Question: “Is baptism necessary for salvation?”
Answer
We will address this topic in a brief, three-part comment on the passages, which people use to teach that baptism is necessary for salvation.
1. Mark 16:15–16
The first passage to examine is Mark 16:15–16. This passage does not say that if one is not baptized, he will be lost, nor does it teach that if one believes but is not baptized, he will be lost. The negative is not stated. It simply says to believe and be baptized. In those days, baptism immediately followed salvation. Furthermore, this verse is not even found in the best and oldest Greek manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark.
2. Acts 2:38
The second passage used is Acts 2:38, which states: Repent ye and be baptized … for the remission your of sins. The Greek word here is eis, which can also mean “because of” or “on account of,” as is its meaning in Matthew 12:41. Therefore, Acts 2:38 simply states: “repent and be baptized on the basis of the remission of sins” or “because you have been saved, therefore you should be baptized.”
3. Acts 22:16
The last passage is Acts 22:16, which, in the Greek text, contains two imperatives and two participles, and literally reads: “arise, having been baptized, wash away your sins, having called upon the name of the Lord.” What this verse is saying is that baptism follows the arising just as the forgiveness of sins follows the calling upon the name of the Lord. The two parts of the verse must be kept distinct. Just as after calling upon the name of the Lord, one is then saved; having been saved, one should arise, and be baptized.
Baptism is a false addition to the condition of salvation.
Excerpt from MBS111 'The Condition of Salvation' pg 12 by Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum Ariel Ministries
