Is baptism required for salvation?

[Gottservant]

Salvation by faith alone used to be ok, until the World started abusing the faith of the Church: now Salvation has to be by Baptism, or there is nothing to distinguish you from the abuses of the World. Men no longer refrain from the abuse of the faith of the Church; if the distinction were still there, on faith alone, you would see a difference enough to be saved without baptism.

Even if I am completely wrong: Baptism is easy enough to get, you might as well make sure.

 

[AHJE]

Hey all,
Just wondering if baptism is required for salvation. I saw all the verses that says be baptized in my name and receive eternal life .... you know.
Chilaha

God bless you Chilaha,

Objectively taken, ... yes Baptism is necessary for salvation. Simple.
See 1 St. Peter 3:21.

God bless you.

 

[Rekrap]

1 Peter 3
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, abut the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

This, no matter which version you use says baptism is required for salvation, it actually shows what baptism is. Notice it says that baptism is not for our flesh but shows what happened on the inside.

Ephesians 2
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

This shows that we are saved by His grace through our faith not anything else, especially our works.

John 3
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Why does everyone try to pull out just verse 5 when the story around it tells you the whole picture. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and Nicodemus had just asked how he can be born again physically. Just responds in verse 5 and the elaborates in verse 6. You have to be born both physically and spiritually to be truly born again.

Baptism is our first expression of what God did for us. This was significant in Bible times because it showed the people watching that they were no longer bound by the Law but were cleansed through Christ. The water shows what the blood did.

The blood washes away all our sins, leaving nothing for the water.

In Christ, Brian.

 

[Butch5]

1 Peter 3
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, abut the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

This, no matter which version you use says baptism is required for salvation, it actually shows what baptism is. Notice it says that baptism is not for our flesh but shows what happened on the inside.

Ephesians 2
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

This shows that we are saved by His grace through our faith not anything else, especially our works.

John 3
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Why does everyone try to pull out just verse 5 when the story around it tells you the whole picture. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and Nicodemus had just asked how he can be born again physically. Just responds in verse 5 and the elaborates in verse 6. You have to be born both physically and spiritually to be truly born again.

Baptism is our first expression of what God did for us. This was significant in Bible times because it showed the people watching that they were no longer bound by the Law but were cleansed through Christ. The water shows what the blood did.

The blood washes away all our sins, leaving nothing for the water.

In Christ, Brian.

The Ephesians 2 passage is referring to the Mosaic Law. Let me ask you a question, do a person need to be a disciple of Christ to be saved?

 

[Rekrap]

Romans 10:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

To answer your question, I think most of us have it backwards. We have to be saved in order to become a disciple.

Christ died for us while we were sinners. (Romans 5:8) Before he comes into our lives, we are an old sinful creature in darkness. His blood allows for the wage of our sin to be paid so we do not have to pay the wage ourself. (Hebrews 9:22) At this time when we truly accept His gift by believing in Him and gaining repentance from Him, we become a new creature.

Our desires should change as well at this time and this is what calls us to live for Him and become his disciples. I agree that baptism is a commandment from Christ but it is not a requirement for salvation. We are saved through our faith in Him because of His grace. If this has truly happened, you will want to be baptized and follow all His other commandments.

 

[Butch5]

Romans 10:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

To answer your question, I think most of us have it backwards. We have to be saved in order to become a disciple.

Christ died for us while we were sinners. (Romans 5:8) Before he comes into our lives, we are an old sinful creature in darkness. His blood allows for the wage of our sin to be paid so we do not have to pay the wage ourself. (Hebrews 9:22) At this time when we truly accept His gift by believing in Him and gaining repentance from Him, we become a new creature.

You were a sinner when Christ died?

We do pay the wage of sin. It is death all die.

Salvation ultimately takes place at the Resurrection, can a person reach this point without being a disciple?

Our desires should change as well at this time and this is what calls us to live for Him and become his disciples.

Becoming a disciple is making a decision to follow Christ. This decision comes prior to our acting on it.

I agree that baptism is a commandment from Christ but it is not a requirement for salvation.

Any support from Scripture?

We are saved through our faith in Him because of His grace. If this has truly happened, you will want to be baptized and follow all His other commandments.

Let me clarify that salvation is a process and not a one time event. The process begins when one enters into relationship with God through Christ and culminates at the resurrection. Baptism a part of that faith.

 

[Rev Randy]

It's evident that we look at things from differing angles. It's also evident that we, more oft than not, look at things with worldly eyes. Butch5 asks an interesting question. "You were a sinner when Christ died?" If that question is asked in the natural, the answer is NO. If it's asked in the spiritual, the answer is yes. God transends time. Also, if one is catholic (a celebrant of the Eucharist) that answer would be a definate yes as we offer up the Blood and body of Christ at each celebration. But that complicates things being of this world and seeing with eyes of this world.
Let me explain my position in simple terms: God knew before the death and Ressurection, that I would exist. God knew I would sin. Therefore Jesus died for me but not just for me but for the entire world. He paid the wage for my sin even before I was born.
Now is baptism a requirement for salvation? The thief on the cross beside Jesus would say no. Still, baptism (if possible) is required for the Christian in obedience to the commandment of Christ. Salvation and Baptism by water are not the same thing. Salvation is a work and we are not saved by works. Still, faith without works is dead and being saved by faith we should be baptized. As we are baptized into Christ, salvation and baptism are connected but is this baptism by water or Spirit?
I often hear folks say, "Baptim is just an outward sign of an inward feeling." I completely disagree with that statement. It is much more. It is your engagement ring, it is your confession of Christ and it should be very deep and meaningful.