Various folks have much to say regarding baptism and the church. “Your church places a lot of emphasis on baptism.” “Your preacher seems to be saying baptism is essential to be saved.” “People don’t have to be in the church to be saved.” “I want Jesus but I don’t want anything to do with a church or organized religion.” Let’s consider for a moment how baptism and the church relate to one another.
In the New Testament, the Lord’s church is also called His kingdom. “…I will build My church…And I will give you the keys of the kingdom” (Matt. 16:18-19). Could one be saved without being in the kingdom of God (a.k.a. the church)?
In the New Testament, the Lord’s church is also called His family—“…the house of God, which is the church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15). Could one be saved without being in the family of God (a.k.a. the church)?
In the New Testament, the Lord’s church is also called His body. “He is the head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18). Could one be saved without being in the body of Christ (a.k.a. the church)?
In the New Testament, the Lord’s church is tied to the blood of Christ—“…the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Could one be saved without the blood of Christ (which purchased the church)?
In the New Testament, the Lord’s church is in Christ, wherein are all spiritual blessings. The Lord “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:3, 7). Could one be saved without being in Christ (wherein are all spiritual blessings, including forgiveness)?
Pull all of that together and you find, for those who claim the church is not essential to salvation, that to dismiss the Lord’s church is to dismiss His kingdom, family, body, blood and blessings. Think you can still be saved without the church?
Now, how does that relate to baptism? There is amazing uniformity to that answer. To get into His kingdom, one must be baptized (John 3:3-5). To get into His family, one must be baptized (Gal. 3:26-27). To get into His body, one must be baptized (1 Cor. 12:13). To get into Christ, one must be baptized (Gal. 3:27). To obtain the benefits of His blood, one must be baptized (Rom. 6:3-6; cf. Jn. 19:34). To get into His church, one must be baptized (Acts 2:38-47). God’s Word harmonizes every time!
Isn’t it marvelous how God takes two matters (the church and baptism), over which there is tremendous dispute and disagreement, and inextricably ties them together emphasizing the essentiality of both of them for one’s salvation!