The New Testament teaches that the penitent believer must be baptized for the remission of sins.

I am happy for the opportunity to participate in this discussion of salvation, and specifically, the necessity of baptism. In the article which follows, it is my responsibility to provide Scriptural proof for my proposition. PROPOSITION: The New Testament Scriptures teach that the penitent believer must be baptized in water for the remission of sins to be saved.[1] To be sure we are understanding one another, it is ideal to define the terms and phrases introduced in the proposition: New Testament Scriptures - the 27 Bible books commonly known as the New Testament; Teach - provide instruction to be followed; Penitent believer - one who has both established faith in Christ as the Son of God and has a change of heart leading to the reformation of life; Must be - it is absolutely essential; Baptized in water - fully immersed in water; For the remission of sins - in order to have sins forgiven; To be saved - to have deliverance in Christ Jesus, and thus the hope of heaven. Since we are dealing with the salvation of souls, we must consider carefully the word of God in an orderly fashion with both sincerity and sobriety. The aim of this written exchange is not to exalt or degrade either man involved, but to seek with an honest and sincere heart the will of God, and to conform to it. Thus, may both Buckethead31594 and I, along with the readers of this debate lay aside any preconceived doctrinal prejudices, and wholly rely upon the word of God. Let us now turn our attention to the Scriptures.Mark 16-15-16 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ESVThe context demonstrates and clearly shows that baptism is essnetial to salvation. But of course that does not negate faith being a part of a person's salvation fro the context says "He that believeth and is baptized sahll be saved". Equally important, for Jesus used the conjunction "and" to bind these two prerequisites for salvation together. Let’s look again at the structure of this verse in a way we can more easily relate to. The following illustration is viewed in light of the horrific September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center: “He that goes down the stairs and leaves the building will be saved, but he that does not go down the stairs will be killed.” Relate this to: “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that does not believe shall be condemned.“ In each case, there are two conditions that must be met in order to be saved: 1.) Going down the stairs (believing). 2.) Leaving the building (being baptized). The lack of fulfilling the second condition, leaving the building (or being baptized) has the exact same effect as not fulfilling the first condition, going down the stairs (or believing). That is why not being baptized is equated as not believing. Only fulfilling part of the equation is equated as fulfilling none of the equation. It is an all or nothing proposition.[2]Acts 2:38-41, 47Acts 2:38: And Peter said them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" ESV Peter tells them to repent, each and every one of them. He tells them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Some translations actually render this --so that your sins will be forgiven. He tells them this is for every one of them. He tells them that if they do this they will receive the Holy Spirit. He tells them this is a promise of God. He tells them this promise of God is for them. He tells them this promise of God is for their children as well (meaning it is for all generations). Peter tells them very clearly and carefully this promise is not just for them, but for all that are far off—this is God’s plan of salvation for everyone for all generations everywhere, for all time. (This applies to ustoday. God’s salvation plan is still the same for us today as it was when Peter spoke these words to this crowd. It has not changed.) For further emphasis he tells them this promise of God is for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him. Peter continues with many other words and urges them to heed his words and to save themselves from this evil generation (This statement of Peter confirms undeniably that he was speaking to people who were NOT saved). And those that accepted his words were baptized and about 3,000 souls were saved that day. This is God’s salvation plan in a nutshell. This is the new birth Jesus spoke of in John 3:5[3]Acts 22:16 "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." This verse, like Acts 2:38, again confirms that baptism is when our sins are washed away. Baptism is how we “call on the name of the Lord.” That is why when people are baptized the person who baptizes them proclaims aloud they are being baptized “into Jesus Christ” or “into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” We see in Acts 2:21,38 how closely the phrase “calling on the name of the Lord” is associated with baptism. This calling on the Lord (coupled with faith and repentance) is what distinguishes baptism from merely getting wet. Ananias spoke these words to Paul three days after Jesus struck down Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul had believed and acknowledged Jesus as Lord for three days at this point in time. If belief alone brought forgiveness, then his sins would have already been washed away. Let’s take a closer look at this situation: Here is Paul, who, after having persecuted the church of Christ, is confronted by none other than Jesus Christ Himself in his glorified state. Jesus tells Paul he will be told what he must do (Acts 22:11). Jesus did not tell him what it was he must do. No, Paul would be told by someone else what it is he must do. So while waiting for three days Paul: 1.) had faith and believed in Jesus as the Son of God 2.) fasted and prayed in repentance (Acts 9:9,11) 3.) Yet his sins were still counted against him (Paul is told, “…wash your sins away”) So for three days Paul was repenting and prayed. Do you think that just maybe, possibly, any of his prayers were asking God to forgive him? But when Ananias comes to him, Paul is told he still has sins that need to be washed away. This is indisputable Scriptural evidence that the “sinner’s prayer” is insufficient to save someone and we are NOT saved before baptism even if we have faith and repentance! Notice also, Paul is not told to “pray for Jesus to come into your life.” He is not led in a prayer requesting salvation. No, Paul is told to “be baptized!” And the reason he was told to “be baptized” was that his sins were still counted against him--and it is in baptism that they are washed away. [4] Due to the character limit i will just list down other verses that pertains to the essentiallity of baptismI. Pet. 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ESVColossians 2:12-13v.12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.v.13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, Roman 6:3-4v. 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? v.4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.Take note that "in Christ" Ephesians 1:7 - Forgiveness of sins is in Christ. * 2 Timothy 2:10 - Salvation is in Him. * 1 John 5:11,12 - Eternal life is in the Son * Ephesians 1:3 - All spiritual blessings are in Christ.Gal 3: 27 For as many of you as were baptized "into Christ" have put on Christ.I will list my sources next round.