Christians, if baptism is a work and works cannot merit salvation how can baptism be essential for salvation?

Question

1 Peter 3:18-21

18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison

20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,

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. IT SAVES YOU by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
NIV

Many would have you believe that baptism is ONLY symbolic. This scripture speaks to this idea. Here it says baptism saves. Here you will see it being compared to Noah's water WHICH SAVED. It says that NOAH'S water was symbolic not baptism. It is was symbolic in that "baptism THAT NOW SAVES YOU ALSO".

The writer knew this would be a difficult thing to understand so he explains -- it's not related to the removal of dirt from the body but to the pledge of a good conscience. Some say this scripture is talking about baptism of the Holy Spirit. First, nowhere does it say this is baptism of the Holy Spirit. Second, NEVER in scripture where it is clearly stated that the scripture is talking about Holy Spirit baptism is this baptism stated as being saving in nature but rather identification of the saved. Third, this scripture is obviously talking about water baptism because the writer clarifies that this act has nothing to do with the removal of dirt which happens when one is immersed in water.

But can any work I do merit salvation? Surely not! Is baptism a work? Yes. But baptism is not a work I DO. I am baptized.

It therefore is a work of the one who baptizes me and most importantly it is a work that JESUS PERFORMS upon me.


Col 2:11-12
1 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,

12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
NIV

Answer 1

Bible says to do it.
Acts 2:38 says, "Repent and Be Baptized for Remission of Sins"
Galatians 3:27 - We Are Baptized into Jesus
Romans 6:3 - We Are Baptized into Jesus' Death
Acts 22:16 - Be Baptized and Wash away Your Sins

That is why in Bible examples of conversion, people never postponed baptism.

Always, as soon as the sinner believed the gospel and repented, he was baptized immediately:

Acts 2:41 - "That day" 3000 were baptized.

Acts 8:36 - "What hinders me from being baptized?"

Acts 9:18 - "Immediately … he arose and was baptized"

Acts 16:33 - "…the same hour of the night … immediately he and all his family were baptized"

Acts 22:16 - "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins…."

When modern denominations postpone baptism of penitent believers to some future date, they are not following the Bible pattern regarding the urgency of baptism. The reason they postpone baptism is that do not believe the proper purpose of baptism. They believe the person is already saved, so what's the hurry?

When we understand that the person is still in sin until he is baptized, then we understand why people in the Bible did not postpone baptism.
What did Jesus say the reason he was baptized by John the baptist? He said it was "To fulfill all righteousness"

If we only need to believe to be saved what about repenting? Do we need to repent to be saved? Or not at all? And of course it is never a baby and the word baptism MEANS immersion. It's a burial.

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Answer 2

Baptism is not a "work" but a sacrament, appointed by Jesus Christ himself. It is the doorway into the Church, the Body of Christ, consisting of all baptized Christians. From the time of Christ and the Apostles, Christianity has been about what you do, rather than about what you believe. Baptism is the first thing you do, and is usually done shortly after birth. Salvation is by grace, not by faith, and grace is a gift of God to be received, not something to be professed as a belief. The vessel in which the truths of Christianity are preserved and passed down is not the Bible; it is the church. There is only one church no matter how split up into many communions. Baptism makes you a member of it.

Answer 3

Baptism with water doesn't provide salvation. It is baptism of the Holy Spirit which saves you and that can only come from God. Yes, baptism of the Holy Spirit comes only after you acknowledge and truly believe in Him. Baptism with water is a way for someone to acknowledge their belief before men so they may receive the Holy Spirit and become saved. Is belief a work?? I think not.

The thief on the cross was an example of what I am saying. He wasn't baptized with water, but rather he confessed with his mouth and believed in his heart that Jesus was who He said He was and so he was "saved."

BTW There are more accurate translations than the NIV.

Answer 4

While we should preach that all men are commanded to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38), adding any other requirement to salvation by grace becomes "works" in disguise. Even though numerous Scriptures speak of the importance of water baptism, adding anything to the work of the cross demeans the sacrifice of the Savior. It implies that His finished work wasn’t enough. But the Bible makes clear that we are saved by grace, and grace alone (Ephesians 2:8,9). Baptism is simply a step of obedience to the Lord following our repentance and confession of sin. Our obedience— water baptism, prayer, good works, fellowship, witnessing, etc.—issues from our faith in Christ. Salvation is not what we do, but Who we have: "He that has the Son has life" (1 John 5:12).

Answer 5

You are absolutely right, baptism is in no way a "work" that we do in order to gain any kind of merit in order to attain heaven on our own. When it becomes an act of man and not of God, we lose all of the meaning and the "necessity" for baptism just goes away.

However, if you look at its parallel of circumcision in the Old Testament, you'll find that the two are exactly the same thing -- a covenant between God and his own, the only difference being how it is administered. In other words, new Christians (Jewish converts in the Old Testament) are "marked" as God's property. Refusing to be baptized is the same thing as saying you want to live in the King's city, but want your address listed elsewhere. One foot in, one foot out of God's Kingdom??? And I believe that the same thing goes for infants whose address is mine, whether they know it or not.

This would tie baptism in so closely with salvation that the sacrament is just "what Christians do" in an act owned by God, not man.

Answer 6

In your quotes you mention that Noah's family was saved "through" the water. Not "by" the water. God did the saving.

Here's the danger I see with teaching people that baptism saves.
Too many of them see baptism as an act they can do, like a ceremony, and once that is done they are redeemed.

We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Only.

Yes, I got baptized. I couldn't wait. But it wasn't to get "saved". It was to show myself and others that I publicly acknowledge Jesus Christ as my savior.

Answer 7

See, I agree that trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the only way to get into heaven. No matter what you do, the standard to get into heaven is perfection, and nobody, except Christ, will ever be perfect. Some denominations thinkthat you must be baptisted to reach heaven, like Anabaptists, but i think that's it.

My dad says that baptism is more of an act of obedience to God than a requirement. It symbolizes being born again.

Hope that helped!
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Answer 8

Baptism is an outward showing of faith,I nor you have to be baptised to be saved but the Bible says that it is a statement saying that you put your faith and trust in God and believe that Jesus died for your sins.And I think in some situations he does not mean to literally be baptised in water but compares it to things of the world.When we go under the water it symbolizes the old man buried and gone and when we are lifted out of the water it shows the new man.

Answer 9

Christ finished work on the cross was sufficient for GOD. It is also sufficient for the thief crucified with Jesus. It was good enough for me. I could not wait to be baptized and if it would serve any purpose I would be baptized every day. I look at being baptized as being dyed like you would dye clothes. I am dyed with the Holy Spirit. I reflect Jesus in some degree in everything I do. It's all about Jesus. Period.

Answer 10

Baptism is essential for a clean conscience. Jesus said those who love him will keep his commandments. We are taught that Jesus commanded that we be baptized and if a believer decided on their own or by the teaching of others, that they didn't need to be baptized, then that person would be going against what Jesus said. How then would that person's conscience justify not doing what Jesus said to do and yet say that they love him?