Feb. 2, 2026
Ep. 39: Does Baptism Save You? Immersion, Salvation, and the Meaning of Baptism Explained
Does baptism save you? Is water baptism required for salvation, or is it a symbolic act of obedience that follows faith in Christ? In this episode of Deformed Theology, Jonathan and David dive deep into one of the most debated and misunderstood topics in Christian theology: baptism.
From the Greek word baptizo—meaning to immerse or fully submerge—to the Hebrew concept of mikvah, this conversation traces baptism from Genesis to the New Testament, uncovering its theological, biblical, and historical foundations. Along the way, we ask the hard questions many Christians quietly wrestle with:
• Is baptism salvific or symbolic?
• Does the Bible teach believer’s baptism or infant baptism?
• Is immersion required, or does sprinkling count?
• What about the thief on the cross?
• Why did Jesus command baptism if it doesn’t save us?
Using Scripture from Matthew 28, Acts 2, Acts 8, Acts 10, Acts 16, Romans, Colossians, and 1 Peter 3, we examine what baptism actually represents: identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Water baptism is not presented as a work that earns salvation, but as an outward expression of an inward reality—a visible declaration that a believer’s life is now hidden in Christ.
This episode also explores the order of salvation, repentance, confession, faith, and obedience. We look closely at why the New Testament consistently presents baptism as a response to belief, not a prerequisite for it. From the Ethiopian eunuch to Cornelius’ household, Scripture repeatedly shows people receiving the Holy Spirit before being baptized, reinforcing the biblical case that salvation comes by grace through faith alone.
At the same time, we refuse to minimize baptism. Jesus commanded it. The early church practiced it immediately. Baptism marks the beginning of a life of obedience and publicly identifies a believer with Christ and His Church. If you truly believe the gospel, the question isn’t “Do I have to be baptized?” but “Why wouldn’t I want to be?”
With a tone that is both scholarly and accessible, sacred and occasionally silly, this episode invites listeners from every background—Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, charismatic, and questioning—to search the Scriptures and think deeply about what God has revealed.
If you’ve ever wondered whether baptism saves you, what it means to be “baptized into Christ,” or how repentance, faith, and obedience fit together, this episode is for you.
Washing feet. Flipping tables. Searching the Word.
From the Greek word baptizo—meaning to immerse or fully submerge—to the Hebrew concept of mikvah, this conversation traces baptism from Genesis to the New Testament, uncovering its theological, biblical, and historical foundations. Along the way, we ask the hard questions many Christians quietly wrestle with:
• Is baptism salvific or symbolic?
• Does the Bible teach believer’s baptism or infant baptism?
• Is immersion required, or does sprinkling count?
• What about the thief on the cross?
• Why did Jesus command baptism if it doesn’t save us?
Using Scripture from Matthew 28, Acts 2, Acts 8, Acts 10, Acts 16, Romans, Colossians, and 1 Peter 3, we examine what baptism actually represents: identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Water baptism is not presented as a work that earns salvation, but as an outward expression of an inward reality—a visible declaration that a believer’s life is now hidden in Christ.
This episode also explores the order of salvation, repentance, confession, faith, and obedience. We look closely at why the New Testament consistently presents baptism as a response to belief, not a prerequisite for it. From the Ethiopian eunuch to Cornelius’ household, Scripture repeatedly shows people receiving the Holy Spirit before being baptized, reinforcing the biblical case that salvation comes by grace through faith alone.
At the same time, we refuse to minimize baptism. Jesus commanded it. The early church practiced it immediately. Baptism marks the beginning of a life of obedience and publicly identifies a believer with Christ and His Church. If you truly believe the gospel, the question isn’t “Do I have to be baptized?” but “Why wouldn’t I want to be?”
With a tone that is both scholarly and accessible, sacred and occasionally silly, this episode invites listeners from every background—Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, charismatic, and questioning—to search the Scriptures and think deeply about what God has revealed.
If you’ve ever wondered whether baptism saves you, what it means to be “baptized into Christ,” or how repentance, faith, and obedience fit together, this episode is for you.
Washing feet. Flipping tables. Searching the Word.
