Contortionists are often a favorite act at a circus, as they often twist themselves into reality-defying shapes and positions. While that is entertaining, it is anything but entertaining when some individuals today are like contortionists when it comes to the subject of the essentiality of baptism for salvation—they twist themselves into reality-defying positions to avoid the truth so plainly taught in Scripture. Let’s examine the teaching of one verse—Acts 2:38.
The essentiality of baptism for salvation is the answer that Jesus commanded to give. The reason that Peter included baptism in Acts 2:38 is because Jesus’ Great Commission demands baptism to be made a disciple (Matt. 28:19), to enter a new relationship with God (Matt. 28:19) and to be saved from sins (Mark 16:16). Peter could not leave baptism out in response to the question of “What to do” (Acts 2:37) and be faithful to the requirements given by the Savior and Lord. That’s why he preached that baptism must be done “in the name of Jesus Christ”—His authority demands it (Matt. 28:18).
The essentiality of baptism for salvation is just as essential was the essentiality of repentance. Jesus had also commanded repentance for salvation in the Great Commission (Luke 24:47). So, under direct guidance of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; John 14:26; 16:13), Peter gave heaven’s answer to the question, and he used the coordinating conjunction “and” to inseparably tie repentance and baptism together as equally grammatical, equally weighted, equally essential conditions to obtain forgiveness of sins. One cannot successfully argue that baptism is not essential without logically also removing repentance as essential. God made the two stand or fall together.
The essentiality of baptism for salvation is demanded by the use of the preposition “for.” The Holy Spirit chose a specific word to show the God-given purpose of baptism—it is “in order to” obtain the forgiveness of sins. The Greek word “eis” means “motion into a thing, entrance into, purpose, direction toward a goal.” Jesus used the very same sentence structure in Matthew 26:28, when He said that His blood was “shed for many for the remission of sins.” His blood was NOT shed because sins had already been forgiven (as many want to argue that baptism is done when sins are already forgiven), but Jesus used the same word to say that His blood was being shed “in order to” forgive sins, denoting direction toward a goal, emphasizing the purpose.
To argue that baptism is not essential to obtaining forgiveness of sins requires one to twist himself into positions and arguments that defy the clear teaching of Scripture. Let us stay true to God’s Word and simply speak as the Bible speaks.