For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Alfonso Ozaeta
Water baptism is not required for the process of salvation. The thief on the cross, who was promised paradise, was not in a position to be baptized by immersion. Of course, the Anointed One would have known what that candidate would have done, given the opportunity for water baptism. Water baptism is a response of the saved, a response of obedience, a response of discipleship under the leadership of Christ, whose example true believers follow, and a symbolic and public testimony of a believer's choice to be in oneness with God and with other believers, in Christ.
Mike Thompson
Why do we complicate it so much? It is clear throughout scripture that the examples of people coming to faith in the Lord involve water baptism. It is not separate from, but a part of, the salvation process. Acknowledging Christ as Lord is just the beginning step; then action is required to back up our acknowledgment. Not works, but simply a response and continuation, or 2nd step, of the process. Then continuing to live it out would be the 3rd step. Again, simply part of the whole process. Why do we struggle so much to accept it at face value and simple obey the example and words we have been given by our Lord?
Jack Gutknecht
I realize that this may be an argument from silence (not always the strongest argument), but if baptism is needed to be saved, doesn't it appear odd that Peter said nothing about baptism in his other sermons (Acts 3:12-26; 5:29-32;
Acts 10:34-43)?
jackie pippin
Salvation is not a process.
Titus 3:5: "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. This verb is an aorist verb, pointing to a SPECIFIC SINGULAR event, not a process, not including works.
Ephesians 1:13-14: "They were sealed with the Holy Spirit." It was a legal term in the first century. In legal systems and governments, a seal carried immense legally binding power. It proved ownership. "This belongs to the master; don't touch it." In the ears of first-century believers, this meant they were now God's private property and SECURED by the highest authority. In vs. 14, Paul calls the Holy Spirit the arrabōn—a secular banking term for a non-refundable down payment. Once sealed with the Holy Spirit, we cannot lose our salvation or continue it by works.
Ephesians 2:8-9: "By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works...." The Greek phrase used here is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed past action, not a process. And, it is a gift. We don't earn or work for gifts. No action required on our part.
Romans 5:1: "... since we have been justified by faith...." It also was a legal term. Justification happens in a moment. A judge’s verdict took effect the exact second the gavel went down. You are not in the process of being acquitted; you are either under condemnation or you are legally cleared. God changes your standing before Him instantly.
Jack Gutknecht
Jackie, your answer is biblically sound and doctrinally accurate! I like it! Yes, salvation is a completed act, not a process. The aorist tense in Greek often describes a simple, completed past action. The phrase "He saved us" (Greek esōsen -- ἔσωσεν ) in Titus 3:5 is in the aorist tense, indicating a decisive, completed act of God in the past. This grammatical observation is a standard argument for the definitive nature of salvation.
Then, salvation is by grace, not works. This is central to orthodox Christian theology. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly teaches that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith, and is not earned by works. The passage uses the perfect tense ("you have been saved"), which denotes a past, completed action with continuing results. This distinguishes initial salvation from other aspects of the Christian life.
Further, believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit. In the ancient world, a seal demonstrated ownership and authenticity. The arrabōn [ἀρραβών] was a business term for a non-refundable down payment that guaranteed the full purchase price would be paid later. Paul uses these terms to show that the Holy Spirit in a believer's life is God's guarantee of their future inheritance, providing assurance and security.
And finally, yes, justification is by faith; justification is a legal declaration by God that a sinner is righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a one-time, instantaneous event, not a gradual process.
Key passages, sister!
jackie pippin
Thanks, Jack!