Water Baptism: Essential for Salvation?
A few months ago, I received a mail questioning me about the role of water baptism in salvation. I responded to the mail stating that the Bible does not teach that water baptism is essential to (or a requirement for) salvation.
The writer responded with a detailed (but clearly off-track) treatise on why a person cannot be saved if he has not been baptized in water. The passages he cited were wrong interpretations of statements made by Jesus Christ, and nothing I said could help him.
Here is a clear Bible definition of water baptism:
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: (1 Peter 3:21)
Water baptism is a testimony of a regenerated man proclaiming his new-found faith. Peter says it is the answer of a good conscience (a regenerated heart; for unbelievers have a tainted conscience) toward God.
Paul was in agreement with Peter on water baptism too:
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)
If baptism is a requirement for salvation, why would an apostle of God speak of it like this? God did not send him to baptize? See how Paul juxtaposes baptism with the preaching of the Cross. Paul’s words do not place a weight of importance on baptism.
Brothers and sisters, it is the message of the Cross that saves. That and nothing else. Water baptism does not save, and does not add to anyone’s salvation. It is a public testimony, praise God!
Question
If baptism is essential for salvation, then what happens to someone who repents of sin, believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, and is on his way to a Church meeting to get baptized the next Sunday but dies in a car accident? Is he saved or condemned?
If he is saved, then baptism isn’t essential or a requirement; is it?
If he is condemned, then faith in Christ isn’t sufficient to save him; is it?
Faith Alone!
To teach that water baptism is essential to salvation is to teach a works-based false gospel of “Faith + Baptism”, similar to “Faith + Circumcision”, “Faith + Tithe”. But thank God, salvation comes by faith alone.
As light a matter as it may seem, this subject is weighty. To say that faith in Christ isn’t sufficient to save a man is to speak blasphemy and heresy. It is either the Cross is sufficient or it is not.
