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| Home > Evangelism > Is Baptism Required for Salvation: Part One | Email this article |
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Is Baptism Required for Salvation?
Introduction
After prayerfully studying everything the New Testament says about baptism and salvation, my personal conclusion is that water baptism is not a requirement for receiving salvation and eternal life. Baptism is commanded in Scripture, which means that it is an important act of obedience, but it is not a requirement for salvation. As I have mentioned in some of my other articles, the Bible has some similarities to a jigsaw puzzle. What I mean is that there are passages on various subjects (such as baptism) scattered throughout the New Testament, and these passages are kind of like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In order to fully understand what the Bible teaches on a particular subject, it is helpful to first prayerfully and objectively gather together all of the puzzle pieces that we can find throughout Scripture so that we can see as much of the full picture as possible. Then we should ask God to illuminate these passages of Scripture to our understanding. However, we need to be careful that we don't simply look for verses of Scripture which agree with our own beliefs. Instead, we should always try to discover the real truth, even if it turns out to be different than what we and our family and friends have always believed! Dozens of Salvation Passages
When people discuss whether or not baptism is necessary for salvation, the tendency is to focus on a few passages of Scripture such as Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, John 3:5, and 1 Peter 3:21 (we will examine all of these passages later in this series). However, there are many other New Testament passages which teach us something about salvation, and it is important to take those passages into consideration as well. Now, what does it take for a person to become saved so that he will go to heaven and escape hell? That's the basic question which we are trying to answer here. What we find when we study about salvation in the New Testament is that there are dozens of passages of Scripture which tell us that we must believe in Jesus, and these passages do not say anything about being baptized. For example, take a close look at the words of Jesus in the well-known John 3:16 passage: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)In this famous passage, Jesus said that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. Jesus said nothing about baptism here, He simply said that we must believe in Him. In fact, just one verse earlier Jesus said: "everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:15)So again we can see that Jesus said that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. Notice that He did not qualify this statement by saying that we must be baptized, but instead He went on to repeat His point that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life (John 3:16, above). In fact, just a few verses later He repeated this same point yet again: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:18)Once again Jesus said that whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already. The issue concerning salvation versus condemnation is our belief, not our baptism. Later in the same chapter Jesus made a similar statement: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life" (John 3:36)Whom did Jesus say has eternal life? Those who believe in Him. Therefore, if we believe in Him then we have eternal life. Jesus didn't mention baptism at all here. Here's another place where Jesus repeated this fact: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)Jesus said that if we hear His Word and believe Him who sent Jesus then we have eternal life and we have crossed over from death to life. Jesus did not say anything about being baptized. Here's another place where Jesus said essentially the same thing: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)Again, everyone who believes in Jesus shall have eternal life. And again, no mention of baptism. Here's another place where Jesus repeated this same fact: "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." (John 6:47)Who has eternal life? Those who believe in Jesus. In fact, Jesus gave added emphasis to this statement by saying, "I tell you the truth." Therefore, if we believe in Him then we have eternal life. Jesus didn't mention baptism at all. Here's another one: "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:24)What is it that causes us to die in our sins? Not believing in Jesus. Therefore, believing in Jesus is a requirement for salvation. But the New Testament never says that if we are not baptized then we will die in our sins, which means that baptism is not a requirement for salvation (more on this in Part Two of this series). Here's another one: "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"" (John 11:25-26)Whom did Jesus say will live (i.e. will have eternal life)? Those who believe in Him. Whom did Jesus say will never die (i.e. will have eternal life)? Those who believe in Him. Therefore, if we believe in Him then we will live forever (we will have salvation and eternal life). Jesus didn't mention baptism at all here. Now notice what the apostle John wrote: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31)How do we have life (eternal life) in His name? By believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Nothing about baptism is mentioned in this passage. Here's something that the apostle Peter said: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," (Acts 3:19)The apostle Peter told people to repent and turn to God so that their sins may be wiped out, and he said nothing here about being baptized. Later he said: "everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10:43)Who receives forgiveness of sins? Everyone who believes in Jesus. Peter said nothing about baptism here. The apostle Paul repeated this same fact: "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)Who