How can baptism be required for salvation?

[Albion]

Anything is possible with God. But from what He has written in the NT, it is very clear that only those who are baptized into Christ have their sins removed and are united with Christ. If you are still stained with sin, Scripture is very clear that you cannot enter Heaven.

For two thousand years, the churches have believed that a conversion experience and repentance--but without the sacrament of baptism if that is impossible under the circumstances--is in accord with God's will. There's even a name for it. And the case can indeed be made for this POV from Scripture.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Since there is only one baptism in the NT Church (Eph 4:5-6), and all the evidence in Acts points to it requiring water, these two passages are referring to that one baptism, water baptism.

Only one baptism in the NT? According to Hebrews 6:2 there are several. I count 5

Baptism of water or repentance John the Baptist’s baptism mentioned in Acts 19

Baptism of the Spirit mentioned by JTB when he said I baptize with water but He will baptize with the Spirit and fire in Matthew 3:11-12

Baptism of fire also mentioned in Matthew 3:11-12

I can’t find the passage about the baptism of death right now I’m at work.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Again, not true.

Rom 6:1-11 and Col 2:11-14 both say that salvation occurs with baptism, not repentance.
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 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. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." - Rom 6:1-11

"and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which (in what? in baptism!) you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." - Col 2:11-14

Neither of these passages talk about repentance at all. But they do tell us that our sins are removed (forgiven), and that we are united with Christ in likeness of His resurrection. And when does it say that happens? IN BAPTISM!

And yes, Jesus could forgive sin at any point up to the point at which He died. When He died, his "Last Will and Testament" (the New Covenant) was sealed and could not be changed any more. That Will is spelled out in what we have as the Bible.
Heb 9:16-17 - "For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives."
Jesus made the covenant in His blood, so while He was alive he could change it. But when He died, it was from then forward immutable.

Like I said these have to do with becoming a new creation aka walking in the Spirit. I believe these are a reference to being baptized in the Spirit not water.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Since there is only one baptism in the NT Church (Eph 4:5-6), and all the evidence in Acts points to it requiring water, these two passages are referring to that one baptism, water baptism.


I appreciate your feelings on this, but seeing as how God is not concerned about our feelings on the matter, and is only concerned with obedience to His will, it really doesn't matter what either of us thinks or feels (sorry to put that bluntly). What matters is our submittal to HIS will. He says our sins are removed when we are baptized. Jesus Himself said that those who believe and are baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16). Satan can make you "feel" all warm inside when you believe because He knows that if you believe in Christ but fail to do anything about it you remain his (Satan's). But he wants to prevent you from taking the step that puts you "in Christ" (baptism), so he works very hard to convince you that you don't have to take that step.

That had nothing to do with my feelings it was about my first hand experience. I was born again months before I was baptized.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Since there is only one baptism in the NT Church (Eph 4:5-6), and all the evidence in Acts points to it requiring water, these two passages are referring to that one baptism, water baptism.

I’m sorry I meant Hebrews 6:1-2 not Hebrews 1:2. Hebrews 6:2 mentions baptisms plural meaning more than one baptism.

 

[Zachm531]

For God so loved the world He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. - John 3:16 (No mention of baptism)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9 (No mention of baptism)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:16 (Notice baptism is completely useless without faith.)

Now, on the last verse, it appears baptism is a requirement. However, the emphasis on faith in it shows us all baptism does not save anyone. Why did John baptize people before the Holy Spirit came down? Why do so many Christians believe if you are not baptized in water, you are blocked from heaven?

I think you are confused my friend. Of course, belief in Jesus is the motivator that leads a person to be baptized.
And of course, water is not salvific in and of itself.
Yet, the merits of Christ won through His sacrifice are applied to the believer in baptism. This is a key distinction. Jesus is the reason a person can be saved, baptism is the means by which that salvation is applied.
Faith is not contradictory to baptism as, even the historical baptist position would say, “baptism is the outward expression of the gospel”.
I will provide a list of different passage that teach how a person is applied forgiveness of sins and Christ’s merits, through the waters of Baptism in unison with the Holy Ghost(the location of the verses is under the verse itself):
Baptism saves us:

- 'He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. '


Mark 16:16

- 'There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, '


I Peter 3:21

- 'Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. '


John 3:3-5

- 'But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, '


Titus 3:4-5



Baptism for the Remission of Sins:

- '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. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. '


Acts 2:38,41

- 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’'


Acts 22:16


United to Christ through baptism:

- 'In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, '


Colossians 2:11-13

- 'Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, '


Romans 6:4-5


Put on Christ:

- 'For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. '

Galatians 3:26-27



Baptism was a part of the Gospel message:

- 'Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”'


Acts 8:35-37

This passage says that Philip “PREACHED JESUS” to him but when the Ethiopian said “there is water, can I be baptized?”. How did the Ethiopian know what baptism was, unless baptism was a part of “preaching Jesus”?


