Is water baptism necessary for salvation?

Is baptism necessary for salvation? When I use the term “baptism” I am referring to the ceremony where an individual is baptized in water, whether by sprinkling or immersion. Is one’s eternal life dependent upon this ceremony? Let me illustrate:

Scenario #1: An elderly man, an unbeliever his entire life, decided to accept Christ on his death-bed moments before passing away. He had heard the gospel, realized he was a sinner, and trusted in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Does this man go to hell because he hadn’t been baptized?

Scenario #2: A new believer in Christ, walking across the street to get baptized, is hit by a car and killed. Do they go to hell because they were unbaptized?

As with any question, it is critical to see what the Scripture says about baptism. Is baptism the gateway into heaven? Let’s take a look.

Acts 2:38


This is one of the main verses used by advocates of baptismal regeneration. Does this support the baptism of infants and new believers?

In regards to infant baptism, this verse really says too much. Peter said “repent and be baptized…” Can an infant repent? Of course not. Therefore, this verse cannot apply to infants because repentance was the first action Peter required.

Does this verse teach that baptism is a necessary element in the salvation equation today? To whom is Peter speaking? Let’s look at some preceding verses for context:

“And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” – Acts 2:5


“Ye men of Israel, hear these words” – Acts 2:22a


Peter was addressing the Jews, not the Gentiles. At one time, Jews did receive the Holy Spirit by being baptizing in water. But is this how we receive the Holy Spirit today? What did Paul write?


We receive the Holy Spirit today when we believe, not when we are baptized. Acts 2:38 does not apply to us today.

1 Peter 3:21


Peter says “the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.” To understand this statement, let’s look at the preceding text for context:


Peter connects baptism as a figure of Noah and the ark. So when we examine the story of Noah and the flood, what exactly saved Noah and his family? Did the water save Noah or did the ark? The ark saved Noah from the water. But what prompted Noah to get on the ark? Faith. Notice Peter says that baptism is “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.” Is it the water of baptism that saves? Or is it the faith within? Peter was clear that it is by faith—“the answer of a good conscience toward God.”

John 3:5


This is one of the most highly cited proof texts for baptismal regeneration. First, it is automatically assumed that the “water” in this verse is referring to water baptism. Is that really the case? Let’s look at the context:


In the above exchange, we see Jesus being critical of Nicodemus for not understanding Jesus’ words. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, did not understand what Jesus meant by “born of water and of the Spirit” or being “born again,” and Jesus criticized him by asking him “art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” How could Jesus have expected Nicodemus to be knowledgeable of Christian baptism practices when Nicodemus was a Jew?

If the “water” in John 3:5 isn’t a reference to water baptism, what could it mean? There are several ideas, such as:

  • “Water” meaning natural birth.

  • “Water” meaning the Word of God:

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” – Ephesians 5:26

  • “Water” meaning the Holy Spirit:



Baptism in the New Testament

If water baptism was a necessary element in salvation, we would certainly find evidence of that throughout the New Testament text. As we look through the Scripture, what do we find? In fact, we find the exact opposite. Baptism is never used in the context of providing “life-saving” regenerating waters. Baptism is an act of obedience, a public testimony, symbolizing that the believer has died, was buried, and has risen again with Christ. Consider the following verses as they relate to water baptism:

In Acts 8, the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized after he believed (believing being a prerequisite):


In Acts 10, we find the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the Gentiles who were not yet baptized:


In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer asked what he needed to do to be saved. Again, baptism was not spoken as a requirement. Note that the baptism took place after the jailer believed:


Why did Paul downplay baptism in 1 Corinthians if it was the means of salvation?


In Luke 23, the thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him. There was no baptism, yet what did Jesus say?

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43


When is a person saved? Is it when they believe? Or is it when they are baptized? If we are saved when we are baptized, then we are not saved by faith. What does the scripture say?


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