The Essentiality of Baptism

By: Ben F Vick

Once in a conversation with a person I was told that baptism was a command of God, but not necessary for salvation. That's an odd statement. What command of God is not essential for salvation? The Hebrew writer said, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9). Essential means "anything indispensable." Synonyms for essential are: necessity, requirement, requisite, necessary. I affirm without fear of successful contradiction that baptism to the penitent believer is for the forgiveness of sins.

Just as faith, repentance and confession of Christ are essential to salvation, so also is baptism essential to salvation. This is true since each of the named steps are joined with baptism; so if faith is essential for salvation, and it is (Hebrews 11:6; Mark 16:16), then baptism is essential to salvation. If repentance is essential to salvation, and it is (Acts 2:38), then baptism is essential to salvation. If confessing Christ is essential to salvation and it is (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10), then baptism is essential to salvation.

Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). The one who "shall be saved" is a certain "he." The principal sentence is: He shall be saved. It is the "he" that believes and is baptized that shall be saved. One would have to have help to miss this. Since the two elements, "believeth" and "is baptized" are connected by the copulative conjunction "and," they are equal grammatically. Though they are different actions, from a grammatical standpoint, they are equal. Therefore, if belief is necessary for salvation, then baptism is necessary for salvation.

Luke records, "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). Peter by inspiration connected the commands "repent" and "be baptized" to "the remission of sins." Thus, if repentance is "for remission of sins," then baptism also is "for the remission of sins." It also should be noted in Peter's statement that repentance and baptism are "for the remission of sins." This prepositional phrase, "for remission of sins," is the same phrase used by Jesus when He instituted His memorial supper. It is the same in Greek as it is in English. He said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). Question: Did Jesus die because man's sins were forgiven, or did he die in order that man's sins might be forgiven? The answer is simple: Jesus died in order that man's sins could be forgiven. Likewise, baptism to the penitent believer is in order that one might receive the forgiveness of sins.

A general rule to keep in mind regarding conditions of salvation is: When salvation is promised to a person or is affirmed of him on certain named conditions, though it may depend on more conditions than those named, it can never depend on fewer. For example, the Philippian jailer was told that belief in Jesus Christ was necessary in order to be saved (Acts 16:31); so, belief or faith is necessary for salvation, but not limited to that condition. It includes other conditions as well. One must also repent (Acts 17:30). One must confess Christ (Acts 8:37). One must be baptized (Mark 16:16). In every case of conversation in the book of Acts there is no record of any individual's having delayed his baptism when he understood what to do. There is no record of any gospel preacher's having said, "Let's wait until we get a group together." No one said, "Let's allow the church to vote to see if this person is worthy to be a member of the church." The preacher Philip did not delay in baptizing the Ethiopian treasurer. Paul and Silas did not tell the Philippian jailer, "Well, let's wait until daylight; then, we will baptize you." No, the text says that he was baptized the same hour of the night, he and all his straightway. And what hour was that? It was after midnight (Acts 16:25-34). By implication, the urgency of these individual's being baptized demonstrates the necessity of baptism.

In the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian treasurer, the chariot was stopped in order to baptize him (Acts 8:26-39). But why stop the chariot, if faith alone saves? If all that the nobleman needed to do to be saved was say "the sinner's prayer," why was the chariot stopped? He could have prayed as he continued to travel homeward.

Baptism or immersion in water puts one into Christ. Paul wrote, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). Though there are several steps which lead one to Christ, baptism is the act that puts one into Christ. Also, the passage teaches that when one is baptized, he puts Christ on. Someone might say, "As with a coat, I can have it but not put it on." However, one cannot receive the benefits of the coat, if he does not put it on. One might stand out in the cold, freezing weather, and hold his coat, but it will do him no good unless he puts it on. One must put Christ on to enjoy the benefits that he offers. And as Paul said, "For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Have you put him on?

Peter wrote, "...Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:18-21). How can anyone read this passage, and then declare that baptism does not save is beyond me. He must have help to miss it. Peter plainly says, "...baptism doth also now save us..." Baptism does save! Does it by itself save? No, but neither does faith, repentance nor confessing Christ alone save one.

Have you obeyed the gospel by believing it and being baptized? (Mark 16:15-16).