Is Water Baptism in the Plan of Salvation?

Dennis Edwards

Baptism is perhaps a more complicated matter, though it shouldn't be. We find no certain doctrine in the early church about baptism from the writings of the Church Fathers, those who came after the disciples. That is probably the reason there is so much a difference of opinion on the subject. There was no clear doctrine left to us by the early Christians. 

Paul thanked God he hadn't baptised many, as he said he was sent to preach the gospel not to baptise. 1 Corinthians 1:14-18. Baptism becomes a ritual that each denomination has a different opinion on and condemns the others who differ. Jesus himself did not baptise with water, John 4:2. John the Baptist said, "I baptise you with water, but there comes One after me, He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." John 1:33, Acts 1:5, 1:8, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, Matthew 4:11. 

During the Reformation period in Europe, Christians killed one another over their differences in their interpretation of how baptism should be done. Was it infant baptism, or adult baptism? The anabaptists from whom came the Mennonites, the Amish, and others adhered to adult baptism or age of consent baptism. The child had to be old enough to confess Christ. 

In the book of Acts 10:44-48, we see that as Apostle Peter preached the gospel the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles as he spoke, and they began to speak with tongues as they received the gift of the Holy Ghost. After having already received the Holy Ghost, they did the ritualistic baptism. See also, Acts 11:15-18. In Acts 8;14-19, we see the Apostles laid hands on the new believers who had been baptised in water, but had not received the Holy Ghost. It was through the laying on of hands that the Holy Ghost was received in that case. 

For these reasons, we can see there is no specific doctrine of water-baptism found in the Scriptures. I believe the emphasis on water baptism, rather than baptism of the Holy Spirit, is a hang over from the church in Jerusalem, and not from the teachings of Jesus or Apostle Paul. Apostle Peter mentions that in 1 Peter 3:21. The water baptism is only symbolic of what is suppose to be happening in our hearts, "the answer of a good conscience toward God." 

Is water baptism necessary for salvation? Obviously not, as some received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost without having received any type of baptism by water. When Jesus said to go and baptise, was He speaking of water baptism or Baptism by the Holy Ghost? In the Scriptures we see at least one example of Baptism of the Holy Ghost taking priority to baptism by water. As Apostle Peter had the tendency to conform to the influence of the conservative Jerusalem church, I am of the opinion that water baptism is a left-over ritual from the time of John the Baptist and is not necessary for salvation or for receiving the Holy Ghost. 

"Jesus, himself baptised none, though His disciples did." John 4:2. Apostle Paul spoke plainly, "I came not to baptise, but to preach the gospel."  1 Corinthians 1:17. As far as Paul was concerned, water baptism was already causing division and he was glad he had only baptised a few. Paul was more interested in preaching the gospel which seems to indicate that water baptism was not part of the plan of salvation.