Must One Be Baptized For The Remission Of Sins?

Some view baptism as a mere outward sign or symbol of salvation, or as a rite to get into their church, while others see it as a necessary condition of salvation. Some believe baptism confers forgiveness, even without faith. What does the Bible say about the purpose of baptism?
 
1. Baptism is for the purpose of having our sins forgiven. This is explicitly taught by the apostle Peter at the beginning of the church of Christ (Acts 2:38). The word “for” here cannot mean because they were already forgiven, as some have suggested. The meaning of the Greek word (eis) translated “for” here, means “to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.)” (Strong’s Greek). You don’t have to know Greek to see this, just look at the context. This answer was given to those who were asking what to do to be saved (v. 37) and were told to "be saved" (v. 40). They were told to repent and be baptized for forgiveness (v. 38). If repentance is necessary for forgiveness (and it is – Luke 13:3), then so is baptism, as they are both coupled together with the conjunction “and”. Also, notice that the phrase “for the remission of sins” used by Peter here in Acts 2:38 to explain why we are to be baptized is the exact same phrase used by Matthew to explain why Jesus shed His blood (Mat. 26:28). Jesus did not shed His blood because we are already forgiven but in order that we might be forgiven. So, we are to be baptized not because we are already forgiven but in order to be forgiven by that blood. This is also made clear in the case of Saul who obviously believed and repented, but still needed to be baptized to have his sins washed away (Acts 9:1-20; 22:16). Jesus “washed us from our sins in His blood” (Rev. 1:5), when we were baptized to wash away our sins.
 
People are baptized for many reasons but until one is baptized “for the remission of sins” he has not obeyed the commandment of Christ. For example, if you were to partake of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine without obeying the commandment of Christ to do so in remembrance of Him, you would not have partaken of the Lord’s Supper. You have only gone through the motions. In the same way, if you were not baptized for the purpose commanded “for the remission of sins” then you have not been baptized with the one baptism. You just went through the motions.
 
It is not enough to simply get wet; one must be baptized in obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:17-18). Those who don’t will “be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 The. 1:7-10).
 
2. The importance of being baptized for the proper purpose is emphasized throughout the New Testament. It is required for salvation (Mark 16:16), necessary for the reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), causes rejoicing (Acts 8:39), gives newness of life (Rom. 6:4), and provides a good conscience (1 Pet. 3:21). Baptism allows entrance into the kingdom of heaven (John 3:5). It unites us with Christ; puts us into Christ, into the death of Christ, buries, and raises us with Christ (Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12), and puts us into the one body (1 Cor. 12:13), the church of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:5; 5:23).
 
3. Baptism for the remission of sins is an essential condition of our salvation (as is faith, repentance, and confession), but Christ is our Savior. The angel announced the birth of Christ with these words: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mat. 1:21). Peter declared this about Christ: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Paul wrote, “…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed…” (Tit. 2:13-14).
 
This is why baptism must be “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38). The word translated “in” is the Greek term epi which here means “on, upon” (Strong's Greek), that is relying upon the authority and power of Christ, having confessed one's faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10). This is why baptism is described as a “calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16; Rom. 10:13). This is why baptism is described as an act of “faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:11-13). We could never earn our salvation “by works of righteousness which we have done” (Tit. 3:4-7). This is why Peter reminded us that baptism saves us “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). You must get in the water so you can be forgiven by God, but the power to save is not of the water but of God. Baptism saves as a condition that must be met for our salvation, but it is not the basis of our salvation – that is the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
 
Many have been immersed in water, but not for the reason Christ commanded. They need to be immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins. They have never obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Baptism is an immersion in water of those who, having turned from sin and confessed their faith in Jesus as Savior, are trusting God to forgive them. Have you been baptized according to the Scriptures? If not, “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).