The Significance of Baptism

[548 words] Few religious groups in our world today teach the full significance of baptism as it pertains to salvation. There are many who teach that one is saved first and then, baptized. Several others say baptism is necessary as a command of God but fail to see the urgency of it, baptizing an individual a month or two later, when a group of candidates can be gathered, rather than immediately (Acts 16:33). The Bible plainly declares that baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21). Jesus placed salvation after baptism, not before (Mark 16:16). Phillip, Paul, and Peter recognized by inspiration that it matters what a man believes in his heart regarding the Gospel and the act of baptism for it to be valid (Acts 8:36-38; 19:2-5; Romans 6:1-7, 17; 1 Peter 3:21). However, it might be the case in our attempt to teach people the Gospel and in our eagerness…