Errors About Baptism

By Doug Cook   2017

There has been much controversy about whether or not water baptism is required for salvation.  As with nearly all biblical misunderstandings, it is mostly divided along denominational lines.  Obviously someone is wrong as all opposing opinions can’t all be right, yet the war between egos rages on with neither side willing to humble themselves enough to admit error.  The bible warns about these Christians saying, “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.”   So I would like to address the topic from a neutral position.  I have never been indoctrinated in or “joined” any religion, denomination or sect since I was born again because we are all supposed to be one body in the church of Jesus Christ, not divided by all these sectarian groups calling themselves by different names.  I am looking forward to this end time of judgment as the Lord will be bringing the true body back together as one and those who are unable to come out from among their divisional sects (Babylon) will be enjoined with the great falling away of believers.

Those saying one must be baptized for salvation

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

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.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

On the one side of the argument are those that say everybody must be baptized in order to receive salvation.  This belief is based mostly on Mark 16:16 and if you are one of those sects that only take one verse by itself to establish a doctrine it evidently seems a right dogma for your denominational group. Although, please note Mark does NOT say “he that is not baptized shall be dammed” it only says “He that believeth not shall be damned.” You could manipulate Acts 2:38, 22:16 and a few other verses to help justify your position but they don’t necessarily command baptism for salvation.  However, the problem arises when other scriptures in the bible say all it takes to receive salvation is to believe by faith on Jesus Christ and a man is not justified by any works, including baptism. 

Allow me to quote word for word an opinion I read from a “baptism is a must” believer:

“Can we claim to have truly “died with Christ” if we have not been baptized by immersion? No, we cannot. Can we claim to have been spiritually ‘cut off’ from our sinful body, so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin? No, Scripturally we cannot. And how else can we “reckon” ourselves to be `dead to sin’? I believe that rather than being some kind of “symbolic” death, God sees believer’s baptism as being a very “literal” spiritual death – a `cutting off’ of the sinful body of the believer. Why else would Peter tell the assembled crowd on the day of Pentecost, “Repent, AND BE BAPTISED in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS…”? (Acts 2:38). And why else would Paul be told, on the day of his conversion, “Arise and BE BAPTISED, AND WASH AWAY YOUR SINS, calling on the name of the Lord”? (Acts 22:16). And what exactly did Jesus mean when He declared that, “Unless a man is BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”? (Jn 3:5. See also Mk 16:16-18, 1 Cor 10:1-2, Gal 3:27, Col 2:11-12, Titus 3:5, 1 Pe 3:20-21, etc).”

This is what you call interpreting the Word of God by the letter of the law (“literal” he calls it) rather than the New Covenant spirit of the law.  2Corinthians 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”  “Letter” interpretations can lead many down the wrong path.   This person emphatically “BELIEVES” it takes immersion in water to completely “wash away our sins.”  He states those who are not water baptized are “still enslaved to sin,” theoretically judging those un-baptized to be still on the path to hell.  Permit me to reveal verses that contradicts this belief; Revelation 1:5 “... Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”  Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” There are more verses also stating its Jesus blood that cleanses us from all sin: See also Matthew 26:28, Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14.  So which is it, Jesus blood that washes us from our sins so we can “reckon ourselves dead to sin” or a pool of water???  Looking “scripturally” by the Spirit of Truth, its Jesus blood that gives us remission from all sin by faith only, not by performing any works of the law (letter).  Water baptism is an outward public confession to the world of the inward spiritual death, complete cleansing of sins by the blood of Jesus, and our being raised up a new creature in Christ that has previously taken place between God  and our inner man by faith.  Call it a “symbolic” death if you want to, but immersion in water DOES NOT do the work of washing us from all sin.  Per many scriptures, that is done by faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross only.  Questions to consider:  Why did Jesus get baptized if He was without sin and didn’t need any sins washed away by water?  Wouldn’t that make His baptism “symbolic?”  Wasn’t His a “symbolic” foreshadowing of His own death, burial and resurrection?  If we are supposed to be like Jesus, shouldn’t our baptisms be “symbolic” as well?

