Why is baptism important to our salvation? The answer is as simple as looking at the company it keeps.
It Keeps Company With Faith and Repentance
People desperately want to believe in “faith only” but the Bible teaches differently. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned..” Peter added in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” One can’t separate faith and repentance from baptism!
It Keeps Company With the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
When close to the time of His ascension, Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20). “Name” means authority which furthermore means that baptism has the authority of all of the Godhead behind it.
It Keeps Company With Forgiveness of Sins
Acts 22:16 says, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Where’s the passage which says that faith only forgives us of our sins? It can’t be found! The same point can be shown from the quote of Acts 2:38 too.
It Keeps Company With Christ
Does baptism really put on into Christ? Galatians 3:26-27 says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” The Bible declares that baptism keeps company with Christ. Romans 6:3-5 adds, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” If someone ever wondered if baptism saves us, all one needs to do is see that it keeps company with Christ.
It Keeps Company With the Body of Christ
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Ephesians 4:4 adds, “There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling …” What’s the body? Ephesians 1:22-23 explains: “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” If you would like to be a part of the body of Christ, “faith only” won’t do it. You must be baptized.
It Keeps Company With a Good Conscience
The Hebrew writer said, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (9:14). In order for one to be saved, the conscience must be purged. Hebrews 10:22 says, “… having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” How does one have the conscience purged or sprinkled? “There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is required for a good conscience!
It Keeps Company With Rejoicing
In Acts 8:39, after being baptized, the eunuch “went on his way rejoicing.” Why do you suppose he did that? Earlier in the chapter he believed. If he was saved at that point, why rejoice after baptism? Could it be that he understood that he was not saved until he was baptized? Acts 16:33-34 says, “And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” So we see the same point can be made with the Philippian jailer too.
Have you kept company with baptism? As you can see, it’s crucially important. This is more than a simple biblical discussion. We want you to obey the gospel today and keep good company with baptism!
Kyle Campbell