Does Baptism save?
The short answer is - NO, salvation is only by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is a false doctrine out there known as "baptismal regeneration". It teaches that without being baptized you are not going to heaven. Those that hold to this generally also believe that one can lose their salvation, which is also false. The aspect of baptism being a necessary part of salvation is like many other false doctrines, which come about by taking verses out of context or using symbolism (and also often out of context) in place of clear scriptures. Also, the reverse can often be used to promote false doctrine - that of taking something literal when symbolism is being implied. Baptism is simply a picture of one's public acknowledgement of belief and trust in the gospel and pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. See Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12 which is clearly symbolic, unless you try to imply that you literally need to be buried also, or circumcised? Baptism alone or in part does not save someone.
Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ
John 3:16-18
whosoever believeth, nothing else is mentioned in order to receive eternal life.
Acts 8:35-38
Phillip responded to the eunuch when he asked what prevented him from getting baptized as that only IF he believed with all his heart.
Acts 16:29-33
Clear question as to what one MUST do to be saved. Answer is clear, just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:28
A man is justified by faith, not faith + baptism, nor baptism alone
Romans 4:5-8
To him that worketh not. Faith alone for remission of sins past, present and future!
In fact, the whole of the Scriptures is that salvation comes simply by faith. Some would say also that it was "different in the Old Testament...you had to keep the law and do sacrifices". To that, we find the following:
Hebrews 10:1
The law was a shadow of things to come
Hebrews 10:4
The blood of bulls and goats should not take away sins
Hebrews 9:22
without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins
So, if blood must be shed for the remission of sins and yet the blood of bulls and goats wouldn't do it, who or what's blood is required?
The answer is - the blood of Jesus! 1 John 1:7
So, let's look at some areas of Scripture where those advocating this false doctrine will have you turn to "prove" their point.
Scriptures used to advocate "Baptismal regeneration"
Mark 1:1-4
The remission of sins = forgiveness of sins. The way you get pardoned of sins = baptism? So, at first glance, this seems to contradict Acts 10:43 that says by believing we should get remission of sin. The Word of God has no contradictions. If you find something at first glance appears to be a contradiction, you either have a corrupted text (which is why I stick with the KJV) or you simply need to study.
So then just what IS John's baptism being mentioned here in Mark I? The key to this is found in the first part of Acts 19 where we find a passage that has Paul asking if they at Corinth had received the Holy ghost yet? They replied that they didn't even know there was a Holy ghost! Ephesians 1:13 makes it clear that one must believe and trust the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is then that you receive the Holy ghost. Then Paul asks them unto what they were baptized, and their reply was unto John's baptism. Paul then confirmed that John baptized with the baptism of repentance saying that they should believe on the one that should come after him. When they heard this, THEN they got baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. I find it remarkable that the label Baptist was first in the form of ana-baptist, which means "re-baptize and it was a derogatory term! Only later was the term "ana" dropped. Yet here Paul is telling people that unless they believe FIRST then get baptized, then baptism is of no use. This is why we need to do like those Bereans in Acts 17:11 and search the scriptures daily to see if these things be so!
I Peter 3:21
This seems to be the favorite of those advocating baptism being necessary to go to heaven. First, this chapter is being addressed to those that were already saved. Second, this individual verse makes it clear that baptism is a like figure, or symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, it is figurative.
Acts 2:38
Again, this passage some use to claim that it is baptism that gives us the remission of sins. It's worth noting that it is this same chapter some use to advocate what is known as "speaking in tongues" and typically point to this chapter (verse 4) but if you keep reading after verse 4, it's clear that this simply means other languages, not some gibberish that nobody can understand. Ok, so what of baptism here? Again, how does one receive remission of sins? It is only the blood of Jesus and believing on Him! So, verse 38 where it says "Repent, and be baptized", Peter is not saying anything different than Paul nor is Peter contradicting any other part of Scripture. We see the same sequence of events - believe THEN baptism. Also, like elsewhere, if we KEEP READING, this is made clear, as in just a few verses later, the Bible says in verse 41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized". Jesus nails this in John 3:1-6 describing how someone becomes born again.
Mark 16:16
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Another of the go-to verses for those advocating baptism being necessary to go to heaven. Where they fall into error is taking this verse literally. So then one must ask that if one believes but is not baptized what then? So, they don't go to hell because they believe, but don't go to heaven because they weren't baptized? Sorry, there is no "purgatory" either. Ok, so if you take this literally, then let's look at another passage about baptism in Colossians chapter 2
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:
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.
If you take verse 12 literally, then will you also take verse 11 literally? Ouch!