One of this persons’ own scripture references is 1 Peter 3:20-21.  Allow me to quote it and show how it completely contradicts his own dogma:

“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:”

He takes the phrase “baptism doth also now save us” by the letter of the law and interprets it to mean we have to be immersed in water to be saved (a “cutting off’ of the sinful body of the believer” as he puts it).  Yet Peter’s parenthetical phrase immediately following this statement, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), clearly says water baptism does NOT wash away the filth of the flesh (“cut of the sinful body of the believer”), but instead gives us a clear conscience towards God.  You would have to have the devil help you overlook Peter’s parenthetical phrase to help clear up any “literal” misinterpretation of the phrase “baptism doth also now save us.”  We get a clear conscience because of our submission to Gods desire.  Just as the example Peter is supporting of Noah being “saved by water.”  Noah wasn’t “literally” baptized in water, but it was the “spiritual” (“symbolic” as this “baptism-is-a-must” believer calls it) water of the Word that lifted him and his family above the wrath of God that was going on underneath them.  Likewise, the remnant will be “spiritually” lifted up above the wrath to come by our obedience to the Lord’s commandments, not obedience to denominational doctrines and traditions of men.  Noah was saved by his “good conscience toward God” for building a ship when God commanded him to, as the remnant will be saved with a good conscience by our obedience to the sanctification and cleansing of our flesh with “the washing of water by the word,” Ephesians 5:26.

And in conclusion consider this persons last question, “And what exactly did Jesus mean when He declared that, ‘Unless a man is BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT he cannot enter into the kingdom of God’?” (They were using this verse to proclaim “BORN OF WATER” meant you had to be water baptized to enter into the kingdom of God.)  This is a perfect example of someone so deeply subjugated to their denominational doctrine they extract and manipulate scriptures out of context to fit their preordained canon rather than suppressing their egos so they can mature their beliefs to align with biblical truths.  Utilizing all the scriptures pertaining to the concept Jesus is trying to convey to Nicodemus together as one it reads:

John 3:4-7 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 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.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The answer to this “baptism is a must” persons question; this passage is referring to our natural flesh and blood body being born out of the water of our natural mothers womb (first) and then being also born again of the Spirit of God (second) in order to enter the kingdom of God.  We do have to be born of Adam in the flesh first (a living human being) before we can even consider being born of the Spirit.  Jesus is NOT giving a reference here to needing water baptism after being born of the Spirit, He is differentiating between being born of the flesh and born of the spirit.

Here are some of those verses that contradict those that say baptism is required:

Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:9 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.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves (being baptized in water by man): it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I notice that every time the baptism discussion comes up, the situation of the thief on the cross is brought up as a defense of not needing to be baptized.  And the standard response from the “baptism is a must” group is “He was under the Old Covenant, not the New Covenant” and then they quote Hebrews 9:15-17 about the death of the testator to prove their “Old Covenant” point.  Allow me to quote this passage.

Hebrews 9:15-17 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Unfortunately for the “baptism is a must” faction, this Hebrews passage actually proves just the opposite. Allow me to explain.  The New Covenant began with the “death of the testator,” Jesus, just like this scripture says.  I don’t think there is any disagreement with that statement.  However, out of the three men crucified that day, Jesus between the two thieves, Jesus was the first to die.  At His moment of death, the New Covenant instantaneously came into effect and the Old Covenant was nullified from that moment on.  In John 19:33 it states when the guards came to break the legs of the men on the cross so they would die before the Sabbath, Jesus was already dead.  But the thief He told “today you will be with me in paradise” was still alive.  So the thief actually died under the New Covenant because the testator was dead before he died.  He was not baptized in water, so he received salvation by faith alone under the New Covenant!

Matthew 27:50-53 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

And for those who invariably will formulate another opinion (in their desperation to save their denominational doctrine) like saying the New Covenant did not take effect until Jesus rose from the dead.  Matthew 27:50-53 proves without a doubt as soon as Jesus “yielded up the ghost,” (death of the testator) the veil in the temple was rent in twain.  The veil being rent signified the Old Covenant was over and everyone now had access to the most holy place.  The old saints could not be resurrected with out Jesus atonement already in place with the New Covenant, and the price was paid for their sins the moment after his death, “for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament.”  I’m sorry folks but the thief on the cross died under the New Covenant and he received salvation without water baptism.  As with the thief on the cross, there are many that have made last minute confessions before death and never got the opportunity to be water baptized.  The God of the bible and the one I serve did not send them to hell because they weren’t baptized.  He welcomed them into heaven with open arms because of His grace.  I have personally attended one of these last minute conversions without baptism and know for a fact by the peace in their countenance immediately before and after death where they went.  So the statement “baptism is required for salvation” is not true, and the thief on the cross along with the death of the testator passages prove that beyond any reservation.

