There are a lot of passages that seem to indicate that baptism is required for salvation. What do you think the role of baptism is in regards to being saved? (this question was actually several pages long, but for simplicity, I have paraphrased the question here).
The role of baptism certainly plays a significant role in Christianity and Judaism (called the “Mikvah”) before it. It is a great question for us to make sure that we are always giving this act of obedience the attention it deserves, and it is great to hear 
from someone passionate about it! In both settings, baptism is a clear representation of a serious change. It comes from the literal concept of dyeing… and indicates that the very fabric has changed colors.
Once a piece of cloth is baptized, it is not a red cloth colored white, it is a white cloth! What a beautiful picture of the change that a conversion creates. The teachings of the New Testament certainly show how important it is.
For example, baptism is recognized as a form of testimony alongside that of the Spirit! (John 5:7-9 “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.” (NASU)
It is commanded by Ananias to Paul with definite urgency! Paul’s acts of purification as a Pharisee before were not sufficient, from Ananias’ opinion. Acts 22:16 “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (NASU)
Baptism is connected to salvation strongly. For example, some of the passages you referenced: Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21, Col 2:12, Rom 6:4, all connect the act of baptism to death and resurrection – but it doesn’t seem likely that Luke and Paul mean that being baptized is to literally die and be resurrected. 
Instead, it seems to me that these passages make more clear that baptism is meant to be a living parable of the death and resurrection we accept and look forward to while we follow the example of Christ. Paul says “consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11) Paul is creating that incredible picture of our commitment to death to ourselves, so that to really die would be gain, but to live is Christ. In fact, note that in 1 Peter 3:21, Peter, the passage makes clear that he is not talking about literal washing, but the making clean the conscience before God. This passage seems to make abundantly clear that salvation does not come from physical baptism.
So, it seems to me that the question is not whether baptism is intimately connected to salvation (it is), but whether one is saved without it, or at least, before it, so let’s examine some of these other passages as well. In the full question you sent, you referenced Mark 16.
I have never heard anyone before reference Mark 16:15-16 as the “Great Commission.” It is pretty universally considered to be Matt 28:18-20, which reads:
“All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Mt. 28:18-20 ASV).
Again, the importance of baptism is clear, but is it the source of salvation? The Mark passage certainly makes it sound so, doesn’t it? However, there is a problem. Take a look in your Bible and you will probably note a little script at the beginning of Mark 16:8 a note that says that the oldest versions of Mark that we have do not include verses 9- the end of the chapter. Do some research on this, I think you will find it fascinating. In short, though, this passage in Mark is thus considered “suspicious” as to whether Mark actually wrote it and may actually not a part of the original text. (It also includes the passages about handling serpents and drinking poison.)
As the Matt 28 verses area great example of, however; there is no doubt that baptism is intimately connected throughout scripture to salvation. As mentioned, the imagery, in fact, predates Christianity itself! The Jewish people used baptism to indicate a number of different things, from purification to conversion, as did the first Christians.
In fact, the repentance for and purification from the stain of sin seems the one of the most common picture used (Matt 3:11″As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Acts 2:38 “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Titus 3:5-7 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
1 Cor 6:11 “…Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (NASU))
I personally also think the John 3 passage about being baptized by spirit and water fits best into this last idea.
So, if the passages that connect baptism to salvation do not clearly teach the baptism is the/a source of salvation, then what is clearly taught about it/ You mentioned the verse in Roman 10:13 which says “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” In his letter to the Romans, Paul quoted these verses from the Old Testament (Joel 2:28-32) Peter also quoted the same verse from Joel in Acts 2:21 but went on in Acts 2:38 to state “repent and be baptized, everyone of you, for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
However, Paul had already discussed the role of baptism in Chapter 6 of this same letter saying that those who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death. He discussed in those verses how baptism symbolizes our death, burial and resurrection into a new life.
To me, it seems that Paul is finishing a thought that connects chapters 1-10 of Romans, which is a progressive book. Death, slavery, pottery, etc. are all pictures of one thing… salvation is in Christ, not us… so the only way to be saved is to call on Him. He saves us… period. Chapter 10 makes this case pretty strongly! Salvation is of the Lord… period. Confess, believe, call on (which are really the same things too). In fact, I think that is really the issue between those who put baptism in different places in regards to salvation.
To teach baptism as a requirement for salvation puts it on the timeline before salvation. In other words, one’s baptism would cause one to be saved – it predates salvation in the individual’s life. How would this be possible, since baptism is an act of obedience? Why would someone be baptized into something they do not believe?
