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Everything We Need to Know about Water Baptism - Part One of Four

Part Two    Part Three    Part Four


by Dave Root, VividChristianity.com, last modified on 07/06/2024.


Introduction

In this series we'll examine everything there is to know about water baptism (who, what, when, where, why, and how).

After prayerfully studying everything that the New Testament says about baptism and salvation, trying to be thorough, objective, and unbiased, my conclusion is that being baptized in water is very important because it was commanded by Jesus, but it's not a requirement for receiving salvation. As we'll see, baptism is an outward act in which we make a public identification with Jesus, and it must be done by total immersion after we receive salvation.

Update on 07/06/2024: If everything at my website (VividChristianity.com) says what God wants it to say then He will confirm that for you by doing a miracle (if you're a Christian). When you see the miracle, it means that He wants you to believe everything in all of the articles at my website (including this article) and in my book. See my home page for the details.


People Were Baptized in Water Immediately after They Believed in Jesus

After the cross we see a consistent pattern in which people were baptized in water immediately after they believed in Jesus. Here are all of the passages after the cross that describe people being baptized in water:
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:41)

"But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw." (Acts 8:12-13)

"The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him." (Acts 8:34-38)

"The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days." (Acts 10:45-48)

"One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us." (Acts 16:14-15)

"He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized." (Acts 16:30-33)

"Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:8)

"While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:1-5)
The above passages show that people were baptized in water immediately after they believed in Jesus, which is what He commanded us to do:
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."" (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, and then to do two things with these new disciples: baptize them and teach them. As we'll see, water baptism is only for disciples, meaning people who have already received salvation. It's not a requirement for receiving salvation.

To understand why people were baptized immediately after believing in Jesus, notice that Peter explained that it's not the water of baptism that saves us, because the water simply removes some dirt from the body. He went on to explain that it's "the pledge of a good conscience" that saves us:
"and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge [eperotema] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21)
We'll examine 1 Peter 3:21 (above) in more detail in Part Three of this series, but for now here are some things that various Bible commentaries say about the Greek word eperotema in that verse:
"The word here rendered "answer" (eperotema) means properly a question, an inquiry. It is "spoken of a question put to a convert at baptism, or rather of the whole process of question and answer; that is, by implication, examination, profession" - Robinson, Lexicon. It is designed to mark the spiritual character of the baptismal rite in contrast with a mere external purification, and evidently refers to something that occurred at baptism; some question, inquiry, or examination, that took place then; and it would seem to imply: (1) that when baptism was performed, there was some question or inquiry in regard to the belief of the candidate; (2) that an answer was expected, implying that there was a good conscience; that is, that the candidate had an enlightened conscience, and was sincere in his profession; and, (3) that the real efficacy of baptism, or its power in saving, was not in the mere external rite, but in the state of the heart, indicated by the question and answer, of which that was the emblem." (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible, 1 Peter 3:21, emphasis added)

"In ancient Greek it never means answer, but only inquiry. The inscriptions of the age of the Antonines use it of the Senate's approval after inquiry. That may be the sense here, that is, avowal of consecration to God after inquiry, having repented and turned to God and now making this public proclamation of that fact by means of baptism (the symbol of the previous inward change of heart)." (Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, 1 Peter 3:21, emphasis added)

"In the NT, spoken of a question put to a convert at baptism, the whole process of question and answer, an examination, or the response to the inquiry, a pledge, profession (1 Pet. 3:21) as marking the spiritual character of the baptismal rite in contrast to mere external purification." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, 1 Peter 3:21, emphasis added)

"the Vulgate Latin renders it, "the interrogation of a good conscience"; referring, it may be, to the interrogations that used to be put to those who desired baptism; as, dost thou renounce Satan? dost thou believe in Christ?" (John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, 1 Peter 3:21, emphasis added)

