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• Written by Bryant Evans

Baptism Is Important Too

Baptism is not the most important item on the road to salvation. By itself, baptism accomplishes nothing. However, when joined with other commands, it becomes part of an essential process that brings remission of sins, moves one from the world and into Christ, and places him into the church. Many fail to understand that while baptism is not more important than other acts of faith is it also no less important. Baptism is as essential to salvation as grace and faith.

Grace is essential to salvation (Romans 3:24; 6:14; Ephesians 2:8). Grace is the starting point of our salvation for it is the grace of God that caused him to reach out to lost mankind. Without grace, man would receive the just punishment for sin which is death (Romans 6:23). It is grace which provides the plan of salvation, grace which has drawn the map to heaven and grace which allowed Jesus to hang on an old rugged cross. Grace cannot be separated from our salvation.

Faith is essential to salvation (Romans 3:28; Hebrews 11:6). Faith is man's first response to God's grace. Faith is belief but also much more. James writes of faith that true faith produces works (James 2:14-21). Faith without evident works is empty, unproductive and useless. A living faith drives us to obedience and to the kind of works our Lord desires. Obviously, without faith, one will never pursue the things of God. Faith cannot be separated from our salvation.

On the topics of grace and faith almost all agree. But baptism has become a point of controversy with some declaring baptism an unnecessary part of salvation. Today, many denominations offer a simple, brief "sinner's prayer" as the only requirement to attain salvation. Although such a prayer is nowhere found in Scripture and while there is not a single example of Biblical conversion through the use of the prayer, it has become the usual form of denominational conversion. The "sinner's prayer" has become the cornerstone of conversion among the denominations and it rejects the necessity of baptism. We believe the Bible teaches otherwise.

Beginning with this article we will examine baptism with the intention of discovering the clear truth on the subject. To our readers we suggest that that these articles be kept for future reading. There is nothing new here and the author is certainly not a prize winner, but the material will be useful, simple and very biblical. Future articles will address the purpose of baptism, the relationship of baptism to salvation, the proper candidate for baptism, mode of baptism (i.e. sprinkling, pouring, immersion, etc.) and the kind of baptism (fire, Holy Spirit, water). Along the way we will examine examples and biblical teachings regarding baptism.

We will ask the reader to use their own Bible as the standard for the study. If it's not in the Bible, reject it. If the reader finds that the discussion is Biblical and true, he is asked simply to obey.

There are some things that will not be found in our study. We will never offer the opinions of men or doctrines of church conventions, councils or synods. We will offer only Bible to buttress our claims and underline our beliefs. The discussion of baptism and its link to our eternal life is too important to leave to uninspired men.