Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death..." So the need of the remission or removal of sins is readily seen. Acts 2:38 tells us that repentance and baptism are "unto the remission of sins." Does this mean that baptism is necessary to take away sin? We must know the answer!
Mark 16:16 says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." The Lord didn’t say, "He that believeth and is saved shall be baptized." Yet that is how many interpret the words of Jesus spoken here. The command of Jesus is so simple. What he said is so easy to understand. He promises salvation upon the fulfilling of two conditions, belief and baptism. If you told your child, "Do your chores and mind your manners and I’ll give you your allowance," would you still give him the money if he only minded his manners and left his chores alone? Of course not. He hasn’t fulfilled all the conditions you placed on receiving an allowance. We must fulfill all the conditions Jesus places on salvation if we expect to receive it.
This simple truth is often challenged by the statement, "But Jesus didn’t say we would be condemned if we weren’t baptized." That’s right, he didn’t. But does he really have to. If baptism is indeed a condition placed on salvation, then I ought to be able to see that not being baptized will condemn me. Why then did Jesus say what he did at the last, "...but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned?" The answer is simple. The Jews, the first receptacles of the gospel, were accustomed to going through the motions, worshiping with the body but without the heart. Jesus had already accused them, "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me." It is easy to conceive such people going through the motions with Jesus, submitting to the outward command of the law without obeying from the heart. So Jesus for emphasis repeats that condition which the Jews were likely to neglect.
I have a friend in Prescott. When I told him my phone number, I told him it was 1-602-898-3651. Then I reminded him for emphasis, "Don’t forget to dial the 1-602." Does that mean that all he has to do is dial the 1-602? Of course not. That is the one thing he is most likely to forget. That is the reason I repeated that number. Could he neglect the other part of the number? The way some reason on Mark 16:16 you would have to conclude that he could. But that is not right is it? Neither may we leave out the condition of baptism, a condition Jesus placed on salvation.
We may also find the answer to our question in Acts 2:38. In verse 36, Peter accuses the Jews of the sin of crucifying the Son of God. Their question in verse 37, "What shall we do?" was an inquiry as to what must be done to take away the guilt of that sin. Peter’s statement of verse 38 is their answer: "Repent and be baptized." His explanation of this command was that it filled the need of their sins being remitted. Who was the command to? "..every one of you..." Who’s command was this? "..in the name of Jesus Christ..." For what purpose? "..unto the remission of your sins." The word translated "unto" is eis, "to denote purpose, in order to, to...for forgiveness of sins, so that sins might be forgiven" ( Arndt & Gingrich Greek English Lexicon ).
Please consider also these passages. "...in whom we have our redemption..." ( in Jesus, Eph. 1:5-7 ). "There is therefore, no condemnation to them that are in Christ" (Rom. 8:1). "...in whom ( Jesus, dtb) we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins"( Col.1:13-14 ). "And in none other is there salvation..."(Acts 4:12). Remission of sins is only for those who are in Jesus. How does one get into Christ so that remission of sins can be his? "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"(Rom. 6:3). "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ" ( Galations 3:27 ). We are baptized into Christ where the remission of sins is, THEREFORE, BAPTISM IS FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.
The only question about baptism and the remission of sins that we have left is, "Have you been baptized for the remission of sins?" If not, please obey the Lord today. Hear his loving voice and receive that salvation he wants so much to give you. Be baptized unto the remission of sins today.