People often ask me, “Do you believe that baptism is essential for salvation?” And I don’t hesitate with my answer. I say, Yes—I believe that’s what the New Testament teaches.
But then, more questions come.
“So you believe in water regeneration?”
No, sir.
“But you believe that a person must be immersed in water before their sins are washed away?”
Yes, I do.
“Well then, you must believe that the power to cleanse sin is in the water?”
Not at all.
You see, there’s a fundamental misunderstanding that often clouds these conversations. It all comes down to this important distinction: when a person is saved and what saves a person are two very different questions.
Let me be clear—I do not believe in water baptismal regeneration or that the water itself holds any mystical or saving power. What I believe, and what I teach, is that the blood of Jesus Christ saves, period. That truth is foundational.
Titus 3:5 says it plainly:
“According to His mercy, He saved us…”
Romans 5:9 declares:
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
And Peter reminds us:
“You were redeemed… with the precious blood of Christ…” (1 Peter 1:18–19)
When Jesus sat with His disciples on the night before His crucifixion, He held up the cup and said,
“This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
So if you’re asking me what saves a sinner from eternal separation from God, the answer is clear: the blood of Jesus Christ. Always has been. Always will be. There is no other remedy for sin.
But the question of when that saving blood is applied—that’s where baptism enters the conversation.
Let me be honest with you—I have never met a faithful member of the Lord’s church who believes that the water in baptism has inherent spiritual power. We don’t teach that. We don’t believe that. What we believe is that baptism is the God-appointed time and place where salvation occurs—not because of the water, but because of the obedience that submits to God’s will and the faith that trusts in Christ’s sacrifice.
Let me give you an example. Naaman was a leper who was told to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. That water didn’t have healing properties, but Naaman was healed when he obeyed. The power came from God, and the healing came at the moment of submission.
Or take the blind man in John 9. Jesus told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. And when he did, his sight was restored. Was there anything magical in that water? No. But healing came when he obeyed.
And so it is with salvation.
Let’s go to Acts 22:16, where Ananias tells Saul (later known as Paul):
“And now, why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
That verse does not tell us what washes away sin. It tells us when it happens.
Saul believed. He had seen the risen Lord. He was praying and fasting. But his sins were still upon him until he obeyed the command to be baptized. not because water saves—but because God chose that moment as the point of cleansing, where the blood of Jesus is applied to the soul of a penitent sinner.
We see the same in Acts 2:38 when Peter tells the crowd,
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”
So, no—I don’t believe that water has spiritual power. But I do believe, with all my heart, that Jesus’ blood saves and that the Bible teaches the blood is applied when a person believes, repents, and is baptized.
That’s why I say again: what saves and when salvation happens are two different questions.
Jesus Christ is the Savior. His blood is the remedy. His grace is the gift. But He has given us clear instructions on how to receive that gift.
“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16)
“Baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21)
I pray that you see the difference. And I pray that if you haven’t yet obeyed the gospel through faith, repentance, and baptism, you won’t delay.
May God help us all to understand the difference between what saves and when we are saved—so that we can humbly and faithfully receive the gift of eternal life through His Son.
