Do I need to be baptized in order to get into heaven?

Question

If so, will any baptism do, or does it need to be by a particular sect.

Answer 1

NO. Read The Apostle Paul's writings in the bible. They are toward the end of the bible: Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Collosians,...etc. He speaks about Works vs Grace. He says that this is an age of Grace, not Works of the Law. Baptism is a work of the law. He says that if you could be justified by works, then you could say, "I deserve to go to heaven because of something I've done, i.e. I got baptised." But that is not the case. You can be saved by believing that someone else did a work of merit for you, and that was the Messiah when he fulfilled the scriptures, died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended into heaven for the sins of the believing world.

The law of Baptism was only given to the Jewish people before Pentecost anyway. It was not given to the Gentiles. The apostle Paul speaks on this also.

Answer 2

I am always amazed at how many people are unchatechized on this very simple issue.

Orthodox Christianity would say that NO, you do not 'need' to be baptized in order to get into heaven. Now, take that with a grain of salt if you will. Should anyone that knows the precept that we 'should' be baptized----BE baptized? Yes!! Baptized with water and the Spirit.

There is evidence to say that unbaptized persons DO go to heaven however, think of the thief on the cross and all the saints of the Old Testament who never had the opportunity of being baptized.

Baptism can be done by anyone, anywhere. You do not need a minister or a priest or anything but water. So the woman above that is all up in arms about 'no one' is willing to baptize her kids---well, that is what the lake is for! Do it yourself. However, why baptize if you are not planning on living out a life within a christian community?

Answer 3

Baptism is a command of God. There are two: Baptism of water and Baptism of the Spirit. You "need" both. No sect is necessary. If we assume that you are on your deathbed and have never been baptized, but repent, you shall be saved.

Food for thought.

Answer 4

We are not saved by ritual or works but by "grace through faith." "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, water baptism does not save us. However, the baptism of the Spirit is necessary for salvation and that has nothing whatever to do with water and it is not something we do for ourselves, it is God's gift to us at the moment we are born again.

If water baptism were not necessary for salvation, why then would someone be baptized? Baptism is an outward action based on an inward reality. Baptism is a testimony that the participant has trusted in Christ as Savior and they are identifying himself/herself by submitting themselves to baptism.

Answer 5

That would be based on your personal beliefs. According to Christianity, you "have" to be baptized and accept Jesus as your Savior. So, the real question would be what are your religious beliefs concerning God? Personally, I do not believe that baptism is a prerequisite to getting into heaven.

Answer 6

No you do not and if you want to be baptized it doesn't matter who's there but you and God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit for these are the names you are Baptized in it could be at a river like Jesus a lake or at your local swimming pool this must come from your heart. but many atheist will be in heaven because they have asked forgiveness of there sins before they died the thief on the cross next to Jesus was forgiven his sins Jesus told him i will see you in paradise and he was never baptized.

Answer 7

No...as long as you believe with your heart, mind, body, and soul in Jesus and God and honestly truly are repentant for all your sins, you will go to heaven. My mom the most religious person I know just found out recently that she was never baptized so she got baptized but she told me that she thinks that as long as someone believes what I just said, they'll go to heaven. But a Southern Baptist would disagree with me, I'm sure. I'd kind of like to believe that my Muslim and Jewish friends will be in heaven too I am just no sure it's possible......:(

Answer 8

There is no heaven don't you worry. Besides people are unbaptized often and supposedly get into heaven. If there was a god I'm sure it wouldn't need you to be drowned in water by a bunch of pedophiles that have discriminated people and other cultures and caused wars for the past 2000 years. You're fine without it as much as you are with it.

Answer 9

The idea of baptism is a misunderstanding of the term born again of water.

This is actually a reference to the reincarnation beliefs of the early Christians.

It has been used to mislead people into thinking that God cares about ridiculous ceremonies.

God has no conditions that are required of us to return to our home with Him. This is what unconditional love means.

Answer 10

Yes . . . and no.

Like many things in the Bible, it's important to understand the background of an issue in order to answer a question such as yours.

John baptized in the Jordan. The question is "Why?"

This may seem unrelated, but it's important to understand the "do we hav'ta s" of the Bible.

I'm sure you've heard many Christians say "We don't have to obey the Jewish law". That's true and it's not.

There's four kinds of laws in the Old Testament, there's:
1. Cause & effect laws like wash before you eat, and don't eat pork. If you obey cause & effect laws you'll derive the physical benefit, but it doesn't effect your relationship with God at all. (except that he loves you and wants you to be healthy)
2. Laws involving the priesthood and the temple. Nobody can keep these laws because there is no temple or priesthood today.
3. Laws reflecting the righteousness of God. It's VERY important that we as Christians keep these laws because God is the creator of life, therefore, thou shalt not kill. God is faithful and true, therefore, thou shalt not commit adultery. You get the idea.
4. Symbolic laws. Laws like "thou shalt bind (God's Word) for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes". The importance is not in the doing, but in understanding that we are to regard God's word in all we put our hand to, and in every thought we think.
Likewise "neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee." The importance is to understand that linen keeps you cool, wool keeps you warm, to blend them is to be (in symbolism) lukewarm. So, be hot or be cold, but don't be lukewarm.

This brings us to the issue of baptism.
After the Israelis wandering in the wilderness after Egypt, they crossed the Jordan river and entered the land. It was there on the "Promised Land" side of the River that God "magnified Yeshua" and empowered the chosen people to defeat the usurpers in the land God had promised to the chosen people. (Josh 4:11-14)

John baptized right there on the "Promised Land" side of the Jordan River. Thus, John's baptism in Jordan was a sign that God had raised up another Yeshua, this one the fulfillment of the one who led them into the fulfillment of the promises those many years ago.

We are baptized to symbolize that we are the people of Yeshua and we are thus prepared to follow Him into battle against the usurpers of that which God has promised to those who are called, chosen and faithful.

So is baptism a "hav'ta" for gentile Christains? Only if you want to enter into the promised rest.

Have you "come out of Egypt", that is, have you repented of your slavery to sin? I bet you have.
Have you "crossed the Jordan", that is, have you obeyed God's command to leave the wilderness of your uncircumsized heart? I bet you have.
Have you accepted that garment clean and white which is the righteousness of the saints?

Perhaps you are already baptized and just don't know it.

So the answer to your question is yes . . . but no.