21: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
- Galatians 3:27: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” This verse tells one how to put on Christ.
- Colossians 2:12: “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Sometime over the next week I plan to write an article about the conversion stories in the Book of Acts.
Read the related article “God’s Plan for Salvation”
All Scripture references are taken from the ESV.