Is baptism important? Many in the religious world suggest it carries very little value at all. They see it as a nice religious symbol, but no one has to actually undergo it to be saved. Many in our fellowship seem to be arriving at this conclusion, too.

Garfield Todd, a missionary to southern Africa in the 1930s used to refer to those who did not believe in baptism as “dry clean Christians.” I love the image of a hardworking man arriving home from the farm or factory, sweating and soot covered getting out the vacuum cleaner and “dry cleaning” himself under the arms, on the back and so on.

The presence of water would be excellent at this point!

As Ananias instructed Saul: “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16, ESV). The connection between physical washing and spiritual seemed apparent to Ananias.

F.F. Bruce, well known New Testament scholar in his commentary on Acts of the Apostles, dryly observed on Acts 2:38: “The idea of an unbaptized believer does not seem to be entertained in the New Testament” (page 70).

Peter thought baptism was important. He declared that baptism “saves” us (1 Peter 3:21). That is why he responded to the Pentecost crowd that forgiveness of sins – something they desired powerfully – was available through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).

It seems the unbaptized believer does not stay that way long; he very quickly acts on his belief, and is baptized. The unbaptized believer is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms.

Some respond, “I wish you would include a person’s belief or repentance, or the grace of God in your teaching.” Dear friend, I am not the one who is leaving out qualities needed for salvation. I believe in them all – faith, grace, repentance, the willingness to live faithfully till death (Revelation 2:10). I’m not leaving these things out. The real question is this:

Why would you include all these but discount baptism?

If you need to appreciate the importance of baptism, just think of the opposite of the promises offered in Scripture from baptism:

• If one does not repent and be baptized, one will not receive the forgiveness of sins and the Spirit as a gift (Acts 2:38).

• If one is not baptized, his sins are not washed away (Acts 22:16).

• If one is not baptized, he rises to live the same old desperate, sinful life (Romans 6:3,4).

• If one is not baptized, he is not saved (1 Peter 3:21).

The stakes are high. If you have not been baptized into Christ, why not? Why not now?

— by Stan Mitchell