by R. L. Morrison

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:16). Jesus so said as he gave the apostles the responsibility of preaching the gospel to mankind. Many today feel that faith is essential to salvation, yet doubt or deny that one must be baptized to be saved.

Let us examine the scriptures to see what has been said on this subject. When one learns more of what is revealed in the scriptures, perhaps it will be more easily understood.

In the Roman letter (Chapter 1), Paul begins to describe the spiritual condition of the Gentiles. He follows with a description of the Jews, and concludes that all are under (or in) sin. He then shows that Christ, Abraham's descendant, by the grace of God, offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all. In teaching that salvation is by grace, he shows exactly how and when the Roman Christians were made free from sin, or saved. Since we, today, are subject to the same law of God, we should be interested in what Paul taught about their salvation.

"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" (Rom. 6:3-5).

Paul says these were baptized into Christ, and in so doing came into subjection to Christ. This happened when they were baptized in the name of Christ. Notice he said they were buried in baptism. Baptize denotes an action. In this baptism Paul affirms the action is a burial of the body, and a being raised from that burial. The burial (baptism) suggests that a death has occurred. The being raised is suggestive of a new manner of life. This shows us that the manner of life of one who is baptized is not as it was previously. This is only saying that the old man of sin is dead, is no longer living. He who died to sin, was buried and raised to live a new kind of life.

"But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:17-18).

Paul speaks of their life of sin in the past but he also says they are now servants of righteousness. Their spiritual condition had been changed. They were now servants of God, not of sin. The point in time when their allegiance was changed from sin to righteousness is of great importance. When we determine this, we will know when and how one is saved today.

Paul said these people became dead to sin, were buried, and raised to walk in newness of life (vs. 3). The exact point of separation from sin and identifying with righteousness is found in these words, "Being then made free from sin." But when did this happen? When they obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine delivered unto them! They died to sin, ceased its practice by obedience. Freedom from the guilt of sin was accomplished by these acts of obedience, which is a pattern of the teaching they had received. This teaching embodied the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The baptism in water, to which they had submitted, reenacted a burial and a resurrection. There is nothing else taught in all the Bible which so pictures the point of change or separation from sin to a servant of righteousness. This is simply obeying from the heart that form of doctrine which was preached to them. Notice that there is nothing special, or sacred, about the water used in baptism, and that the water itself does not save. It is the obedience to God's words that brings about salvation.

These scriptures refute every argument ever made to teach that one can be saved without baptism. Many others also teach baptism is essential, but a careful study of Romans 6 is all that is necessary to lead one to an acceptance of the Truth.

Perhaps a study of some of the results obtained in baptism will help to better understand its necessity.

In the first gospel sermon (Acts 2), men who heard were pricked in their hearts. They understood that Christ is the Son of God. They also heard and believed that God had sent Christ to save sinners. When convinced, they cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "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). You will notice that Peter said "Baptism is for the remission of sins." Since sin must be forgiven for one to be saved, does baptism save?

Lest one should say this means they were to be baptized because their sins were already forgiven when they believed, we turn to Matthew 26:28. Here we find a similar statement. Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Did Jesus die, shedding his blood in his death, because the sins of many had already been forgiven? Not at all! "Without the shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). If Christ had not died, we would have no forgiveness. We are baptized for the remission of our sins, as Christ died for that purpose.

Again: Forgiveness of sins is a spiritual blessing. Surely none would disagree. God forgives our sin, and we are spiritually clean. Paul, in Ephesians 1:3, tells us where God has made all spiritual blessings available to man. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Notice that he says ALL spiritual blessings are in Christ. But how does one who seeks this blessing, the forgiveness of sins, get into Christ to obtain it? Paul answers this question also. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). Again we see the result of scriptural baptism. It is into Christ. Since all spiritual blessings are in Christ, and one is baptized into Christ, we find the answer. Yes, baptism saves!

In 1 Cor 12, Paul discusses the body, the church, and states plainly HOW one becomes a member of it. Hear him: "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:12-13). The reference is to first, the physical body with different members of that body performing different functions, yet all make up one body. This illustrates the body of Christ, the church, with its different members, each doing his or her own work to keep the church strong and active. Then he says that ALL members of the body of Christ, the church, were baptized into that body. The New Testament teaches NO OTHER WAY to enter Christ or His body, the church. This is NOT a reference to Holy Spirit baptism, but rather the baptism commanded by Christ through the apostles. This is the ONLY baptism to which one can submit today, for in Ephesians 4:5, we read there is "one baptism". This is the baptism of the "great commission" (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). Salvation is IN Christ and one is baptized into Christ for the remission of sins.

In 1 Peter 3:20-21, the apostle refers to Noah and his family who were "saved by water". Then he says: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us; not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God." This DOES NOT say water washes away sin, but rather obedience to God's will obtains the forgiveness promised upon obedience.

Jesus said, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Have YOU, in obedience from the heart, submitted to the teaching of Jesus? Have YOU been buried with Him in Baptism? If not. WHY NOT?