Is baptism required to go to heaven?

Question

Personally, I don't think so because God is more concerned about how a person is living their life than he is concerned about baptism. I'm not saying baptism isn't important but I am saying before you are baptised, you should ask God to forgive your mistakes and to be your Savior. Otherwise, the baptism won't actually count for anything. Am I wrong? If so, why am I wrong (or right)?

Answer 1

If baptism was required, then the thief on the cross next to Jesus would never have made it. But Jesus said, this day you will be with me in paradise. Baptism is a public confession of faith, but not a requirement for salvation.

Answer 2

Baptism is not required to get into Heaven. Baptism is just an outward statement of an inward belief. This is also true for communion. It is not required, but it is simply an outward gesture of belief in the trials that Jesus suffered to take the consequences of our sins. So, you are indeed correct!

Answer 3

I am an ordained minister so I can answer this one :). Technically baptism is a celebration that you've achieved salvation so no it's not a requirement to get into heaven. Salvation is a requirement though. Should you be baptized before entering heaven? The answer is yes.

Answer 4

If Baptism is not required, why does not salvation occur before baptism in any of the scriptures that give a purpose or result of being baptized?

Mar 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Colossians 2:12-14 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

In all these scriptures, salvation always occurs upon being baptized. Is baptism the only thing we have to do to be saved? No, of course not. Faith, repentance and confessing Christ as Lord are also requirements.

As far as the thief on the cross is concerned, Jesus saved the thief under Old Testament times. Jesus never gave the command to be baptized until after he was raised from the dead. The thief on the cross is not a good reason for not being baptized.

Wayne K Cobb

Answer 5

No, baptism is not required to go to heaven, however there are commands in the Bible that believers are supposed to be baptised, and let's face it, if it was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for us.

Answer 6

As a Catholic, I know that baptism is required. Without baptism, one cannot partake of the rest of the holy sacraments, such as Holy Communion, Reconciliation, and Marriage. Baptism is what grants us a seat at the Heavenly banquet. Also, at least in the Catholic faith, baptism is performed on infants. Later on in life, at the time of the sacrament of Confirmation, the individual (now ranging in age from 14-18) is able to make the decision for him or herself as to whether or not to continue in the faith. Your idea of asking God for forgiveness before baptism is a notion found in other Christian religions. I believe this is what they refer to as "being saved."

Answer 7

You are right.......God is more concerned with the way that you are living.

Baptism is a religious action that was supposed to go away with the new covenant. Christ will baptize us spiritually with the Holy Spirit, so we can walk and talk with God just like Christ did when we truly become disciples and follow in his teachings.

Answer 8

I believe in obeying God's commandments. Mt3:15.
Jesus did it. However, we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus. I have been baptized in Jesus name. Acts2:38.
There is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood.
Once God removes your sins on the basis of faith in the shed blood of Jesus- you are born again! You have to have His Spirit in order to go to heaven. John 3.

By the way I agree with what you said about it not counting for anything- if your heart is not right with God.

Answer 9

no its not. baptism is a saved person's first act of obediance. it is a public proffesion of your commitment to jesus. it tells the world that you will follow jesus and not get caught up in the things of the world. it is representative of jesus' death burial and ressurection. washing your sins away, coming up a new person filled with the holy spirit cleansed from sin. but its just an public example of your salvation. it is a commandment but not a requirement for salvation from hell.

Answer 10

No, you don't have to be baptised to go to Heaven. Baptism just represents your choice of being Christian. You don't have to be baptised though.