WHAT IS THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF WATER BAPTISM?
Are We Saved by Christ—or Christ Plus Something Else?
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” — Mark 16:16
Water baptism is one of the most recognizable practices of the Christian faith.
For nearly two thousand years, Believers have entered the waters of baptism as a public declaration that they belong to Jesus Christ.
But an important question remains:
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF WATER BAPTISM?
Is baptism part of our salvation?
Does the water wash away sin?
Can a person believe in Jesus Christ and still be lost because he or she has not yet been baptized?
Or is baptism something that follows salvation—an outward testimony of an inward transformation that has already taken place?
These are not insignificant questions.
When we are talking about salvation, we must be especially careful that our doctrine comes from the whole counsel of Scripture rather than from an isolated verse.
Because eternity is far too important for us to get salvation wrong.
WHAT DOES MARK 16:16 ACTUALLY SAY?
Jesus said:
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” — Mark 16:16
Two things appear in the first part:
Belief.
And:
Baptism.
This has caused some to conclude that salvation requires both faith in Christ and water baptism.
But look carefully at the second half:
“...but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Jesus did not say:
“He that believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned.”
The condemnation is connected specifically to unbelief.
Why?
Because faith in Jesus Christ is the means by which the sinner receives God's gift of salvation.
Baptism is the expected response of the person who has believed.
Belief is the root.
Baptism is one of the fruits.
We should never diminish baptism.
Jesus commanded it.
The early Church practiced it.
New converts were baptized.
But neither should we turn an act of obedience into a second Savior.
WE SOMETIMES MAKE SALVATION MORE DIFFICULT THAN GOD DID
Human beings have an unusual tendency to complicate simple things.
God offers salvation through Jesus Christ, and we begin constructing additions.
Christ plus baptism.
Christ plus church membership.
Christ plus denomination.
Christ plus keeping certain religious regulations.
Christ plus ceremonies.
Christ plus good works.
Christ plus our performance.
But once something must be added to Christ as the basis of our justification before God, we have introduced a serious problem.
The Gospel is beautifully simple:
WE PROVIDE THE SINNER.
GOD PROVIDES THE SAVIOR.
Jesus already did what was necessary.
On the Cross He declared:
“It is finished.” — John 19:30
Not:
“It is almost finished.”
Not:
“I have done My part; now you must complete the transaction.”
IT IS FINISHED.
The price for sin was paid at Calvary.
ROMANS 10 MAKES THE DISTINCTION CLEAR
Paul writes:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” — Romans 10:9
Then:
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” — Romans 10:10
Notice what is absent.
There is no:
“Believe, confess, be baptized, join a church, perform sufficient good works, and perhaps God will save you.”
The emphasis is upon faith in Jesus Christ.
That agrees with:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9
Salvation is a gift.
You cannot earn a gift.
You receive it.
THEN WHY SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?
If baptism does not purchase salvation, why does it matter?
Because Jesus commanded it.
Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” — Matthew 28:19
Baptism is not meaningless.
It is not merely a church tradition.
It is an important act of obedience, identification, testimony, and discipleship.
A person who has trusted Christ should desire to obey Christ.
And one of the first public acts of obedience in the New Testament is baptism.
BAPTISM IDENTIFIES US PUBLICLY WITH JESUS CHRIST
Think of baptism as a public announcement:
“I belong to Jesus.”
The person being baptized is publicly identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Paul writes:
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death...” — Romans 6:4
Going beneath the water pictures burial.
Coming out of the water pictures resurrection and newness of life.
The water itself is not creating that new life.
It is testifying to the new life we have received through Christ.
Baptism says publicly what faith has already declared inwardly:
The old life is behind me.
I belong to Jesus Christ.
I intend to follow Him.
THE THIEF ON THE CROSS SETTLES AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
One of the clearest examples concerning salvation and baptism occurred beside Jesus Himself.
A criminal dying on a cross turned to Jesus and said:
“Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” — Luke 23:42
Jesus answered:
“Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43
That man never came down from his cross.
He never entered a baptismal pool.
He never joined a church.
He never attended a Bible study.
He never gave an offering.
He never performed Christian service.
He had no opportunity to accumulate a lifetime of good works.
He had Jesus.
And Jesus was enough.
If water baptism were an absolute prerequisite for justification, we would have a serious problem explaining Christ's promise to that dying man.
But there is no problem when we understand salvation correctly.
The thief was saved by grace through faith.
DOES THAT MEAN BAPTISM IS OPTIONAL?
Here we need balance.
If by “optional” we mean, “It doesn't save me, so Jesus' command doesn't matter,” then absolutely not.
That attitude itself reveals a misunderstanding of discipleship.
Suppose someone says:
“I have accepted Jesus as Lord, but I have no intention of obeying anything He tells me to do.”
There is an obvious contradiction.
Jesus asked:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46
We are not baptized in order to become saved.
