Faith is the attitude toward God that leads to our salvation. Faith is obedient trust, the eager willingness to conform to God’s will out of reverence and gratitude.

The New Testament also teaches that immersion is an essential and culminating act in obtaining salvation. Other steps such as repentance and the confession of Christ are required as well, but submission to the command of baptism is the point at which the blood of Jesus is applied to the soul, thus forgiving sin.

The language is clear:

• Jesus (to His apostles): “He who believes and is baptized will be saved. ...” (Mark 16:16)

• Peter (to the Jews responsible for Jesus’ death): “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. ...” (Acts 2:38)

• Ananias (to Saul of Tarsus): “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

• Paul (to those already Christians): “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:4)

• Peter (to Christians needing a reminder): “There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ...” (1 Pet. 3:21)