WATER BAPTISM
... Essential for Salvation?
Many religious groups
today argue on the significance of water
baptism. Some say it is an
"outward sign of an inward
cleansing" and some say that
we can be born of water by simply hearing
the Word of God... but what do the
scriptures say?
1. We must obey the
commands of the word:
James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the
word,and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves."
2. Water Baptism is a
command of the word:
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned."
3. Water Baptism is being
born of the water:
John 3:5 "Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born of water and
of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God."
Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized
with water; but ye shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
4. Water Baptism is obeying
the burial of Christ:
Romans 6:3-6 "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:"
5. Water Baptism is for the
remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 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.
6. Water Baptism is for the
washing away of sins, by calling
(invoking) the name of JESUS.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest
thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the
Lord.
7. Water Baptism is the
circumcision of Christ and faith in the
operation of God.
Col 2:11,12 In whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made
without hands, in putting off the body of
the sins of the flesh by the circumcision
of Christ: Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also ye are risen with him
through the faith of the operation of
God, who hath raised him from the dead.
8. Water baptism is like
the water that saved Noah, it now does
also save us!
1 Peter 3:20,21 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:
9. Water Baptism is the
same salvation as of the Exodus of Moses:
1 Cor 10:1,2 Moreover, brethren, I
would not that ye should be ignorant, how
that all our fathers were under the
cloud, and all passed through the
sea. And were all baptized unto
Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (A
parallel to John 3:5).
10. Water Baptism is
in perfect parallel to the tabernacle
plan given to Moses.
The brazen altar represents Repentance,
while the brazen laver represents water
baptism. Just like in the days of
old, anyone who entered into the Holy
Place without washing at the laver would
die.
  
Of course this study does not conclude
that water baptism alone will give a
sinner a ticket to heaven.
Ceremonies and rituals will not save
anyone, but obedience to the commandments
of the Word of God will. Therefore,
water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ
is an essential act of a true believer in
Jesus Christ. It is where the
believer "puts on Christ." (Gal
3:27). This is much like
becoming a soldier in the Army.
Everyone knows that when you are becoming
a soldier in training that you are going
to have your hair cut off. But does
that mean that everyone that asks the
barber for a "high and tight"
haircut is a soldier? Hardly.
We also know that a soldier will wake up
every morning to do morning PT (Physical
Training) much earlier than most of
us. Does that mean that everyone
who gets up and does exercise early is a
Drill Sergeant? Of course
not. The point being is that the
true child of God loves Him with all of
the heart, soul, and mind, and
therefore cherish His commands and obey
His Words. Obedience is the proof
of true faith.
Hebrews 5:8,9
Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he
suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the
author of eternal salvation unto all them
that obey him;
James 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and
I have works: show me thy faith without
thy works, and I will show thee my faith
by my works.
Romans 1:5
By whom we have received grace and
apostleship, for obedience to the faith
among all nations, for his name:
Romans 6:17,18
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.
Therefore the faith that drives us to be
baptized, is the same faith that we must
hold on to, to keep us following the will
of God. Baptism is not the end of
our quest for salvation, but just the
beginning. We must go on following
the Spirit of God, being perfected
(matured) by the ministry that God puts
us under.
Hebrews 6:1-2
Therefore leaving the principles of the
doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works,
and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine
of baptisms, and of laying on of hands,
and of resurrection of the dead, and of
eternal judgment.
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