The Apostle Paul recognizes the purpose of baptism, as the climactic spiritual response of our faith. Baptism places us “In Christ”, and our response of faith is to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Yes, we must call upon the name of the Lord, to be saved (Joel 2:32)
Yes, we must repent of our sins (Acts 2:38) Yes, we must confess Jesus publicly before men (Matthew 10:32) But at baptism, we bury the old sinful man/woman that we crucified, as Paul did (Galatians 2:20)
In the watery grave of baptism, we display the old sinful nature being buried with Christ, once and for all. But the heart of the good news of the Gospel is 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.” (Romans 6:4b)
We rise just as Jesus did, from our spiritual death, to walk in spiritual life.
Is this essential for salvation? Indeed it is! Where else does this happen, except at baptism? Read also, Matthew 3:13-17, Colossians 2:11-14 (GP)
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