receives justification and forgiveness of sins? Everyone who believes. Baptism is not mentioned at all in this passage. Now, here is a passage in which a man specifically asked how to become saved: ""Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved --you and your household."" (Acts 16:30-31)The apostle Paul and Silas were specifically asked what must be done in order to receive salvation. Notice that they did not mention baptism at all. They specifically said that we must believe in the Lord Jesus and we will be saved. The apostle Paul said essentially the same thing in the following verse: "You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." (Acts 20:20-21)What did Paul preach and teach? That we must turn to God in repentance and have faith in Jesus. He said nothing at all here about being baptized for salvation. In another passage Paul repeated the fact that we receive salvation by faith: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)Paul said that the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, and he did not say that baptism is required. Paul went on to say that we receive righteousness by faith: "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."" (Romans 1:17)How did Paul say that we receive righteousness? By faith. Paul said nothing about baptism here. Once again Paul repeated the fact that righteousness comes through faith to all who believe: "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." (Romans 3:22)Again, there is no mention of baptism here, only faith. Here's another one: "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:25-26)Notice how we appropriate Christ's atonement: Through faith in His blood. Notice how we receive justification: Through faith in Jesus. Once again there is no mention of baptism here. In fact, just two verses later the apostle Paul repeated the fact that we are justified by faith: "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law." (Romans 3:28)How are we justified? By faith. Paul didn't say that we are justified by faith and baptism. One chapter later, Paul repeated this fact once again: "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (Romans 4:5)How are we credited with righteousness? By our faith, and notice that baptism is not mentioned at all here. Several verses later, Paul said the same thing: "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them." (Romans 4:11)Again, how did the apostle Paul say that we have righteousness credited to us? By believing. Baptism is not listed as a requirement here. Two verses later, Paul repeated this fact: "It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith." (Romans 4:13)Again, righteousness comes by faith, with no additional requirements such as baptism. Ten verses later, Paul repeated the fact that righteousness is credited to us through our faith: "The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." (Romans 4:23-24)Over and over we have seen that salvation, eternal life, forgiveness of sins, justification, and righteousness all come by faith, and baptism is not mentioned at all in these passages. Here's another one: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." (Romans 5:1-2)Justification is by faith. Nothing is said about baptism being a requirement. Here's another place where the apostle Paul said that righteousness is by faith: "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works." (Romans 9:30-32)Again, righteousness comes by faith. Baptism is not mentioned here at all. Here is another place where the apostle Paul said that righteousness is for everyone who believes: "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4)Again, righteousness is for everyone who believes, and baptism is not listed as a requirement. Here's a place where the apostle Paul was more specific about how to receive salvation: "That 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." (Romans 10:9)In this passage, the apostle Paul was very clear that we need to believe and confess (notice that baptism is not mentioned at all here). For example, John 12:42-43 describes some people who believed in Jesus, but they were unwilling to confess their faith because they loved praise from men more than praise from God. The implication is that they did not have saving faith. If we truly have saving faith then we are willing to confess Jesus as our Lord, but the point here is that baptism is not listed as an element of salvation. Then Paul repeated this fact: "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:10)Again, the apostle Paul was very clear that we need to believe and confess (notice that baptism is not mentioned at all here). A few verses later Paul repeated this point: ""Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?" (Romans 10:13-14)Paul said that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved, and then Paul pointed out that we can't call on the Name of the Lord if we don't believe in Him. Again, if we truly have saving faith then we will be willing to confess Jesus as our Lord and call on His Name (notice that Paul did not mention baptism at all here). The apostle Peter echoed this same fact: "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21)Again, everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. The apostle Peter said nothing about baptism here. Here's another verse which says that those who believe are saved: "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe." (1 Corinthians 1:21)Once again we are told that God saves those who believe. Nothing about baptism is mentioned here. The following passage tells us that we are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ: "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." (Galatians 2:15-16a)How do we receive justification? By faith in Christ. Baptism is not listed as a requirement here. Then Paul repeated this fact: "So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:16b)Again, we receive justification by faith in Christ, and baptism is not listed as a requirement here. A few verses later, Paul repeated this fact again: "Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." (Galatians 