"Greek, "interrogation"; referring to the questions asked of candidates for baptism; eliciting a confession of faith "toward God" and a renunciation of Satan ([AUGUSTINE, The Creed, 4.1]; [CYPRIAN, Epistles, 7, To Rogatianus]), which, when flowing from "a good conscience," assure one of being "saved."" (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, 1 Peter 3:21, emphasis added)
These commentaries point out that the word "pledge" in 1 Peter 3:21 refers to an inquiry, or the question and answer process that was performed at the time of baptism in the first century, as in this example:
"So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." (Acts 8:34-38 NKJV)
Notice what happened in the above passage. Philip preached the Gospel to the eunuch, and then the eunuch asked to be baptized, so Philip prompted him for a confession of faith. The eunuch made a good response, then Philip baptized him. This is why water baptisms were done immediately after people believed in Jesus in the New Testament, because their belief and their pledge (that Peter mentioned in 1 Peter 3:21) fulfill the two conditions that Paul summarized in Romans 10:9-10:
"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10)
In the above passage, Paul described two conditions relating to salvation: believing in your heart and declaring or professing with your mouth (this is explained in detail in my article called How to Receive Salvation). We've seen that Jesus commanded that new disciples must be baptized in water, and we've seen that people who had proper faith in Jesus publicly declared or professed their faith at the time of their baptism (fulfilling the two conditions that Paul described above). This is why water baptisms were done immediately after people believed in Jesus; it has nothing to do with baptism being a requirement for receiving salvation.


Did Paul Believe That Baptism Is a Requirement for Receiving Salvation?

The apostle Paul wrote approximately half of the New Testament (see my article called Who Wrote the New Testament?), teaching us most of what we need to know about what to believe and what to do. He never said anything about water baptism being a requirement for receiving salvation.

Notice what he wrote to the church at Corinth:
"I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:14-18)
In the above passage, Paul thanked God that he did not baptize many people in Corinth (he didn't want anyone to say they were baptized in his name). He said that Christ did not send him to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, which is the power of God for salvation.

Acts 18:8 says that many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized, but the above passage indicates that Paul left the baptizing for others to do, because Paul's job was to preach the Gospel so that people would be saved. Paul's concern was for people's salvation, not their water baptism. In the next section we'll see that the apostle Peter's concern was for people's salvation as well, not their water baptism.

That's not how people would treat water baptism if it's a requirement for receiving salvation. For example, this is what a prominent Bible commentary says about the above passage:
"Paul's imitation of Christ apparently touched every aspect of his ministry. According to Joh 4:2, Jesus did not baptize, but left it to His disciples. This was usually Paul's practice too. Could Paul then have believed baptism was necessary for salvation? Such is impossible (cf. 1Co 4:15; 1Co 9:1, 1Co 9:22; 1Co 15:1-2). Not that baptism is pointless. It was commanded by Christ (Mat 28:19) and practiced by the early church (Act 2:41), which makes it, with the Lord's Supper, an ordinance of the church. But it is what an ordinance gives testimony to, not what it effects, that is more important." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1 Corinthians 1:14-17, emphasis added)
In Part Four of this series we'll see that Paul received salvation on the road to Damascus before he was baptized in water, and therefore he would not have had the view that his (or anyone else's) baptism was a requirement for receiving salvation.


Examples of People Who Received Salvation before Being Baptized

If we can clearly show that someone in the New Testament received salvation before being baptized in water, then this would mean that baptism is not a requirement for receiving salvation.

In the following passage, notice that a Gentile named Cornelius (and his family) received salvation:
"He [Cornelius the Gentile] told us [Peter and his companions] how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' As I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they [the Christian Jews in Jerusalem] heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."" (Acts 11:13-18)
The above passage says that the apostle Peter was summoned to the house of a Gentile (non-Jew) named Cornelius. An angel had told Cornelius that Peter would bring them a message through which they will all be saved (Acts 11:14, above). When Peter preached the Gospel message to them and they accepted it, God granted them repentance unto life (Acts 11:18, above). In other words, they now had eternal life. They were now saved.

Immediately after they received salvation, God gave them the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and Cornelius and his household began speaking in tongues:
"While Peter was still speaking these words [to Cornelius and his household], the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days." (Acts 10:44-48)
Notice that Peter ordered that they be baptized in water. Peter left the baptizing for other people to do, just as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 1:14-18 (above), and just as Jesus did in John 4:2. Peter's concern was for their salvation, not their baptism.