- 'And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. '


Acts 16:30-33

Again, this passage never says that the jailor and his family believed in Christ, it says that he and his family were “Immediately baptized.”


- 'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, '


Matthew 28:19

Baptism is a part of the great commission!


Saved by Grace:

(Notice in Colossians 2 , “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,” and Romans 6 “buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”.

NOW, look at Ephesians 2:45 :

'But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), '

Notice the same language 1. Dead in trespassed 2. Made alive.

Colossians 2 says we were dead in trespasses, buried in baptism and raised to new life, Romans 6 says “buried with Him in baptism INTO DEATH and raised to newness of life”.

Ephesians 2 says” dead in trespasses, made alive together with Christ.”

But look at the parentheses in Ephesians 2:5 “(by grace you have been saved)’. So when do we receive saving grace? When we are buried with Christ and raised to new life. When does that happen? Baptism


Baptism typology in the Old Testament:

- 'When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. '


Matthew 3:16

Keep an eye on the Holy Spirit and water symbology.



- 'The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.'


Genesis 1:2


- 'But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. '


Genesis 8:8-9

- 'And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. '


- 'all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, '


Exodus 14:19,21, I Corinthians 10:2

- 'And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.'


II Kings 5:10,14

- 'Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. '


Ezekiel 36:25-27



Other References of water and Spirt being unified:

- 'He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.'


John 7:38-39

- 'for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”'


Revelation 7:17

 

[Eloy Craft]

There is one baptism. If someone received John's baptism then they received a part of the one baptism. The Samarians who welcomed Jesus were baptised in the form of words. They received a part of the one baptism. Jesus said he was anxious about a baptism He was soon to receive. The thief on the cross received his baptism with Jesus on the cross. At that, the one baptism had been performed and would be complete at Pentecost.

 

[Doug Brents]

Repentance is the reason we are forgiven.

“and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:46-47‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:30-31‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Yes, those are very powerful and important passages. But they are not all that Scripture says about salvation. If they were, I would agree with you. However, when you read passages like Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom 6:1-11, and Col 2:11-14; you must admit (if you are honest with yourself and believe that ALL Scripture is inspired by God) that baptism is the point at which we are saved.
Mark 16:16 - "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."
Both conditions, believed and been baptized, must be met to receive the result, be saved.
Acts 2:38 - "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."
Again, two conditions, Repent and be baptized, both of which must be met to receive the result, forgiveness of sin.
Rom 6:3-5 - "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. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,"
We are baptized, not repented, into Christ's death, and through union with His death into new life. If we are united with Him in death, we will be united with His life. If not, then we are not united with Him in life.
Col 2:11-12 - "In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which (in baptism) you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
The Holy Spirit is the active force here who cuts (circumcises) our sin from us when we are buried with Christ in baptism (not repentance).

 

[Doug Brents]

For two thousand years, the churches have believed that a conversion experience and repentance--but without the sacrament of baptism if that is impossible under the circumstances--is in accord with God's will. There's even a name for it. And the case can indeed be made for this POV from Scripture.

For thousands of years man engaged in divorce from his wives, and God looked the other way as it were. But that is neither His will, nor His plan for marriage. I don't see anything in Scripture that allows for a "conversion experience" short of baptism. Man has come up with all sorts of ideas, even as far back as the first and second century, about what they think God will accept short of total and complete obedience to Him.

Will God accept a person who has absolutely no chance or opportunity for baptism? Maybe. I am not God, so I don't even begin to try to speak for Him. But that would be an exceptional circumstance, and I don't teach exceptional circumstances in standard circumstances.

 

[Albion]

No, that analysis simply takes a word that is sometimes used by analogy and turns it into a list of supposedly different baptisms.

When we say things like "Tom was a speed demon" we do not mean to accuse him of being an evil spirit. And when we say "It was raining cats and dogs" we do not mean that precipitation can come in the form of rain, snow, hail, sleet, felines, or canines.

