The necessity of baptism
Published 8:40 am Friday, November 8, 2019
By TONY HOSS
One reader asks, “Must a person be baptized to be saved?” Consider the following from the scriptures about baptism as it relates to mankind’s salvation.
First, in the great commission we read the following, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19-20 KJV). According to the ASV of the New Testament, Jesus commanded His apostles to, “make disciples of all nations by baptizing them and by teaching them.” From this we learn that disciples are made by baptizing and teaching. It stands to reason that unless a person is baptized, they cannot be a disciple. It is a part of the process of making disciples.
Second, we learn in Mark 16:15, 16, Jesus commanded the apostles to preach the gospel to every creature. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” According to Jesus, it takes both belief and baptism for salvation.
Next, we notice in Acts 2:37, that those individuals who had crucified Jesus, being convicted of their sins asked, “what shall we do.” In verse 38, Peter gives them an answer. Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). According to inspiration, baptism is “for the remission of sins.” This is to be understood as forgiveness or pardon from our debt of sin. So, baptism is involved in the forgiveness process as set forth by God.
Next, we see throughout the New Testament several accounts of individuals who were forgiven of their sins and how forgiveness was gained. Paul, formally known as Saul of Tarsus, is instructed by Ananias, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” Acts 22:16. Here we see that baptism is a part of calling on the name of the Lord and results in a washing away of sins. It is not a symbol of what God has already done as some would pervert the text. In Romans 6:1-10, Paul reminds some Christians in Rome what occurred as a result of their baptism. He said that as Christ was raised from the dead, the end result of baptism is that we too should be raised (from death in sin) to walk in the newness of life. We see also that in Galatians 3:26-29 that baptism puts us in Christ and makes us heirs to the promise. Also, according to Peter in 1 Peter 3:21 baptism now saves men and Paul teaches in Colossians 2:11ff, we learn that in baptism we are made alive again.
Baptism is important for those who have a desire to be a disciple, to be saved, to have forgiveness of sins, to have their sins washed away, to be an heir of the spiritual land of promise, and to be made new. So, we conclude according to the scriptures that one cannot be saved without baptism. I encourage everyone to study to know the truth.
(Tony Hoss is minister at Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton.)