Search The Scriptures: February 18, 2001
IS BAPTISM ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION?
INTRODUCTION:
A. Good morning my friends, and welcome to this edition of Search the Scriptures. I am J.R.
Bronger, and on behalf of the Danville church of Christ I invite you to join us for the next
several minutes as we engage in a diligent study of the bible. If you are a regular listener to this
program, then you know we take a no-nonsense approach to bible study. This morning will be no
exception! We plan to ask and answer the question: Is baptism in water essential to salvation?
B. In the spring of 1990 an article appeared in The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society in
which Lanny Thomas Tanton attempted to discredit the concept that baptism could be - in any
way - essential to salvation. Tanton said “Many who maintain that baptism is part of the Gospel
are sincere, thoughtful, Bible-loving, Bible-believing people. In fact, other than their demand for
baptism, many of these same people could be considered fundamentalists! I know this for a fact
because for years I was taught, and believed, and even preached that baptism was necessary for
salvation. I was a minister in a denomination that proclaimed this position.” Tanton then
launches out in his 26-page essay to correctly define and interpret Acts 2:38. He writes “The
purpose, then, of this article is to explore the relationship between the demand for baptism and
the promise of the remission of sins in Acts 2:38 in order to answer a larger theological
question: Is baptism necessary in order to receive the remission of sins?” His conclusion is that
baptism is not essential to salvation in spite of what Peter said in Acts 2:38. Tanton, like most
denominational preachers confesses that on the surface it seems the bible does teach that baptism
is essential to salvation. He writes: “First, this interpretation has in its favor the prima facie
reading of the text. In other words, they take the passage at face value. In fact, it is argued, that
if theological issues were not involved one would naturally come to this interpretation. Secondly,
this interpretation harmonizes easily with other passages, also taken prima facie, which connect
baptism with the remission of sins and salvation. Two especially strong passages that are
consistent with this interpretation are Acts 22:16 and 1 Pet 3:21.” I hope you paid close
attention to what this man wrote. He said if we take the bible at face value then we would
naturally reach the conclusion that baptism is essential to salvation. So, instead of taking the
bible at face value, he says we should work at twisting and rearranging it to teach something
else. My friends, I ask you if this is something with which you feel comfortable? Are you
comfortable trusting your eternal salvation upon reinterpreting passages that when taken at face
value teach us that baptism is essential to salvation? This man says the bible, when taken at face
value, teaches that baptism is essential to salvation, yet he does not believe that baptism is
essential to salvation. Why? Ladies and gentlemen, it is because he has rearranged and
restructured and retooled the scriptures to make them say something completely opposite to what
God intended for them to say. Yet, he is not alone in this twisting of scriptures. Today most
denominations and most denominational preachers deny that baptism has any part in one’s
salvation. Take for example, the Baptist Church, whish has as part of its name baptism. In a
clear contrast to biblical truth, Baptists hold it up as a badge of honor to deny the essentiality of
baptism for the remission of sins. The Baptist Messenger in October 1974 contained this
quotation on page 16, “The church which preaches salvation by baptism, is not Baptist.” Being
in full agreement with the Baptists on this subject, the Methodists also declares baptism to be a
sign which signifies one has already been saved. The Methodist Book of Discipline - under the
heading Doctrine and Doctrinal Statements says, “We believe baptism signifies entrance into
the household of faith, and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a
representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship.” This
denial of the essentiality of baptism places these mainstream denominations in direct opposition
to the teaching of the men who are responsible for their existence. Martin Luther for example
wrote in The Larger Catechism on page 113, “In the second place, since we know now what
Baptism is, and how it is to be regarded, we must also learn why and for what purpose it is
instituted; that is, what it profits, gives and works. And this also we cannot discern better than
from the words of Christ above quoted: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
Therefore state it most simply thus, that the power, work, profit, fruit, and end of Baptism is this,
namely, to save. For no one is baptized in order that he may become a prince, but, as the words
declare, that he be saved. But to be saved, we know, is nothing else than to be delivered from sin,
death, and the devil, and to enter into the kingdom of Christ, and to live with him forever.”
Ladies and gentlemen, you could add to this writing of Luther the writings of John Calvin and
John Wesley. Both men believed in the essentiality of baptism. Their understanding of baptism
did not change their errors in other matters, however. I just point this out to illustrate that some
of the founders of these denominations who disbelieve the necessity of baptism did, themselves,
believe in the essentiality of baptism.
