Personally, I do not subscribe to water baptism is necessary for salvation. However, I do say that baptism is necessary for obedience to God. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15)
Luke 7:28-30 says, "I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John."
This section of scripture explains the purpose of baptism. It is to acknowledge God's justice. Throughout the scriptures, there is a process of being washed to be ceremonially clean. The priests of the Old Testament had to go through ceremonial cleansing before starting their service before God.
When Jesus came on the scene, he had John the Baptist baptize Jesus. Consider this a ceremonial washing to prepare himself for the Holy Spirit. Immediately following Jesus being baptized, the scripture says that the heavens opened and the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) descended like a dove (Matthew 3:16)
I believe this view is supported by Acts 2:38, And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"
Though Jesus was without sin, He modeled the importance of being baptized.
My hope is there will not be confusion on the need for baptism as a requirement for eternal salvation. Salvation for eternal life is a gift and is contingent on only one thing. We choose to believe and put our trust in Jesus. That is it, nothing else. Baptism is part of our act of obedience that is part of our sanctification. Jesus provides the justification. We work out our salvation through obedience and as our behavior changes, the sanctification process makes us more like Jesus, the one we are following.
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