The Bible Teaches That Water Baptism Is Necessary For Salvation

First of all, I want to apologize to my opponent for the delay of this debate. School has quite hindered me to begin this debate early. And now, that aside, I will know proceed to my first affirmative. Since we are dealing what the Bible teaches especially with the topic of salvation. I will present considerable scriptural proof that baptism is truly is essential to salvation. But first I just want to clear up that I don't believe that baptism alone saves. I will explain it as we go deeper in the debate. Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned"* I would like to direct the eyes of the readers to the word "saved" in the above text. What has Jesus placed before salvation? In this text we can see that believing as well as baptism is required to be saved. Jesus did not say, “He that believeth shall be saved" but "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved". Both belief and baptism are equally important, for Jesus used the conjunction "and" to bind these two prerequisites for salvation together. Here in my country, when going to school, we are often told by our teachers to wear our school uniform and I.D. otherwise we can't get in the gate. Thus it can be said, “He wears the school uniform and wears the school I.D. can get in; but he who does not wear the school uniform will stay outside the gate. If we show up without a school uniform, we will stay outside the gate (as stated in the last clause). If we show up without an I.D., we will be asked to leave (note, this is not expressly stated, nor does it need to be, since the positive statement in the sentence requires that we wear a tie). If we are to be seated in the restaurant, we must have both a jacket and a tie (which is the primary statement in the sentence). If we do not believe, He tells us,"...he who does not believe will be condemned."If we are not baptized, we will be condemned (note, this is not expressly stated, nor does it need to be, since the positive statement in the verse requires that we be baptized). If we are to be saved, we must both believe and be baptized (which is the primary statement in the verse). Acts 2:38 "... Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins..."* This verse, like any other verse in the New Testament that says baptism is essential to remove your sins, has been twisted, misstated and sometimes "hated". This verse tells us that repentance and baptism is required to receive remission of sins. Notice that Peter didn't say, “Repent for the remission of sins and then be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ". If Peter had meant that, he would have said that. Was Peter mistaken? If so, we must trash the entirety of Scripture, for he spoke as directed by the Spirit of God (2 Pet. 1:20-21), as did each Bible writer. Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."** The verse speaks for itself but notice that Ananias commands Paul be baptized to "wash away thy sins", so the assumption that Saul was saved at the Damascus road is disproven by this verse. If Saul(Paul) was saved when he was at the Damascus road, then, why did Ananias tell Paul to "wash away thy sins" if his sins were already gone. Why should we take an absurd stand? Romans 6:1-4 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."** If my knowledge of my opponent's doctrine is correct he believes that baptism "is just a sign of our salvation" meaning it's not required to wash away sins or be saved; it's jus a "sign". He could further elaborate later. Let me ask, when do you expect to be buried, when you are dead, or while you are still alive? It would be ludicrous to even consider being buried while we are alive. It is the dead who need to be buried, not the living. Likewise, we do not bury those who are alive in Christ, but rather those who are dead in sin. He died physically; we die to sin (Rom. 6:1-3). He was buried in a tomb; we are buried in the grave of baptism (Rom. 6:3-4). Coming forth from the grave, He conquered the power of death; arising from baptism, we are raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). But again notice, being baptized is being baptized into Christ. What is in/into 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. I think it's pretty clear what does this mean. Colossians 2:13 "having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead."* This verse conveys the same idea as to Rom. 6:1-4. But you can notice that baptism is an act of faith in the "working of God." If that is the case, then, baptism is not a work of righteousness or meritorious work but a work of God just like faith (John 6:29). Thus it does not contradict the idea of grace through faith spoken in Eph. 2:8. Gal 3:27 conveys the same idea of Col. 2:13. I 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"***Our spiritual salvation is a likeness or a figure of Noah's physical salvation. He was in danger of death (Genesis 6:13, 17); we are in danger of death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). He was saved by God (Genesis 7:16); we are saved by God (Titus 3:4-5). He was saved by grace (Genesis 6:8); we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). He was saved by faith (Hebrews 11:7); we are saved by faith (Romans 1:16). He was saved by obedience (Hebrews 11:7); we are saved by obedience (Romans 6:17). He was saved by water (1 Peter 3:20); we are saved by water (1 Peter 3:21). It is evident that our salvation is a like figure of Noah's. Conclusion Surely we are saved by baptism but not baptism alone. Faith is necessary to salvation. However, God has also plainly told us in His word that baptism is essential for the salvation of man's soul. Jesus said that the one who "...believes and is baptized will be saved..." (Mark 16:16). Peter commanded men to "...be baptized for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38). Ananias entreated Saul to "...be baptized, washing away your sins..." (Acts 22:16). Later, Paul wrote to the Romans that we were "...buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:1-4). This same Paul told the Colossians of the need to receive the"...circumcision of Christ..." wherein God cuts off "...the body of the sins of the flesh..."(Col. 2:11-12). And finally the apostle Peter stated outright, "...there is an antitype (like figure) which now saves us - baptism..." (I Pet. 3:21). Surely we have seen that the New Testament Scriptures teach that the penitent believer must be baptized in water for the remission of sins. *ASV (American Standard Version)**KJV (King James Version)***ESV (English Standard Version)