Baptism

We can only be saved by faith in Christ’s blood which was shed on the cross for our sins. The Bible makes it very clear that all men are sinners. God in mercy forgives our sins when we trust in Christ’s blood as the atonement for our sins. There is no other way of salvation. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God:” (Romans 3:23-25) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7).
We are not saved by baptism. Baptism is not a condition for being saved. Baptism is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the believer’s participation in faith in Christ’s death and resurrection.
Baptism is only for believers in Christ. The believer in Christ receives baptism because he desires to be identified with Christ as a believer in Christ’s death for his sins and Christ’s resurrection for his justification. The true believer does not receive baptism in order to be saved, but as an act of obedience to Jesus Christ. Baptism is voluntary but not optional.
If a person could be saved simply by being baptized, it would mean that wicked people, who do not repent of their sins could be saved. It would mean that people who live selfish, worldly lives could be saved merely by being baptized. This is not true. If we could be saved by receiving baptism, it would mean that Christ’s blood was of no value. The Bible teaches from beginning to end that “without shedding of blood there is no remission” (forgiveness of sins) Hebrews 9:22.
Before baptism there must be a complete change of heart. Before baptism a person must sincerely repent of his sins and put his trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Baptism is not a condition of salvation. Baptism is an act of obedience to God on the part of the believer. It is proper and right for every believer to be baptized and publicly identifying himself with Christ, but baptism does not save anyone. God in His mercy saves us through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Randall Runions, Pastor