There are a number of things God has placed between us and salvation. Is baptism one of those things? Let’s see what the Bible says about the matter.
When Jesus issued the Great Commission, He said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16, ESV). Did Jesus place baptism before or after salvation? Baptism, along with belief, comes before salvation.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s listeners interrupted his sermon with a question. They asked, “‘Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter answers and says, “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” (vs. 38). Did the inspired apostle place baptism before or after forgiveness of sins? Baptism, along with repentance, comes before forgiveness of sins.
Baptism is further described by the apostle Paul in the sixth chapter of his letter to the Romans, where he asks, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4). Does newness of life precede or follow baptism into Christ? Newness of life follows baptism.
Finally, in Galatians 3:27, Paul writes, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” If they were “baptized into Christ”, where were they before their baptism? They must have been outside of Christ. But, if every spiritual blessing is “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), how many spiritual blessings are found outside of Him? So, if baptism (preceded by faith and repentance), brings us into Christ, can we be saved without it? Baptism is essential to our salvation.
— Glen Elliott —