Baptism

It has been a faulty understanding of certain scriptures that has led people to believe that baptism saves a person. Baptism cannot save anyone - for biblical reasons. If it does then a person should never leave the baptistery, because the person may commit sin after baptism and die before being baptized again.

Scriptures that seem to imply salvation through baptism:

• Matthew 28:19
  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
  Water baptism is a command instituted by God. But not a requirement for salvation. Its repentance and faith in the shed blood of Christ for the remission of sins that results in salvation


• Mark 16:16
  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
  This is a catchy verse. Out of four possible combinations, only three are addressed: a baptized believer, an un-baptized believer, a baptized unbeliever and an un-baptized unbeliever. The verse only talks about the damnation of the unbelievers. It doesn't say a word about an un-baptized believer. However in the light of other scriptures we can safely
  conclude that an un-baptized believer is saved.


• John 3:5
  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
  Verse 6 talks of being born of the flesh and being born of the spirit. Contextually interpreting verse 5, it is clear that Jesus was talking of the water involved in physical birth and not baptism.


• Acts 2:38
  Then Peter said unto them, 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.
  The word 'for' here can be taken as implying the 'cause' or the 'result'. Taking it in the
  'cause' sense, nobody's forgiven till they are baptized. And in the 'result' sense, people are baptized, because they are forgiven.


• Acts 22:16
  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
  Washing away of sins is connected with repentance and faith, and calling on the name of
  the Lord, not baptism.


• I Peter 3:21
  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:
  
  The verse is actually clear: its the good conscience toward God - a life hidden in Christ that saves us and not baptism. Also the context of the passage shows that in Noah's time, those who were saved were those who didn't come in contact with water. Those who
  got wet, also drowned.

Should a Christian be baptized?

Very much, yes. Jesus Himself obeyed God in baptism. But not as to fulfill a requirement for salvation but rather out of love toward God and His Word. Remember the thief on the cross went to paradise in spite of the fact that he was never baptized. John 3:5 was stated long before
Jesus met the thief! Sprinkling or immersion? Though it is highly debated, immersion baptism is what pictured in the Bible.