Is Baptism Essential To Obedience but Not Essential To
Salvation?
The Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual affirms, “Baptism
may not be essential to salvation, but it is essential to
obedience.” In glaring contrast to the first part of this
statement, Peter plainly said, “Baptism doth also now save us”
(I Pet. 3:21). Peter did not say, as the Baptist Manual
states, “Baptism doth also not now save us.” Either baptism
is essential to salvation or it is not. The Bible says it is.
Now, who will you believe – Baptist doctrine or Bible doctrine?
It is incredible to say the least that the above statement
says baptism “is essential to obedience.” How is it that
something can be said to be “essential to obedience” and be
said to be “not essential to salvation?” Heb. 5:9 declares,
“And being made perfect, he (Christ) became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him;” This verse plainly and
emphatically declares that obedience is essential to
salvation. So, the Baptist Manual plainly contradicts the
Bible. Since baptism is essential to obedience, it is
therefore also essential to salvation. How can it be
otherwise? How can one disobey God’s commands and still
be saved?
The Baptist Manual also teaches that baptism is
essential to church membership. It states, “A person may be
admitted to the church on a profession of faith in Christ, by
baptism.” It further states that one is voted into church
membership in order to be “received as a member, on being
baptized.” So, baptism is not essential to salvation, but it is
essential to becoming a member of the Baptist church. Since
baptism is seen to be essential for one’s admittance into the
Baptist Church, but not essential to salvation, it is logically
deduced from the Manual itself that it is easier to get into
heaven that it is to get into the Baptist Church! Why not
just stick with the Bible, for you know you can’t go wrong
when you do? Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark
16:16).