I'm glad you asked.
I believe that baptism in water can be a point of contact (like the handkerchiefs that they took from Paul when he was working) for faith.
Now, obviously, there are scriptures that speak of salvation by faith, even apart from baptism. So
I say that baptism is not necessary.
However, it is potent and capable, of accomplishing salvation in a man.
Acts of the Apostles 2:38-39 speaks of a conditional promise, given to
as many as the Lord our God shall call.
The condition is repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for the remission of sins;
The promise is the Holy Ghost.
Rom 8:30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
There is something about
the faith of the operation of God in the followng:
Col 2:11, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Of course, here the picture is immersion; however the point is that it is faith in baptism as a point of contact that makes us risen with Christ.
It is a promise of scripture (in Ezekiel 36:25-27) that He will give us a new heart and a new spirit, and will cause us to walk in His statutes and in His judgments, when He has sprinkled clean water on us. Therefore sprinkling is not
invalid. Of course immersion is better; as it is the picture that is given in so many New Testament passages, as:
Rom 6:1, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2, God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Walking in newness of life, therefore, is provided for through baptism in water. Is this not practical salvation?