There is baptism, and the New Testament clearly distinguishes between baptism, the Christian sacrament, and the now-inoperable "Baptism of John."

Similarly, a "baptism of fire," is not an alternate and optional method of administering the sacrament referred to when Christ told his Apostles to go into the whole world, make converts of all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

 

[Albion]

For thousands of years man engaged in divorce from his wives, and God looked the other way as it were. But that is neither His will, nor His plan for marriage. I don't see anything in Scripture that allows for a "conversion experience" short of baptism.

Then I'd suggest that this item would be worthwhile as an assignment you might take on.

When I noted that for 2000 years the Christian churches saw this matter differently from the way you've reasoned it out, that should be received as a sobering thought needing more study. For that matter, the inclination to say "the whole of Christianity believes in X but I don't like it, so 'no'" is always going to be red flag.

 

[Doug Brents]

Only one baptism in the NT? According to Hebrews 6:2 there are several. I count 5

Eph 4:4-6 - "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

Baptism of water or repentance John the Baptist’s baptism mentioned in Acts 19

This is not a NT baptism. This ended with John's death which occurred long before Jesus' death, which ended the OT, and began the NT.

Baptism of the Spirit mentioned by JTB when he said I baptize with water but He will baptize with the Spirit and fire in Matthew 3:11-12

This baptism occurred only twice; Pentecost for the Jews) and with Cornelius (for the Gentiles). It is not the standard NT baptism.

I can’t find the passage about the baptism of death right now I’m at work.

Baptism of death is not the one NT baptism either. Yes, every man, woman, and child will experience physical death, but that is not what unites us with Christ.

 

[Doug Brents]

I’m sorry I meant Hebrews 6:1-2 not Hebrews 1:2. Hebrews 6:2 mentions baptisms plural meaning more than one baptism.

Indeed it does. Like you said, there are many "baptisms" mentioned in the NT, but there is only one BAPTISM that is related to salvation, and which everyone is commanded to do. It is not something that the Spirit does to us, else Saul would not have had to "arise" and "make haste" to do it. It requires water, else the Ethiopian Eunuch would not have asked for it when they were passing water. It mimics the Flood of Noah, because 1 Pet 3:20-21 makes that analogy. And if there are more than one NT Baptism, then Eph 4 is a lie, and I don't believe the Bible contains any falsehood at all.

 

[Doug Brents]

Then I'd suggest that this item would be worthwhile as an assignment you might take on.

When I noted that for 2000 years the Christian churches saw this matter differently from the way you've reasoned it out, that should be received as a sobering thought needing more study. For that matter, the inclination to say "the whole of Christianity believes in X but I don't like it, so 'no'" is always going to be red flag.

I have spent the last 6 or more years studying Biblical salvation from every angle. I began with a study of taking EVERY instance of the word salvation from Scripture. Then I took every mention of forgiveness of sin, then inheriting Heaven, and every other simile of salvation I could think of. Then I removed those that did not refer to spiritual salvation. Then I looked at all of them for conditions, methods, sources, reasons, etc. From those I compiled a list of what was required by God to receive salvation. The most common requirement was belief. But sprinkled in were references to repentance from sin, confession of Jesus' Name, and baptism.
Then I began reading other ministers, writers, commentators, etc. for their understanding of these passages. From them I began to see a wide range of understanding of these passages. Some totally ignore (or attempt to explain away) certain passages. Others only focus on one nature of God, and ignore other aspects of who He is. A very few accepted all of what He said. For every paper, website, or book that I read that said baptism was required for salvation, I read a dozen or more that said it wasn't.
So then I went back to the Word looking at what these authors were saying. In every case where an author ignored Scripture or tried to explain it away, I found numerous Scriptures that gave the lie to that author's position. For those who only focused on one aspect of God's nature, again I found numerous passages showing the other side of His nature that gave the lie to those authors' works. Only when all of Scripture relating to salvation was observed did I find no contradiction between the author and Scripture.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that baptism in required for salvation. Will God make exceptions in extraordinary circumstances? I don't know. I doubt it. And I am not willing to stake my soul, or the soul of anyone to whom I am ministering, on it.

 

[Albion]

I have spent the last 6 or more years studying Biblical salvation from every angle. I began with a study of taking EVERY instance of the word salvation from Scripture.

...and you've gotten right what 2000 years of Christianity, the theologians and great men and women of God, prophets, Bible scholars, language experts, and saints couldn't figure out correctly, is that it?

