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Submitted: Sep 13 2026 11:10 AM
Last Updated: Sep 13 2026 11:57 AM
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Author: Cougan Collins
e-Sword Version: 10.x

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Download Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation?

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Soteriology (Salvation) Church of Christ

Author:
Cougan Collins

e-Sword Version:
10.x

This is the 200+ page Book "Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation" by Cougan Collins.
The Original PDF by the Author is available free at LG MINISTRY
It can also be downloaded from icotb.org at Is-Baptism-Necessary-for-Salvation-Cougan-Collins-2009.pdf
Please Note: Download includes the original ".rtfi" module and a separate .PDF File
I created chapter - by - chapter. Has the same text information as the above two links

Concerning this module and the author's book (PDF) someone has said, "Contains everything
you wanted to know about 'BAPTISM,' but were afraid to ask."

Has a total of fourteen(14) Chapters This book has been converted to a ".refi" format
for e-Sword Users. Permission has been granted by the author to publish this in a reference
module format for e-Sword. The only "hiccup" in producing this book, was with the foratting
of the Greek Text for Chapter 13. See Message at the beginning of Chapter 13 for an explanation.

Today there is a great need for the basic principles of the Bible to be taught again. One topic that many
misunderstand is baptism. Is it necessary for salvation or is it just an outward sign for an inward change?
Is baptism a work of man? This book will answer questions like these and many more.

Whether this book is used for a quarterly adult Bible class, personal growth, or evangelism, you will gain
a deeper understating about baptism and how to defend it from the Scriptures.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

IS BAPTISM ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION? The Bible is very clear with an answer to that question and
Collins has researched it well. This book should be especially useful in personal evangelism. I am also
finding it helpful in my pulpit preaching as well as material being presented in the television programs,
IN SEARCH OF THE LORD’S WAY. I am sure God can use it to lead the lost to salvation.– Mack Lyon

Those who love the Word will gain much from reading this book. You have entered more specifics than
any other writer that I have read from. – Jo Daniel

This book is an excellent resource guide on the subject of baptism. The author's impeccable logic,
Scriptural insight, and persuasive writing style is sure to reach lost soul's with the truth about baptism.
With such mass confusion over the subject of baptism, this book is sure to point the reader toward
God's original design for baptism.— Ben Bailey

HERE IS A DETAIL SYNOPSIS AND OPINION
OF THIS POWERFUL BOOK BELOW:
Cougan Collins’s Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation? has several
significant strengths, especially if your purpose is to defend the biblical
teaching that baptism is part of God’s revealed response to the gospel.
I located the actual 2009 work by Collins, rather than relying merely
on descriptions of it. The book directly addresses objections to baptism
and repeatedly attempts to make the case from the New Testament text.
What I would say positively about the book

1. It takes the biblical text seriously
One of the book's greatest strengths is that Collins does not begin with
a denominational creed and then try to make Scripture conform to it.
He repeatedly asks, in effect:
That is the right starting point.
What does the text actually say?
The central issue is not whether Churches of Christ teach baptismal
necessity. The real question is:
What did Jesus and His apostles teach about baptism and salvation?
That is an important distinction.
Collins consistently brings the discussion back to passages such as:

Mark 16:16
John 3:5
Acts 2:38
Acts 10–11
Acts 22:16
Romans 6:3–5
Galatians 3:27
Colossians 2:12
1 Peter 3:21

That makes the book useful as a Bible-study tool,
not merely as a denominational defense.
2. It correctly emphasizes the connection between baptism and
remission of sins
This is probably one of the strongest parts of the book.
Consider the remarkable language of Acts 2:38:
Peter does not merely say:
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins.”

believe and then get baptized as a public testimony;
repent and then get baptized because you are already saved;
get baptized because it is a good Christian practice.

He explicitly connects repentance, baptism, and remission of sins.
Collins rightly gives this passage serious weight.
And Acts 22:16 is even more difficult to dismiss:
The sequence is extremely significant.
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away
your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Paul had:

encountered Jesus,
believed,
been praying,
fasted,
repented,
and yet Ananias still told him to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins.

Collins is right to make this passage central to the discussion.
3. This Book correctly challenges the idea that baptism is merely a "work"
This is perhaps the most important theological clarification.
The argument is often:
But that conclusion does not follow.
"If baptism is necessary, then salvation is by works."
The Bible teaches that salvation is:

by God's grace,
through faith,
because of Christ's sacrifice,
according to God's mercy,
and received through obedient faith.

Baptism does not compete with grace.
It is one of the things God commanded a sinner to do in responding to His grace.
Consider:
Ephesians 2:8–9
But the same inspired writer says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith...not of works.”
Galatians 3:26–27
And:
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Titus 3:5
So the biblical question is not:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy
He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
"Grace or baptism?"
It is:
"Does God's grace instruct us to believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized?"
The New Testament answer is yes.
4. The book does a good job exposing the inconsistency
of "faith only" arguments Collins is especially useful when he
examines passages commonly cited against baptism.
For example, someone may quote:
—Acts 16:31
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
and conclude:
But notice what happens next.
"Therefore baptism cannot be necessary."
The jailer hears the word of the Lord, and then he and his household are baptized (Acts 16:32–34).
The narrative does not present baptism as something unnecessary because they had believed.
The same pattern appears throughout Acts. Acts 2
They ask:
Peter answers:
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 8
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized...for the remission of sins.”
The Ethiopian believes and then asks: Acts 9 / 22
“See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
Paul believes, repents, prays—and Ananias tells him: Acts 10
“Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins.”
Cornelius hears the gospel, receives the miraculous Holy Spirit sign,
and Peter still: These accounts deserve to be considered together rather
than isolating one verse from the conversion narrative.

“commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
Collins does this well.
5. His treatment of Cornelius addresses one of the strongest objections
This is an important contribution.
Acts 10 is frequently used to argue:
Collins points out that the text itself gives a different reason for the miraculous
manifestation.
"Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before baptism, therefore he was already
saved before baptism."
Peter explains the event in Acts 11:15–18. The Holy Spirit falling upon the
Gentiles demonstrated to Jewish Christians that God had granted repentance
unto life to the Gentiles.
Then notice what Peter does immediately afterward:
“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized...?”
And:
Collins is right that we should not simply assume that the miraculous manifestation
of the Spirit in Acts 10 means Cornelius had already received remission of sins
before obeying the gospel.
“And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
That is a passage that deserves careful treatment, and Collins gives it that treatment.
6. He correctly distinguishes Holy Spirit baptism from the baptism
commanded in the Great Commission
This is another important point.
The New Testament clearly distinguishes between:
Holy Spirit baptism
and
the baptism commanded of disciples.
John the Baptist said:
—Mark 1:8
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
But Jesus commissioned His disciples:
—Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them...”
And: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” —Mark 16:16
Collins makes a legitimate and important argument that we should not
take every reference to "baptism" and automatically make it refer to the
same event. That distinction is necessary for properly understanding
Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 11.
7. He recognizes that baptism is connected with entering Christ
One of the most powerful passages on this subject is Galatians 3:27:
Notice the language:
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
baptized INTO Christ.
That is significant because the New Testament repeatedly describes salvation
as being in Christ.
Romans 8:1:
2 Corinthians 5:17:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
So the question becomes:
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
How does a person get into Christ?
Galatians 3:27 provides one very clear answer: “as many of you as were baptized into Christ...”
Romans 6:3–4 likewise says:
Collins is right to emphasize this connection.
“As many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death...”
8. He properly emphasizes Romans 6
Romans 6 is especially powerful because Paul
doesn't merely mention baptism in passing.
He connects baptism with:

Christ's death,
burial,
resurrection,
newness of life,
dying to sin,
and union with Christ.

Romans 6:3–4:
That is much more than:
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead...even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
The language is far richer.
"Baptism is a public ceremony showing that you were already saved."
Baptism is presented as the point at which the believer participates in a God-ordained
transition associated with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

9. It makes a strong case from 1 Peter 3:21
This may be the single most difficult verse for the "baptism has nothing to do with salvation" position.
Peter says: “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism...”
The apostle actually uses the word "saves."
And Collins is right to insist that we should allow Peter to explain what
he means rather than immediately explaining the word away.
Peter immediately qualifies it:
So Peter isn't teaching that the physical water possesses magical power.
“not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God.”

Rather, baptism is the God-appointed response of faith to God's saving
work.That distinction is extremely important.
10. The book is useful because it actually addresses objections
Another positive feature is that Collins does not simply give a list of
baptism passages and stop.
He addresses arguments such as:

"The thief on the cross wasn't baptized."
"We're saved by faith."
"Baptism is a work."
"Cornelius was saved before baptism."
"The Philippian jailer was saved by faith."
"Romans 10:9 teaches salvation by confession."
"Ephesians 2:8–9 excludes baptism."
"1 Corinthians 1:17 says Paul wasn't sent to baptize."
"John 3:5 refers to physical birth."
"Mark 16:16 doesn't say 'he who is not baptized will be condemned.'"
"Baptism merely symbolizes salvation already received."

That makes the book particularly useful for Bible class, evangelism,
preaching, and personal study. The book is also listed among baptism
resources in a larger collection of historical and contemporary Restoration
Movement/Church of Christ baptism materials.
11. This Reference Book keeps baptism connected to Christ rather than to a denomination
This is something I especially appreciate.
The strongest biblical argument is not:
It is: "Churches of Christ teach baptism." Jesus commanded baptism.
Not:"Our preacher says baptism saves."
But: Peter preached baptism for the remission of sins.
Not: "Our tradition says baptism puts you into the church."
But: Paul said baptism puts one into Christ and His death.
That distinction makes a tremendous difference when discussing baptism
with someone from another religious background.
12. The book is particularly valuable for answering the charge of "water salvation"
The accusation is sometimes: "You people believe in water salvation."
But that isn't the biblical position.
Water isn't the Savior.
Jesus is the Savior.
Grace is God's source of salvation.
Christ's blood is the basis of forgiveness.
Faith is essential.
Repentance is essential.
Confession of Christ is essential.
And baptism is the God-commanded response in which the penitent
believer comes into Christ and receives the blessings God has attached
to that obedience.

Compare:
Acts 2:38 — baptism and remission of sins
Acts 22:16 — baptism and washing away sins
Romans 6:3–4 — baptism into Christ and His death
Galatians 3:27 — baptism into Christ
Colossians 2:12 — baptism and faith in God's working
1 Peter 3:21 — baptism and salvation
That is a very substantial biblical case. One qualification I would make
While I think the book is very useful and substantially correct in its central argument,
I would not treat every argument or every statement in it as equally strong.
For example, some of Collins's arguments concerning Greek grammar, the interpretation
of John 3:5, the textual questions surrounding Mark 16:9–20, and certain conclusions
concerning Cornelius could be strengthened by engaging additional scholarship and
presenting the arguments with greater nuance.
In other words:
I would recommend the book—but I would use Scripture as the final authority, not Collins.
And that actually fits the best aspect of his work: he is trying to get the reader back into the biblical text.