IS BAPTISM NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?
Baptism is an essential step towards salvation. It is not salvation within itself, but neither is it just an option to be chosen or rejected at the discretion of the believer who wants to be saved.
I PETER 3:21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.
Some churches teach that we are saved by belief alone in Jesus, that baptism is just an �outward profession of our inward faith,� and that baptism has no saving qualities. This teaching is not scriptural. This is denominational teaching, not Bible teaching. We do not get baptized because we have already been saved by the outward profession of our faith. The Bible says baptism is a command towards being saved. It is the New Testament circumcism, not a matter of individual decision.
God gave the apostle Peter the keys to the kingdom. When the people asked Peter what they must do to be saved, what did he tell them?
ACTS 2:38
Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
ACTS 10:48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Jesus said that unless we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, then we will not be able to enter into heaven!
MARK 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
JOHN 3:3-5
Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
Water and Spirit referred to by Jesus as being essential for entrance into heaven refers to water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus and the infilling/indwelling of the Holy Ghost. It is a command.
MATTHEW 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
ACTS 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
REVELATION 22:14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they might have right to the tree of life, and may enter in thru the gates into the city.
Water baptism is a burial with Christ. It is the burial of our old nature.
ROMANS 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
COLOSSIANS 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
In baptism, we wear Jesus.
GALATIANS 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
WHY BAPTISM?
In repentance, we see ourselves the way God sees us. We confess our sins, right the wrongs that we are able to, and we turn away from sin. We are ready to begin a new life that will be obedient and pleasing to God. When we confess our sins, truly wanting to change our ways, God will forgive every sin we have ever committed. These sins are washed away in water baptism.
God forgives us when we repent and confess our sins, but we still have our sins. For example, if someone were to come and pour ketchup all over your clean white shirt and then feel badly about doing so and asked your forgiveness, you would no doubt forgive them; however, the ketchup is still on your shirt�the stain is still there�until the shirt is laundered and the stain removed! Baptism is for the remission of sins. Although God forgives us, our sins are still with us until we are baptized, where they are washed away! According to God, baptism is vital to salvation.
SOME OF THOSE BAPTIZED IN NAME OF THE LORD:
ACTS 2:41
(the believers at Pentecost)
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.
ACTS 8:12
(the converts of Samaria)
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
ACTS 9:18
(Saul of Tarsus who became the apostle Paul)
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
ACTS 16:15
(Lydia)
And when she was baptized, and her household...
ACTS 16:33
(Jailor and his household)
And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, and he and all his straightway.
ACTS 18:8
(Believers at Corinth)
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
ACTS 19:5
(John the Baptist's followers were RE-BAPTIZED)
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
God says:
MATTHEW 18:16
That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
HOW SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?
Baptism by immersion is God�s Plan. The word �baptism� comes from the Greek word, "baptizo" which, in the dyers' trade, means "to dip." Dyers would dip the cloth in the dye until it was totally saturated and transformed into the color of the dye. When we are baptized, we are saturated with Christ and take on His qualities. Like the cloth that changes color, our old self is made new.
Our Bible left no guesswork about how the early Christians were baptized. Without exception, they were immersed.
MATTHEW 3:16
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water.
MARK 1:9-10
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water.
JOHN 3:23
And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
ACTS 8:38-39
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water...
The Bible says in Ephesians 4:5 that there is only one baptism. Jesus' way was by immersion, and we need to do it His way.
WHAT REFERENCE BOOKS SAY
ABOUT BAPTISM BY IMMERSION
Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia (Vol. 1, page 451)
�Baptism was always a burial; The command to baptize was the command to immerse.�
Catholic Bible Encyclopedia (Vol. B, page 61)
�Immersion is the oldest method employed for baptism.� (Yet it was the Catholic church that initiated sprinkling.)
Encyclopedia Dictionary of the Bible (page 202)
�It is evident that the action performed in baptizing was by immersion.�
Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church (Vol. 1, page 188)
�Martin Luther preferred immersion as more true to the original practice.�
Pulpit Commentary to the bible (Vol. 18, page 156)
�Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in the newness of life.� (The reference is to baptize by immersion. We are buried with Him.)
World Book Encyclopedia (1975 Edition, Vol. B, page 70)
�The early Christians practiced immersion (the submerging of the person in water) as a method of baptism.�
New Catholic Encyclopedia (1967 Edition, Vol. 2, page 56)
�It is evident that baptism in the early church was by immersion.�
Encyclopedia International (1975 Edition, Vol. 2, page 378)
�The original mode of baptism was by immersion for the entire body in water, but a widely accepted method SINCE the 2nd century has been by affusion,� (pouring water on the head�employed by the Roman Catholic Church).
