Baptized Into Christ
By Ron Boatwright
The denominational world says that baptism has nothing to do with our salvation, but let’s see what the Bible says. Notice that it is baptism that puts us into Christ so that we can be saved. Galatians 3:27 says, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Baptism is the only way a person can get into Christ. The preposition into indicates a change of relationship. You can search from the front to the back of your Bible, and you will find no other way to get into Christ except by being baptized into Christ. What is the advantage of being baptized into Christ?
Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ." This verse tells us that every spiritual blessing is located in Christ. Only those who are in Christ can enjoy these spiritual blessings.
We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." If one is in Christ, he has become a new creation. This is how we are born again.
The Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:10, "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." Here we see that salvation is located in Christ, and for one to be eligible for salvation, he must be in Christ. It will be a horrible thing for a person, who thinks he is saved, when he stands before the Lord on the Day of Judgment, if he is still outside of Christ. He will have no salvation. He will be lost eternally in Hell.
In 1 John 5:11 we read, "And this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." Only those who have been baptized to be saved are in Christ and have the promise of eternal life. Those who are outside of Christ have no promise of eternal life but are lost.