And as mentioned before, it is a part of the Great Commission of Christ to His followers – to “make disciples, baptizing them…” To fail to take baptism seriously , or to treat it as anything other than a act of obedience would be a wrong.
At the same time, I would ask that you examine these verses and their surrounding passages:
John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
Rom 10:8-10 “But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart” — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Gal 3:22-23 “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.” (NASU) and of course, Eph 2, which makes it clear that salvation is not of works.
Is salvation a free gift to be accepted, or is it payment due when my baptism is complete?
Have I earned my salvation by being baptized?
Have I failed to earn it by not being baptized? Eph 2, and these other passages make it clear that salvation comes from belief alone (on our part) and there is no need to add anything else. Is obedience, and thus baptism, a fruit produced on the tree of salvation?
Absolutely.
As surely as peace, love, and repentance are, so is baptism. Is it a requirement? 
Apparently not for the thief on the cross, who did just what Paul later said: he “called upon the name of the Lord.”
John 6:28-29
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (NASU)
Great question – I hope you enjoy this analysis – I had fun working on it.
Your brother,
Chris Legg
The Holy Spirit was a promise that happend twice Acts 2:1-4, acts 10:43 please indicate where it has happend again
Check out 1 Cor 12:13 and Eph 1:13-14 was the “sealed” concept that I was referring to.
As is plainly obvious that faith is required for one to be saved. This topic often pits one church group against another about deciding who is saved and who is not, Thus leading to the arguements of my scriptures against your scriptures with each side feeling justified to say, “I am saved, and your theology is faulty or incomplete.” As you read through the Bible is there any place that identifies where a person receives the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus? The only one I can identify is Acts 2:38 where Peter states, “repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” NASB. There are lots of passages that suggest that by believing your will be saved, but there is no where saying that by believing, repenting only, confessing, obeying, etc. will one receive the Holy Spirit. Is it possible to be saved and not have the Holy Spirit? Possibly, but to have the Holy Spirit baptism is the course to follow.
intriguing perspective, John. I believe that every believer is “sealed” with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13 and 4:30 are examples of this concept)… There are those that believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second baptism, for example, totally separate from water baptism. However, to fully experience the Christian life, baptism is a must; in this I would agree. Necessary for salvation? I would say no. Thanks for the comments!
The thief on the cross was PRIOR to Jesus’ death burial and resurrection, hence baptism as we know it would have none effect. One cannot be baptised into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection if Christ has not died. [Those baptised unto repentance by John the Baptist were re-immersed after Jesus death and resurrection it might also be noted]
There is not one single example of conversion given in the Bible where the individual was not baptised [immersed]. Acts 2:38 , Mark 16:16, 1Peter 3:21 etc all make it abundantly clear that baptism is necessary for salvation. I simply cannot understand why the question continues to be asked by those apparently somewhat conversant with the Bible and the obvious answer resisted so diligently by so many.
So, let me make sure I understand… you would say that before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, salvation came from what?
After the death, burial and resurrection, salvation comes through baptism, plus what else?
Dear Chris Legg: hopefully the following scriptures will help to clear up your faulty reasoning: Your thief on the cross reference is nullified by the following scripture Mark 2:10-But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man…During Jesus earthly ministry he had the authority to forgive sins. Now sense he no longer physically walked the Earth the gospel now save us Romans 1:16. No one is arguing that Christ is the source of salvation the question becomes How Does He Save us? I would Encourage you to study the following scriptures: Hebrews 5:9-Which states ” and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who Obey Him. Also do you know what Paul definition of saving faith is Read: Romans 1:5-Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the Obedience that comes from Faith for his name’s sake.Paul’s mission was to persuade Gentiles to trust and obey Christ for salvation you attempt to divide the two which was foreign to James,Peter, and Paul: 1 Peter 1:22-Have purified your souls in Obeying the Truth through the spirit, Romans 6:17-God be thanked that you were the servants of sin but have Obeyed from the Heart that form of doctrine that was delivered unto you..James 2:19-26,
, Romans 16:25-26-but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith–. In conclusion Eph. 2:8-We are saved by grace through faith. But what you have failed to reason is That Grace also teaches us what to do be save (Titus 2:11-12)..Next trusting obedience to the message (Romans 10:17, John 6:44-45)… Also read John 8:30-32 and see if christ consider one a disciple of his by mere belief…He says if we continue is his words then are we his disciples…John 14:15-If ye love me keep my commandments..An Chris that means all of what he has commanded not the ones we choose…
actually, I do not think that the passage you reference in Mark answers the issue. Of course, Christ had the power to forgive sin – since He was and is God. He still does. He always did. If He had the power to forgive sins while on Earth and while on the Cross, then He certainly does even (read “especially”) if He is seated at the Right Hand of God the Father…
Your question of the atonement of Christ – the passage you mention in Hebrews certainly applies… as do many others (Eph 2, John 3, Romans chapters 3-10, especially 10 and more.) It is by Grace we are saved… In John 6:28, the people ask what the work of God is… and Jesus answers that belief is that work. Ephesians 2 could not make it more clear – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
“Not of your own doing.” “not a result of works.”
