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Is baptism a requirement for salvation? This question is consistently raised by Christians. Many scriptures command that Christians be baptized, and these passages seem to link salvation with baptism. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (NKJV, Mark 16:15-16). Christian students understand that in order to form a doctrine, we should examine as many scriptures as possible related to that doctrine. What does the totality of the teaching on salvation say concerning how someone receives eternal life?

The first thing that we should understand is that when a person is born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in that person. The Bible even teaches that the Holy Spirit becomes one with the Believer’s spirit. We read that when a person has been given the Holy Spirit, it is evidence that they are indeed saved. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). A person who has received the Holy Spirit has been saved. We find an example of this in scripture.

In the book of Acts, chapter 10, we see Peter preaching the gospel to a gentile audience. While Peter was preaching, the gentiles received the Holy Spirit. Their experience was the same as the Jewish Christians who were saved on the day of Pentecost. Peter recognized that these gentiles were saved, and he directed that these new Believers be baptized. Notice that they were saved before they were baptized.

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days” (Acts 10:34-48).

The scripture clearly teaches that we are saved by the belief in our heart and the confession of our mouth. We hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we believe it. We then confess this belief. According to scripture, this is how we are saved. “ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:8-10). We have to note that the Holy Spirit is at work during this process. “Magic” prayers do not save, we are saved as a work of God’s Spirit. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (NKJV John 6:44).

The following scripture is often misunderstood, and it is used to link baptism with salvation. “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (NASB Acts 2:38). The preposition “for” could also be translated “because of”. In other words, this could be translated, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ because you have forgiveness of your sins.” This scripture is not making baptism a requirement for salvation, it presents baptism as a consequence of salvation.

Baptism is important. The early church baptized a believer as soon as they made a confession of faith in Christ. It is clear that baptism is a requirement for all Believers. However, Christians were baptized after they were saved, they were not baptized in order to be saved.

(This issue is beyond the scope of this article, but I must point out that there is a difference between being baptized by the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is what saves you, but it is not dependent upon speaking with other tongues. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is what causes a Christian to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some false churches claim that if you do not speak in tongues, you are not saved. This is false and heretical teaching. To learn about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, please read 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.)