One Must Be Baptized
What must I do to be saved? We have examined the first three elements of the Gospel Plan of Salvation (Hearing the Gospel, Believing the Gospel, Repenting of Sin, and Confessing Christ) over these last four weeks, and we will next consider baptism (immersion) for the remission of sins (cf. Acts 2:38). Jesus said to His Apostles right before His ascension, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Jesus Commanded Baptism
Mark 16:16 is one of many passages that confirm that baptism is one of the five steps in the Gospel Plan of Salvation that is applicable to all men. Some observations in the verse include the fact that both belief and baptism are coequals to be saved. Belief is an absolute prerequisite of baptism and this is very well explained in the second section of the verse, for it is by disbelief that one is condemned. There is not a single person who would reject belief that would honestly seek to be baptized according to the Biblical pattern. A helpful way to understand this is by considering even our own bodies. One might reason, He that eats and digests will live, he that does not eat shall die. Are both eating and digesting necessary to live? Yes. If I refuse to eat, will I die? One cannot live without both coequal functions, nor can one be saved without belief and baptism according to Jesus.
Further Evidence
The essentiality of baptism is not limited to just Mark 16:16. In Acts 2:38, Peter commanded that those who were lost and guilty of the blood of Jesus were to repent and be baptized for the remission of sin. Verse 41 tells us that all of those who received His word were baptized and they were added to the church. This is expressed later in Acts 8:35-36 in which Phillip preached unto the Ethiopian eunuch Jesus, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Did you notice that the eunuch said here is water? What do you suppose he understood from the preaching of Jesus by Philip? It is important to note that the mode of baptism is immersion. In fact, the word baptize is the anglicized form of the Koine Greek (the language in which our New Testament was recorded) word baptizo. This word always means to dip, plunge, or to immerse. Moreover, it is in water. Consider that Philip and the Eunuch “they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” They both came out of the water also. (Acts 8:38-39). How could this ever mean to pour or sprinkle?
In Acts 22:16, Ananias declared to Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.” How does one call upon the Lord? Ananias tells us by obeying the command to be baptized for the purpose of our sins being washed away. Paul later explains that we are to die to our sins and are buried in baptism and resurrected to walk in the newness of life (cf. Rom. 6:4-6). Let us consider this comparison of baptism to burial. When someone is buried, is it the custom to pour a shovel full of dirt onto the casket and then be done? Is it the custom to sprinkle some dirt on the casket and walk away? No. The casket must be fully immersed (baptized) in the earth. Words matter, and the word in English we call baptize certainly means immerse.
It is in baptism where we are united with Christ in the likeness of His death, as well as His likeness. Paul also said, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. (cf. Gal 3:27).” Peter also reminds us that baptism is salvific (cf.1 Peter 3:21). Lastly, 1 Corinthians 12:13 concludes that we were all baptized into one body (the church).
The Essentiality of Baptism for Salvation
With the evidence above, can one deny the essentiality of baptism for salvation in Christ Jesus? I suppose without Biblical evidence, one could. However, without Biblical evidence, one cannot have Biblical salvation. To answer our critics, we want to remind you that baptism is not the only act of obedience one must satisfy to receive the gift of salvation our Lord freely offers. One must hear, believe, repent, and confess, otherwise, baptism is merely a bath. When the Gospel is obeyed, one is not merely baptized, one is saved! This is the Gospel Plan of Salvation by which all men can be saved by willful obedience to God. Will you receive the gift of salvation. Can we study further about God’s desire to save man?
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
