Is water baptism a requirment to be saved

[AJTruth]

Is water baptism a requirment to be saved

 

[Ken Rank]

Is water baptism a requirement to be saved

God has expectations of His people. However, if you come to a point in time when you realize that He is God and you turn your heart to Him in submission to Him as Lord... and then die before you get into the water... are you saved? I think so... yet if you don't happen to die along the way, I think He expects you to get into the water.

 

[bcbsr]

Is water baptism a requirment to be saved

The gospel indicates that salvation is by faith apart from works.

John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

Rom 4:4-6
"Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works"

Baptism is for those who have been saved through faith and consequently are eternally secure in trusting in Christ rather in their own performance. Water baptism, being a work, is something the saved engage in to publicly identify themselves and to pledge a good conscience towards God.

I take it that those who put their faith in water baptism to save them are not putting their faith in Christ in the sense spoken of above.

 

[Dave-W]

Is water baptism a requirement to be saved

Who's asking? And why is it an issue?

 

[Daniel9v9]

God is not bound by means, but He is merciful and nothing is impossible for God. However, baptism is the means God has instituted for our salvation. I think it's difficult to read everything the Bible have to say about baptism and conclude otherwise. For example, see:
John 3:5 Galatians 3:27 Mark 16:16 Ephesians 4:4-6 Acts 16:31-33 Acts 2:38-41

I think perhaps some people may confuse baptism as something in addition to believing, but baptism is part of believing. The early church knew it to synonymous. This is how Scriptures speak. Baptism is freely given to us by God and worked by the Holy Spirit, by God's power through the water and the Word. It's certainly not our work. It's not something we work to earn salvation. If it was, it wouldn't be part of the Gospel, but in the Law.

Further more, if we go by the logic of thinking of baptism as a kind of work in addition to faith, then we can say the same about repentance, and loving our neighbour or any good works, which are not meritorious, but rather the fruit of the Spirit that follows salvation and regeneration, thanks to God's mercy, through Christ Jesus.

 

[miknik5]

Is water baptism a requirment to be saved

It is a response to what has already occurred within

 

[Dave-W]

Further more, if we go by the logic of thinking of baptism as a kind of work in addition to faith, then we can say the same about repentance, and loving our neighbour or any good works, which are not meritorious, but rather the fruit of the Spirit that follows salvation and regeneration,

Actually, you can call faith itself a "work:"

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

 

[miknik5]

Is water baptism a requirment to be saved

It is a response to what has already occurred within...or should have occurred within

That is belief in the TRUTH Of THE GOSPEL

None who do not believe will be water baptized and none who believe will reject being water baptized

 

[Ken Rank]

I think perhaps some people may confuse baptism as something in addition to believing, but baptism is part of believing. The early church knew it to synonymous.

You make a really good point and I want to share an often missed gem.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Notice how the KJV added an "est" to one form of believe, but did not to the other. What the translators were doing here was differentiating between active and passive forms of the word. When we see "believest" (or believeth) it is active, without the "est" is passive. The difference is the active form demands ACTION... it isn't just believing in the sense of being convinced in the mind, it is believing to the point of action, WORKS. It is tied to faith... faith comes by HEARING and faith without works is dead. So, true faith is hearing and doing. On the other hand, the devils believe and tremble. Their form is passive... they are not hearing God and acting on what they hear, they are in rebellion. By the way, even John 3:16 is in the active form.

 

[Wolf_Says]

The gospel indicates that salvation is by faith apart from works.

John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

Rom 4:4-6
"Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works"

Baptism is for those who have been saved through faith and consequently are eternally secure in trusting in Christ rather in their own performance. Water baptism, being a work, is something the saved engage in to publicly identify themselves and to pledge a good conscience towards God.

I take it that those who put their faith in water baptism to save them are not putting their faith in Christ in the sense spoken of above.

Where did this come from?? He is not talking about works, or anything of the sort. The OP asked strictly about is water baptism necessary, and the answer is yes.

The Bible clearly states that we are to be baptized and "born again" in water and spirit.

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

Sounds pretty clear to me.

 

[miknik5]

And some will be water baptized who do not believe as well

Thankfully what may fool men does not fool GOD

 

[miknik5]

Romans 10 is sufficient

Do not say who will ascend or who will descend

But what does the WORD of FAITH say:

If you confess with your mouth LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM (for our JUSTIFICATION) you will be saved

For it is with the mouth one confesses unto salvation and it is with the heart one believes unto righteousness

 

[Wolf_Says]

And some will be water baptized who do not believe as well

Thankfully what may fool men does not fool GOD

Yes, however that doesn't change scripture. As I pointed out, Jesus said we must be born again with water and spirit or we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, point blank.

It is right there in black and white.

 

[Dave-W]

Where did this come from?? He is not talking about works, or anything of the sort. The OP asked strictly about is water baptism necessary, and the answer is yes.

Why would a command addressed to someone else decide whether I am saved or not?

 

[Dave-W]

Romans 10 is sufficient

Not really. You cannot formulate a doctrine around only one scripture when there are several others that speak to the same issue.

 

[miknik5]

Yes, however that doesn't change scripture. As I pointed out, Jesus said we must be born again with water and spirit or we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, point blank.

It is right there in black and white.

And I will say it again. Those who believe will be water baptized. Those who don't believe won't. And some who don't believe will still be water baptized

But we are not to say who will ascend or descend. Romans 10 is sufficient. We are to preach faith in CHRIST JESUS

But The true confession upon the heart is what GOD sees or doesn't see...

 

[sdowney717]

Actually, you can call faith itself a "work:"

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

A work that God does, not we do.
That work of God is why you believe in Christ.

To God belongs all the glory, honor and praises for our salvation which is by His grace-mercy for us who believe.

Titus 3:5
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

1 Peter 1:3
[ A Heavenly Inheritance ] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 2:10
who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

 

[miknik5]

Not really. You cannot formulate a doctrine around only one scripture when there are several others that speak to the same issue.

Then go ahead and tell a man what a man can't tell a man

Only GOD knows the heart and that true confession of faith of who we believe in upon the heart is not hidden from HIM

We can profess outwardly all we want. If inwardly our profession is not there, GOD isn't fooled

Even if men are

 

[Wolf_Says]

Why would a command addressed to someone else decide whether I am saved or not?

You believe that Jesus was saying to just that 1 person you alone cannot enter heaven without baptism? That's pretty messed up.

No, it is for all of us. As Jesus stated once again in Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

Jesus wanted us to be baptized. Plain and simple.

And I will say it again. Those who believe will be water baptized. Those who don't believe won't. And done who don't believe will still be water baptized

But we are t to say who will ascend or descend. Romans 10 is sufficient

The true confession upon the heart is what GOD sees or doesn't see

Nothing you say is changing what I posted. Yes, you need faith, and baptism. It is necessary as told to us by Jesus Christ.

Therefore, going back to the original question shown in the OP, yes, water baptism is a requirement for salvation for Christians, as it is commanded to us by Jesus.

 

[Dave-W]

Then go ahead and tell a man what a man can't tell a man

Only GOD knows the heart and that true confession of faith of who we believe in upon the heart is not hidden from HIM

We can profess outwardly all we want. If inwardly our profession is not there, GOD isn't fooled

Even if men are

Your "answer" does not even begin to address what I said.