Question:,Is baptism one of the requirements for salvation? ,Answer:,The very first time the gospel was preached publicly was in the Temple precincts in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after the Passover when Jesus was killed. This event is described in Acts 2. It seems obvious that God would want to get things perfectly clear in this, the first gospel sermon. In this case, those who heard the message were cut to the heart and asked what they needed to do about the fact that they had sinned and were responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross? (Acts 2:36-37) Peter replied simply this: “Repent and be baptized, every one for you for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is good enough for me. Those who accepted his message were baptized and became part of the company of the saved. The same is true today. When we are baptized INTO Christ (Galatians 3:26-29) we are clothed with Christ. When we are baptized, we die with Christ and we are also raised with him to live a new life. (Romans 6:4f). The way I think of it, baptism is not HOW we are saved. We are saved by our faith and by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Baptism is WHEN we are saved. It is at this point in time when we are actually forgiven of our sins and when we receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. I know of no passage which suggests that one is baptized when one has a particular belief or when one says a particular prayer. Faith on our part is the key, but baptism is the point at which the salvation is actually received.,So, the answer is yes, it is required if one takes the Scriptures as the standard of truth.,John Oakes