Many people sincerely believe that baptism is important, but they have been taught that a person is saved BEFORE baptism.
According to this view:
BELIEVE
↓
SAVED
↓
BAPTIZED LATER AS AN OUTWARD SIGN
But is that the pattern revealed in the New Testament?
Rather than beginning with what we have been taught, let us examine what Scripture actually says baptism does.
JESUS PLACED BAPTISM BEFORE SALVATION
Jesus said:
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
(Mark 16:16, KJV)
Notice the order:
BELIEVETH
↓
IS BAPTIZED
↓
SHALL BE SAVED
Jesus did not say:
“He that believeth shall be saved and should afterward be baptized.”
We should allow His words to stand exactly as He gave them.
PETER PLACED BAPTISM BEFORE REMISSION OF SINS
On Pentecost, those who heard Peter’s preaching were:
“…pricked in their heart…”
(Acts 2:37, KJV)
They asked:
“…Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Peter answered:
“…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”
(Acts 2:38, KJV)
Notice the order:
REPENT
↓
BE BAPTIZED
↓
FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS
If their sins had already been forgiven when they believed Peter’s message, why did Peter tell these believing people to repent and be baptized “for the remission of sins”?
ANANIAS CONNECTED BAPTISM WITH WASHING AWAY SINS
Saul had already encountered the risen Christ.
He believed.
He had been praying.
Yet Ananias told him:
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
(Acts 22:16, KJV)
Notice what Ananias did NOT say:
“Saul, your sins were washed away three days ago when you first believed.”
Instead:
ARISE
↓
BE BAPTIZED
↓
WASH AWAY THY SINS
If baptism were merely an outward sign that Saul’s sins had already been forgiven, the language of Acts 22:16 becomes very difficult to explain.
PETER SAID BAPTISM SAVES
Peter wrote:
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”
(1 Peter 3:21, KJV)
Peter immediately explains that he is not talking about physically washing dirt from the body:
“…not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God…”
And what makes baptism meaningful?
“…by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
The water itself does not save.
JESUS CHRIST SAVES.
But Peter still wrote:
“BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US.”
PAUL SAID WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
(Romans 6:3, KJV)
And:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
(Galatians 3:27, KJV)
Notice the language:
BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST
↓
BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH
↓
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
↓
PUT ON CHRIST
If a person is already saved and already in Christ before baptism, why does Scripture repeatedly describe baptism as being INTO Christ?
WHEN DOES NEWNESS OF LIFE BEGIN?
Paul wrote:
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”
(Romans 6:4, KJV)
Then:
“…even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Notice the order:
BURIED WITH CHRIST
↓
BY BAPTISM
↓
RAISED
↓
WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
Paul does not describe someone receiving new life first and then later being buried with Christ as a symbol.
The burial comes before the rising to walk in newness of life.
GOD IS THE ONE WORKING
Does this mean baptism earns salvation?
Absolutely not.
Paul explains:
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God…”
(Colossians 2:12, KJV)
Notice:
FAITH
↓
BAPTISM
↓
THE OPERATION OF GOD
The sinner does not save himself in baptism.
GOD OPERATES.
GOD FORGIVES.
GOD SAVES.
Baptism is an obedient response of faith to what God has commanded.
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
BELIEVE
Mark 16:16
↓
REPENT
Acts 2:38
↓
BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS
Acts 2:38
↓
SINS WASHED AWAY
Acts 22:16
↓
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27
↓
BURIED WITH CHRIST
Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12
↓
RISE TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
Romans 6:4
↓
THE LORD ADDS THE SAVED TO HIS CHURCH
Acts 2:47
That is very different from:
BELIEVE → SAVED → BAPTIZED LATER AS A SYMBOL
So where does the New Testament teach that baptism is merely an outward sign performed AFTER salvation has already occurred?
That is the question.
Don’t accept the answer merely because it is written here.
And don’t reject it merely because it differs from what you have always been taught.
Open your Bible.
Read Mark 16.
Read Acts 2.
Read Acts 22.
Read Romans 6.
Read Galatians 3.
Read Colossians 2.
Read 1 Peter 3.
Then ask:
WHICH ORDER DOES SCRIPTURE ACTUALLY GIVE?
“…arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
(Acts 22:16, KJV)
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
TheBiblicalPattern.com
The Biblical Pattern 