Do you think baptism is a part of God's plan of salvation, or is it merely a symbolic act of faith?

Question

I have restled with this question for a long time. All I know is that my life completely changed the day I repented of all my sins and was lowered into the water. I was born again. I was blessed with a power that enabled me to overcome my greatest weaknesses. I had accepted Christ about a year before that point, but I was still to weak to refuse certain temptations in my life - sins that I had struggled with for a very long period of time. Peter said, "Repent and be baptized, eveyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). With all my heart, I believe I received the Holy Spirit on that day. The change in my life is evidence enough for me, but what about those who believe but are yet to repent of their sins and be baptized? Is faith alone enough for us to get into Heaven, or do you believe that we must depend on works as well?

Answer 1

Baptism is not a part of salvation. It is merely a public profession of faith and obediance to the Lord.

You do not need to be baptized, it will not "help" you get into Heaven. The most important date any Christian should remember is the date you were led to the Lord. That special day when after confessing and accepting Christ as your Saviour, Jesus said, "What Sin?"
Isn't that amazing?

Answer 2

What did Jesus DO?!
Be doers of the Word, not just hearers of the Word.

I believe Jesus came off the shore of the Jordan River, got wet, and allowed John the Baptist to pour water over Him for a very specific example to his followers.

If the Messiah, the Savior of all the Universe, Jesus Christ, felt it important to show you how to be saved, when He obviously did not need to DO this, then what is your response?

Jesus never wrote ONE word of the bible as an example to people. He did not leave an instruction manual of written text to follow. The Holy Spirit did this much later in His ministry.

Jesus was a DOER of the Word.

Answer 3

You are to be baptized in the name of the father, and of the son ,and the holy ghost. there are no more apostles left in the world to lay hands on you ,if you were baptized in the name of JESUS only, then one of the 12 would have to lay their hands on you for you to receive the Holy Ghost. The 12 all died a long time ago. People that tell you they can lay hands on you are fooling you. Be baptized in the name OF THE FATHER,AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, and you shall receive the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.SATIN will trick you if you let him, so why not do it right, and see the difference for yourself.

Answer 4

We are not saved by works.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

But we are save FOR works.

Once we are saved by His mercy and Grace we want to tell others about it - thus the great commission. We are not to just sit on our hands waiting for His return.

James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Answer 5

John baptized people to wash away their sin and help them start a new life - but even he said it was better to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

Acts 2:38: Peter spoke back, "Repent and be baptized, all and sundry of you, interior the call of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. and you will acquire the present of the Holy Spirit." i won't be in a position to locate the ordinary believism doctrine right here. If we are to respond to God's grace, we could desire to persist along with his plan, which includes repentance and baptism. God's plan additionally demands adopting his morality, practising charity like the sturdy Samaritan, eating the Bread of life, and enduring to the tip. the ordinary believism heretics misread some verses in Paul's epistles to push aside maximum of Jesus' teachings. i might think of once you have 4 remarkable biographies recording Jesus' words, you will not bypass over them in desire of out-of-context expenses from the single disciple that did not attend type with Jesus. Peter, James, and John spent each and every waking 2d with the grasp. On baptism, the Fathers of the Church have been unequivocal of their information of John 3:5: Jesus responded, "I assist you be responsive to the certainty, no it is easy to enter the dominion of God except he's born of water and the Spirit." except you're interior the placement of the crucified robber without danger for baptism, you're in charge to be "born of water and the spirit," i.e., baptized via an authorized agent of Jesus. Cheers, Bruce

Answer 7

Definitely need to follow intructions. But going under the water is symbolic. I believe that God has blessed you for your obedience and if baptism was that great a gift to you then ahmen, just continue be thankful for it as you so obviously are.

Answer 8

well, its both.. we should work and we should have faith
well working isnt a big part that helps you get into heaven
all you need to do is to believe in Jesus Christ and you'll go to heaven.
well work isnt really much part of going into heaven.. but its like an extra credit assignment..
God wants Christians to help other as much as possible... He also wants us to do our best.

Answer 9

Faith gets us in Heaven. Baptism is an outward sign to people of out faith. Works, if good, gets us rewards in Heaven.

Answer 10

The Bible says "Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish" not "Whosoever is baptized". The Bible does mention being baptized, but I don't think you have to be baptized to go to heaven.