Some believe that baptism is a part of salvation while some don’t. What would you say when you are witnessing? This devotion looks at the role the ordinance of baptism plays in salvation.
Nuggets
- First, we have to repent.
- Confession with our mouth is one thing; baptism is confession with the rest of us.
- Jesus cleanses us from our sin, and baptism cleanses us from our guilt of our sin.
- Belief, repentance, and obedience to the gospel cannot be separated – baptism is obedience.
Devotions in the What I Believe series
Devotions in the Divine Ordinance category
Is Baptism a Part of Salvation?
The Lord’s Supper
Some believe that baptism is a part of salvation. I have always been taught that it isn’t. The question boils down to whether baptism is a part of salvation or act of obedience.
The goal of this series is to dig in to find the backup for what we believe. When we witness, “this is what I’ve always been taught” doesn’t go over as well as “here are the scripture references that I used to make an informed decision.”
And face it. Bible verses can seem like they are contradictory. So what are we to believe?
Let's Put It into Context #1
We are looking at divine ordinances. Ordinances are an expression of the disciples’ obedience.
One of those ordinances is baptism. Baptism, according to the Holman Bible Dictionary, means “the immersion or dipping of a believer in water symbolizing the complete renewal and change in the believer’s life and testifying to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the way of salvation.”
Let's Put It into Context #2
Baptism is the sign of the acceptance of the New Testament covenant just as circumcision was sign of the acceptance the Old Testament covenant. Covenant circumcision was the physical sign the Israelites agreed with the covenant. Circumcision of the heart is where God changes our hearts.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Just as circumcision was a representation of cutting away sins, baptism is a representation of washing away the guilt of sins. Additionally, it is a representation of dying with Christ, being buried, and rising again.
Buchanan pointed out that both actions occurred at the beginning of the covenant. He felt it was a form of a pledge of faithfulness to the covenant.
However, some believe that regeneration doesn’t occur until baptism occurs. Regeneration is the change in us that God brings about when we go from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive. This makes baptism an element of salvation.
Repent and Be Baptized
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Ac. 2: 38 CSB)
When Peter gave his instructions on what his audience must do to be saved (Ac. 2: 37), his first instruction was to repent. We’ve said that we need to not only repentant because we have broken God’s laws and commandments, but we must also vow to change ourselves.
Changing ourselves isn’t just keeping the laws and commandments in the future. We must change our character.
We must change our belief system. We must now accept that Jesus is God’s Son. We must accept that He died to pay the penalty for our sins.
I know. That is a lot of we musts in a row. But that isn’t optional. It is mandatory for salvation.
Grammatically, the argument could be made that the conjunction and makes baptism mandatory along with repentance. It indicates it must be taken jointly. Mathematics and logic says all factors must be true.
Is that the case with baptism and salvation? Is baptism a part of salvation?
Part of Salvation
Brownrigg argued that baptism is necessary for salvation. He felt that the cleansing of the baptism was a necessary part of salvation. Repentance doesn’t cleanse us, in his estimation; baptism does. Baptism allowed regeneration because of our contact with living water.
Not Part of Salvation
Abbott argued that baptism isn’t forced. He wrote, “Baptism is not a regenerating ordinance, but a sign and symbol of repentance, and a public confession of Christ.”
We know that Romans 10: 9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (CSB). We can’t keep our conversion to ourselves.
Confession with our mouth is one thing. Baptism is confession with the rest of us. This is how we articulate our faith for others to see. Confession isn’t salvation.
Baptism Saves Us
“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Pet. 3: 21 CSB)
Part of Salvation
If you read the verse as is, it does sorta read that baptism saves us. “Baptism, … now saves you … through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Pet. 3: 21 CSB)
However, we can’t be selective about what we read, and we can’t take it out of context.
Not Part of Salvation
Okay. The this in “… which corresponds to this …” (I Pet. 3: 21 CSB) refers back to First Peter 3: 18-20.
“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few — that is, eight people — were saved through water.
