Do you need to be baptized in water before you become saved?
Is water baptism a necessity for the salvation of your soul?
Must you be baptized in water before you can be saved?
The answer to these questions are not far-fetched as this article is dedicated to providing answers to the above questions in simplified forms.
The truth is water baptism is not necessary for salvation neither is it required for salvation. Salvation can never and will never be gotten by being baptized in water.
It is important to get the clear picture about water baptism and salvation and the scriptural perspectives of the subject matter. Is water baptism a requirement for salvation? Must I be baptized in water before I become saved?
Water baptism is an ordinance of the Christian faith which is an aftermath of being saved. That means it is when you are saved that you become eligible to be baptized.
Water Baptism is the ancient practice of complete immersion in water which bears a long list of significances as I explained in the essence and significance of water Baptism.
John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ began water baptism and the goal was actually to identify the one who would be the Messiah. From then, baptism has become a ceremony observed in the Faith following Jesus' command to the disciples in 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:
The early church in obedience to Jesus' instructions continued steadfastly in the practice of water baptism and today it is now considered an ordinance of the church.
To answer the question whether water baptism is necessary for salvation, we would look into the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch from the book of Acts 8:26-39
The account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is a thrilling one layered with the manifestation of the Spirit of God. Our focus is not on the divinely orchestrated manifestations but on Philip's identification of what should come first as a matter of priority on the course of salvation.
The Ethiopian eunuch went to Jerusalem to worship and he was headed back to Ethiopia (Acts 8:27). While in his chariot, he read a portion from the book of the prophet Isaiah and Philip been led by the Spirit ran to his chariot and asked the eunuch "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30).
The eunuch in sincerity told Philip that he did not understand, asking Philip to explain. Philip obliged and preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch. On getting to a body of water, the eunuch asked Philip "What hinders me from being baptized?".
The answer Philip gave to the Ethiopian eunuch is the answer to any question relating to whether water baptism is a requirement for being saved. Let's see Philip's answer in Acts 8:37.
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
The necessity for salvation is not water baptism but believing in Jesus, the son of God. Water baptism does not save you neither is it a necessity or requirement for your salvation.
The only requirement that is consistent through out scriptures for salvation is believing in Jesus, accepting His gift of eternal life and turning away from your sins.
Jesus said in John 3:16 ... whosoever believeth in him. This is the only requirement for salvation – believing in Jesus. Water baptism only comes after you have believed in Jesus and have made a decision to forsake your sins and resolved to live a holy life.
In Acts 16:30, a man asked Paul and Silas "Sire, what must I do to be saved?"
Look at the answer they gave the man in the next verse;
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. – Acts 16:31
Before you can be saved, you must believe and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, resolved to forsake your sinful ways and to live holy. It is when a decision such as this is made before you are entitled for water baptism.
One of the significances of water baptism is to serve as a public declaration to the world that you are no longer a sinner and that you have made a decision to forsake sin and follow God.
I counsel that you read my article on the essence, requirement and significance of water baptism.
To be saved, you must believe in Jesus. Water baptism is not a necessity for salvation. No one is saved by being baptized. You're saved before being baptized.
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