Is water baptism necessary?
What is the role of baptism in salvation? You will see many different answers on this question depending on what denomination is providing the answer. First we will take a look at what Jesus said about baptism followed by the catechism of the Catholic Church. Jesus stated himself that baptism was necessary in the Gospel of mark. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:16”Jesus also mentions water baptism in the Gospel of John. “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. - John 3:5”
Jesus gives two very direct statements on the necessity of baptism for salvation in both verses provided above. In the verse from John he doubles down by saying “Truly, truly, I say to you”. Anytime Jesus uses this phrase before stating something it means it is of the highest importance and truth. Jesus is telling us that this is an extremely important truth that we must be born of water and the spirit to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus is doubling down on that water baptism is necessary for salvation or I believe the he wouldn’t have used Truly, truly and born of water together.
The account of Jesus’s baptism shows us that once he was baptized in water the Holy Spirit descended upon him. “and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” - Luke 3:22
This is a foretelling that we need to be baptized for salvation and to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus showed us the way when he was baptized. St. Peter also claimed that you needed to be baptized to receive the Holy Spirit. “And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:38”
Let’s take a look at what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about baptism.
“The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the Spirit.” God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments. CCC 1257”
The Catechism is very clear on that baptism is necessary for those that have heard the Gospel and have the possibility to be baptized. I’ve been asked can you have salvation without baptism and the answer is yes depending on certain circumstances. This is not a contradiction of teaching by any means due to the Catechism teaching that if you’ve heard the Gospel and having the possibility of being baptized. Now if you just willingly do not get baptized but have the means to and have heard the Gospel then you do not fall in this category of salvation outside of baptism. The Catechism speaks on salvation outside of baptism.
“This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation. - CCC 847
Below is a few quotes from the early Church Fathers on baptism.
“If any man receive not Baptism, he has not salvation; except only Martyrs, who even without the water receive the kingdom. For when the savior, in redeeming the world by His Cross, was pierced in the side, He shed forth blood and water; that men, living in times of peace, might be baptized in water, and, in times of persecution, in their own blood. For martyrdom also the Saviour is wont to call a baptism, saying, Can you drink the cup which I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized withmark 10:38. - St Cyril of Jerusalem [catechetical lectures 3:10 (A.D 350)]
“apostolic tradition, by which the Churches of Christ maintain it to be an inherent principle, that without baptism and partaking of the supper of the Lord it is impossible for any man to attain either to the kingdom of God or to salvation and everlasting life? So much also does Scripture testify,” - St. Augustine of Hippo [The Merits and the Forgiveness of Sins, and the Baptism of Infants 1:24:34 (A.D. 412)]
“And because of the transgression of the first man, the whole stock of the human race was tainted; no one can be set free from the state of the old Adam save through Christ’s sacrament of baptism, in which there are no distinctions between the reborn, as the apostle [Paul] says, ‘For as many of you as were baptized in Christ did put on Christ; there is neither Jew nor Greek . . . ’ - Pope Leo 1 [Gal. 3:27–28]” (Letters 15:10[11] [A.D. 445]).
“From that time at which our Savior said, ‘If anyone is not reborn of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:5], no one can, without the sacrament of baptism, except those who, in the Catholic Church, without baptism, pour out their blood for Christ, receive the kingdom of heaven and life eternal” - Fulgentius of Ruspe (The Rule of Faith 43 [A.D. 524]).
