Is baptism required for salvation?
Baptism has no part in salvation today. Salvation rests wholly on the finished work of the cross plus nothing. To require baptism for salvation implies Christ did not quite finish it and that a person must add their own works. Believers rest totally on what Christ accomplished on their behalf.
Les explains that baptism had a place in the Jewish message back then, but today it has no part in salvation. He warns that making baptism part of salvation tells God He did not quite finish the work of the cross, as if we must add our own contribution. The only proper stand is never to make baptism part of salvation, because salvation is the finished work of the cross plus nothing. In the Acts account, Philip preached Jesus Christ and men and women were baptized, but that was still revelation not yet fully revealed.