Biblical Q&A – Is Baptism Required for Salvation?

Ephesians 1:4-5: “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesu

Baptism in Kansas by John Steuart Curry 1928

Ephesians 1:4-5: “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”

In response to my invitation to suggest questions for this series on Biblical Q&A, I received the following subscriber comment:  “Under the heading The Gospel of Salvation, you said, “There are no church attendance requirements, gifting minimums, or even required sacraments.” I had a conversation with a brother recently who was adamant that salvation requires baptism. He even believed the thief on the cross beside Jesus must have been baptized sometime before he was arrested for his thievery.”

The Question

You would be hard-pressed to find a Christian Church that doesn’t celebrate Baptisms. However, the Bible never asserts that salvation is the outcome.

According to Romans 5:12, all people are tainted by Adam’s original sin. While many religions practice some form of Baptism to erase this condition, the question remains: Is Baptism, or for that matter, any sacrament, required to eradicate original sin and man’s sin and produce salvation?

Caveat

Within Christianity, there are two competing positions on the doctrine of salvation: salvation by divine sovereignty and salvation by man’s free will. This post argues for divine sovereignty, which I believe the Bible teaches. Although I acknowledge that there are true believers in both camps, I am not aware of any false church that accepts salvation by divine sovereignty. You can verify this by reviewing their Statement of Beliefs. That alone should be telling.

The dangers of free will salvation are that it leads to easy believism, a false assurance of salvation, and a lack of true repentance with a changed life.

Understandably, conflicting doctrines within Christianity are disconcerting; however, as John 8:44 warns, “…[Satan] is a liar and the father of lies,” who 1 Peter 5:8 alerts, “...prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” As the enemy of God, Satan is also the enemy of God’s church and will do everything in his power to destroy it.

What better target than the tenets of salvation?

What Do We Need for Salvation?

The Bible consistently maintains that salvation is the result of God the Father’s sovereign and willful selection before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4-5 underscores this when it states, “Even as He [the Father] chose us in Him [the son] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love he predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.”

Once chosen and in God’s timing, salvation is actuated by responding to an effectual call with repentance and faith. Repentance is turning away from sin, and faith is turning toward Christ as Lord and Savior. This truth is illustrated in Mark 1:14-15, “…Jesus…preaching the gospel of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”

Interestingly, both repentance and faith are gifts from God. 

In Acts 11:17-18, Peter speaks about the gift of repentance when he states, “…if God gave to them the same gift [salvation] as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could prevent God’s way?” “And when they heard these things, they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.’”

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul illustrates the gift of faith when he states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

How Does Salvation Take Effect?

Salvation is a Trinitarian effort; the Father Elects, the Holy Spirit Effects, and Christ Redeems as the sacrifice for sin.

Those chosen are justified and eventually glorified when they respond to an effectual call, as illustrated in Romans 8:30, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified [saved], and those whom he justified he also glorified [gave eternal life-heaven].” Additionally, John 6:44 claims, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” Finally, there is a guarantee, as John 6:37 promises, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” 

These verses emphasize God’s election, an effectual call or drawing, and assured justification and glorification.

Acts 13:48 summarizes this succinctly when it states, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” Appointed to eternal life—not through Baptism or any work of their will, but through an appointment (election) and the response to an effectual call by a sovereign God.

Can Dead Men Save Themselves?

From the start, we face an insurmountable problem: We are dead in our original sin, so how can we be reborn through only our free will effort? It will require divine intervention.

Paul verifies this dilemma in Romans 7:24-25, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Peter 1:3 confirms this by announcing, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Again, not of our own free will but the divine mercy and free gift of a loving God who “caused us to be born again.”

What About Our Free Will?

But, many are not happy with this. They feel cheated; somehow, God has stripped them of a constitutional right—their right to save themselves through their own free will.

At least eight times, the Bible proclaims that salvation is not by the will of man but by the sovereign willful election of a loving and all-powerful God. Yet, often, this is not only ignored but even repugnant to some.

To confirm, John 1:12-13 states, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Romans 9:16 reiterates, “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” Ephesians 2:8-9 affirms, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” James 1:18 emphasizes, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” Even further, John 1:12-13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” And more, Romans 9:16 confirms, “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” Even more, Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Finally, James 1:18 announces, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.”

Who, then, are those who are elected? All who don’t reject Christ out of their own free will and are chosen by God.

Doesn’t God Just Look Into the Future to See Who Accepts Salvation?

In order to explain Revelation 21:27, which states that God has written the names of those saved in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world, many misinterpret Romans 8:29, which remarks, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Not understanding the original meaning of “foreknew,” they conclude that through God’s all-knowing power of omniscience, He simply looks into the future and ratifies man’s free will choice of salvation. This false belief, however, takes salvation out of the authority of the Creator and puts it under the command of man, with God merely rubber-stamping man’s will.

Notice, however, the wording of Ephesians 1:4-5: “…In love, he predestined us for adoption…” Romans 8:29 is almost identical in meaning since “foreknew,” according to Mounce and Mounce, “Greek and English Interlinear New Testament” means “to appoint as the subject of future privileges.” The love described in Ephesians 1:4 is analogous to foreknowledge mentioned in Romans 8:29, which leads to a future privilege out of love—salvation.

This is not a passive look down the corridor of time where God concurrently abdicates His authority over salvation and simply agrees to the will of men but an active involvement in the salvation process.

What Sacraments are in the Bible?

Although Baptism and Communion are commanded out of obedience and remembrance, the Bible never specifically refers to them as sacraments.

Baptism is a response, in obedience, to having received salvation and identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, as stated in Romans 6:3-4 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by Baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Communion is a celebration and remembrance of the New Covenant as described in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26  which emphasizes, “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Neither is salvific nor produces grace. God’s grace is not a discontinuous provision but an ongoing supply that enables believers to consistently perform and abound in good works, as stated in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” Examples of additional grace never pertain to sacraments but to godly attitudes such as James 4:6, which promises that He “gives grace to the humble,” 2 Peter 1:2 which pledges that “grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” Hebrews 4:16 which delivers grace “to help in time of need,” and 2 Corinthians 12:9 which states “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Conclusion

God the Father actively determined some for salvation “before the foundation of the world” out of His loving mercy and graciously provides gifts of repentance and faith. Through an effectual call, He justifies those chosen according to His timetable. This is not done according to man’s free will but according to the will and pleasure of God. Finally, our salvation and eternal reward are fixed and secure, as John 10:28-29 affirms below.

Salvation through divine sovereignty holds the promise of John 10:28-29 which states, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Faux salvation by the will of man never holds such a promise.

You can also read about the Thieves on the Cross in my post here. Interestingly, the narrative of the saved thief actually demonstrates repentance and belief, while nothing indicates a baptism.