Q: I was just wondering; do you have to be baptized to be saved? I read in Romans 10: 9 that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” But I also read in 1 Peter 3: 21-22 that “this is a picture of baptism, which now saves you by the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.”

I was baptized when I was a baby but not since then. I accepted Jesus into my life a few years ago and was wondering if I should get baptized again? I believe that I was saved when I accepted Jesus as my personal savior, and I am questioning the need for baptism. But I have been reading a lot about it in the Bible. Can you tell me what you think and possibly give me some scripture verses to study? Thanks so much.

A: No, you don’t have to be baptized to be saved, even though Jesus commanded baptism (Matthew 28: 19 see below), as did the Apostles (Acts 2: 38). People who argue that baptism is necessary for salvation often referred to Mark 16:16: “anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, “ but this verse says nothing about those who believe and are not baptized. In other words, it’s true that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. But it is also true that those who believe and are not baptized are saved.

The reason we can say this is the example of Jesus and the thief on the cross. Jesus told the thief who believed, “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23: 43). Obviously, the thief had no chance to be baptized, yet he was going to heaven. Another reason baptism is not necessary is that we are forgiven for our sins and justified before God the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our personal savior (that’s your Romans 10: 9 verse). Baptism occurs later.

Having said that, baptism is a necessary part of our Christian experience. It shows we are being obedient to the command of Christ. It is also a public testimony that we have been saved. Paul confirms this in Galatians 3: 27, where he indicates that baptism is the outward sign of inward regeneration.

Now, what about your baptism as a baby? That was not for salvation; It was a sign of dedication to the Lord. Later in your life, you accepted Jesus as your savior, but it is not necessary for you to be baptized again. You are correct in your understanding of this, and you can rest assured that you are a baptized believer!

However, you need to know that different churches follow different traditions when it comes to baptism. For example, most Baptist churches would not recognize your infant baptism and would require that you be baptized by immersion if you wanted to become a member. Other churches, like the Evangelical Free Church, would recognize your infant baptism and would not require that you be baptized again even though these churches practice immersion.

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Relevant Scripture

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)

Peter replied, “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. (Acts 2: 38)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10: 9)

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3: 27)

Reference

Bible Answers 101 by Bickel & Jantz