Baptism-Part Two

Does baptism save? If one were to only look at 1 Peter 3:21 and Mark 16:16 they might be able to make a case for baptism saving. However we need to look at these verses in light of the rest of scripture and take these verses in context. Mark 16:16 says “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” If baptism were necessary for being saved then one would think that second half of the verse would say “whoever does not believe or is not baptized will be condemned.” The verse only speaks about one who does not believe being condemned.

Looking at other verses in scripture we see that one only needs to confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart to be saved (Rom 10:9-10). Interesting to note that baptism is not mentioned here. If baptism were required to be saved then one would think it would be mentioned in this passage. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this not from yourselves it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast.” We are not saved by works. We are saved by grace through faith, believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; that he died and rose again and ascended in heaven.

So what is the point of baptism then? One, it is the example set out for us throughout Acts and the rest of scripture. Two, it is a symbol of us taking off the old and putting on the new, identifying ourselves with Christ. We see the example of the eunuch in Acts 8 wanting to be baptized immediately after he believed. He stopped his chariot and was baptized by Philip because he understood the message and wanted to identify himself with Christ. Baptism is us pledging ourselves to the Lord. We read in 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 good conscience toward God.” God doesn’t need us to be baptized for his sake, it is for us. It is NOT the removal of dirt from our bodies but us pledging our hearts and lives to God, thus expressing our desire to become a disciple of Christ.