Is a Person Saved Before Baptism or After Baptism?
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First, it is important for us to consider that we are talking about the baptism that Christ commands in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16. Any baptism before that point is not a baptism that is authorized by Christ. It was in the great commission, after Christ had died, was buried, and then rose again that Christ commanded baptism. This is one reason why the “thief on the cross argument” cannot mean that anyone can be saved without baptism because Christ did not command baptism as part of salvation until after he had been resurrected. What did Jesus say about baptism? In Matthew 28:19-20 he said that was how He wanted His followers to make disciples. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said that it is those who believe and are baptized that are saved. So, baptism is connected with salvation. Does baptism happen before a person is saved or after? Mark 16:16 says baptism happens before salvation.
In Acts 2:38, Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Both repentance and baptism precede the remission of sins. Some have argued that this is teaching that a person is baptized because their sins have already been forgiven, but that would mean that repentance also would happen because a person’s sins are forgiven. Can sins be forgiven before a person repents of them? No. So also, a person is not forgiven before he is baptized. Repentance and baptism are linked together here. Moreover, the expression “for the remission of sins” is found in Matthew 26:28 where Jesus says, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Did Jesus shed his blood because sins were already forgiven or did He shed His blood in order to effect the forgiveness of sins? The same phrase is used in Matthew 26:28 and in Acts 2:38. It means the same thing in both passages. Acts 2:38 says that baptism happens before ones sins are forgiven.
In Acts 22:16, Ananias said 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.” Jesus had appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus. Jesus told Saul, “Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.” When Ananias come to Saul, he told him that he needed to “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” Were Saul’s sins washed away before or after baptism? It was after he was baptized.
Now let’s look at Romans 6:3-11, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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.” This passage teaches that when a person is baptized, he is baptized into the death of Christ. They were then buried with Him and raised to walk in a new life. When did the new life begin? Was it when they died? Was it when they were buried? Or was it when they rose up out of burial to walk in a new life? Paul said that it was after we are buried and raised that we begin the new life just like when Jesus was buried and raised He began a new life. Baptism comes before salvation here. See also Colossians 2:11-12 and Galatians 3:27. First Peter 3:21 says explicitly, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—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.” Salvation happens after baptism.