The Baptist doctrine on baptism as expressed by Baptist preachers says, "Is baptism necessary for salvation? I dont beat about the bush about it at all. I come out with a plain, definite, NO! No, baptism doesnt save, doesnt help save, and Ill go even further to say that it doesnt have anything in this world to do with the saving of a soul!" (From "Good News," Mar. 2, 1972)

Baptists say, Baptism Doth Also Not Save US.

The Bible says, "Baptism Doth Also Now Save Us" (I Pet. 3:21).

The difference between the word of God and the word of men is one letter. Merely change the "w" to a "t" and you have altered the meaning, but you cannot truly change the word of the Lord. Regardless of Baptist teaching which says, "Baptism doesnt save," the Bible says, "baptism doth also now save us" (I Pet. 3:21).

If baptism "doesnt have anything in this world to do with the saving Of a soul, " then being a Baptist does not have anything to do with the saving of a soul, for it takes baptism to make or constitute one a Baptist. So, being a Baptist does not help save, "and Ill go even further to say that it doesnt have anything in this world to do with the saving of a soul!" "I dont beat about the bush about it at all."

Yes, Baptists are "plain" and "definite" when they say "baptism doesnt save." But the word of God, a rather plain and definite book, says "baptism doth also now save us." One is "commanded" to be baptized "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), and yet we are told that it "doesnt help save." Well, we are commanded to repent "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). I wonder if Baptists would say that repentance "doesnt help save?" Both baptism and repentance are commanded for the remission of sins. Would Baptists say that repentance "doesnt have anything in this world to do with the saving of a soul?" What is true of one is true of the other, and it is a poor rule that will not work both ways.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 37, p. 13
July 27, 1972