3:7-9)Once again we are told that we are justified by faith, and baptism is not mentioned at all here. Later, Paul said that we are all sons of God through faith: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26)How do we become sons of God? Through faith in Christ (it doesn't say through faith and water baptism). Here is another place where the apostle Paul said that we are saved through faith: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8)How have we been saved? Through faith (it doesn't say through faith and baptism). And again: "and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ --the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." (Philippians 3:9)Over and over we have seen that salvation, eternal life, forgiveness of sins, justification, and righteousness all come through faith in Christ. None of these passages has said anything about water baptism as a requirement for salvation. Here's another example: "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13)How are we saved? Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. It doesn't say anything about baptism. Here's another passage which says that we receive eternal life by believing in Jesus: "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:16)How do we receive eternal life? By believing in Jesus. Baptism is not mentioned here at all. The apostle John pointed out that everyone who believes in Jesus is born of God: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well." (1 John 5:1)Notice that we are born of God by believing in Jesus, and nothing is said about baptism. Here's another one: 1 John 5:4: "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."In 1 John 5:5 (above), the apostle John said that only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God can overcome the world. In the previous verse (1 John 5:4, above), John said that everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. Putting these two verses together tells us that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is born of God. Again, it is our faith in Christ which saves us, and baptism is not mentioned here at all. We have seen that there are literally dozens of passages in the New Testament which say that we can receive salvation, eternal life, righteousness, justification, forgiveness of sins, and so on, through faith in Christ. Notice that baptism was not mentioned in any of the above passages, good works were not mentioned, penance was not mentioned, church membership was not mentioned, and so on, because those things are not necessary for salvation. So why do some people believe that baptism is a requirement for being saved? The reason is because they are trying to be true to what they see in Scripture, and there are actually a handful of passages which seem to link baptism with salvation. In Parts Two, Three, and Four of this series we will examine the main passages which are sometimes used as evidence for the doctrine that baptism is necessary for salvation, but for the moment let's consider some implications of this doctrine. If we believe that a person will not go to heaven unless he has faith in Christ and has been baptized in water then we would be contradicting all of the dozens of passages above. We would be basing our view of salvation on a minority of passages rather than on the great majority of passages concerning salvation, eternal life, forgiveness of sins, justification, and righteousness. We would be saying that salvation is only available to people if there is enough water to perform a baptism and if there is a Christian available to baptize the person and if there is enough time to baptize the person before he or she dies. This means that unsaved people in life-threatening situations cannot receive salvation if there is not enough time to baptize them before their deaths. This means that unsaved people who die all alone cannot receive salvation because there are no Christians available to perform the baptisms. This means that unsaved people in areas with little water cannot receive salvation if there is not enough water for performing the baptisms. All of these implications contradict the dozens of passages which we have just examined. At the top of this article I pointed out that we should try to examine all of the "puzzle pieces" in Scripture in order to see the full picture which God is trying to teach us about a particular doctrine. Otherwise our views will be based on incomplete information. We can easily demonstrate that salvation by faith is the true doctrine because the Scriptural testimony for this view far, far outweighs the few passages which seem to say that salvation requires faith plus water baptism. Later we will see that those few passages do not contradict the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Examples of People Who Were Saved Before Being Baptized
Not only does the weight of Scriptural testimony support the doctrine that salvation is by faith alone, but the New Testament actually gives us examples of numerous people who received salvation before they were baptized. In Part Three of this series we will see plenty of evidence which shows that Saul of Tarsus (who later became known as the apostle Paul) received salvation on the road to Damascus before he was baptized in water. In fact, we will even see that he received his commission as an apostle before he was baptized. Since Saul received salvation before he was baptized, this demonstrates that his water baptism was not for the purpose of his salvation. In Part Four of this series we will see that a eunuch received salvation before he was baptized. Here's another example. After a lame man received healing, the apostle Peter began sharing the Gospel message with a crowd that had gathered: Acts 3:11: "While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade."In the above passage, Peter spoke to a crowd about Jesus, and then Peter told the people to repent so that their sins would be wiped out (Acts 3:19, above). Peter did not mention baptism at all here. Notice that as Peter and John were speaking to this crowd, they were arrested: