Is baptism necessary for salvation?

It is a visible sign that becomes your first act of witness. In baptism, you telling the world what God has done for you.
>> Learn more: Get your free Bible study guide about baptism

Romans 6:3-7 says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.”

The meaning of baptism

Baptism symbolizes a death, burial and resurrection, which is why the early church baptized by immersion. The word “baptizo” means to immerse. It symbolized the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and it shows the death of the old sinner in the one being baptized.

Jesus’ teaching on baptism

We also know that baptism is a righteous thing to do. Jesus got baptized even though He was sinless. Matthew 3:13-15 says, “…John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.”

Jesus even commanded Christians to go and baptize everyone. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus adds this about baptism in Mark 16:15-16, “…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Are we saved by baptism?

You will notice that the Bible ties baptism to salvation. However, it isn’t the act of baptism that saves you. Ephesians 2:8-9 is clear that our works don’t contribute to our salvation. We can’t earn salvation, even by being baptized.

However, you must ask yourself. If Jesus asks you to do something and you refuse to do it, what does that mean? It means you are willfully disobedient. Is a willfully disobedient person repentant? Absolutely not!

Baptism is not what saves you, Jesus does! But refusing baptism says something powerful about the state of your relationship with Jesus.

Keep in mind, if you are unable to get baptized, like the thief on the cross, God understands your circumstances. However, if you are able to be baptized and won’t or choose not to, that action is willful sin which disqualifies you from salvation.

Bible Verses About Agape Love.

Fritz Chery

We are to have the same type of love that Jesus Christ had for us, which is agape love. A person with agape love never says, “what’s in it for me” or “this person doesn’t deserve it.” Agape love is not friend, sexual, or brotherly love. Agape love is sacrificial love. It shows action.

When we are always worried about self, we will never have this type of love. We are to humble ourselves before the Lord and put others before ourselves.

God’s agape love is in believers. Do all things with the love of God, expecting nothing in return.

Christian quotes about agape love.

“Agape is something of the understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. It is a love that seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love; it’s what theologians would call the love of God working in the lives of men. And when you rise to love on this level, you begin to love men, not because they are likeable, but because God loves them.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Agape love is selfless love…the love God wants us to have isn’t just an emotion but a conscious act of the will – a deliberate decision on our part to put others ahead of ourselves. This is the kind of love God has for us.” – Billy Graham

“It is possible to be at the top of Christian service, respected and admired, and not have that indispensable ingredient by which God has chosen to work in His world today – the absolute sacrificial agape love of the Eternal God.” David Jeremiah

“What is this love that endures decades, passes on sleep, and resists death to give one kiss? Call it agape love, a love that bears a semblance of God’s.” Max Lucado

“God loves you for no reason.”

God is agape love.

We see a perfect picture of God’s love in the cross of Jesus Christ. We are not good enough. God desires perfection and we all fall short. We are wicked before a holy judge. God would be loving in sending us to Hell because we are evil. God crushed His perfect Son for undeserving people. Those who are saved are regenerated and they are made saints to God. The blood of Jesus is enough. Repent and trust in Christ. Jesus is the only way.

1. 1 John 4:8-10 The person who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, because God is love. God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins.

2. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God has given us agape love.

3. Romans 5:5 Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

4. John 17:26 I made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them.

5. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.

Agape love caused Jesus to sacrifice His life for us.

6. Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.

7. Romans 5:8-9 But God demonstrates his love for us by the fact that the Messiah died for us while we were still sinners. Now that we have been justified by his blood, how much more will we be saved from wrath through him!

8. John 10:17-18 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

Let’s learn what the Scriptures teach on agape love.

9. John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

10. Romans 5:10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

We are to show agape love to our brothers and sisters.

11. 1 John 3:16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

12. Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

13. John 13:34-35 I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.

14. Galatians 5:14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

We are to show agape love to God. This will result in obeying Him.

15. John 14:21 The person who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I, too, will love him and reveal myself to him.

16. John 14:23-24 Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home within him. The one who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The words that you’re hearing me say are not mine, but come from the Father who sent me.

17. Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus told him, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment.

Reminders

18. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

19. Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

20. Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

A husband is to show agape love to his wife.

21. Ephesians 5:25-29 Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah loved the church and gave himself for it, so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word, and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah does the church.

22. Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Examples of agape love in the Bible.

23. Luke 10:30-34 After careful consideration, Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of bandits. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went by on the other side. Similarly, a descendant of Levi came to that place. When he saw the man, he also went by on the other side. But as he was traveling along, a Samaritan came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

24. Romans 9:1-4 I am telling the truth because I belong to the Messiah I am not lying, and my conscience confirms it by means of the Holy Spirit. I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart, for I could wish that I myself were condemned and cut off from the Messiah for the sake of my brothers, my own people, who are Israelis. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises.

25. Exodus 32:32 But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!

I am a Christian, saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. In 2013, I founded BibleReasons.com, driven by a deep passion to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. My heart’s desire is not only that we come to know Him but that we cultivate an intimate relationship with Him through prayer.