Arnot pointed out that Noah and his family were saved from physical death, not spiritual death. But that doesn’t take in the purpose of the flood. God could have taken an easier road to save them than floating them in a boat.
But God wasn’t just saving Noah’s family. He was saving His world from sin.
Arnot said that baptism is “… the cleansing of the conscience from its guilt, so that when God makes inquisition for blood, He finds no spot or wrinkle there; so that the conscience, when put to the question, answers peace to the challenge of the Judge.”
Ooo, wow. Think of it this way. Jesus cleanses us from our sin, and baptism cleanses us from our guilt of our sin.
We can’t ignore the “now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) …” (I Pet. 3: 21 CSB) part. The removal of dirt is removal of sin. Baptism doesn’t remove sin.
The pledge of a good conscience toward God was, using Preece’s analogy, like a couple reciting their wedding vows. They have to say I do. The rings they exchange are the visual confirmation of those vows.
We have to accept the gift of salvation. Baptism is the visual conformation of that acceptance. Preece wrote, “The act of baptism is an open public renunciation of sin, of sinful pleasures, of the follies of the world.”
Saved and Condemned
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16: 16 CSB)
Clarke made a good point. He argued that belief, repentance, and obedience to the gospel cannot be separated. Baptism is obedience.
Part of Salvation
Clarke also argued that “He who believes the doctrine of the gospel when preached to him, and by baptism enters into an obligation to live suitably to that belief, and verifies that obligation by his practice, in a life of virtue, righteousness, and charity — shall be saved ….”
That brings up another issue. Can we lose our salvation if we done live suitably to that belief? That is for another devotion.
Not Part of Salvation
Read the verse again. It does say “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved …” (Mk. 16: 16 CSB emphasis added).
But then it says “… but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16: 16 CSB emphasis added). It doesn’t say we will be condemned if we aren’t baptized.
Condemned means, as it applies here, that non-believers in the final judgment will be found guilty because they have not admitted their sins, have not believed Jesus is their Savior and Redeemer, and have not confessed God as Sovereign Lord.
Making the Connections
So, let’s do a recap.
Part of Salvation
- Baptism conveys spiritual grace
- The cleansing of the baptism is a necessary part of salvation.
- If we selectively read First Peter 3: 21 and take it out of context, it does sorta read that baptism saves us.
- Belief, repentance, and obedience to the gospel cannot be separated. Baptism is obedience.
- Through baptism we agree to live a redeemed life.
Not Part of Salvation
- Baptism isn’t mandatory.
- It is a symbol.
- Baptism doesn’t remove sin.
- Jesus cleanses us from our sin, and baptism cleanses us from our guilt of sin.
- Baptism is the visual conformation of salvation.
- We will not be condemned if we aren’t baptized.
I don’t see baptism as a part of salvation. It can’t be. Repentant dude didn’t get a pass to get off the cross, be baptized, and get put back on it. Yet, Jesus told him, “… Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23: 43 NLT).
If repentant dude wasn’t baptized and he was going with Jesus to wherever paradise is, it isn’t a requirement for salvation.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
I see it more as an act of obedience. If it is obedience, we can exercise self-discipline.
We’ve been asking these questions all along so we can prepare for when we are asked. Here is the worksheet again. What would you say about baptism being a part of salvation?
- What does the Scriptures say?
- What do I believe?
- Why do I believe the same/differently than the Scriptures?
- What are the talking points when witnessing to a non-believer?
Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Click on the button below to access it.
How Do We Apply This?
If we haven’t ABCDed, we need to follow God’s promptings.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
If we have ABCDed but not been baptized, we need to find a church of like-minded believers so we can. We want to be obedient.
Is something about baptism scaring you? Oh, it did me. Buchanan made a valid point that neither covenant circumcision or circumcision of the heart are of value without grace.
God will give us His grace so that we can be obedient to Him. He’s got us.
Father. We thank You for salvation. Baptism is one of the ordinances so that we can show our faith in You. Help us to faithfully follow You. Amen.
What do you think?
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