Is baptism necessary for salvation?

Hi.

In general baptism is considered necessary for salvation. It is the visible entry into Christ's body, the Church. Without that objective entry, we just don't know. That doesn't mean one is absolutely not saved if they refuse baptism or die before receiving one, but again speaking in general it is considered necessary.

Don't be afraid. If you believe in Christ & identify as a Christian, go receive baptism when you can. Depending on your faith tradition, you may need to go through a catechism/classes prior to baptism.

123flower said in post 1:

Is baptism necessary for salvation?

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In order to be saved ultimately, believers must get water-immersion (burial) baptized into Jesus' death for our sins (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16). If people believe with all of their heart that Jesus Christ is the human/divine Son of God (Acts 8:37), they can get baptized anywhere there is water (Acts 8:36) into which they can be fully-immersed (buried) (Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12). They need to make sure to be baptized in the name of God the Father; and of the Son, Jesus Christ; and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38). Believers can get water-immersion baptized at, for example, a Baptist-type congregation.

Besides getting water baptized, believers can get Holy Spirit baptized (Acts 11:15-16, Acts 10:44-46). They usually have to ask to receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13b) baptism, for it is usually not given to them automatically at the moment that they become believers. That is why Paul the apostle asked some believers: "Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2).

Believers usually receive Holy Spirit baptism through prayer accompanied by the laying on of hands, subsequent to water baptism (Acts 8:15-17, Acts 19:5-6). Holy Spirit baptism won't result in speaking in tongues for everyone (1 Corinthians 12:30), but for almost everyone, as tongues are one of the Spirit's lesser gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8,9,10,11,28; 1 Corinthians 14:5). Many believers haven't yet experienced Holy Spirit baptism simply because they haven't yet asked for it, under the principle of "ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2b). Many believers haven't yet asked for it because they have come under the influence of mistaken teachings which say that it is no longer in effect. Believers can get hands laid on them to receive Holy Spirit baptism at any Pentecostal-type congregation, or at any charismatic-type congregation, which can be of almost any denomination.

123flower said in post 1:

Some say faith only, others say it is necessary.

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Some people feel that baptism can't be required for salvation, because baptism is a work, and salvation isn't based on works, but on faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). But baptism is a kind of circumcision (Colossians 2:11-13, Philippians 3:3, Romans 2:29). Just as Abraham, who is a model for Christians, was initially saved by faith alone, prior to his circumcision (Romans 4), so Christians are initially saved by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 4:2-5), prior to their baptism (Acts 8:36-38, John 20:31). But just as Abraham was ultimately saved by his works (James 2:21-24), so Christians will be ultimately saved by their works (Romans 2:6-8, James 2:24, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 25:26,30, Philippians 2:12b, Philippians 3:11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:9, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 6:10-12; 2 Peter 1:10-11, John 15:2a; 1 John 2:17b), which must include getting water-immersion (burial) baptized (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16).

Whether or not it is necessary for salvation, it is absolutely necessary for Christian life since Jesus commanded it. The thief on the cross who came to faith in Jesus while on the cross can be considered an example of someone who was very likely saved without baptism. However, he was not in any position to get baptized. This is called "baptism by desire" - if it can't happen, such as in that example, it's not held against you. These of course are extraneous circumstances, and not a loophole for putting it off.

Water baptism isn't necessary for salvation at all we can see examples of people asking what they need to do to be saved and in several accounts there is no mention of baptism. Jesus himself equates salvation without it.

Romans 10:9-10New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 [a]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [b]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [c]resulting in salvation.

No mention of baptism here..... none.

Luke 7:45-50New American Standard Bible (NASB)

45 You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say [a]to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”


No baptism here either.

Titus 3:4-6New American Standard Bible (NASB)

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,


No water baptism here either, one could conclude water baptism as a "deed done in righteousness" according to this too.

123flower said:

I'm confused about this. Some say faith only, others say it is necessary. I'm really scared. I don't know whether I'm saved or not.

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Same answer here is as it was in the Salvation/Soteriology forum. All who are saved have been baptized, regardless of whether they have been sprinkled or dunked in H2O.

As I said in your identical thread:

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I Peter 3:18-22
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which[c] he went and proclaimed[d] to the spirits in prison, 20 because[e] they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

I'd say most of us aren't St. Dismas (the wise thief) hanging on a cross next to Christ. Belief, confession, and baptism are what most of us have to do for entrance into Christ's Church. Unless you're like some of the martyrs who became believers while watching other martyrs die for Christ, who then confessed their belief knowing they would be killed for it too, thus having a baptism of blood- the rest of us need to follow the procedure that was set before us.

Someone who wishes to become a Christian needs to begin going to church and then seek to become Baptized. You will then confess your belief in Christ and your sins to God. Baptism is for the remission of sins. Through this mystery we are crucified and buried with Christ, and then raised to a new life united to Christ. 'As many as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ.' Baptism is a work of God that we are told to submit to.

Also, being scared and not knowing whether you're saved or not means your focus is off a little. Christians should daily turn their lives to Christ. You have a race to run throughout your entire life. It's not a one time commitment and then you're done. It's daily following Christ until you draw your last breath. As we're told numerous times in scripture: 'He who endures to the end shall be saved.'

As many have been baptised into Christ - in various languages - YouTube

123flower said:

I'm confused about this. Some say faith only, others say it is necessary. I'm really scared. I don't know whether I'm saved or not.

