Baptism Is a Must for Complete and Genuine Salvation
Baptism is not optional for believers. If we go by the clear words of scripture and the words of our Lord and his apostles, baptism is inextricably joined to salvation, and you cannot have one without the other.
In fact, in the gospels of Mark and John, Jesus was so plain as to say one has to be baptized to be saved. The package of salvation includes baptism, and Jesus himself was baptized by John to show us the significance.
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22
“Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38
To not be baptized is a sin.
The significance of baptism cannot be understated. Some people think baptism is optional and not important. Others think it is not urgent and take years to be baptized or do not get baptized at all. Yet others choose baptism methods that are not biblical such as baptizing babies and children or baptizing through sprinkling water rather than immersion. Jesus obeyed the Father and got baptized and we should too.
Not getting baptized is clear disobedience to the Lord’s commands. If we love Jesus, we MUST keep his commandments (John 14:15). The apostles of Jesus took this command seriously and baptized all the new converts immediately after they received the Lord, usually on the same day if possible.
“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.” Matthew 28:19
“But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12
New converts are to be baptized immediately or as soon as possible.
In the book of ACTS, in every single case where new converts were saved, they were baptized IMMEDIATELY (Acts 2:37-4, 8:36-38, 10:47-48, 16:13-15, 16:27-34, 18:5-8, 19:1-5, 22:14-17).
Paul was baptized 3 days after conversion when the Lord Jesus sent Ananias to lay hands on him to receive his sight and the Holy Spirit! Ananias then baptized him immediately after. (Acts 9:17-19).
The Ephesian disciples whom Paul found unbaptized due to ignorance were baptized immediately by him (Acts 19:1-5).
Baptism is part and parcel of salvation.
There were no extensive baptism classes in the early church, and it did not take weeks months, and years to baptize converts. It was immediate. Once new converts understood the message of salvation and made that decision, they were immediately baptized. Baptism was considered an essential part of salvation.
Religion and church institutions have made this matter very complex, and I believe it is a device of the devil so that baptism is not taken seriously, people can die without baptism, and new converts are robbed of the power of baptism for their Christian walk.
I think it is very wrong for churches to keep people for months or even years without getting baptized. It should be taken with seriousness and done as soon as possible because Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Baptism is part of salvation. You cannot be fully and truly saved without it. It is the Lord’s command and it is how we identify with his death and resurrection.
The significance of water baptism
1. Public baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ
In the waters of baptism, the believer dies in the waters of baptism, and resurrects in union with the Lord clothed with him.
2. Rising to newness of life
There is a real spiritual transformation that happens at baptism and once the believer rises from the waters of baptism, their conscience is truly washed, the power of sin is broken, and one is born to newness of life. It is a mystery, but anyone who has been properly baptized can attest to its power. Everything the Lord asks us to do is not a mere formality but has real meaning and power attached.
3. Baptism into the body of Christ
At baptism, we are also baptized into the body of Christ. This means that if we reject biblical baptism, we are excluding ourselves from the body of Christ.
Here are some New Testament scriptures on baptism and its significance:
“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.” Romans 6:3-4
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27
“And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12
“And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:21
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13
Baptism -Who and How?
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6
The verse above tells us that there is only one baptism. The Bible makes it very clear that:
- Baptism is for born-again believers. This eliminates infant and child baptism because babies and children cannot make a conscious personal decision to be born again.
- Baptism is by immersion. In every case of baptism in the New Testament, including Jesus’s baptism, it was done by immersion into water, which is the only way to symbolize being buried with Christ and rising again to newness of life.
- Baptism formula. This is a controversial issue in the body of Christ in some places, but Jesus plainly said that baptism is done “in the name of Jesus Christ who is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).” In the book of Acts we see it mentioned that the apostles were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5). The common understanding throughout all church history was that the mention of baptizing in the Lord’s name in the book of Acts, means “in the authority” of the Lord Jesus, but the actual formula once in the act of baptism was according to the Lord’s instruction in Matthew 28, “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”.
What about those who die before baptism?
There are unique cases where people die before they have had a genuine opportunity to be baptized after getting saved. God knows the truth in each situation. But it is a different matter if you are deliberately and purposefully postponing it for months and years because of rebellion.
You will have no excuse before God and cannot use the thief on the cross as your excuse. God knows all things. If your church is not taking baptism seriously, it is up to you to find someone to baptize you. When it comes to obeying God, you should always obey God rather than men.
Baptism is not optional.
Baptism is not optional; it is a MUST. If you refuse to get baptized or take it lightly and keep postponing, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven because you are disobedient. I urge you to make haste and be baptized immediately if you are not baptized but claim to be born again. Obey the Lord’s command.
It is also important for us who preach the gospel to make every effort to ensure new converts are baptized. Where there is a will, there is a way; where there is not, there are excuses.
May the Lord show us mercy.
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Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, died for us on the cross, taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in Heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.
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