Strictly speaking, the answer is "No.” A person can be saved who has not been baptized. However, the Bible makes it clear that baptism is extremely important and that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and who have decided to follow Him, will be baptized. Let’s see what the Bible actually says about this matter.

Mark says, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16, NKJV). Jesus told Nicodemus, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water [baptized] and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5, NKJV). Jesus further told His disciples to go everywhere preaching the gospel and making disciples and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:18-20). If we read just these verses in isolation, we might think that it is impossible to be saved without being baptized. However, the Bible is clear that there is no saving virtue or merit in the act of baptism itself. Jesus is our only Savior (see John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 3:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

So baptism is not necessary for salvation in the sense that only Jesus can save us. He is our only Savior. And the act of baptism, itself, does not save us. But this does not mean that baptism is not important. It does not mean that we can be baptized or not as we choose—once we have believed on Jesus and accepted Him as our Savior. Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV). And He has commanded us to be baptized (see Matthew 28:18-20). A person who loves Jesus and accepts Him as his or her Savior, will want to follow Him in baptism.

Baptism is important, because it is a public declaration that we have accepted Jesus and are turning our back on the old life of sin and are now trusting Jesus to live a new life as a Christian. When we are placed under the water and raised back out of it, we are symbolically stating that we have died to sin, that our old life of sin has been buried, and that we have been raised to new life in Jesus—just as He died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life again (see Romans 6:3-5). Likewise, there are a number of similarities between baptism and marriage. Just as marriage is the formation of a new family, so baptism is the entrance into the Christian family. In marriage one takes the name of one’s partner, and in baptism we take the name of Christ (Christian). God designs that marriage is to be an experience in which the husband’s and wife’s personal relationship is ever growing and improving throughout a lifetime. And He designs baptism to be an experience in which our personal relationship with Him grows and improves throughout our lifetime.

So, is baptism necessary for salvation? Strictly speaking, No. Because salvation comes only through the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary (see Romans 3:25; 5:9; Ephesians. 1:7; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 1:5; etc.). However, those whom Jesus Christ has saved will gladly follow Him in the extremely important step of baptism.

Baptism is an important step in following Jesus. It symbolizes one’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and a resurrection to new life in Christ—just as Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose to life again (see Romans 6:3-5). Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:18-20). Baptism has no saving virtue in itself. Jesus is our only Savior. But those who love Him will follow Him in baptism to signify their decision to accept Him as their Savior.

According to the Bible, what are the prerequisites for being baptized?

1. Confess your sins. The Bible says of John the Baptist: "Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins (Matthew 3:5, 6, NKJV). We need to acknowledge that we are sinners and confess our sins to God. If we do, He will forgive us (see 1 John 1:9).

2. Repent of your sins. When Peter preached to the people in Jerusalem on Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus, many of them were convicted by the Holy Spirit and asked Peter what they should do. He replied, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38, NKJV).

3. Believe on Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Savior from sin. When Philip met an Ethiopian and told him about Jesus, the Ethiopian wanted to be baptized. Philip told him, " ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ . . . . And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:37, 38, NKJV). "He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16, NKJV).