C. However, what I am interested in this morning is not the writing of Luther or what the
denominations are saying, but I am interested in what the New Testament has to say about
baptism. “Is baptism in water essential to salvation?” That is, before one can go to heaven is it
necessary to first be baptized in water? Now before you and I can answer this - two things
become obligatory. (1) We must lay aside any prejudices we might have about this subject and
then consult the scriptures. And, (2) we must keep in mind the New Testament mentions baptism
- in one form or another - nearly one-hundred times. This is a significant number of times for
the Holy Spirit to mention baptism. The mere volume of its mention in the New Testament
suggests baptism is important in one way or another. Also, the fact that baptism appears so
frequently in the bible reminds us that it is a bible subject. My friends, if we are to understand
baptism and its role in God’s plan of things, then we must be willing to accept the scriptures as
they are written and without any preconceived biased opinions. Therefore, this morning we will
let the bible speak for itself on the subject of baptism in order to see what bearing - if any -
baptism may have in salvation. The outline of our study will be as follows. (1) We will read the
words of Jesus as he gave the great commission in regard to baptism. Then, (2) we will examine
the preaching of the apostles to see what they said about baptism. And then (3) we will study the
teaching of the apostles within their letters to learn what they wrote about baptism.
I. Now, let’s consider baptism as it relates to the great commission. Three of the gospel
writers record the final words of Jesus before his ascension into heaven. We will note two of
them. First, there is Matthew. He documents these words of Jesus in Matt. 28:19. Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Next, we read what Jesus said, as recorded in Mk. 16:16. He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. My
friends, these are the documented words of Jesus just before he ascended into heaven. Now, I
know perhaps many have been led to believe that baptism is merely a church ordinance with no
bearing - whatever - on one’s spiritual condition. Yet, we cannot read the words of Jesus without
coming to the honest conclusion that baptism is somehow involved in, (1) the process of
becoming a disciple, and (2) the means by which one is saved. Keep this in your mind as we
proceed with our study. That is, keep in mind that according to Matt. 28:19, baptism is a factor -
a determining factor - in becoming a disciple of Christ. Also, according to Mk. 16:16, baptism is
imperative before one can be saved. Now, before drawing any final conclusions on these
statements alone, let’s move to the next point of our study.
II. That is, let’s now consider the place that baptism was assigned in the preaching of the
apostles. In order to do this we must examine carefully the book of Acts. The book of Acts
actually takes its name from the activities of the apostles - which is precisely what it is. It
records the preaching of the apostles - as they endeavored to carry out the great commission of
Christ. First, note what Peter said to a group of men and women in Acts 2:38. (This is the verse
mentioned earlier that Lanny Thomas Tanton said taken at face value teaches the essentiality of
baptism). Peter, one of the apostles who heard - first hand - the words of Jesus to make disciples
of all nations - baptizing believers in order to save them, told some unsaved believers in Acts
2:38, repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I sincerely
ask you: “For what purpose (or design) were these to be baptized?” That is, “Why were they
told to be baptized?” Returning to the verse under consideration we find simply it was for the
remission of sins. I believe every intelligent man, woman, boy or girl can (and do) understand
the meaning of this phrase. I believe each of us understands the expression for the remission of
sins. As a matter of fact, we would have to have some help to misunderstand it, even Tanton
admits this. And, that is exactly what many are receiving today; “Help in misunderstanding it.”
Today we are told that for the remission of sins doesn’t mean what we think it means. Today we
hear preachers tell us, for the remission of sins means because your sins are already remitted.
Now, let me ask you this morning: “Does for the remission of sins mean `in order to remit sins,’
or does it mean `because of remitted sins?’” Most denominational preachers say that when Peter
told these people to be baptized for the remission of sins, that what he had in mind was, they
were to be baptized because their sins were already forgiven. They reason something like this.
They say it’s like saying that one “jumps for joy.” Their conclusion is that one jumps because
he is joyful - not in order to make him joyful. Now, my friends, I will admit such an assertion is
often believed because it sounds reasonable. But don’t get too taken in by it, because while it
might sound reasonable, it is shamelessly unscriptural. Did you know the exact phrase, with the
identical grammatical construction, is found elsewhere in the bible? Did you know the Lord
Jesus used the same expression, for the remission of sins, in Matt. 26:28? And, my friends,
whatever the term meant in Matt. 26:28, it means in Acts 2:38. In Matt. 26:28 we find Jesus
saying, For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins. Here Jesus is saying his blood is shed for the remission of sins. Now is his blood shed in
order to remit the sins of mankind? Or, is his blood shed because mankind’s sins are already
forgiven? Now, don’t ignore this comparison. Don’t be like the preacher who - when confronted
with the power of this verse - said “it doesn’t matter.” My friends, it does matter why Jesus
died? Did Jesus die to symbolize that man was already saved? Or did he die in order to save lost
mankind? Which is it? Did Jesus die because man was saved? Or did he die in order to save
man? How ever you answer that will be the way Acts 2: 38 is to be understood. It’s obvious to
all who have not been blinded by denominational terminology that Jesus died in order to save
the lost. And likewise baptism is in order to remit the sins of the lost. Also, my friends, note that
baptism and repentance are joined together by the conjunction and in Acts 2:38. That is, Peter
said Repent, and let every one of you be baptized. Whatever one is for - the other is for as well.
