Baptism and Salvation – 1

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See full series: what-god-has-and-has-not-joined-together-2026-theme

Baptism and Salvation – 1

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: 1 Peter 3:20-21


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What God Has Joined Together (4)

Today, we continue our 2026 theme addressing various doctrines that God has (and has not) joined together.  Our last lesson in this study addressed Faith and Works being joined together.  Today we want to focus on how God has joined together salvation and baptism.

The subject of baptism in scripture is extensive and worthy of devoting time to understanding it.  How is it to be administered, what is its purpose, how does it relate to our faith and salvation, etc.  Let us consider some of what God’s word has to say about this.  This will be a 2 part lesson.  Today I just want to notice a number of passages that talk about baptism and its purpose.   Next week I want to answer some questions related to baptism and our salvation.

 

  1. What Does the Bible say about baptism?
    1. We will begin by noting several passages of scripture that emphasize the importance and purpose of baptism.
    2. The great commission – teaching what one needed to do to be saved.
      1. Matthew 28:19-20 – make disciples, baptizing in name of Father, Son & Holy Spirit. With understanding of need to “do all things commanded” – remain faithful.
      2. Mark 16:15-16 – B + Baptism = Saved. What about he who does not believe, not mentioning baptism?  It doesn’t cancel out the need for baptism but points out that without belief salvation is impossible (i.e., baptism w/o belief is meaningless).
      3. Luke 24:46-47 – clarifying His purpose Jesus notes that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations…” While baptism is not mentioned consider: 1) The OTHER accounts of the great commission; 2) Acts 2:38 ties baptism to “remission of sins”; 3) Acts is a continuation of Luke, both written by the same author to the same audience.
    3. Romans 6:3-4 – Paul relates baptism to the death of Jesus.
      1. Baptism (a word in the Greek that literally means to submerge (not pour or sprinkle)) correlates with the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus.
      2. THIS relates baptism to the “blood of Christ” which was shed for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:26-28, cf. Revelation 1:5).   It is HOW we come in contact with His blood.
      3. In context Paul is noting how in baptism you put to death your old man of sin (repentance and surrender), you bury him and are raised “to walk in newness of life”. 2 Corinthians 5:17 notes, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  This demonstrates change when we are baptized.
    4. 1 Corinthians 12:13 – we are baptized into one body. This is the body of Christ.  Ephesians 1:22-23 notes that this body is His church.  When we obey the gospel we are joined to a body of believers by God (cf. Acts 2:47).
    5. Galatians 3:26-28 – it is through baptism that we put on Christ. What does that mean?  Consider some of the following verses related to being “In Christ”.
      1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (again) – we are a new creation.
      2. Ephesians 1:3 – All spiritual blessings are found in Christ
      3. Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins.
      4. 2 Timothy 2:10 – Salvation is in Christ Jesus
      5. 1 John 5:11,12 – because of this, eternal life in in the Son.
    6. Colossians 2:11-12 – in Him we were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. Without great detail, it was the cutting away of skin of males as infants.  It represented relationship with God (and Israel).  Our text emphasizes that we are putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism… and raised with Him.
    7. 1 Peter 3:20-21 – Just as Noah and his family (total of 8) were saved through water, so “baptism now save us”.
      1. The NKJV describes it as an “antitype” which is a word that means, “not a model or type” therefore it is the REAL thing. NOTE: Many versions use, “corresponding to” which means it is related.  The word antitype is a transliteration of the Greek work, ἀντίτυπος (antitypos).
      2. Peter undisputably ties baptism to our salvation. The word “now” describes a point of time related to the event.  Again, most of our translations include this word.
      3. Peter DOES elaborate that it is about more than just getting wet. It is “the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter’s point is that baptism IS AN ACT OF FAITH!  You believe God and in Jesus and are surrendering your life to Him.  You are immersed BECAUSE you believe God will keep His word.
    8. Examples of baptism in Acts
      Throughout Acts we have numerous examples of those who were saved. Most mention baptism specifically.  Consider these:

