If Jesus advocated baptism, then how can it not be essential for salvation?

Ted's Response:

You must be referring to the water baptism section of my online book. Water baptism (Mark 16:16) is a common byproduct of belief, just as good deeds are a natural result of faith (James 2:14-26). However, one is not saved by baptism and good deeds; one is saved by belief and faith. Note that the last portion of Mark 16:16 says that "whoever does not believe will be condemned." It does not say that "whoever is not baptized will be condemned."

Nicodemus told Jesus that someone cannot re-enter the womb to be born a second time (John 3:4). The phrase "born of water" in Jesus' response (3:5) was a referral to the water involved in the natural birth of every person—that is, the water in the birth bag within which each fetus is located. Baptism is not the topic of this passage, although one might say that being born of the Spirit could refer, indirectly, to Spirit baptism, by which one is born again.

It was expected for Jesus to tell them to do this, since He Himself had been baptized by John the Baptist. Obviously, He was a supporter of baptism. And, yes, during a water baptism, the phrase "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" is used. But in Spirit baptism (which is the baptism that saves), one is acknowledging and accepting the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as a unified, triune God.

There is nothing in that passage about the requirement of water baptism for salvation. Many of those who wanted to become followers of Jesus also chose to be baptized, as an expression of their discipleship.

Pertaining to Peter at Pentecost, presumably, you are referring to Acts 2:38. Some will argue that the baptism that Peter was advocating was Spirit baptism, since Peter indicated that those who would be baptized would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This may or may not be the case.

However, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized." My view is that it was repentance that led to the forgiveness of sins, and those who repented chose to be baptized in water as a public display of this repentance and of their faith.

Note that later, speaking of Jesus, Peter said, "God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel" (Acts 5:31). Here, there is no mention of baptism. That is because it is repentance, not water baptism, that is required for the forgiveness of sins.

Paul said that it is repentance that leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). In fact, Paul baptized only a few people in water (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). He even affirmed, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." (1:17). Would not Jesus have sent out Paul specifically to baptize everybody who repented if water baptism were a requirement for salvation? I believe He would have, if that were the case; yet He did not.

In Acts 22:16, Paul was describing his previous experience to others. In the original experience with Ananias (9:10-19), Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit when Ananias laid his hands upon him (9:17)—that is, he was baptized with the Holy Spirit. Some will say that Paul was referring to Spirit baptism in 22:16. I disagree, because it was after the scales fell off of Saul's eyes that Saul was baptized (9:18), presumably in water.

Nevertheless, this was no different from any other water baptism. A person "sees the light," repents of his/her sins, and then is baptized as an expression of his/her belief and acceptance of Jesus as Lord. As in any case, the water baptism was a symbolic washing away of Saul's sins; but it was the Spirit baptism that actually had washed them away. Why would Saul need to have his sins washed away, by water baptism, if they already had been washed away by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, when Ananias had placed his hands on him? He would not have.

I never said that "baptism doesn't have anything to do with salvation." Baptism is an outward, public demonstration of repentance, but it is that repentance that leads to salvation. Baptism, in and of itself, is not a prerequisite for salvation. If it were, then the remorseful thief crucified with Jesus, who feared God and acknowledged his evil deeds (Luke 23:40,41)—that is, repented of his sins—would not have been saved, because he had not been baptized in water. Yet, Jesus told him that he would be with Jesus in paradise (23:43). Knowing that the thief had not been baptized in water, was Jesus a liar when he said this? Of course not.

It sounds like it definitely is on your "to do" list to inform as many people as possible, before the "big Day" of His coming, that unless they experience water baptism, they will remain unsaved from their sins and condemned for eternity. It also appears that you want to believe that, and I want you to believe whatever you want to believe.

After all of this, I have little doubt that I have done nothing to convince you that water baptism is not a requirement for salvation, and that is fine, because I have no interest in persuading you to believe the way that I believe. All I have done, simply, is to respond to the points that you have posed to me.

A few years ago, I attended a three-week seminar, put on by Seventh Day Adventists, who were absolutely convinced that one must be baptized in water to be saved from his/her sins. After three weeks of being submerged in their teachings, I remained unconvinced.

I was raised in a Baptist church. At age 7, I was baptized in water. The SDA representatives insisted that even this was not adequate and that I needed to be baptized into the SDA Church to be properly saved. I did not buy it, and I still do not. I definitely do ascribe to the SDA tenet that the seventh day (Saturday) is the Sabbath (see the Sabbath). But that, pretty much, is their only belief that I embrace. Other than that, they certainly do have several issues twisted and jumbled, especially end-time prophecy and the proper chronology of Revelation.

In any case, if you are serious about reaching as many people as possible with your message, then I think that what you should do is to create a website and post your message about salvation by water baptism on the internet, for multitudes of people to see. Consider that if your message is true, but if you have not done all that you can do to reach the world's masses with that message, then when you meet the Lord face-to face, you may not hear those important words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

The bottom line is that you, pretty much, are wasting your time in attempting to convince me that water baptism is necessary for the cleansing of sins and salvation. I have no idea why it matters to you what I believe or do not believe. Perhaps you are hoping that if you influence me to embrace your view, then I will post this message at my website, and your job will be done. If this is the case, I can guarantee you that it is not going to happen. So it seems to me that this leaves you only one of two options: 1) convince someone else to put this message at his/her website, or 2) create your own website and place the message there.

One of the main things on my "to do" list, prior to the Day of His coming, is to inform as many people as possible of the distinct possibility that, as of October 2006, we entered the 70th Week: the final seven years of this age. If so, the Great Tribulation—the worst period of tribulation and distress the world has ever known, up to that point (Matthew 24:21)—will begin during Passover week 2010. More about this can be found in my European Neighbhourhood Policy and Daniel 9:27 commentary.

That is one of my main focuses right now; a further discussion of water baptism is not. You better get your website up and going. You are running out of time.