Baptism. What’s it for? Why are we baptized? Many have discussed, argued, and debated this subject. It is sad, really, how much this has been debated. The Bible is very clear about baptism. Men have made it more complicated than it really is.
There are only two options:
A) Baptism is the means by which, through the power of God, we receive the forgiveness of our sins.
B) Baptism is an act performed after we are saved as an outward sign of an inward grace, an act of obedience, or a means to join a church.
What we have to do is take both of these statements and see what the Bible says. Which of these matches what we find in the Bible? It doesn’t take long to find the Scriptures we need to understand what baptism is for: Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:37-38, Acts 22:16, Romans 6, Galatians 3:26-27, Colossians 2:11-12, 1 Peter 3:21. If you study these verses you will find that Point A perfectly matches what Scripture says about baptism and our salvation in Jesus Christ. It is by the grace and power of God through baptism that we are saved. We believe and are baptized. We are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins. Our sins our washed away in baptism. It is through faith that we are baptized into the grace of Christ. We have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised with Him in newness of life. Baptism is the mode in which God has commanded us to come to Him for salvation.
Point B does not match up to Scripture. Some say that baptism is not a matter of salvation. It is not essential to salvation is the thought. All one has to do is believe and accept Jesus into his heart. Baptism is just a recommended action to show you have been saved and/or to place membership in a particular church. But look at what Scripture says. None of Point B matches anything said about baptism. As a matter of fact, if baptism isn’t essential to salvation, then why be baptized? Those who teach that baptism is not part of salvation still go on to be baptized. Why? If it is not for salvation then there is no need to be baptized. It has no purpose. If I was told I didn’t have to be baptized to be saved then I wouldn’t be. Some say that they do it as a matter of obedience. But it can’t be a matter of obedience because in that line of thinking it has no purpose; obedience for what reason? If it is a matter of obedience then that means it is a matter of salvation because disobedience is sin. Some just recommend it or think its a good thing to do. But why? Doesn’t make sense. Do the Scriptures just recommend baptism? Do the Scriptures show us that it was just a good idea, a casual thing to do? No. You do not find this way of thinking in Scripture. It just doesn’t work.
Baptism either is for salvation or it’s not. It either has a purpose or it doesn’t. If we will take Scripture for what it actually says we find that baptism does have a real purpose. God has commanded us to be baptized so that by His power He will wash away our sins. To say that baptism is not essential to salvation is to make void the Word of God. And you cannot do that. Why be baptized? Because God said so. For the forgiveness of our sins. Don’t question God. Just do what He says and rejoice in Him!
A Cord of Blue 