If there is only one baptism recognized by God, and if Jesus was baptized by immersion, and if all the early Christians were baptized by immersion, then it seems that God's plan commands baptism by immersion.
Think about this for a moment. The Scriptures say baptism is a burial with Christ. No one has ever been buried by sprinkling dirt over the casket. When someone is buried, their casket is totally covered with dirt; otherwise, they are not buried.
BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE SCRIPTURAL PLAN
LUKE 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
ACTS 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
ACTS 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other; For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
ROMANS 6:3-5
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with HIM by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of HIS death, we shall also be in the likeness of HIS resurrection:
I CORINTHIANS 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.
GALATIANS 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:8-12
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried with HIM in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
COLOSSIANS 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
EVERY BIBLICAL BAPTISM WAS IN THE NAME OF JESUS
ACTS 8:12
(Church of Samaria)
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
ACTS 8:16
(Church of Samaria)
...they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
ACTS 10:48
(Church at Caesarean)
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
ACTS 18:8
(Believers at Corinth)
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
ACTS 19:5
(Church at Ephesus)
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
ACTS 22:16
(Command to Saul who became the apostle Paul)
And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD SCRIPTURE IN THE BIBLE
MATTHEW 28:19
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
We need to keep in mind that this was a commission, not a sermon. Jesus was commissioning his disciples to:
- Go out
- Teach all nations
- Baptize them
Peter and the apostles were present at this commission. They heard firsthand the words of Jesus, and they understood what He meant, because they knew the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Ghost! Without exception, they always baptized in the name of Jesus!
In Acts 26:19, the great apostle Paul even told King Agrippa that he (Paul) had been disobedient to the command given in Matthew 28:19. How did Paul baptize? Without exception he always baptized in the name of Jesus!
If:
- the apostles heard Jesus' command of Matthew 28:19, and
- they all baptized new converts in Jesus' name, and
- Paul said it was in obedience to Jesus' command,
then it appears that baptizing in the name of Jesus was the command of Christ and was the way it was always done! Why do it any other way now?
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said to baptize in the name (the singular name); not names (plural). There is one name, and it is the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Ghost. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles. Those baptizing by merely reciting Matthew 28:19 are not doing what the scripture actually commands.
For example, the Scriptures say to baptize in the name of the Son. The Son's name is Jesus; consequently, if they baptize saying, "I now baptize you in the name of the Son," but they don't actually call the name of the Son, then they haven't baptized in the name of the Son, and they have not been obedient to Jesus' command of baptizing in the name.
Again, Matthew 28:19 says, "baptizing them in the name of:"
- the Father
- and of the Son
- and of the Holy Ghost
Just as Son is not the name of the Son, neither is Father the name of the Father, and neither is Holy Ghost the name of the Holy Ghost. A man can be a father, a son, a husband, an employee, a tennis player, etc. These are different roles he assumes but they are not his name. God was:
- The Father in creation (Genesis 1 and 2)
- The Son in redemption (John 1:14; I Timothy 3:16)
- The Holy Ghost in the heart of the believer
(Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Joel 2:28-29)
These were different roles. Your earthly father has a name. If you have a son or daughter, a wife or a husband, they have a name. Matthew 28:19 says to baptize in the name. Without the name applied at baptism, one is merely getting wet.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FATHER?
JOHN 5:43
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not...
If my name is Jones, and I come in my father's name, then my father's name is Jones. If Jesus said he was using his Father's name, then the Father's name is Jesus.
Also, notice:
HEBREWS 1:4
Being so much better than the angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
If I inherit my father's name, then my name is that of my father. If Jesus inherited his Father's name, then His Father's name is Jesus.
Jesus told us what the Father's name is.
JOHN 17:26
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it...
What name did Jesus declare�Jesus! It is the family name, and a family gets their name from the Father. We take on Jesus' name in baptism! We take on our Father's name.
EPHESIANS 3:14,15
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SON?
MATTHEW 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE HOLY GHOST?
JOHN 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name.
If the Holy Ghost is sent in Jesus' name then the name of the Holy Ghost is Jesus!
ZECHARIAH 14:9
And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name ONE.
According to the Scriptures, there is only one name.
OUTSIDE REFERENCES ON JESUS NAME BAPTISM
Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia (Vol. 1, page 435)
The New Testament knows ONLY the baptism in the name of Jesus.