Both, repentance and baptism are in order to remit sins. If one is nonessential then so is the
other. If one is because of, then so is the other. The truth of this verse is that both are essential
requirements of the Lord - that must be met before one’s sins are forgiven. As we continue
surveying the book of Acts, also bear in mind the preaching of Philip the evangelist in Acts 8.
This chapter chronicles the preaching of Philip in both Samaria and Gaza. In Samaria we read in
verse 12, but when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of
God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. And, then in Gaza the
scriptures reveal the following dialogue in verses’ 36-38. Beginning when the lost man asked
Philip: See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said, If you
believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water, and he baptized him. Ladies and gentlemen, in both instances’ Philip
preached Christ and the immediate results of his preaching was that people were baptized. Why?
If baptism is nonessential, why were these people instantly baptized? I’ll tell you, my friends, the
reason Philip baptized these people immediately after they believed was for the remission of
their sins. It was - in compliance with the great commission - to make them disciples. It was to
save them! Also, the book of Acts contains a record of the activities and the preaching of the
apostle Paul. And, even before a record of his preaching the book shows that his conversion was
not complete until he obeyed the words of God in Acts 22:16 that says, arise and be baptized,
and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Now what was Paul told that
baptism would do for him? He was told baptism would wash away his sins. This is the same as
saying baptism would save him. It is commensurate with saying baptism remitted his sins. In the
case of Paul, he was told baptism washed away his sins. This is not what you’re likely to hear
preached in denominational churches today. And, the reason for that is denominational preachers
- of every stripe and shade - do not believe the words of scriptures when it comes to what the
bible says about baptism. And it makes little difference whether it is the words of Jesus or the
words of the apostles - men today are simply refusing to accept the bible’s teaching about the
necessity of baptism. Clearly, anyone can see that baptism was essential to Paul’s salvation. And,
baptism became an essential part of his preaching. When he went to Philippi, baptism was what
he commanded Lydia and the jailer to submit to. In Acts 16:15 after Lydia and her family heard
the preaching of the gospel, the record says, and when she and her household were baptized. As
far as the bible reveals Paul spent only a limited time with this woman, but afterward she was
immediately baptized. Why? Did you know that this verse cannot be understood when baptism is
made nonessential? However, it’s easily understood when we consider what Jesus said in the
great commission, which was preach and baptize in order to save the lost. Also, in Acts 16 we
find Paul preaching to the Philippian jailer. After convincing this man to believe on Christ, the
bible says in verse 33 that he was baptized. And immediately he and all his family were
baptized. Again, this verse makes no sense when we conclude baptism is nonessential. If we
believe baptism is nothing more than an outward sign to an inward grace. Or if we believe
baptism is simply a testimony to the church that we have accepted Christ, then this verse makes
no sense, because no one was around except the preacher when this man and his family were
baptized. If baptism is immaterial, then why not wait until a better time? Why not wait until the
next day when all would have been rested? Why not wait until Paul could have informed Lydia
and the other Christians in Philippi so they could witness this event? Don’t you see, my friends,
you cannot possibly understand this text while disbelieving the essentiality of baptism?
However, it is easily understood in light of the Lord’s great commission that baptism - as well as
belief - saves the lost. Now, instead of reading and commenting on every example of baptism
within the book of Acts, let me briefly condense what is revealed. I urge you to write down the
references I will mention and read them for yourself in the bible. Not only do we find that those
in Jerusalem were baptized in Acts 2, and that those in Samaria and Gaza baptized in Acts 8. We
also found those in Philippi were baptized in Acts 16. But, we can add to these - Cornelius in
Acts 10:48; and the Corinthians in Acts 18:8; and the Ephesians in Acts 19:5. As a matter of
fact, did you know every instance of conversion within the book of Acts contains water baptism?
That is, you might find an example of conversion where the bible does not record that the lost
believed. Or you might be able to find an example of conversion where it is not recorded that the
people repented. But, you will not find an example of conversion in the book of Acts without the
mention of water baptism.
