Topic(s): Baptism, Salvation, God's Will

Bob Prichard

Baptism is one of the most often disputed subjects in our religious world. Most all churches practice some sort of act they call baptism. Many churches will make that baptism a requirement for membership in the church, while at the same time saying that it has nothing to do with salvation. The following scriptures show that God had many purposes in mind in commanding baptism.

Jesus sent his disciples to evangelize with the words, “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). Here Jesus states the purpose of baptism is to save the believer.

As Peter and the disciples preached about the life and death of Christ to the multitudes on Pentecost, he said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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 2:36-38). Peter’s command to them was to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. “Remission,” or forgiveness of sins is the stated purpose for baptism.

God sent Ananias to go to the repentant Saul of Tarsus and say, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Saul understood that baptism would wash away his sins.

Saul, who became Paul the apostle, wrote to the Christians of Galatia about their baptism, saying, “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). The Galatians had put on Christ in their baptism. In similar fashion, Paul reminded the Romans that they had been baptized into Christ. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). These passages show that by being baptized into Christ, one puts on Christ.

Peter, comparing the saving power of baptism to Noah’s ark, said, “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). Peter clearly said that baptism saves us.
Is baptism important? God’s word says that it saves the believer, brings remission of sins, washes away sins, puts one into Christ, and saves. It is not just a church ordinance. It is an essential part of God’s plan for redeeming mankind through faith.