IS BAPTISM NECESSARY FOR SALVATION

 

There’s no doubt that baptism has been one of the most important practices of the church ever since. It is expected that believers experience it at the start of their Christian lives. Yet, as important as it is, we must be clear: it is not a requirement for salvation. Let’s discuss this briefly.

SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

To be saved, a person must simply respond in faith to God’s gracious offer of salvation (Eph 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; Jn 3:16, etc.). Baptism is a “work of righteousness” (Matt 3:15)—a good work. That means we cannot consider it an added requirement for salvation. Salvation is “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (Titus 3:5).

In the NT, baptism is always paired with faith in the gospel (Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 22:16, etc.) because it is the natural next step after believing. The condition for salvation is always belief: “believe and be saved.” Baptism simply follows belief: “believe and be baptized.” In the early church, baptism was a public mark of conversion. A person believed and was saved before he or she was baptized.

SOME CASES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

The NT shows that baptism is a sign of conversion, not the means of it. Since “faith comes by hearing” (Rom 10:17), and salvation is only through faith (Eph 2:8; Jn 3:16, etc.), we can say that before water even touched NT believers, they were already saved—because they had already believed.

In Acts 2:41 it says, “So those who received his word were baptized.” They accepted Peter’s message first before baptism followed.

In Acts 10, Cornelius and his household were ready to receive Peter’s message before he even preached (10:33). They received the Holy Spirit immediately (10:44—which proves they were saved, see Rom 8:9), and only afterward did Peter baptize them (10:48). If baptism were a requirement for salvation, the Lord would have waited to give them the Spirit until after they were immersed in water!

The thief on the cross (Lk 23:40–43) is the strongest case that baptism is not necessary for salvation. He had no chance to come down and be baptized, yet we are certain he was saved.

SELECTED PASSAGES TO STUDY

1 Corinthians 1:17

Paul said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel.” This does not mean baptism is unimportant. Christ clearly commissioned us to make disciples and baptize them (Matt 28:19; Mk 16:16). But Paul separated baptism from preaching, and he emphasized preaching more. Why? Because the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). Only by believing the gospel message can a person be saved. If baptism were essential for salvation, Paul could not have said this.

Acts 2:38

Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Those who argue that baptism is necessary for salvation often cite this verse. But scholars point out that this is not the proper way to interpret Peter’s words. The Greek word eis (“for”) can indicate causality (“in order to attain”) or result (“because of”).

For example: “I’m taking paracetamol for my headache.” Here, “for” means because of—I take paracetamol because I already have a headache, not in order to get one. Likewise, Peter’s command meant: “Be baptized because of the forgiveness of your sins,” not “in order to receive it.”

1 Peter 3:21

“And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

At first glance, it seems baptism itself saves, but Peter clarified what he meant. In the previous verse, he connected Noah’s story with the Christian experience (3:20–21). Just as Noah was saved through water, we are saved through baptism. But Peter was using analogy, not a literal explanation. Noah was saved by grace through faith (Gen 6:8; Heb 11:7).

So how does baptism “save”? Peter says: “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (see also 1 Pet 1:3). He clarifies that it is not the outward act that saves (the washing of the body), but the inward response of faith—“the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.” Baptism is the believer’s public declaration before witnesses of commitment to follow Christ (1 Tim 6:12). As Keiser notes: “The response of commitment to God and identification with Christ is what saves, if it comes from a good conscience. A hypocritical response has no effect. An honest pledge, however, results in salvation, for it unites the believer with the resurrection of Christ.”.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The fact that baptism is not required for salvation does not mean we can neglect it. Believers throughout history have faithfully practiced it. The thief on the cross is not our excuse to skip baptism—unless you’re literally nailed to a cross and about to meet the Lord any moment!

In my view, we can agree to disagree on how churches conduct baptism. Whether it’s in running water or in a pool, by full immersion or otherwise, for five seconds or fifty minutes—it’s not the form that matters most. Some records even suggest that early Christians were baptized completely naked; yet even those who claim to be “biblical and traditional” don’t practice this today! More than the ritual itself, we must remember the truths baptism represents: “That is why, when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and joined him in death. Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” (Rom 6:4). Stay Curious. 

Sources and Studies:

Rhodes, R. (2013). The Role of Baptism. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. Harvest House Publishers
Geisler, N. Howe, T., (1992). Acts 2:38- Did Peter declare that baptism is necessary for salvation? 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘈𝘴𝘬: 𝘈 𝘗𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. Victor Books.
Keiser, W., et al., (1996). 1 Ptr 3:21 Baptism Saves You?. 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦. InterVarsity Press
Keiser, W., et al., (1996). Acts 2:38 Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins?. 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦. InterVarsity Press
Rhodes, R. (2010). Baptism and Salvation. 5-𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺. Harvest House Publishers
Hanegraaf, H. (2008). Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳. Thomas Nelson