There is power in water baptism! The scriptures clearly state that baptism saves through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21). It is surprising how many Christians do not fully understand the significance of baptism. This lack of understanding can be attributed to the traditions of men that have been established around them. These traditions act like barriers, keeping people from experiencing true freedom, much like being trapped in a prison.
I used to believe that baptism was about the precise formula of utterance, thinking that speaking the exact words would activate the power in baptism. Although my understanding was incorrect, I still believed in its power. When I consider other mainstream Christian views on baptism, I notice many Christians claim that there is no power in baptism and that it is merely a symbolic act. This perspective is concerning, especially since the Word states otherwise. Let's explore this further:
- Water baptism is not a symbolic act, it is an act of faith.
- Water baptism is not a work of utterance by a priest, it’s a work of cleansing by the High Priest.
How Does Baptism Save?
To say that baptism saves is where I believe many Christians get confused. Even those who believe in the power of baptism find it difficult to say, "baptism saves you." It feels blasphemous to utter such words. However, would we struggle to say this if the Bible said it first? The fact is, it does say it, yet we still find it hard to accept. So the question remains: how does baptism save you, and where does this leave the doctrine of salvation in Christ alone and through faith alone? Let's look at the scriptures regarding baptism and salvation.
The first scripture to look at is Mark 16:16. Later we will look at 1 Peter 3:21.
He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Mark 16:16
Mark 16:16, highlighted in red letters, signifies the direct words of our Teacher, Jesus. He stated, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved." It is essential to acknowledge that the One we trust for our salvation explicitly declared that baptism is integral to being saved. We should not allow our traditions to obscure the straightforward message of the scriptures from taking root in our hearts. If Jesus asserts that baptism saves, why do we challenge this?
To understand how water baptism saves, it is crucial to know what it saves us from. Salvation is essentially a rescue mission, so we must ask: what are we being rescued from? What was Jesus' mission when God the Father sent Him to Earth? Jesus came to deliver us from sin and its consequences, which include death and eternal separation from God. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He provided the means for our redemption and reconciliation with God. Water baptism is our participation in this redemptive process; our acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice.
She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21
Jesus came to save people from their sins, not simply to bring them to Heaven. Properly understanding the purpose of salvation helps clarify the rest of the scripture. Salvation is fundamentally a rescue from our sins. Thus, when contemplating salvation, we should focus on being saved from sin. The notion of being saved from Hell or saved to go to Heaven is not the primary focus of water baptism or any aspect of salvation. There is a future salvation, accessible only to those who are born again. This future salvation will be free from the reference to sin, as Jesus has already addressed that through His sacrifice. Hebrews 9:28 states:
…so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
Hebrews 9:28
Observe that Christ came to take away sin, not merely to bring anyone to Heaven. The salvation we receive in this present age is a salvation from sin and its power. This salvation enables us to confidently approach the Holy of Holies, purified before the throne of God. It represents the restoration of a relationship, free from the original sin that once kept us separated from Him.
Let’s look at the second scripture, 1 Peter 3:21, which gives us a better understanding of the salvation through water baptism.
"Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you–not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience–through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"
1 Peter 3:21
The context of this verse relates to the example of Noah and the flood, which eradicated the wickedness of the world at that time. The Lord used water to cleanse the world of sin, and Noah and his family were saved through the water by being lifted above it. Similarly, baptism saves us by removing sin from us so that we may also be raised up from the water.
Notice the dashes before and after the inserted thought in the verse. Some versions may use parentheses instead; however, the concept remains the same. This punctuation separates a supplementary thought from the main point of the verse. Let's take a closer look at the inner thought of the verse.
"not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience"
Baptism is not merely a washing of the body but an appeal to God for a good conscience. If baptism were merely symbolic, why would such a strong word like "appeal" be used? Baptism saves a person by granting a clean and pure conscience, freeing them from the power of sin that so easily controls them. In other words, baptism represents a cutting off of the flesh that is in enmity with God. In our flesh, we cannot please God, as the mind governed by the flesh does not submit to the things of God and is incapable of doing so.
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.Romans 8:7-8
If this is the natural state of humanity, doesn't it necessitate a rescue from this body of sin? Wouldn't there need to be a liberation from the bondage that prevents us from drawing near to God with a clear conscience? This is precisely what baptism accomplishes. It removes the body of sin, or the body of flesh.
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.
Romans 6:4-7
Where Does That Leave Faith?
It goes without saying that faith in Christ's work on the cross is what enables baptism to be effective in our lives. Only by believing and trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross do we gain access to the grace of God. However, according to scripture, belief and faith alone are not sufficient to free us from the body of sin.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand;
Romans 5:1-2
It is through faith that we gain access to the grace of God, who gave His Son as the perfect sacrifice for sin. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we will then walk according to that belief and fulfill the command Jesus gave in Mark 16:16: "He who has believed and is baptized shall be saved." Jesus understood that it would be through a water ritual that our sins would be washed away, which is why He emphasized it before His ascension to be with His Father.
In Closing
It is now time to step away from the traditions of men and embrace the Word of God. If the Bible is true about freedom from sin and the means to obtain it—through faith in the resurrection of Christ and full immersion in water in the name of Jesus—then it is imperative that we pay closer attention to what is being said.
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