What Must I do to be Saved? (Part 5) - Ben Bailey

What Must I do to be Saved? {Part 5}

A final step in the plan of salvation that is overlooked by many is the act of baptism. While many in our religious world would agree that a person needs to believe, repent, and confess Jesus as Lord to be saved, they would not teach that a person must be baptized to be saved. Let’s notice what the Bible teaches us about the necessity of being baptized to be saved.

1. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). It is clear from this text that Jesus believed and taught that baptism was essential to salvation. A parallel to this language might be: He who eats and drinks will be filled. If a person eats only is he filled? No. If he only gets a drink is he filled? No. He is not filled until he eats and drinks. The same is true for baptism. Unless a person is willing to do all that God says, he will not be saved.

2. “Then Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). This is one of the clearest verses on the importance of baptism. The people on Pentecost asked what they needed to do to be saved from their sins. Peter responded to their question (how do we get rid of our sin problem?) by saying “You must repent and be baptized to have your sins forgiven." Peter clearly taught that baptism was FOR the remission of past sins.

3. At Paul’s conversion he was commanded to: “ Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). From this text, we learn that the purpose of baptism is to wash away one’s sins. If baptism is the point at which one’s sins have been washed away, then those who have not been baptized have not had their sins washed away. Also, we learn how a person calls on the Lord’s name. Like Paul, to truly call on the name of the Lord a person must do all that God says to be saved, which includes being baptized into Christ.

4. The Apostle Peter clearly stated, “Baptism does now also save us” (1 Peter 3:21). One of the key words here is the little word also. Not alone. Combined with hearing God’s Word (Heb. 11:6), believing in Jesus Christ (John 8:24), Repenting of one’s past sins (Luke 13:3), and confessing Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:10) one is saved. Truly, as the final condition of salvation baptism does now save us! If the Apostle Peter said baptism does now save us, how can anyone say baptism is not necessary for salvation?

Dear friend, have you truly obeyed the gospel as the Bible teaches. There are many who will just teach that all you have to do to be saved is believe in Christ. That’s all. Nothing more is required. That is not the full plan of salvation. The Bible teaches that we are not saved “by faith only” (James 2:24). It is our prayer to God that you will study these very important matters and obey the will of God.

To Learn what to do after one is baptized, check out our video after baptism, now what: https://thegospelofchrist-tgoc.subspla.sh/svknvdf

Ben Bailey