How Important is Baptism of Repentance According to the Bible?

Summary: Since water baptism is the command of God for repentance and remission of sins, and since we are not saved without these, baptism is done immediately if possible and is often equated with salvation in the Bible. It never says there should be witnesses. Jesus said: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Repentance is changing your mind about sin (disobeying). Baptism is the 1^st command we are to obey; it is part of saving faith, see #6.

1. What is commanded for remission of sins and to receive the Holy Spirit? Are we Christian without these? Lk 3:3, 24:47; Acts 2:38-41, 3:19, 5:31-32, 11:18, 19:2-5; 20:21, 22:16, 26:20; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 7:10; 12:21; 2 Tim 2:24-26 Heb 6:1-7; 2 Peter 3:9; Rev 2:5

2. How many of the 9 baptisms in the book of Acts were done the same day as faith and repentance? When should we obey God? If I die unrepentant today, am I saved? (Lk 13:3)

3. Does the Bible equate baptism with 1) Being saved, 2) Entering the kingdom of God, 3) being united with Christ in His death and resurrection, 4) and putting on Christ?

(1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5 together with 1:33; Rom 6:3-5 and Col 2:12; Gal 3:27)

4. Do I have to repent (change my mind about sinning) to be saved? Or can I continue in willful sin and believe God will forgive me anyway? Lk 13:5; Matt 7:21; Mk 7:9; Heb 10:26; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6 Does God command baptism for repentance? Do I have to obey?

5. What do Luke 7:30 & Matt 7:21 teach us about people who were informed about baptism, able to be baptized, had opportunity to be baptized, but declined baptism?

6. Does someone lack faith if he is unbaptized because: 1) He lived before the command of baptism was given (Abraham)? Or 2) He is physically unable (thief on cross)? Or 3) He is uninformed but serving God with all his heart (Cornelius Acts 10; Luke 12:48; John 15:22)?

7. Does someone lack faith (is unfaithful) if he can obey baptism but is unwilling to?
Luke 7:30; 1 John 2:3-6; Matt 7:21; James 1:22, 2:14, 24-26; Heb 5:9, 10:26

8. Does the Bible distinguish between works of the law (self-righteousness) and works of faith (obedience)? Is one based on faith in self and the other on faith in God? James 2:14,24-26

9. Does Eph 2:8 grant saving grace to a disobedient “you”, or only the repentant “you” of the preceding verses who formerly were “sons of disobedience & wrath”? Eph 2:1-10;Rom 6:16
Would unbaptized Ephesians be part of the “one body … one faith”? Eph 4:4-5; Gal 3:27

10. Is baptism of repentance a work that adds to Christ’s work on the cross, or the opposite, confessing that our works have failed and we need Jesus? (Matt 3:6; Mk 1:4, Acts 2:38-41)

11. Does God give the Holy Spirit to those who willfully disobey? (Acts 5:32, 2:38; John 14:15-16, 21-23) Can you walk in the Spirit or receive His gifts without receiving the Holy Spirit?

12. Are we saved by merely believing? Since demons believe in salvation through Jesus and that He is the Son of God, are they saved? Acts 16:16-19; Mk 5:6-8 Or when the Bible says believing saves us, does it include acting in belief? Ja 1:22, 2:14-26; Lk 6:46; 1 John 2:3-4

13. Theophilus (Lk 1:3; Acts 1:1) had read Luke 3:3, 7:30, 13:3, Acts 2:37-38 prior to the jailer’s baptism in Acts 16:30-33. Would he think “What must I do?” has the same answer in Acts 2:38 and 16:30? And that “the word of the Lord” in 16:31 is baptism, as it is in Lk 3:2-3?

14. Jesus was baptized and commanded it. Are we His followers if we don’t? Jn 10:4,27-28, 15:14

Baptism Verses

Please search for “bapt” to find more verses.

Luke 3:2-3 … the word of the Lord came to John … and he went … preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, . . . 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, . . .

Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 … were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16 (Paul describing what Ananias said to him) And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

Matt 3:6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Acts 5:32 … the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

Matt 28:19-20 make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; . . .

Luke 7:30 Pharisees . . . rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

Matt 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Mark 1:8 I (John) indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John 1:33 He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [baptized] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [In context of prior 1:26,29, 33, “water” is baptism.]

Acts 1:5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

Acts 11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

Acts 16:33 Philippian Jailer: And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Romans 6:3-5 Do you not know that as many of us [not everyone] as were baptized into Jesus were baptized into His death? buried … if … united … in His death … also in His resurrection.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you [not everyone] as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.