When any of us comes to that kind of conclusion about almost anything of importance, it's time to step back and reconsider.

 

[Doug Brents]

...and you've gotten right what 2000 years of Christianity, the theologians and great men and women of God, prophets, Bible scholars, language experts, and saints couldn't figure out correctly, is that it?

When any of us comes to that kind of conclusion about almost anything of importance, it's time to step back and reconsider.

Not at all. Because as I said, I went on to read the works of many other authors, tens of thousands of them actually, over the last 6+ years. Many of these authors, most of them much more well studied than I, agreed with my conclusions.

However, it does not dissuade me that I am in the minority in this belief. If my beliefs can be swayed by human influence, then they are not grounded in God. He is my judge, and He is the only One to whom I stand accountable. His Word is the ONLY foundation upon which our doctrine should be based. I can honestly say that every passage of Scripture can be compared with this doctrine and the doctrine still pass the smell test. The doctrine of "faith only", as many like to call it (although it is more accurately "belief only", cannot.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Yes, those are very powerful and important passages. But they are not all that Scripture says about salvation. If they were, I would agree with you. However, when you read passages like Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom 6:1-11, and Col 2:11-14; you must admit (if you are honest with yourself and believe that ALL Scripture is inspired by God) that baptism is the point at which we are saved.
Mark 16:16 - "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."
Both conditions, believed and been baptized, must be met to receive the result, be saved.
Acts 2:38 - "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."
Again, two conditions, Repent and be baptized, both of which must be met to receive the result, forgiveness of sin.
Rom 6:3-5 - "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. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,"
We are baptized, not repented, into Christ's death, and through union with His death into new life. If we are united with Him in death, we will be united with His life. If not, then we are not united with Him in life.
Col 2:11-12 - "In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which (in baptism) you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
The Holy Spirit is the active force here who cuts (circumcises) our sin from us when we are buried with Christ in baptism (not repentance).

None of those passages say that if a person isn’t baptized they won’t be saved. There’s not a single verse in the entire Bible that says that. There are no verses that say a person must be baptized in order to be saved either. However there are passages that specifically state that if a person doesn’t repent or if they don’t believe or if they don’t remain in Christ they won’t be saved. It could say that if someone believes and receives communion they will be saved. Does that mean that if a person doesn’t receive communion they won’t be saved? It could also be said that if someone repents and prays 20 times a day he will be saved. Does that mean if he doesn’t pray 20 times a day he won’t be saved? Yes a person who repents and is baptized will be saved because Jesus said if someone repents his sins are forgiven. No one ever said that a person’s sins are forgiven or that they will be saved by baptism. Repentance and believing are what brings about forgiveness. That’s what the verses I posted specifically stated. So if a person’s sin are forgiven for their repentance then naturally a person who repents and is baptized and receives communion and prays 20 times a day will be saved, but that doesn’t mean that all the other things mentioned other than repentance were requirements of being saved.

 

[Eloy Craft]

I have spent the last 6 or more years studying Biblical salvation from every angle. I began with a study of taking EVERY instance of the word salvation from Scripture. Then I took every mention of forgiveness of sin, then inheriting Heaven, and every other simile of salvation I could think of. Then I removed those that did not refer to spiritual salvation. Then I looked at all of them for conditions, methods, sources, reasons, etc. From those I compiled a list of what was required by God to receive salvation. The most common requirement was belief. But sprinkled in were references to repentance from sin, confession of Jesus' Name, and baptism.
Then I began reading other ministers, writers, commentators, etc. for their understanding of these passages. From them I began to see a wide range of understanding of these passages. Some totally ignore (or attempt to explain away) certain passages. Others only focus on one nature of God, and ignore other aspects of who He is. A very few accepted all of what He said. For every paper, website, or book that I read that said baptism was required for salvation, I read a dozen or more that said it wasn't.
So then I went back to the Word looking at what these authors were saying. In every case where an author ignored Scripture or tried to explain it away, I found numerous Scriptures that gave the lie to that author's position. For those who only focused on one aspect of God's nature, again I found numerous passages showing the other side of His nature that gave the lie to those authors' works. Only when all of Scripture relating to salvation was observed did I find no contradiction between the author and Scripture.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that baptism in required for salvation. Will God make exceptions in extraordinary circumstances? I don't know. I doubt it. And I am not willing to stake my soul, or the soul of anyone to whom I am ministering, on it.

