How can baptism be required for salvation?

[GodLovesCats]

For God so loved the world He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. - John 3:16 (No mention of baptism)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9 (No mention of baptism)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:16 (Notice baptism is completely useless without faith.)

Now, on the last verse, it appears baptism is a requirement. However, the emphasis on faith in it shows us all baptism does not save anyone. Why did John baptize people before the Holy Spirit came down? Why do so many Christians believe if you are not baptized in water, you are blocked from heaven?

 

[jesuslover811]

>whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life
I believe in him so I follow his commandments and teachings that baptism is required

that is my take

 

[HTacianas]

For God so loved the world He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. - John 3:16 (No mention of baptism)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9 (No mention of baptism)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:16 (Notice baptism is completely useless without faith.)

Now, on the last verse, it appears baptism is a requirement. However, the emphasis on faith in it shows us all baptism does not save anyone. Why did John baptize people before the Holy Spirit came down? Why do so many Christians believe if you are not baptized in water, you are blocked from heaven?

Christianity has taught from the beginning that baptism is necessary. The quotes you provided are synecdoches. The writers need not repeat every word of the gospel in every single line.

But perhaps a better question would be "why are you discouraging people from being baptized"? You have truncated the Great Commission.

 

[GodLovesCats]

Christianity has taught from the beginning that baptism is necessary. The quotes you provided are synecdoches. The writers need not repeat every word of the gospel in every single line.

But perhaps a better question would be "why are you discouraging people from being baptized"? You have truncated the Great Commission.

I am only discouraging people from thinking baptism, not faith, is how we are saved. That idea flies out a window when you consider the fact that despite being baptized during infancy, I was not ready to become a Christian for the next 20 years. If you don't believe in the Trinity, baptism is just getting wet.

 

[HTacianas]

I am only discouraging people from thinking baptism, not faith, is how we are saved. That idea flies out a window when you consider the fact that despite being baptized during infancy, I was not ready to become a Christian for the next 20 years. If you don't believe in the Trinity, baptism is just getting wet.

So the entirety of Christianity has been wrong for these last two thousand years?

 

[returntosender]

Christianity has taught from the beginning that baptism is necessary. The quotes you provided are synecdoches. The writers need not repeat every word of the gospel in every single line.

But perhaps a better question would be "why are you discouraging people from being baptized"? You have truncated the Great Commission.

More like giving those that can't get baptized, hope.. I am thankful for her post.

 

[jesuslover811]

More like giving those that can't get baptized, hope.. I am thankful for her post.

You can baptize yourself I think
edit: I guess im wrong

 

[returntosender]

You can baptize yourself I think

I have done that but how can you be confident that it worked.

 

[disciple Clint]

Christianity has taught from the beginning that baptism is necessary. The quotes you provided are synecdoches. The writers need not repeat every word of the gospel in every single line.

But perhaps a better question would be "why are you discouraging people from being baptized"? You have truncated the Great Commission.

At what point was the thief on the cross baptized? and yet Jesus saved him.

 

[jesuslover811]

At what point was the thief on the cross baptized? and yet Jesus saved him.

That is a really good point.

 

[Faithfulandtrue]

I agree that baptism in itself doesn't do the saving. It's accepting Jesus' testimony as the only Son of God and only way of salvation through His sacrifice on the cross. In other words believing Jesus is who He says He is and accepting Him as Lord. Baptism is a beautiful declaration of that salvation. So yes I am against infant baptisms because they don't understand what's happening nor know who Jesus is yet.

 

[tturt]

Water baptism isn't required for salvation.. There's "...the doctrine of baptisms,..." (Heb 6:2).

There's 3 baptisms - 3 immersions

1 - By The Holy Spirit into Jesus which reconciles us to God is the baptism for salvation. Baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ by believing in His death, burial, and resurrection.
(Rev 1:5; Matt 26:28; Mark 1:4-9, 16:16; Luk 3:3; 1 Cor 12:13; Acts 2:38; Gal 3:27, II Cor 5:18).

Water and Spirit baptism follows salvation - not in a set order though
2 - By another believer (water baptism) "... fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness," All 3 persons of the Godhead endorsed it (Matt 3:13-16). (Matt 3:6,11; 28:18-20; Acts 8:39, 10:47, 22:16; John 3:5).

3 - By Jesus who sends the promise of the Father baptists us "by," "with" and "in" the Holy Spirit (The Spirit baptism) includes when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He endures us with power for service to Him and to keep His Word. (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16; John 1:33, Acts 1:5, 8:14-17, 10:44-48, 11:16; I Cor 12:13, Luk 24:49, Eph 5:18, Acts 4:31; I John 3:24; Eze 36:25-28; John 14:25-27).

They're different yet
"And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." I John 5:7-8

 

[Eloy Craft]

At what point was the thief on the cross baptized? and yet Jesus saved him.

If the theif could've he would've. Same with anyone else who would've if they could've.
God knows who they are. The Holy Spirit isn't constrained by circumstance. The theif returned love to Jesus. Love that would've.

 

[disciple Clint]

So the entirety of Christianity has been wrong for these last two thousand years?

as if the entirety of Christianity had ever agreed on everything

 

[HTacianas]

At what point was the thief on the cross baptized? and yet Jesus saved him.

The thief on the cross died under the old covenant.

 

[HTacianas]

as if the entirety of Christianity had ever agreed on everything

It was fairly well universal until around 1500 or so. And no one ever argued over the meaning of anything in the bible.

 

[disciple Clint]

The thief on the cross died under the old covenant.

Did he, seems he was saved by his faith in Jesus and not by any O.T. sacrifice aimed at a future reconciliation

 

[Eloy Craft]

One Baptism.
It began with John's Baptism of repentance. His baptism was immersion into his life. A life of penance fit to prepare hearts to accept Jesus. Likewise Jesus' baptism is immersion into the pattern of Jesus' life. His death and resurrection. After Christ's death and resurrection they prayed in the upper room and the Holy Spirit came and empowered the disciples for their mission. The one Baptism was complete.

 

[disciple Clint]

It was fairly well universal until around 1500 or so. And no one ever argued over the meaning of anything in the bible.

Lets consider church history 101, there were countless disputes over almost everything. Starting with do Gentiles need to follow Jewish laws to what was the Christology of Christ

 

[HTacianas]

Did he, seems he was saved by his faith in Jesus and not by any O.T. sacrifice aimed at a future reconciliation

There was no sacrifice he could have offered under the old testament to atone for his sin. He is described as a thief, and was under a death penalty. There were no sacrifices in the old testament to atone for a sin requiring death.