Is Water Baptism Necessary?

Is Water Baptism Necessary?

Is Water Baptism Necessary? “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works.” (Ephesians 2:8–9) Water baptism is an expression of our faith in Jesus, but faith in Jesus is all we need. The thief on the cross wasn’t baptized, yet Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

When the jailer asked how to be saved, Paul replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart… you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Baptism is important—it’s a public testimony of what happened in your heart when you were born again in Jesus. Water baptism symbolizes dying to sin and rising again to new life in Christ (Romans 6:3–4). But the act of going underwater doesn’t save you—only Jesus can do that.