Hastings Dictionary (page 88)
�It has been customary to trace the institution of the practice of the words of Christ in Matthew 28:19, but the authenticity of this passage has been challenged on historical as well as textural grounds. It must be acknowledged that the formula of the three-fold name� (Father, Son and Holy Ghost), �which is here enjoined, DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN USED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH which so far as our information goes, baptized into the name of Jesus Christ or the Lord Jesus without any reference to Father and Spirit.�
Scribners Dictionary of the Bible (Vol. 1, page 241)
�The original form of words were into the name of Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus. Baptism into the Trinity was a LATER development� (of the Roman Catholic Church in 325 A.D).
Canney Encyclopedia (page 53)
�The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the development of the trinity; AFTERWARD, they were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.�
Walker/A History of the Christian Church (1959 Edition, page 87)
�With the early disciples, baptism was in the name of Jesus.�
Encyclopedia Britannica (11th Edition, Vol. 3, page 368)
�We gather from Acts 19:4, that John had merely baptized in the name of the coming Messiah, without identifying him with Jesus of Nazareth. The apostolic age supplied this identification, and the normal use during it seems to have been into Christ Jesus or in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.�
Encyclopedia Biblica (Vol. 1, page 473, 1989 Edition)
�In the name of Jesus Christ or of the Lord Jesus. The former expression is used in Acts 2:38 and 10:48. The latter is used in Acts 8:16 and 19:5. See also Acts 22:16. From these passages, and from Paul's words in I Corinthians 1:13, it is natural to conclude that baptism was administered in the earliest times in the name of Jesus. This view is confirmed by the fact that the earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single, not triple, as was the later creed.�
New International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Vol.2, page 377-379)
�Christian baptism was administered using the words in the name of Jesus. The use of a trinity formula of any sort was not suggested in the early church history. Baptism was always in the name of the Lord Jesus until the time of Justin Martyr when the Triune formula was used (325 A.D.).�
Encyclopedia of Religion & Ethics (Vol. 2, page 384, 1958 Edition)
The formula used was in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hastings Dictionary of the Bible (1906 Edition, Vol. 1, page 241)
�Moreover, there is no mention in the New Testament of anyone being baptized into the name of the trinity.�
Catholic Encyclopedia (Vol. 2, page 263)
Here the authors acknowledged that the baptismal formula was changed by their church; that they changed the words "Jesus Christ" to "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.� They admit the change is their doctrine, and not that of the Bible.
Life Magazine (Oct. 30, 1950, Vol. 29, No. 18, page 151)
The Catholics make this statement concerning the doctrine of the trinity to defend the dogma of the assumption of Mary in an article by Graham Green:
"Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in the scriptures, but the Protestant churches themselves accepted such dogma as the Trinity for which there is NO SUCH PRECISE AUTHORITY IN THE GOSPEL."
The Catholics didn't decide that Mary ascended to heaven just like Jesus did until 1950. The Protestants wouldn't buy it because it wasn't in the Scriptures. Rome said the doctrine of the Trinity wasn't in the Scriptures either, but the Protestants bought that, so why wouldn't they accept this new doctrine also.
Matthew 28:19 is a commandment of what to do; it is not an example of actual baptism. Every baptism in the Bible was done in Jesus name, and even though there is a large number of people following the baptismal formula of Rome, that does not make it right.
Remember, the Scriptures say there is one baptism. Any other baptism is not scriptural and will not be accepted by God. Only those who are obedient to the Scriptures will be saved. Our Bible says this over and over again.
Throughout all of time, God's people have always been the minority, and although the world seems to be doing something else, following the doctrines and theories of men, our Saviour said:
MATTHEW 7:13-14
...for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go thereat: ...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.
There are many churches which follow different theories and practices concerning baptism. According to the Bible, however, God has only one acceptable plan for baptism.
EPHESIANS 4:5
(There is) ONE Lord, ONE Faith, ONE Baptism.
God did not give one baptismal plan to the Baptists, another to the Presbyterians, and yet another to the Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, and so on. Since the Scriptures say there is only one baptism, only one plan for heaven, then it stands to reason that the baptism performed by Jesus and His disciples is the correct baptism, the one that is acceptable to God. Any baptism that is different in any way from what Jesus and His disciples taught and practiced would thereby be a different baptism and not acceptable to God. Since God said there was only one baptism, then we need to adhere to the Word of God and not the theories and notions of men.
COLOSSIANS 3:6
...the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.
The Scriptures testify to God�s exactness in all things. God has always been explicit in what He expects from us. He has told us what to do and how to do it. He has not set forth through His word, nor does He accept, alternate plans for those desiring to do things their own way.
Baptism is essential to salvation.
Baptism is a command; it is not optional.
Baptism was always done by immersion, in the name of Jesus.
This is God's ONE and ONLY plan��.
The choice is yours.