Acts 4:1: "The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people."Many people responded by believing the Gospel message which was preached to them by Peter and John, and these people were considered to be new Christians. But notice that Peter and John were arrested while they were still preaching, and they were locked up until the next day. Peter and John had no opportunity to baptize any of these new believers, and we can't point to any Scriptural evidence that anyone else baptized them at that time, yet these new believers were counted as brothers in the Lord. Now let's look at another group of people who received salvation before they were baptized. The following passage tells us that a Gentile named Cornelius (and his family) received salvation and then received the exact same baptism of the Holy Spirit that the disciples received on the day of Pentecost: "[Cornelius the Gentile] told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' As I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they [the Jews in Jerusalem] heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."" (Acts 11:13-18)This passage says that the apostle Peter was summoned to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius. An angel had told Cornelius that Peter would bring them a message by which they would all be saved. When Peter began to preach the Gospel message to them and they accepted it, God granted them repentance unto life. As soon as they received salvation, God gave them the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, exactly like on the day of Pentecost. In fact, Cornelius the Gentile and his household spoke in tongues after the Holy Spirit came on them (just like on the day of Pentecost), as the next passage shows: "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." (Acts 10:44-46)Peter said that Cornelius and his household had received the same gift of the Holy Spirit (the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit) that the disciples had received at Pentecost. When Cornelius and his household received this gift they immediately began speaking in tongues, and notice that this happened before they were baptized in water: "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days." (Acts 10:44-48)If water baptism is a requirement for salvation (as some people believe) then the only way that Cornelius and his household could have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit is if they had first been baptized in water for salvation. However, Cornelius and his household received salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water! People who believe that water baptism is necessary for salvation sometimes say that God must have allowed Cornelius and his household to receive the Holy Spirit before they were saved. However, the New Testament clearly teaches that the gift of the Holy Spirit is only given to Christians (see for example John 7:37-39, Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 38-39, 8:14-20, 19:1-7), so it violates Scripture to say that God would give this gift to people who are not yet saved. In fact, Scripture specifically says that God accepted Cornelius and his household and purified their hearts by faith before He gave them the Holy Spirit: "After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles [Cornelius and his household] might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith."" (Acts 15:7-9)This passage says that when Cornelius and his household believed the message of the Gospel, God saw their hearts and accepted them and purified their hearts by their faith, and He showed that He had accepted them into the Kingdom by giving them the Holy Spirit. All of this happened before they were baptized in water. Neither Peter nor any other Christians ever said that Cornelius and his household were a "special case." In fact, Peter specifically said that God "made no distinction between us and them" (Acts 15:9, above). In other words, God brought Cornelius and his household into the Kingdom in exactly the same way that He brings everyone else into the Kingdom. Cornelius and his household received salvation before they were baptized in water, and the apostles and other Christians considered this to be the normal way that salvation works. We have now looked at several examples in which numerous people received salvation before they were baptized in water. Consider that if baptism is a requirement for salvation then no-one can be saved without being baptized (otherwise baptism wouldn't be a requirement after all). Therefore, either we have to say that the numerous people in the above examples were all "special cases" of some kind, or else we have to say that baptism cannot be a requirement for salvation. When our doctrines force us to claim that certain Scripture passages are all "special cases," then it's quite likely that there is something wrong with our doctrines! In fact, in Acts 15:7-9 (above) the apostle Peter specifically said that God made no distinction between the Gentile converts and the original disciples, which indicates that the Gentiles received salvation in exactly the same way that the original disciples did. Therefore, the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius (who received salvation before they were baptized) were not a "special case" at all. Since the "special case" argument is erroneous, the only remaining conclusion that we can make is that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Water baptism was commanded by Jesus (Matthew 28:19), and it was taught and practiced by the apostles and early Christians (possible examples are: Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 16, 36-39, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:15, 33, 18:8, 19:5, 22:16, Hebrews 6:2, 1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 1:13-17, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:12). Therefore, water baptism is an important act of obedience, even though it is not a requirement for receiving salvation. I hope this has been helpful, and may the Lord abundantly bless you as you study His Word! |