“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21 LSB). The scripture plainly states that ‘baptism saves us’. However, the scripture is contradicted by some well-known groups , preachers, and individuals, who claim that ‘baptism doesn’t save us’. According to the scriptures, how does baptism save us?
“Otherwise, what will they do who are being baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?”—- 1 Corinthians 15:29 NKJV
Based on the scripture above, Mormonism, the LDS Church, teaches that its members have an obligation to research their genealogy and get baptized for any of their deceased relatives who were never baptized in the Mormon Church. The problem with this multifold, primarily:
(1) The scripture is not translated accurately above. It should be translated as: “However, people are baptized because the dead will come back to life. What will they do? If the dead can’t come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can come back to life” ( 1 Corinthians 15:29 GWT). This verse makes the point that getting baptized makes no sense if there is no resurrection.
More importantly, what do we learn from the Bible?
“You must therefore go and make disciples of people of all nations my disciples. You must baptize them.” (Matthew 28:19 Barclay) People would have to become disciples of Christ prior to qualifying for baptism. A disciple is a taught one, a believer, a follower, in this case, of Jesus Christ.
What does becoming a disciple involve according to the Bible? A number of things that infants and small children are incapable of doing. These include:
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3 NAB)
Come to know God and Jesus, developing a relationship with them.
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.” (Acts 3:19,20 NLT)