Why Full Immersion Water Baptism

Have you ever wondered if baptism is required for someone’s Salvation? Being Baptized isn’t the act that gets us into heaven… only faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord assures our salvation. Full immersion baptism, as taught in the Bible, is an act of obedience that should be a part of our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our savior and acceptance of the gift of his grace. However, it does not mean that one who truly gives their heart to Jesus on a death bed or in a crashing airplane, will be kept out of heaven because they failed to be baptized. Jesus responded to the thief on the cross next to Him by saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” ~ Luke 23:43 The thief didn’t have time to get baptized before he died, but he had an opportunity to believe in Jesus and put his trust in Him.Having faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for our sins is sufficient for salvation. Jesus has already done everything. By definition, His grace doesn’t require any additional “works” by us. However, remember Jesus Christ commands us to be baptized, and therefore, all believers should be baptized.

So… if it’s not for our salvation – then why? The Bible tells us that baptism declares believers who are baptized, die with Christ to their old self, rise with Christ to become a new being, and they are given their new eternal life in a living community that looks forward to the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ. In contrast to what some denominations teach, a Christian’s baptism requires a responsible decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and must be delayed until an age of knowing right from wrong within God’s perspective.

Here are some scriptures to look at and consider:
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.

Romans 6:1-7 – What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Galatians 3:27 – For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

With all that said, the simple answer is… Because Jesus Christ commands baptism for His followers. (Matthew 28:18-20) Even though, the act of baptism does not cause eternal salvation, it seems that any believer who refuses baptism should truly examine his or her true beliefs.