We are baptized because we have been saved and desire to obey the One who saved us.
That distinction matters.
SALVATION FIRST—THEN DISCIPLESHIP
The New Testament pattern is beautifully straightforward.
The Gospel is preached.
A person hears.
The person believes.
The person receives Christ.
The person is baptized.
Then begins the lifelong journey of discipleship.
We sometimes reverse the process and expect people to clean themselves up before coming to Jesus.
“Stop doing this.”
“Fix that.”
“Change this habit.”
“Become respectable.”
“Learn our church culture.”
“Then perhaps you can come to Christ.”
No.
Bring the sinner to Jesus.
You do not clean yourself before taking a bath.
And you cannot make yourself righteous before coming to the Savior.
Come as you are.
But understand this:
Jesus loves you too much to leave you as you are.
Salvation begins a transformation.
THE PATH TO SALVATION
Perhaps someone reading this is asking:
“Pastor, then how can I be saved?”
The Bible gives us the answer.
1. RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23
That includes every one of us.
No exceptions.
2. UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
Sin carries a terrible wage.
But God offers an extraordinary gift.
3. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8
Jesus did not wait until we became worthy.
He died for sinners.
4. BELIEVE THAT GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD
Christianity does not end at Calvary.
The tomb is empty.
“...believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” — Romans 10:9
5. REPENT AND TURN TO CHRIST
Jesus preached:
“Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” — Mark 1:15
Repentance is more than feeling sorry.
It is a change of heart and direction toward God.
6. CONFESS JESUS CHRIST AS LORD
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus... thou shalt be saved.” — Romans 10:9
Salvation is not faith in religion.
It is faith in a Person.
JESUS CHRIST.
YOU CAN CALL UPON HIM TODAY
Scripture promises:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” — Romans 10:13
You can pray sincerely:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe You died on the Cross for my sins and that God raised You from the dead. I repent of my sins and place my faith in You alone. Forgive me. Save me. Be my Lord and Savior. I surrender my life to You. Help me to follow You from this day forward. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The words themselves are not a magical formula.
Jesus saves.
The prayer is simply the expression of a heart placing its faith in Him.
WHAT COMES AFTER SALVATION?
Salvation is not the finish line.
It is the beginning.
You have been born again.
Now you must grow.
So what should happen next?
1. BE BAPTIZED.
Follow Christ in water baptism as your public declaration of faith and obedience.
2. BEGIN READING THE BIBLE.
You cannot follow God's Word if you do not know God's Word.
Start with the Gospel of John and continue studying Scripture daily.
3. PRAY.
Prayer is not reserved for pastors.
Talk to God.
Listen.
Learn to depend upon Him.
4. FIND A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHURCH.
You need fellowship, sound teaching, worship, accountability, and opportunities to serve.
5. BEGIN LEARNING HOW TO WALK IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
You cannot live the Christian life successfully through human strength.
Depend upon the Holy Spirit.
6. TELL SOMEONE ABOUT JESUS.
You do not need a theology degree to tell someone:
“Jesus saved me.”
7. BEGIN MAKING DISCIPLES.
As you grow, help someone else grow.
That is Christianity multiplying.
DON'T CONFUSE THE FRUIT WITH THE ROOT
This may be the simplest way to remember the distinction.
FAITH IN CHRIST IS THE ROOT.
Baptism, obedience, good works, spiritual growth, service, giving, witnessing, and discipleship are fruit produced in the life of someone who belongs to Christ.
Fruit matters.
Jesus cares deeply about fruit.
But fruit does not create the root.
Neither does baptism create salvation.
CHRIST SAVES.
ETERNITY IS TOO LONG TO GET THIS WRONG
There is one final truth that weighs heavily upon my heart.
If our understanding and interpretation of the Bible is wrong on this side of the grave—especially concerning salvation—it will not suddenly become right when we step into eternity.
Death does not correct false doctrine.
Eternity does not provide another opportunity to rewrite our theology.
That is why we must settle this question now.
Not according to denominational tradition.
Not according to what Grandma believed.
Not according to what a preacher said simply because he had a microphone.
Not according to something we saw online.
What does the Word of God say?
Paul and Silas were asked one of the greatest questions ever spoken:
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” — Acts 16:30
Their answer was remarkably simple:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...” — Acts 16:31
There it is.
Not Jesus plus something.
Not Jesus plus everything.
JESUS CHRIST.
We provide the sinner.
God provides the Savior.
Then, having been saved, we rise and follow Him.
We obey Him.
We are baptized.
We learn His Word.
We pray.
We fellowship.
We grow.
We serve.
We witness.
We make disciples.
And we spend the remainder of our lives becoming more like the One who saved us.
CHRIST SAVES. BAPTISM TESTIFIES. OBEDIENCE FOLLOWS.
Don't make salvation more difficult than God made it.
And don't make discipleship less important than Jesus made it.
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International
Your Feet to the Nations
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