There are some fine people who believe that baptism is necessary for salvation; but I disagree.  Baptism is necessary for obedience, but not for salvation.  True, Peter did say, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).  But the context of his verse does not link baptism with personal salvation, and neither should we.  Besides, again and again faith is stated as the requirement for salvation, with no mention of baptism (John 3:16 -18; 5:24; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-14).

If baptism does not wash away sins, what good is it?  Why is it one of the ten first steps for a new Christian?  Here are three reasons:

First, water baptism identifies our desire to obey Christ (Matthew 28:19, 20).  If you know that Christ wants you to be baptized and you refuse, you are being disobedient to your Master, the One who died for you.

Second, water baptism identifies our desire to be joined to Christ (Roman 6:1-4). We have no way to show to others how we are placed into the body of Christ when we are saved, except through the symbolism of water baptism.  Being baptized shows that when Christ died, we died.  When He was buried, we were buried.  And when He rose from the dead, we rose from the dead—to walk in newness of life.

Third, water baptism indicates our desire to follow Christ (Romans 6:4).  It symbolizes our final break with our old life, with the past and its sin. And although we will sin even after we are saved, being baptized tells the world we are headed in a new direction; we are on a new road, and we are taking the first steps on that road.

Look at it this way.  Following the Lord in baptism means doing what He did (Matthew 3:16,17).  Following the Lord in baptism means telling the world you’re under new management (I Corinthians 6:19, 20).  Following the Lord in baptism means following Jesus and forsaking the way you used to live before you were saved (II Corinthians 5:17).  It is a way of telling everyone, “I’m a new person, a new creation in Christ.  Old things have passed away; all things in my life have become new.  I’m off to a brand new start.”

Baptism is going public for God.  It is saying to the world, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”