Doug I like how you seem to understand that we are Baptized into another person's life. Our Lord has a Baptism to offer because He has a human life that that can save us. A life that death has no hold on. A life that restores us to our intended end with God. Our Saviors life is a human life that the Holy Spirit can share with others just as He shared John's righteous life of extreme asceticism. A life of penance and fasting in the desert being tempted by the devil. That's why his baptism was for repentance. The Holy Spirit wanted to share John's life with others so they would repent and be prepared to listen and believe Jesus. A straight path to Our Lord. Those steeped in their sin unwilling to be baptized by John also rejected Jesus' teaching. Those who received John's baptism were prepared to listen and believe Jesus.
When Jesus received John's baptism John's baptism was incorporated into Jesus' life and was united to the one Baptism into Christ.
Anyway you seem to get that that is what a baptism is. Immersion into another person's life.

If that is agreeable to you I've got a question for you.
If baptism is an immersion into the life of another, who's life was Jesus receiving on the cross? Remember He called His Sacrifice on the cross a baptism.

 

[Doug Brents]

None of those passages say that if a person isn’t baptized they won’t be saved. There’s not a single verse in the entire Bible that says that. There are no verses that say a person must be baptized in order to be saved either. However there are passages that specifically state that if a person doesn’t repent or if they don’t believe or if they don’t remain in Christ they won’t be saved. It could say that if someone believes and receives communion they will be saved. Does that mean that if a person doesn’t receive communion they won’t be saved? It could also be said that if someone repents and prays 20 times a day he will be saved. Does that mean if he doesn’t pray 20 times a day he won’t be saved? Yes a person who repents and is baptized will be saved because Jesus said if someone repents his sins are forgiven. No one ever said that a person’s sins are forgiven or that they will be saved by baptism. Repentance and believing are what brings about forgiveness. That’s what the verses I posted specifically stated. So if a person’s sin are forgiven for their repentance then naturally a person who repents and is baptized and receives communion and prays 20 times a day will be saved, but that doesn’t mean that all the other things mentioned other than repentance were requirements of being saved.

Your premise is sound, except it does not account for Rom 6 and Col 2 that both say it is during baptism, not repentance, that the Spirit takes action to remove our sin. It also does not account for Acts 22 that demonstrates that it is in baptism that sins are washed away. It also does not account for 1 Pet 3 where baptism, not repentance, saves you.

You make sound arguments, but you ignore passages that disprove your position. Yes, repentance is absolutely necessary, and if the passages I just listed were not there then repentance would be the end of the story. But these passages do exist, and they are Holy Inspired Scripture, which means that we cannot ignore them. We must bow the knee to God's command, not stand on our own preconceptions or the misguided instruction of others.

 

[Doug Brents]

Doug I like how you seem to understand that we are Baptized into another person's life. Our Lord has a Baptism to offer because He has a human life that that can save us. A life that death has no hold on. A life that restores us to our intended end with God. Our Saviors life is a human life that the Holy Spirit can share with others just as He shared John's righteous life of extreme asceticism. A life of penance and fasting in the desert being tempted by the devil. That's why his baptism was for repentance. The Holy Spirit wanted to share John's life with others so they would repent and be prepared to listen and believe Jesus. A straight path to Our Lord. Those steeped in their sin unwilling to be baptized by John also rejected Jesus' teaching. Those who received John's baptism were prepared to listen and believe Jesus.
When Jesus received John's baptism John's baptism was incorporated into Jesus' life and was united to the one Baptism into Christ.
Anyway you seem to get that that is what a baptism is. Immersion into another person's life.

If that is agreeable to you I've got a question for you.
If baptism is an immersion into the life of another, who's life was Jesus receiving on the cross? Remember He called His Sacrifice on the cross a baptism.

I don't recall Jesus calling his sacrifice on the cross a baptism. It was a cup He had to drink, but that doesn't equate to a baptism.

I would not agree that baptism is an immersion "into the life of another". Baptism is immersion, period. It could be immersion into water, immersion into the Spirit, immersion into fire (sometimes people say "baptize by fire" to mean thrown into the deep end on a new job, etc).
When we are baptized into Christ, we receive His righteousness in exchange for our unrighteousness (because our unrighteousness was put on Him on the cross). So if you wanted to call that being immersed in Him, I would be ok with that, but that is not the baptism that Scripture is talking about when it says, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:16), or "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin..." (Acts 2:38). That is baptism in water, as evidenced by Acts 8, Acts 22, 1 Pet 3, and others.