Why Baptism Is Necessary According to Scripture

Baptism has been a subject of a lot of discussion among sincere believers. Some see it as simply a symbol of faith, while others understand it as being an essential part of responding to the gospel. But have you ever asked, “What does Scripture actually teach?” When we carefully look at God’s Word, we see baptism isn’t just a ceremony or an optional outward expression—it’s an act of obedient faith through which God works to unite us with Christ.

Let’s start with what baptism is. The word itself comes from the Greek term baptízō, meaning to immerse, to dip, to submerge. It was used in everyday Greek to describe plunging something completely under water—like a cloth being dipped into dye. That’s why, in Scripture, baptism is always described as an immersion, not a sprinkling or mere symbolic act. Paul explains that baptism represents a burial and resurrection: “We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead... even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). So, baptism, then, is not only a picture of the gospel—it’s where we participate in it.

Why It Matters

Jesus Himself made baptism a command—not a suggestion. In the Great Commission, He told His apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...” (Matthew 28:19). In Mark’s account, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Notice the order:  belief and baptism go hand in hand. The early church took this seriously. On the day of Pentecost, when the crowd asked Peter what they must do, he replied, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). That’s about as clear as Scripture can get.

Baptism is also where we put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” It’s the moment of transition from being in sin to being in Christ. Peter, too, draws the connection plainly:  “Baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but the appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism isn’t about physical water—it’s about a spiritual transaction between the believer and God.

Common Misunderstandings

Some very well-meaning people argue that baptism can’t be necessary because salvation is “by faith alone.” And that’s true—salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). But genuine faith is always active—it responds in obedience. Just as Noah’s faith led him to build the ark (Hebrews 11:7) and Abraham’s faith led him to obey God’s command (James 2:21–24), saving faith leads us to obey Christ’s command to be baptized. Baptism doesn’t earn salvation—it’s how faith submits to the grace God offers.

Others say the thief on the cross proves baptism isn’t necessary. But that man lived and died before Jesus’ death and resurrection, under the old covenant. The gospel’s baptism (into Christ’s death and resurrection) hadn’t yet been established. After the resurrection, though, every conversion in recorded in Acts includes baptism—and it is never as an afterthought, but as the expected, immediate response to the gospel (see Acts 8:35–38; 9:18; 10:47–48; 16:31–33; 22:16).

The Heart of It All

Ultimately, baptism is about surrender. It’s where faith meets grace. It’s not just going through water—it’s being united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. To minimize baptism is to misunderstand how God has chosen to apply His saving work to our lives.

When Priscilla and Aquila found Apollos preaching accurately about Jesus but knowing “only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25–26), they lovingly explained “the way of God more accurately.” Many believers today, like Apollos, are sincere and passionate but may not have been taught the full picture. The good news is that God’s Word makes it beautifully clear:  baptism is not a ritual—it’s a moment of obedient faith where we die to sin and rise to new life in Christ.

But Wait . . . What About the Sinner’s Prayer?

Many sincere people today have been taught to “pray Jesus into their heart” or to “say the sinner’s prayer” to be saved. While this practice is common in modern evangelical culture, it does not appear in Scripture—not even once. There is no command to pray a salvation prayer, no example of anyone doing so, and no passage that teaches salvation comes by praying a specific prayer. 

What we do see in Scripture is a consistent pattern of how people responded to the gospel:  

• They heard the message (Romans 10:17). They believed it (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12).

• They repented (Acts 2:38; 17:30).

• They confessed Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9–10; Acts 8:37).

• They were baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:36–38; 22:16; Galatians 3:27).

This is the pattern repeated over and over in the book of Acts. Not once do we see an apostle telling someone, “Repeat after me” or “Invite Jesus into your heart.”

Where Did the Idea Come From?

The sinner’s prayer arose in the last few centuries as part of revival movements. Well-intentioned preachers wanted a simple, immediate way for people to respond emotionally to a sermon. Over time, the prayer became seen by many as the way to receive salvation—despite having no biblical foundation.

But Doesn't Romans 10:9–13 Teach a Salvation Prayer?

Some point to Romans 10:9–13, especially “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” as support for the sinner’s prayer. But in Scripture, “calling on the Lord’s name” is not praying a formula—it means appealing to God in faithful obedience. That’s exactly how Ananias explained it to Saul:  “And now why do you wait? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16)

Paul called on the Lord’s name by submitting to baptism—not by saying a prayer.

