IS BAPTISM A CONDITION

 OF SALVATION?

Jay Yeager

I am keenly aware that the majority of religious people would answer that question in the negative; however, according to Matthew 7:13-14, being in the majority in not a comforting thought. Beloved, when the salvation or damnation of souls is at issue, we can ill-afford to follow the crowd. Now I think you understand that a prejudiced mind will be closed to the truth regardless of how plain that truth may be presented. Therefore, I urge you to set aside any preconceived ideas and let the scriptures answer this question.

CHRIST MADE BAPTISM

A CONDITION OF SALVATION

 Christ, before ascending into heaven, issued the great commission. “And He said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). Friends, I would hate to think we could not understand that. Jesus made both faith and baptism conditions necessary to obtain salvation.

 “Well” says one, “Jesus did not say he that believeth not and is baptized not shall be damned”. That argument is both absurd and insulting. Absurd, because it defies simple reason. Obviously, without faith one would not want to be baptized if he could, and if one were to be baptized without faith, it would be absolutely meaningless (Hebrews 11:6). Insulting, because it is a blatant attempt to make null and void a plain statement by the Son of God. Who made baptism a condition of salvation? Jesus did! What do men say about it? Who cares!

 BAPTISM IS FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS

 On the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, Peter preached the first recorded sermon in the name of a crucified Saviour. And there were those assembled that day which were pricked in the heart, and they cried out “…and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? 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 Spirit” (Acts 2:37-38).

 Beloved, Peter is speaking by inspiration (John 16:13). His answer to a multitude crying out for the terms of salvation should make many so-called preachers blush in shame. Please notice, he does not tell them to accept Jesus as their Saviour and some time later be baptized as an outward sign. He does not tell them “pray this prayer and your sins will be forgiven”. He tells these alien sinners (those outside of Christ) that they must repent and be baptized for the remission of their past sins. Friends that should forever settle the question for honest souls.

BAPTISM PUTS ONE INTO CHRIST

 “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 be also in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5).

 From these profound verses we learn much about baptism: 1). The only way into Jesus Christ is through baptism. 2). Baptism is a burial (immersion in water). 3). Jesus shed His blood in death. To contact that blood, we must be baptized into His death. 4). There is a resurrection in this baptism. That proves that the water baptism of the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16) is being discussed here, for there is no resurrection in Holy Spirit baptism. 5). The new life in Christ comes after, not before, baptism!

 Is baptism a condition of salvation? Beloved, we have only touched the hem of the garment concerning this great subject, but in the touching we have demonstrated that baptism is most certainly a condition of salvation.