There have been many biblical debates, both formal and informal, over the necessity of water baptism to the salvation of one’s soul.  In general, many seem to come to the conclusion that water baptism is important, but not essential for the salvation of one’s soul.  Even among those in the denominational world that may conclude baptism is important, they differ on whether or not baptism means to be immersed in water, have water poured over your head, or to have water sprinkled over you.  The differences even grow to further disagreement when the discussion of who needs to be baptized comes about.  Some say those who are already saved, others say infants, and on the debate goes from there.

     With so many opinions, how can we come to the truth?  We have to realize that the opinions of men are no place to come to any conclusions on what God requires of us (Matthew 15:7-9 and Galatians 1:10-12).  So many people think that the doctrine [teaching] of a certain church has great meaning in spiritual matters.  The truth of the matter is that the church does not generate the doctrine of Christ, for Christ has already spoken the words that are to guide us (John 12:48, II Timothy 3:16-17, and Hebrews 1:1-2).  The church is to simply uphold what Christ has already spoken.  This makes the church of Christ the foundation and supporter of the truth (I Timothy 3:15), but the word of God is the source of the truth (John 17:17).  So, baptism is not a doctrine of men or a doctrine of the church.  Baptism is a doctrine of the Lord and we must find what He has said on the matter.

     Anyone declaring to be a follower of Jesus Christ should seek His word for authority in all that they do in His name (Colossians 3:17).  Baptism is no different.  If the Lord wants us to be baptized, He would provide us with the information to answer our questions.  So, did Jesus ever speak about or give an example to follow on the subject of baptism?  The reason our question is worded in the way it was follows the Scriptures in that we learn from direct instruction (Matthew 28:20), approved examples (I Peter 2:21; cf. I Corinthians 11:1), and those things we must necessarily infer (i.e. every first day of the week Lord’s Supper; Acts 20:7).

     Jesus has taught on the subject matter of baptism both by command and example.  Let us first learn of His example in baptism that we should follow.  The Scriptures show Jesus being baptized, not as a child, but as an adult.  John the Baptizer was immersing those who would become disciples in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:5-6).  Jesus comes to John to be baptized, and we will notice that He is immersed in the Jordan River in an action that was pleasing to God the Father: “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17).  We can learn from this that Jesus was not baptized by sprinkling, pouring, or any other mode outside of going down into the water and coming up out of the water.  Jesus was immersed just as we have seen in the example of the Eunuch from Ethiopia (Acts 8:35-39).

     Not only did Jesus set the example in water baptism for us to follow, but He also was clear in verbal instruction that baptism is required to be saved.  In fact, we know that water baptism occurs before one is saved as Jesus said: “…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).  Here is the equation Jesus presents here in this account of the “Great Commission”: FAITH + BAPTISM = SAVED.  That is how the Lord put it, not man.

     Mark 16:15-16 is not the only area of the Gospels where Jesus bound water baptism in the relation to the salvation of our souls.  Jesus told Nicodemus: “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  With the example of Jesus’ baptism, the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16) showing the necessity of baptism, and the words to Nicodemus; why would anyone not be able to see that they MUST be immersed in water to be saved?  Even further evidence of the necessity of water baptism is within the pages of the New Testament.  In fact, baptism is commanded and shown through examples throughout the remainder of the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

   “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, 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 Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38).  Repent and BE BAPTIZED for [unto] the remission of sins.  Dear reader, your sins are not remitted prior to, but after immersion in water.  Approximately nine times in the book of Acts we find that individuals who heard the Gospel, believed the Gospel, repented of their sins, and confessed Jesus Christ were immersed in water unto the remission of their sins (Acts 2:37-41; 8:12-13, 8:26-39; 9:1-18; 10:44-48; 16:14-15; 16:25-34; 18:8; 19:1-7).

     Paul wrote to the Romans saying: “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: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:3-6).  According to Paul, how does one get into Christ?  Our answer, as we saw above, by being buried in baptism.  Paul also affirms this elsewhere (Galatians 3:27 and Colossians 2:14).  Baptism, as we see in what Paul wrote to Rome, is a death, burial, and resurrection to walk in a new spiritual life.  Baptism is a rebirth, as this is what Jesus taught Nicodemus (John 3:1-5).

     As we see in our studies, the evidence that water baptism is necessary for salvation is not just good, it is overwhelming.  Any honest student of the Scriptures would realize that baptism is commanded, even as Peter noted to one who had received the Holy Spirit (still not saved) to show that Gentiles were accepted by God (Acts 10:44-48; cf. Acts 11:15-18).

     It is a shame that people want to deny what the Scriptures reveal about water baptism.  Some want to call it a “church of Christ doctrine”, nay water baptism is Jesus’ doctrine.  In Peter’s first epistle he outright stated that baptism saves while illustrating that it is not a washing of the flesh [bathing to remove physical dirt]: “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:20-21).  How much clearer can God be?

     All of the Scriptures we have looked at show baptism to be a response of one who has heard the Gospel, believed it, repented of their sins, confessed Christ, and then want to submit to immersion.  This of course removes the hideous idea that an infant should be baptized.  Then that person is saved and added by the Lord to the church of Christ (Acts 2:47).  The facts that baptism is a burial, that Jesus went into the Jordan River and came out of the Jordan River, and the truth that the Eunuch went into and came up from the water shows baptism is immersion.  In all of this we did not need to go into Greek terms and difficult exegesis.  Why?  This subject is elementary and those that reject the teachings of our Lord will be judged for it (Matthew 7:21-23 and John 12:48).  Have you been immersed in water for the remission of your sins?