"MEN and brethren, what shall we do?" is the question that the people asked. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost," was Peter’s answer. Acts 2:37, 38.
Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matt. 28:19. Thus we find the disciples obeying their Master’s command.
As Paul journeyed and came near Damascus, he was converted. "And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise,6and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Acts 9:6. Paul said, "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." So he went to Damascus. And one Ananias, after telling Paul that he should see that Just One, and be a witness unto all men, said, "Why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts 22:16. Now, some teach that if you are converted, you need not be buried with Christ in baptism, but here we find Ananias commanding Paul to be baptized and wash away his sins, after he was converted.
Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Ans.—"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us." 1 Peter 3:21.
Then you will ask how the thief on the cross was saved. God has power to make exceptions. How do we know this? The Word says, "It is appointed unto men once to die" (Heb. 9:27), "For the living know that they shall die" (Eccl. 9:5). Yet we read that Enoch and Elijah did not die, but were translated. Thus we know that the Lord does make exceptions. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16), and, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
When must I be baptized?
"The eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." Acts 8:36, 37. If you repent, and believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, no one has a right to forbid water that you should be baptized.
But do you not see that an infant who can not understand the Word of God can not believe? For "how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" Rom. 10:14. So a person can not lawfully be baptized until he or she is able to receive the Word. Paul tells us that no man is crowned except he strive lawfully. 2 Tim. 2:5.
How must I be baptized?
"Buried with him in baptism" (Col. 2:12), not sprinkled. Our hearts are sprinkled from an evil conscience, but our bodies must be washed with pure water. Heb. 10:22. Webster tells us that the word "buried" means "deposited in the earth or a grave." Did you ever see a dead person buried in the earth or water? But you will say, We are not dead. Well, if we are not dead with Christ, we shall not live with him. The Scripture says, "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him." 2 Tim. 2:11. So true Christians are crucified unto the world (Gal. 6:14), "dead to sin" (Rom. 6:2), buried with Christ "by baptism into death" (Rom. 6:4); "but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:11). Can you say that you have obeyed from the heart this form of doctrine? Rom. 6:17. So remember that "there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one." 1 John 5:8.
When you are baptized, be sure that you go down "into the water." Acts 8:38. And see that you are "buried with him [Christ] in baptism." Col. 2:12. And when you come up "out of the water" (Matt. 3:16), be sure that you "receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38), and "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). For it is written, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. 8:9.
Jesus told his followers, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matt. 28:19. The one baptized must be willing; for "they that gladly received his word were baptized." Acts 2:41.
My last plea is, "O generation, see ye the Word of the Lord." Settle it therefore in your hearts to obey it, and not the words of men, who have defiled the earth and the inhabitants thereof; "because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." Isa. 24:5.