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it is written "work out your own salvation with FEAR AND TREMBLING"
partly
because so much is at stake, (i.e. the life for eternity, plus here),
partly
because all men are liars (look it up, read and read and read Scripture),
partly
because no denomination can nor is able to eternally save anyone, (only Yhvh through Yahshua can),
largely because men don't read Scripture and listen to Yhvh as He speaks to them
through Scripture. (honestly! read Scripture and seek Yhvh and let HIM TELL YOU what if anything you need to do - that is the only way to be sure, as HE is the ONE WHO holds your life IN HIS HANDS both now and eternally).

that all being true, remember(read) it is written in Scripture "whoever believes AND IS IMMERSED shall be saved; whoever believes not is condemned".

(in english, hebrew, aramaic, and greek i think it is still the same)
(well, realize that english usually says 'baptized' -- but elsewhere says that that (baptized) is a 'burial', so go figure it out with a few word studies -- it is simple.)

p.s. --- the thief on the cross who believed in Yahshua was very possibly (though not recorded) immersed some time before the thief was arrested. this is reinforced a little by reading in the N.T. where those who rejected/opposed Yahshua did not accept Him because they had not been immersed - likewise those who accepted Him had been immersed. you can see this is true very often today, although practically no one admits it or talks about it (that i know of).

yeshuaslavejeff said:

it is written "work out your own salvation with FEAR AND TREMBLING"

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To make this clear:

It's written that way to highlight the awe you should have of the power of God, which is in you if you are Christian. This is the power that created the world and raised Christ from the dead. Living in the kind of fear and trembling that the OP expressed is antithetical to every exhortation we have in the New Testament to rejoice and be encouraged.

Sketcher said in post 4:

The thief on the cross who came to faith in Jesus while on the cross can be considered an example of someone who was very likely saved without baptism.

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Note that the thief on the cross could have been baptized before Luke 23:42-43 happened, but then backslid and committed theft. Also, baptism is only a New Testament/New Covenant requirement for ultimate salvation (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-11, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:12). And the New Covenant wasn't put into legal effect until Jesus died (Hebrews 9:16-17, Matthew 26:28). But Luke 23:42-43 happened before Jesus died, so baptism wasn't yet a requirement for ultimate salvation. But now that Jesus' death is past, believers have to obey all of his New Covenant commandments (John 14:21-24) if they want to obtain ultimate salvation (Hebrews 5:9, Romans 2:6-8), including his commandment that every believer get baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), and by immersion/"burial" in the water of baptism (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12; cf. 1 Corinthians 14:37). Also, a saved person can ultimately lose his salvation if he wrongly employs his free will to commit unrepentant sin (Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27, Luke 12:45-46), which includes unrepentant sins of omission (James 4:17), which would include refusing without repentance to get baptized, and by immersion.

123flower said:

I'm confused about this. Some say faith only, others say it is necessary. I'm really scared. I don't know whether I'm saved or not.

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Christians have always interpreted the Bible literally when it declares, "Baptism . . . now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21; cf. Acts 2:38, 22:16, Rom. 6:3–4, Col. 2:11–12).

Thus the early Church Fathers wrote in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381), "We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins."

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The Lord himself affirms that baptism is necessary for salvation [John 3:5]. . . . Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament [Mark 16:16]" (CCC 1257).

The Christian belief that baptism is necessary for salvation is so unshakable that even the Protestant Martin Luther affirmed the necessity of baptism. He wrote: "Baptism is no human plaything but is instituted by God himself. Moreover, it is solemnly and strictly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. We are not to regard it as an indifferent matter, then, like putting on a new red coat. It is of the greatest importance that we regard baptism as excellent, glorious, and exalted" (Large Catechism 4:6).

Yet Christians have also always realized that the necessity of water baptism is a normative rather than an absolute necessity. There are exceptions to water baptism: It is possible to be saved through "baptism of blood," martyrdom for Christ, or through "baptism of desire", that is, an explicit or even implicit desire for baptism.

Thus the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if they have not been baptized" (CCC 1281; the salvation of unbaptized infants is also possible under this system; cf. CCC 1260–1, 1283).

Reference

Baptism in the Jewish culture they lived in, was already a formal process of repentance and renewal. That did not mean the Jews were taking on Christianity, but that baptism was an accepted demonstration of commitment and humility, faith and conversion. New converts to Judaism were expected to be baptised as well.

It isn't the baptism that saves -- God saves, and His promise of mercy combines with our heartfelt commitment, and choice to set aside evils we cling to. The baptism makes a formal public statement, and reminds us of our commitment.

Imagine if an unbeliever were in a conversation and another person asked them to profess Christianity. They might say sure, what the heck. Or do it to keep the other person happy, or under threat, or to look like part of the group. A commitment to Christ is not a quick choice, or a statement -- it is an agreement to live a whole lifestyle and approach, with dedication to a living God.

It is not taken lightly. The act of cleansing reminds us that we have washed off the old scum, and started fresh. Renewed and made righteous in God's eyes, through His provision for forgiveness. Baptism is more for us, than for God, in a sense. It reminds us that there was a pivot point to our lives, and a commitment made.

A marriage without a wedding... a graduation without commencement ceremony... something feels missing without the public profession.