III. This brings us to the third part of our study, which is consulting the writing of the apostles
in their letters as that writing involves baptism. Time will limit our examination to the
writings of Paul and Peter. First, Paul. In Rom. 6:3-4 he wrote: Or do you not know that as
many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were
buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. There are several things
we can learn from these verses. The first is that each one is baptized into Christ. And, according
to 2 Cor. 5:17 it is only in Christ that one becomes a new creation. And the only way one gets
into Christ is by being baptized into him. Then (2) we learn that we are baptized into the death of
Jesus. Paul said we are baptized into his death. What happened in the death of Christ? In his
death Jesus shed his atoning blood to provide salvation. And, baptism is how we obtain that
saving blood. Often people who fail to understand the relationship of baptism with salvation will
state: “I thought we were saved by the blood of Jesus.” This statement is true; we are saved by
the blood of Christ. As in the words of the old song: “What can wash away our sins? Nothing
but the blood of Jesus.” But, Paul makes it clear that the blood of Jesus will reach only those
who have been baptized into his death. That is, the blood of Jesus covers only those who have
been baptized into his death. If we have not been baptized, we have not benefitted from the
saving death of Christ. The benefits of the death of Jesus are experienced only by those who
have been baptized into that death. Paul asks in Rom. 6:3 do you not know this? Then, (3) we
see that baptism is a burial. Paul said: buried with him through baptism. Baptism is not (nor can
it be) a sprinkling - it is a burial in water. Rom. 6:3-4 tells us that baptism is a burial. Those who
have been sprinkled, or have had some water poured or dripped on their heads have not been
baptized. Scriptural baptism is a burial, and nothing short of a complete submersion in water can
be considered to be baptism. When we bury the deceased, we do not simply sprinkle a hand full
of dirt on the casket, nor do we just pour a little dirt over the coffin. When the dead are buried, a
complete covering of the dead with dirt is accomplished, or there is no burial. Now, if we can
understand this, we should have no trouble understanding that to be buried in baptism is to be
completely covered with water. Also, in keeping with Paul’s parallel of baptism and a burial, let
me ask: “Do we bury a live man or a dead man?” Now, I’m asking this in sincerity in an effort
to make a scriptural point. There are those who claim that baptism is a Christian rite. That
baptism is for the saved and not in order to save the lost. Well, what they are saying is that we
are to bury a live man and not a dead one. They say baptism is only for those who are alive in
Christ. They say before one is a subject for baptism he must first be alive in Christ. So they take
the people, they believe to be living in Christ, and bury them. Baptism is a burial, and here you
have many preachers burying new born babes alive in Christ. My good friends, if these preachers
were to do physically what they claim to be doing spiritually, they would be arrested for murder.
The truth of the matter is, baptism is for those who are dead in sin. Listen to what Paul said
directly relating to this in Col. 2:12-13. There he writes, buried with him in baptism, in which
you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the
dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has
made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. Whenever one - who is dead
in sin - is buried in water, he emerges from the water a new creature, alive in Christ. He has
buried the old man of sin, and been raised to walk in a new life. But, my friends, those who
denigrate baptism cannot possibly understand the writings of Paul as they relate to baptism.
Before leaving Paul, let’s consider what he wrote in Gal. 3:26-27. He said: For you are all sons
of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have
put on Christ. Three very important truths are revealed in these verses. (1) The process by
which one becomes a child of God is faith. And, (2) The passage through which becomes a child
of God is Christ. Then (3) the only way to enter this passageway is by baptism. Putting on Christ
is equal to becoming a child of God, and this occurs in the act of baptism. Paul said: For as
many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. That is, for as many (no more and
no less). For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. My friends, only
those who have been baptized into Christ have become children of God by faith. It is only the
baptized who have received Christ into their lives. But now let’s briefly turn our attention to
what Peter had to say in his writings about baptism. Peter writes, what is perhaps the most
powerful defense of baptism found in scripture. He said in 1 Pet. 3:21, The like figure
whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. This figure here, mentioned by Peter, is the
flood water of Noah’s day. He is not saying that baptism figures salvation. Instead Peter is
saying just as water separated Noah from the sinful world, so water now saves us. This verse
gives fits to those who wish to say the Lord has excluded baptism from his plan for saving men.
Preachers claim Peter is saying that baptism is a figure. But this is not what the verse says. It
does not say baptism is a figure. It says that the flood is a figure of baptism. Let’s note two
popular translations of this verse to help us understand better its teaching. First the New King
James Version says: There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism. The flood was a
type of baptism. But in case you still are having difficulty in understanding the verse. Consider
The New International Version that reads: and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves
you also. This water is the water of the flood mentioned in verse 20, and Peter says that the
water of the flood symbolized baptism that now saves us. Peter is not making the case that there
is saving power in the water. To the contrary, if we examine the means by which Noah was
saved we immediately discover that it was by the grace of God according to Gen. 6:8. Peter is
simply telling us - it was by means of this water that God saved Noah, and it is by means of
water baptism that he saves the lost today.
CONCLUSION:
A. There is no denying that baptism is essential to our salvation. Jesus said so in his great
commission. The apostles preached it in the book of Acts. And they wrote about it in their
letters.
B. My time is up for today. Be sure to stay tuned for some closing announcements, and join me
again next Sunday morning at 7:00 A.M. as we again Search the Scriptures. Until then, this is
J.R. Bronger saying goodbye for now.