The Bible tells us that there is only one way to have eternal life, and that is through Jesus Christ. As obvious as that is, what does that necessarily mean? Does that mean that all other Christian duties such as communion, going to church and water baptism are useless?
To answer this question, let's take into consideration the illustration of a marriage. A marriage is a wonderful occasion and a cause for celebration of two families being brought together by a covenant union. But is a reception necessary for marriage? No it's not. So why do Christian (and even non-Christian) couples spend so much time and energy putting together such elegant weddings?
Water baptism is to Christian living, just as a wedding reception is to a marriage. It's not necessary, but when allowed to its full enjoyment we can't help but chase after celebrating it.
In the Bible, water baptism is a living ritual that is likened to the picture of circumcision. Colossians 2:11-12 tells us, "In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[a] was put off when you were circumcised by[b] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead."
So looking at this picture, one question we must ask ourselves, "Is circumcision a requirement for sanctification?" Paul made it clear that it is not. In Galatians 5:2, the apostle goes on to say, "Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all."
Paul says this not to discount the benefits and privilege that is circumcision, but to tell us that the ritual will be of no value if it is done without the right heart. That is because the ritual is not the point, but the change of heart.
The same is true for water baptism in that it will be pointless if there is no turning to Christ, and in the same way that Paul agrees that turning to Christ and His lordship through the grace given to us to enable us to follow Him without mandating circumcision is just as legitimate.
That is why water baptism is not required but is still practiced. We do it not as a means of salvation, but as a means of publicly declaring the new life we now have in Christ. To be baptised without that would be pointless, and to decline from it with a changed life would be permissible.