      1. Acts 2:37-38 – on Pentecost, 3000 souls in Jerusalem. They asked what they needed to do.  Peter said, “Repent and be baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of sins…”
        1. They needed to turn away from their former path (including former religions) and be immersed so that their sins could be forgiven.
        2. Notice in this text how remission of sins comes AFTER baptism.
      2. Some say the word “for” can mean “because of”. And that is true in the English language, but in Greek, the primary meaning of εἰς (eis) is for and points TOWARD something.  “For” is sometimes translated, “because” (11x), but it is the Greek word γάρ (gar) (1044x) which is a marker of cause (e.g. Romans 3:23, Matthew 3:2 – repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Romans 1:16, for I am not ashamed of the gospel…, etc.).  The Greek language is much clearer on the usage of this word.
      3. Acts 8:12-13 – Samaritans, including the Simon the sorcerer. Following persecutions in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-4), disciples carried the word of God with them.  Philip went to Samaria where he performed miracles and preached Christ.   The miracles gave him an audience.  12-13 note that they believed Philip and were baptized, both men and women.  Specifically, in vs. 13 we read of Simon also believing and being baptized.
      4. Acts 8:35-39 – the Ethiopian Eunuch.
        1. Philip is sent into the wilderness to wait for man returning to Ethiopia from Jerusalem. He complies and joins the eunuch and begins to preach Jesus to him (vs.35).
        2. As he taught, the eunuch requested to be baptized. IMPLIED is that a part of preaching Jesus included the importance of baptism.
        3. The eunuch was baptized and went on his way rejoicing.
        4. NOTE: This was a private event between Philip and the eunuch. Faith only advocates say you should be baptized (immediately) after being saved as a profession of your faith.  Our text find only the 2 mentioned and baptism was immediate.  There were no “witnesses”.  It was a private matter on this occasion.
      5. Acts 9:17-18 – Saul in Damascus. Saul on his way to persecute Christians in Damasus is struck blind and told by Jesus to go to the city and wait.  Ananias comes and commands him to be baptized.   Paul complies.   Acts 22:16 gives further detail as Paul later retells his conversion (something he likely did often).  Note the details: in baptism you “wash away your sins” and are “calling on the name of the Lord.”  Paul took the time to elaborate on what he did and WHY.  NOTE that Saul was NOT saved when the Lord appeared to him.  In Acts 9:6 he was told to go into the city where he would be told “what you must do.”  Certainly the process BEGAN on the road, but his sins were not forgiven until he was baptized.
      6. Acts 10:47-48 – Cornelius and his household.
        1. He is the first full Gentile convert. A godly man (10:1-2), but not saved. An angel appears to him and instruct him to send for Peter who would tell him what he needed to do.  (Acts 10:6).
        2. Note in Acts 11:14, as Peter is defending why he went to a Gentile, he recounts the message of Cornelius noting that the angel to Cornelius that Peter would tell him, “words by which you and all your household will be saved.”
        3. As Peter is preaching, the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius and his house. Peter observes to those with him, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord….
        4. Baptism was commanded and carried out immediately.
      7. Acts 16:15 – Lydia and her household
        1. Paul and Silas in Philippi go to the river where they find some women (Jewish) on the Sabbath praying.
        2. We read in vs. 14 that the Lord opened the heart of Lydia and she listened to Paul’s message.
        3. Vs. 15 – she was baptized.
      8. Acts 16:31-34 – the Philippians jailer and his family. We have addressed this example in recent lessons.  It is significant because of Paul’s statement answering the question, “What must I do to be saved.”  In Paul’s answer we can imply he included baptism in that conversation since they were baptized immediately.
      9. Acts 18:8 – Paul in Corinth. Many Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized.  Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, is mentioned, but we will get back to him.
      10. Acts 19:1-5 – Paul is in Ephesus where he finds a group of men who had been baptized with John’s baptism. Paul more accurately explains baptism noting that it is about Jesus (not John).  Hearing the truth, they were baptized in the name of Jesus.

Concluding thoughts.  As study throughout the New Testament makes it clear that baptism is not only important, but also essential where our salvation is concerned.  It does NOT replace or negate our faith/belief.  It is an act of obedience that God commands so that our sins can be forgiven and thus we can be saved.  Truly God HAS joined together baptism and salvation.  Let us not separate these things.

In my next lesson I want to develop this further by answering some questions related to baptism and various texts we have discussed in this lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

AccountHearBelieveRepentConfessBaptizedResult
Pentecost,
Acts 2:37-41		2:372:382:38Remission of sins
Samaritans, Simon
Acts 8:15-13		8:68:12-138:12
Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:36-41		8:358:378:37*8:38-39Rejoiced
Saul (Paul)
Acts 9:1-19, 22:16		22:169:18, 22:16Sins washed away
Cornelius
Acts 10:25-48		10:2, 3310:4310:48Remission of sins
Lydia
Acts 16:13-15		16:1416:1416:15
Philippian Jailer
Acts 16:16-34		16:30-3216:3116:33*16:33Rejoicing
Corinthians, Crispus – Acts 18:818:818:818:8
Ephesus – 12 men

Acts 19:1-5

19:4-519:519:5“In the name of the Lord

 

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