Baptism and Salvation

    The main focus of this study is to determine if baptism is required for our salvation. A second question may be posed as to whether or not a person who claims to be a Christian needs to be baptized at any time because many will make the statement that if a person isn't baptized than they are not really Christians.

Mat 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I. . . he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."
-- If water baptism is still required for repentance, as John explains the reason for baptism, we would have to be baptized every time we sin. However, John proclaimed that a new form of baptism would be instituted. Jesus never baptized anyone, they were baptized by the Holy Spirit.

"Mat 3:15 Jesus replied [in response to John baptizing Him] "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
-- Jesus was sinless, yet he was baptized. In the same way that Jesus was crucified for our sins, he was baptized for us all. "To fulfill all righteousness" signifies that, like his blood to cover sins, his baptism makes us righteous. As we don't need to be crucified to shed our own blood to cover our sins, the same can be said that we don't need to be baptized with water to become righteous.

" Mat 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
-- When Jesus gave this command, he didn't say how the baptism was to be performed. It may be dangerous here to use assumptions to create and perpetrate church practices.

Mk 10:38-39 "can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" [The disciples answer yes.] Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized.
-- The cup here doesn't refer to what we call the last supper, but the cup of sorrow and death which Jesus prayed about at Gethsemane [Mk 14:36]. With the exception of John, the disciples all died agonizing deaths for their beliefs. There's no mention anywhere in the Bible of any of the original twelve receiving water baptism (and we can't assume they did); however, all except for Judas were baptized by the Holy Spirit.

Mk 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
-- One of the most quoted verses that people use to say that water baptism is required for salvation. As in >Mat 28:19, no mention is made of water. Why does it state baptized to be saved, but not state if you're not baptized you're condemned? It's obvious in other passages that once we're saved, we're baptized by the Holy Spirit. The reason the word baptized is left out of the second part is because we know that those who don't believe have not been baptized by the Spirit.

Jn 4:1-2 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples.
-- If water baptism was/is required for salvation, then Jesus himself would have baptized people. It couldn't be reasoned that he was too important or didn't have the time to perform the ritual. If Jesus believed baptism was a requisite for salvation, he would've baptized people as he taught them.

Act 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
-- In the previous verse [Acts 1:4] Jesus speaks of the "gift my Father promised". Here Jesus is placing an emphasis on the importance of being baptized by the Holy Spirit and relegating water baptism to a symbolic act.

1Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.
-- Here Paul is referring to baptism by water. If this form of baptism was required for salvation, Jesus would've commanded Paul to baptize as he taught. Some have argued that not only were the new believers to seek baptism soon, but that they would be saved even if they died before that baptism because the intent to be baptized was in their hearts and minds. There's no middle ground, either something is required for salvation or it isn't. Some people have it in their hearts and minds to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, but never fully commit to accepting the truth. No true belief and no repentance means no salvation. What applies to one, applies to both. If something is a requirement of salvation, then it must be fulfilled for a person to be saved. Intent doesn't equate to action. As the saying goes, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions".

Col 2:12  . . . having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God.
-- This must be taken in context with the verse before it. Paul is teaching people they are freed from human regulations. In verse 11, he says we're not circumcised by man but by Christ. Thus, in verse 12, we aren't baptized by man, but by Christ through the Holy Spirit.

    After studying the above passages, it can be stated that baptism by water isn't required for us to receive salvation. So do Christians need to be baptized in this manner? No. The ritual of baptism, as claimed by most Christians, is a way to show others that the person being baptized has indeed accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That's an acceptable explanation, but we must also show the acceptance by our actions every day. However, many people get baptized without any witnesses, just they and the preacher are present. In a case such as this, either the baptism is not acceptable or is only symbolic to the person being baptized. It's a personal choice if, when, and how a person gets baptized.
    Some also claim that we must be baptized in order to be Christians because Jesus ordered us to and we must do so to be in obedience to him. It's true he commanded some of his disciples to baptize people but, in the case of Paul, we can see that this wasn't always the case. In fact, if Jesus made baptism a commandment that must be obeyed, then he would've baptized people as he taught.
    Baptism isn't a requirement of salvation. Baptism is the symbolic act of the death to our old lives and rebirth into a life with Christ.