Bible: Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

Baptism is an outward sign of something God has done in your life.

It is a visible sign that becomes your first testimony. In baptism, you are telling the world what God has done for you.

Romans 6: 3-7 says: “Or do you not know that how many of us were baptized in Christ Jesus were baptized in his death? Therefore we were buried with him through baptism in death, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we too should walk in the newness of life.

"Because if we had been united together in the likeness of his death, we would certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin could be eliminated, that we should no longer be slaves of the sin. Because whoever died was freed from sin. "

The meaning of baptism
Baptism symbolizes death, burial and resurrection, which is why the early church baptized by immersion. The word "baptism" means to dive. It symbolized the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and shows the death of the old sinner in being baptized.

Jesus' teaching on baptism
We also know that baptism is a right thing to do. Jesus was baptized even though he was sinless. Matthew 3: 13-15 says: "... John tried to stop him, saying:" Do I have to be baptized by you and will you come to me? "But Jesus answered him and said to him:" Allow it to be so now, because in this way it is right for us to fulfill all justice ". Then she allowed him. "

Jesus even ordered Christians to go and baptize everyone. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus adds this about the baptism in Mark 16: 15-16, "... Enter the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned. "

Are we saved from baptism?
You will notice that the Bible links baptism to salvation. However, it is not the act of baptism that saves you. Ephesians 2: 8-9 it is clear that our works do not contribute to our salvation. We cannot earn salvation, even if we are baptized.

However, you have to ask yourself. If Jesus asks you to do something and you refuse to do it, what does it mean? It means that you are voluntarily disobedient. Does a disobedient person voluntarily repent? Absolutely not!

Baptism is not what saves you, Jesus does it! But refusing baptism says something powerful about the state of your relationship with Jesus.

Remember, if you are unable to get baptized, like the thief on the cross, God understands your circumstances. However, if you are able to be baptized and do not want or choose not to do it, that action is a voluntary sin that disqualifies you from salvation.