Young Baptists - Is Baptism Required for Salvation?

Is Baptism Required For Salvation?

The answer is a resounding NO.

Proof that Baptism is not part of Salvation

If baptism is part of getting to heaven then there would not be verses that say belief alone grants a person everlasting life. However, there are quite a few verses that show belief alone is what saves a person. This holds true for people in the Old Testament and people in the New Testament.

1: Belief alone results in everlasting life.

John 3:16	“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:36	“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
John 5:24	“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Galatians 3:6	“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Romans 4:1-5	“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Ephesians 2:8-9	“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 10:9-10	“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans 11:6	“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

This is just a partial listing of verses that show salvation is by belief alone. Baptism is a work. Romans 11:6 makes it clear works & grace are completely apart from each other. Romans 11:6 also makes it clear if a person tries to mix the two together then it is no longer grace. Therefore, if a person is trusting in Jesus + anything (baptism, communion, holding out faithful, catechism, beads, candles, or anything else) then it is no longer grace and they will not be saved. The moment a person puts their faith in Jesus for everlasting life they are saved. They have to believe it is 100% Jesus alone. If they believe it is Jesus + baptism or Jesus + anything then they will not be saved. Baptism has absolutely nothing to do with getting a person to heaven.

2: Thief on the cross was not baptized.

Luke 23:39-44

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

While on the cross, the thief asks for salvation: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Then Jesus tells him he will be with him in paradise: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” The thief never has a chance to get baptized yet he still is going to be with Jesus. Some say this is a special circumstance and if a person doesn’t get a chance to be baptized then they will still go to heaven but remember Romans 2:11-12 says, “For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;”. People are going to be held accountable to the same standards. Salvation only comes one way. I also have a friend who was told by the Church of Christ that the Bible meant to say “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise?” They said Jesus was asking the thief a question. That is beyond ridiculous. I’m very thankful Jesus doesn’t require more than just believing in the payment he made for us.

3: If Baptism takes away our sins, why was Jesus baptized since he was sinless?

1 John 3:5

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

Hebrews 4:15

“…but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Matthew

3:14-16

“But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:”

A lot of people say “Jesus was baptized which means we have to be baptized to go to heaven.” Jesus did a lot of things that are not required for salvation. Jesus healed the sick. Do we have to heal the sick to get to heaven? Absolutely not! If baptism takes away our sins then Jesus would not have been baptized because he had no sins to be taken away. Matthew 3:14-16 shows the reason why Jesus was baptized was to fulfill all righteousness. We are supposed to be baptized because it is a sin if we are not baptized but the Bible does not say baptism is part of getting to heaven. It is a step of obedience to God just like reading the Bible, going soul-winning, going to church and many other things are.

4: The Gospel is Everlasting; it hasn’t changed.

Revelation 14:6	“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”
Galatians 3:6,8	“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. …And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
Romans 4:1-3	“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Romans 2:11-12	“For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;”

The Gospel is everlasting. It was preached to Abraham and it is obvious even with Abraham that belief was the only thing required. Since Abraham got saved by believing the gospel but was not baptized, then it is apparent baptism has no part with the gospel. Also, there is no respect of persons with God. God holds all people to the same standards of salvation. God doesn’t make some people get baptized and others do animal sacrifices to get to heaven. All people had to go through the blood of Jesus for their salvation.

5: We’re saved by the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2	“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
Ephesians 1:13	“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

The gospel is the only means of salvation.

6: Baptism is not part of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 1:14-17	“I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
1 Corinthians 4:15	“For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”
Acts 10:47	“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”

Baptism has absolutely nothing to do with the gospel. 1 Corinthians 1:14-17 shows that baptism is not part of the gospel. It is also apparent baptism is not part of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 4:15. Acts 10:47 also makes it very clear the Holy Ghost is received before a person is baptized.