Reasons I believe Baptism is neccesary:
1. Every example in the Bible of someone getting saved has them being baptised. (The sinner on the cross had his sins forgiven by Jesus (who had the power to do so), so this arguement does not affect my stand. A great way to see what I am talking about is by going to Acts and reading it through, noting each conversion and what they did to receive their salvation. The interesting thing about this little exercise is the fact that 100% of them were baptised, whereas only a few repented, or only a few prayed a prayer.
2. The big picture. What I mean is that everyone I know has always said the big picture is what matters. Like when I was young if a verse seemed to not make sense, it was because I was not looking at it in context or looking at the broader picture. But now that I believe Baptism is an essential part of scripture all the same people that told me to look at the broad meaning of the scripture for guidance are now saying look at these couple of verses that say all you need is Faith.
3. Faith is all you need. This is what I formerly held to be fact and this is also what I am being questioned on. The same people that tell me Faith is all you need will also say that after having faith you then need to repent and live a life after Jesus'. The exact same people will tell me that we are not saved by works (i.e. Baptism). So am I to believe that Faith is not a work? Or moreover am I to assume that Repentance is not a work. If there was ever an example of a work I would say Repentance is it. (I am assuming that most reading this think of Repentance as not only the act of asking for forgiveness in a certain area, but then also trying to stop acting in that area). With this in mind Repentance is more of an "act" than is Baptism.
4. Some have asked how being dunked under water can save you. Well the answer is quite simple. The thing that saves you is not the water, rather it is the Lord and his power that cleanses you. The same way that "Faith" can miraculously save you. I fail to see the comparison to Baptism as something done by the hand of men.
5. One other thing that is certainly interesting is when people quote Romans 5:1-2 which essentailly says we are saved by Faith, and yet they speek nothing of Romans 6 which is written by the same author in the same letter. So once again I refer back to, "why are'nt we looking at the entire scripture?"
6. There are tons and tons of verses that talk about baptism and not only talk about it as an act or "pledge," but the majority talk about it "saving us," "washing away our sins," "the time when we receive the holy spirit," and also "the time when we become part of the church."
Sincerely,
Dustin