Those saying baptism isn’t necessary

On the other side of the argument are those that believe you do not have to be water baptized to be saved so if you don’t get baptized you still go to heaven.  To that I would say maybe and maybe not.  We have already proven salvation is received by faith alone, believing in Christ.  I concur with that.  But there are also scriptures in the bible that command water baptism.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Matthew 28:19 along with the Mark 16:16 verse we had earlier give commands directly from Jesus mouth that we should be baptized after our conversions.  Water baptism is very important and is an outward confession of our inward decision to believe on Christ.  It is a testimony to the world that our inner man died, was buried and resurrected with the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us, just like Christ died and rose from the dead.  This is why baptism needs to be by full immersion to symbolize our old flesh being buried and then raised up or resurrected in a new life.  “Old things passed away behold ALL things become new.”  

In the denomination my parents attended when I was a child, it was customary when your children became near 12 years old to have them attend a special class on salvation for a few weeks.  After completing the course, the young person would walk down to the front of the church, repeat the “sinners’ prayer” after the pastor, then go upstairs and be baptized.  Then they were considered to be saved.  Well, I did and said what I was supposed to perform through the whole robotic process including baptism, but it didn’t work for me.  Nothing changed in my life and I continued in my worldly ways.  When I was in my early thirties God finally pierced through my strong will and I became truly born again by faith.  My life changed drastically this time, but I didn’t get baptized because I reasoned I was already baptized when I was young.  I witnessed people in the church that get re-baptized over and over every time they felt like they backslid and I knew this was wrong and didn’t want to be one of them, so I continued in my stance that I had already done it as a child.  After being saved a couple of years, I felt God’s continued increased urging to get water baptized again.  Finally I decided to give in because I realized my first so-called “salvation experience” was a fraud so I couldn’t reconcile my first water baptism either.

I’ve dealt with others I have helped with their salvation experience, but when I mentioned baptism they rejected the idea because they were “sprinkled” when they were a baby.  But I have had them come back to me within a couple of months insisting I baptize them because God wouldn’t leave them alone either.  The reason is that it is a command of God and the bible makes it plain that it should be done just after salvation. 

God expects His children to obey His commands and if we don’t, He will not force us to do it, although He will make it so difficult we will wish we would have complied.  When we don’t obey what He asks us to do we are in rebellion, which is the same as practicing witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23).  This is sin to any Christian and it must be repented of and the command followed.

The Lord expects us to be water baptized after being born again.  It is really the first command we should obey after our born again experience.  If we refuse, as I did as a baby Christian for a season, we could be in danger of falling away from Christ.  The longer we refuse to obey the more our hearts become hardened to the nudging by the Spirit and if we die before we conform we may end up in Hell.  Sorry about those “once saved, always saved” folks who can’t accept truth, but God will not allow a rebellious, unrepentant “once saved” child to enter heaven.  We can’t continue in a known rebellious sin and still be given eternal life; I don’t care how long we’ve been born again.  If I had decided to never get water baptized again, I would be headed straight for hell because I didn’t get baptized when the Lord gave me plenty of opportunity to comply.  If we can’t be trusted to obey the little things from the beginning, how can He trust us with harder commands later on? (Luke 16:10)

So, will a person go to hell if they are not baptized???  The answer is yes and no!  Our Lord has much grace where ignorance and lack of opportunity are concerned, as in the thief on the cross.  “Where no law is sin is not imputed.”  But “to whom much is given, much is required.”  If we believe for our salvation by faith yet, because of circumstances, are not given the opportunity or the knowledge about baptism before our death, God will extend His grace and receive us into paradise based on what we were given to work with.  But if we were given complete knowledge about baptism, plenty of time and many opportunities to perform the command, yet we willfully refuse to do it, the only option we may give Him will be to send us to Hell with all the other unrepentant sinners. 

We are saved by grace through faith, however “if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified (saved), an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31)

So for those that make a blanket doctrinal statement and say “baptism is not necessary to be saved,” I say that is not true in all cases.  Either way, it will be God that makes the judgment, not our severely limited, theologically challenged, denominational beliefs.

May God humble us enough to open our eyes to the Spirit of Truth.

Your servant in Christ