Why is baptism important to our salvation? The answer is as simple as looking at the company in which it is found.
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 that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Peter added in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” One cannot 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 power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20). “Name” means the 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 tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Where is the passage which says that faith only forgives us of our sins? It cannot 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 ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as having been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” The Bible declares that baptism keeps company with Christ. Romans 6:3-5 adds, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also 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 are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Ephesians 4:4 adds, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling …” What is the body? Ephesians 1:22-23 explains: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” If you would like to be a part of the body of Christ, faith only will not 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, purge 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? “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by 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 was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” 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 is quite important! Obey the gospel today and keep good company with baptism!
Kyle Campbell