What Does the Bible Actually Teach About Becoming a Christian?

Every conversion in Acts includes baptism at the moment a person’s sins are forgiven. The early Christians took Jesus’ words seriously:  “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)  

The sinner’s prayer, by contrast, is never mentioned.

A Kind and Honest Conclusion

Many people who have said a sinner’s prayer were acting out of sincere hearts, wanting desperately to follow Jesus. Their sincerity should be honored, not attacked. But like Apollos in Acts 18, many believers simply haven’t been taught “the way of God more accurately.”

The Scripture’s message is simple, beautiful, and consistent:  We are saved by God’s grace through obedient faith—not by reciting a prayer.

Blood, Sweat, and Wood: The Gospel in Three Simple Things

If you are like me, sometimes, while reading the Bible, something small and unexpected grabs your attention. It’s not what I was looking for—but it won’t let go of me. That’s how I recently stumbled into noticing three surprisingly ordinary things that appear again and again in Scripture:  blood, sweat, and wood.

Together, they sound like the stuff of hard labor or maybe the name of a 70s rock band. But in the story of God, these three—blood, sweat, and wood—are not just physical materials or signs of hardship. They are sacred symbols, woven throughout the Bible, revealing the depth of God’s love and the shape of our salvation.

Blood:  The Price of Forgiveness

Blood is a recurring theme in the Bible because it represents life—and the high cost of sin.

From the earliest chapters of Genesis, blood was tied to sacrifice. After Adam and Eve sinned, God clothed them with animal skins (Genesis 3:21)—implying the first death, the first shedding of blood, to cover their shame. Later, the entire system of worship in Israel was built around animal sacrifices, offered to atone for sin (Leviticus 17:11). 

The message was clear:  sin leads to death, and forgiveness requires life to be given.

But those sacrifices were never meant to be permanent. They pointed to something greater.

The New Testament tells us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). And yet it also proclaims something remarkable:  “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).

Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), shed His blood once—for all. His blood didn't just cover sin for a time—it cleansed it completely.

Sweat:  The Cost of Obedience

Sweat first appears in Scripture as a consequence of sin. In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food…”—a reminder that life in a fallen world would be marked by struggle, pain, and toil.

Sweat is the sign of effort—of real work and deep wrestling. That’s why it's so powerful to remember that Jesus Himself sweat in the moments before the cross.

In the garden of Gethsemane, as He prayed with intensity and anguish, Luke tells us: “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44). The weight of the world’s sin wasn’t just physical; it was emotional, spiritual, crushing. And still, Jesus surrendered to the will of the Father:  “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Obedience, even for Jesus, came at a cost. And that reminds us: if you’re struggling to trust God or follow Him faithfully, you’re not alone. Jesus knows what it means to sweat under pressure, to pray in tears, to obey when it hurts. And He did it—for you.

Wood:  The Ordinary Made Holy

The Bible is full of meaningful symbols, but none are more unexpectedly sacred than wood.

God used wood to build Noah’s ark (Genesis 6:14), which became a vessel of salvation. He used Moses’ wooden staff to perform wonders, part the sea, and lead a nation (Exodus 4:2–4, Exodus 14:16). The Ark of the Covenant, built from acacia wood (Exodus 25:10), was the very place where God’s presence dwelled.

And ultimately, the cross—the most recognizable symbol of Christian faith—was made of two rough beams of wood. Not gold. Not stone. Just ordinary timber, splintered and stained.

That wood, lifted high on a hill, held the body of Jesus as He bore the weight of the world’s sin (1 Peter 2:24). What was once a symbol of torture became a symbol of triumph.

In God’s hands, even wood becomes holy.

An Extraordinary Message in Ordinary Things

Blood - Sweat - Wood - three simple, tangible things we might overlook in daily life. And yet, together, they carry the entire story of our salvation:

• Blood shows us the depth of God’s mercy.

• Sweat reveals the pain and perseverance of obedience.

• Wood becomes the altar where love and justice meet.

It’s no wonder that Jesus chose ordinary bread and wine—common elements—to represent His body and blood. He takes the simple and makes it sacred. He enters our world of blood, sweat, and wood—and redeems it with His love.

So the next time you come to the Lord’s table, or you find yourself sweating through a hard day, or you look at something plain and wooden—remember:  God is still in the business of transforming the ordinary into something eternal.