If water baptism is a requirement for receiving salvation then the only way that Cornelius and his household could have received the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is if they had first been baptized in water for salvation. This is because only Christians (i.e., people who are already saved) can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (for the full New Testament teaching on this, see my series called How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit). In the above passage, notice that Cornelius and his household received salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water.

Is it possible that God allowed Cornelius and his household to receive the Holy Spirit before they were saved? The New Testament clearly teaches that the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is only given to Christians (as my series above shows), so it violates Scripture to say that God would give this gift to people who are not saved. Notice that we're specifically told that God accepted Cornelius and his household and purified their hearts by faith before He gave them the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
"After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them [the Christian Jews in Jerusalem]: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles [Cornelius and his household] might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith."" (Acts 15:7-9)
If you compare this passage with Acts 11:13-18 (above), you'll see that Cornelius and his household are being referred to in both places. This passage says that when Cornelius and his household believed the message of the Gospel, God "knew their hearts" and "accepted them" and "purified their hearts by faith." Then God "showed that He accepted them" into the kingdom of heaven "by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us" (referring back to when the original disciples received the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4). All of this happened before they were baptized in water. Cornelius and his household were not a special case in the way that they received salvation because Peter specifically said that God "made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9, above). In other words, God brought Cornelius and his household into the kingdom of heaven in exactly the same way that He brings everyone else into the kingdom of heaven. Cornelius and his household received salvation before they were baptized in water.

Here's an interesting point to notice. It was God who told Peter in a vision to go to the house of Cornelius the Gentile (Acts 10:9-20). When Peter arrived there, he told them, "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him" (Acts 10:27-28). The other apostles were not aware of Peter's vision, so they accused him of breaking Jewish law by eating with Gentiles (Acts 11:1-3). Peter needed to defend his actions, so "Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story" (Acts 11:4). Yet he didn't bother to mention the Gentiles' water baptism (Acts 11:4-18). If water baptism is a requirement for receiving salvation, then the Gentiles' baptism would have been an extremely important point because Peter's defense of his actions was based on the fact that God wanted those Gentiles to receive salvation. Yet Peter said nothing about their water baptism, and the other apostles didn't ask about their water baptism (Acts 11:18).

In Part Four of this series we'll see that the apostle Paul received salvation on the road to Damascus before he was baptized in water, and therefore his baptism was not a requirement for his salvation.

Since certain people received salvation before they were baptized in water, this demonstrates that baptism is not a requirement for receiving salvation.


Continue on to Part Two.


For the glory of the Lord Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, who came in the flesh, was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised to life for our justification.

Dave Root
home page and email: https://www.vividchristianity.com

"Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3)

"Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist - denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23)

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God." (1 John 4:15)

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." (1 John 4:1-3)

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 1:6-7)

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
 
 
Modification History

  • 07/06/2024 - Added an update in the Introduction section.

  • 03/06/2023 - Slightly modified the Introduction section.

  • 12/14/2022 - Slightly modified the section called "Examples of People Who Received Salvation before Being Baptized."

  • 09/20/2022 - Added a link to my article called "How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit" in the section called "Examples of People Who Received Salvation before Being Baptized."

  • 07/23/2022 - Modified my closing statement.

  • 04/24/2022 - Renamed the article (originally it was called "Water Baptism").

  • 12/06/2021 - Modified the part about Philip and the eunuch in the section called "People Were Baptized in Water Immediately after They Believed in Jesus." Modified the first paragraph in the section called "Did Paul Believe That Baptism Is a Requirement for Receiving Salvation?"

  • 11/06/2021 - Modified the Introduction section.

  • 11/03/2021 - Made the font size a bit bigger and added a fish symbol as a favicon (which is displayed in the browser tab).

  • 06/07/2021 - Added a section called "Did Paul Believe that Baptism Is a Requirement for Receiving Salvation?"

  • 02/14/2019 - Extensively modified the article.