4. Does baptism guarantee salvation?

No. While baptism is linked to salvation, it does not itself impart grace and guarantee salvation. The believer must “die daily” to self and unbelief and continually choose the righteousness of Christ as the basis of salvation.JTL16 6.1

Paul considered Israel’s exodus experience to be a symbolic representation of baptism: “I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). The Israelites were “immersed in water,” as it were—the cloud above and the water on each side—as they passed through the Red Sea. Yet despite this symbolic baptismal experience, God was not subsequently pleased with most of them (verse 5). So today, baptism does not automatically assure salvation going forward. As we stay connected to Jesus and maintain our covenant relationship with Him by faith, our baptism continues to be a living symbol of death to our old life of sin and resurrection to new life in God.JTL16 6.2