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Related articles:
"Baptism's Necessity"
"The Urgency of Baptism"
"Emphasis on Baptism"
"What Should He Have Said?"
"The Thief on the Cross"
"1 Corinthians 1:17
"Three Important Words"
"The Lord Saves"
"Water in God's Plan"
"The Washing of Regeneration"

Related subtopics:
Up
Step 1 -- Hear the Word
Step 2 -- Believe the Word
Step 3 -- Repent of Sin
Step 4 -- Confess Christ
Step 6 -- Remain Faithful
"What Should He Have Said?"

Larry Ray Hafley


We know what the Lord said about baptism. He said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). We know he sent the Spirit who said "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). We know he sent a preacher to tell one believing, penitent, praying sinner, "Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). We know he told some folks who had been baptized that they had "been baptized into Christ" Rom. 6:3, 4; Gal. 3:27). We know that the apostle Peter said, "Baptism doth also now save us" (1 Pet. 3:21).

Despite the fact that the Lord has said those things, still, men tell us that "baptism is not essential to salvation." "One is saved first, then he may be baptized." "A sinner is forgiven, saved by grace through faith, and he will go to heaven whether or not he is ever baptized." Yes, we hear these things from denominational preachers. (Observe how sharply they differ from the words of the Bible cited above!)

At any rate, despite the plain, clear statements of Jesus and the apostles, we are assured that one may be saved without being baptized. Well, if that be so, what should the Lord have said, if he wanted us to believe baptism is essential? If the Lord meant for us to understand that we must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in order to be saved and forgiven of our sins, what else should he have said to convince us?

Too, if baptism is not necessary, if it is not a condition with which we must comply, why did the Lord use the language of the passages noted above? If baptism is not essential, if it plays no part in one's forgiveness, the Lord used some awfully confusing words, did he not? Why would he use such words ("He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved") if he did not mean for us to understand that one must believe and be baptized in order to be saved?

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