But the Titus passage tells us what the salvation trains us to – so that training in the result of salvation – not what causes it. If salvation comes from works, then Eph 2 is error. Sorry, no matter what comes after, if salvation is from works… any works, then the passage “not a result of works” is an error, and since that is not tenable, the proper interpretation must start there.
10:17 is a key verse – but it is in reference to verse 13 – “those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” No works there, either.
I am confused by the John 8 reference:
“As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
The Truth Will Set You Free
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
unless you are under the impression that disciple and believer are the same thing? That would be a misunderstanding of the Jewish concept of a disciple.
I agree that as His follower, that I would obey His commandments. It seems to me that you are saying that a lost person would need to obey His commandments to be saved. That seems to me like absurd thinking. There is no way a lost person would obey Jesus commandments in order to become saved. Only a saved person, empowered by the Spirit would obey.
Thanks for your input Germaine – I pray that God will richly bless you!
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Jn 8:30–32). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Eph 2:8–9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
I noticed that you did not deal with the scriptures found in Romans 1:5, 16:25-26, Romans 6:16-18, 1 Peter 1:22-23,
i wrote a lengthy response to this, but it didn’t post for some reason. However, since I believe that a careful reading of all 4 of these passages actually are powerful arguments for the fact that salvation is a free gift, and that all acts of salvation must follow belief… just like acts of marriage follow getting married… I do not really need to type it out again. Anyone is free to read them and enjoy. I appreciate the lively debate, Germaine. May God bless!
Also in regards to how one calls on the name of The Lord read Acts 22:16, then noticed acts 2:21-47, that The Lord added them to the church once they obeyed the words of Peter acts 2:38-47..we call on the name of The Lord when we comply fully to his will …Paul as well as Peter taught they it is an obedient that saves
your hermeneutic needs work –
there are numerous New Test. passages with this phrase (Rom 10:12, 10:14, 2 tim 2:22, 1 Peter 1:17 to name a few)… but you cannot cut and paste phrases and use them interchangeably like this. So, I do not believe that you “fully comply with His will”. Do you make that claim? You don’t ever sin, you give thanks in all things, you flee alls sexual immorality, you always take care of widows and orphans?
If not, then you have not called upon the name of the Lord? You do not get to define a term like that, I am sorry. You are adding to the scripture to use that phrase… and it is a perverse definition at that – calling on someone’s name is obviously not the same thing as “complying fully” to their will. Sorry, my friend.
Also in regards to works the context of that is that no man I saved by the works of the law of Moses and good works that we do apart from the gospel look closely at Romans 3:19-23.. The context of Ephesians is that the Jews sought salvation through the law and good works but apart from the gospel actually we are actually condemned for not obeying the gospel 2 thess. 1:8-10..Paul never states that salvation is not to trusting obedience to the a Gospel not the law of Moses
sorry, but what Paul says is that it is we are saved by faith in His grace… Not of works. (the passage does not say “not of the law”) and the context in Eph is not about the law of Moses in particular.
You do understand that “gospel” just means “good news”. To not respond to the Good news certainly condemns someone, it seems… those who “do not know God.” In this passage Paul is talking of those who are persecuting believers. They do not know God and they disobey the good news. Notice verse 10? “when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”
Again… “believed.” Everything else follows that. Why would I get baptized in the name of someone I do not believe in? Why would I repent and turn to someone I do not believe in?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (2 Th 1:10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
That was fine. A very excellent analysis! I will add one thing, If I may?
The Jews had rejected the Messiah, but after Peter’s inspired preaching, were cut to the heart, and realized their mistake. The act of mikvah was a humiliating act, and was a show of humility before man and God.
Baptism today is the same. We humiliate ourselves, giving up our past power struggle with God, and letting him take over. We publicly acknowledge his supreme reign over us. We also give testimony (by word and act) of our faith. That is a powerful thing.
Thanks for your study! Awesome stuff.