Do you think someone can go to Heaven if they weren't baptized, but accepted Jesus into their heart? What if they commited suicide, baptized or not?
2007-01-18 02:15:44 · 42 answers · asked by Christian 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks for all your insight everyone! I should be more specific. I have not been baptized because I have a phobia about being under water. About a year and a half ago I was REALLY mentally ill and tried to overdose on pills. I begged God to forgive me as I took them. Now I wonder what would have happened. Also, do I have to get baptized? My friends have given me different answers.
2007-01-18 02:40:56 · update #1
Baptism is an outward wittiness of an inward cleansing, there is nothing Saving in Baptism. If someone accepts Jesus into their Heart, and Dies before being Baptized, they are Saved.
Suicide is a last desperate act of a very sick person. If They Were Saved at sometime before they lost Mental Control, I believe that they are Saved.
2007-01-18 02:24:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you do not. Christianity has a lot of rituals that are just that. It is done in honor of Jesus being baptized in the river Jordan. It is a way of showing rebirth or a washing away of sins. You can be a christian and not be baptized. God knows your heart and fears and He loves you very much. Maybe one day He will help you with your fear of water. I am very claustrophobic and being baptized was hard for me. I did it and am glad I did . It felt like I was transitioning from one life to another. So I do know how you feel. Talk to your pastor about this and he can give you some understanding on this subject. May God bless you.
2007-01-26 01:17:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace and the lack of it would not keep someone out of heaven. I John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We should be baptized if at all possible but it is not a requirement for heaven. All that is a requirement is that we have confessed our sins and accepted Jesus as our Savior.
The suicide issue has been debated down through the centuries, because it is a sin to kill someone and how can you ask for forgiveness if you are dead. But we cannot judge in that area, only God can. But suicide is never an answer to anything. Tomorrow is always new and we never know what God is going to do in our lives. If you are having thoughts of suicide, then you need to talk to someone like a pastor or a counselor.
2007-01-18 02:25:27 · answer #3 · answered by DebbieLou 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to be born of the Spirit in your heart and recognizing Lord Jesus there in your Heart will bless you with the real baptism of the Holy Spirit. In every other religion there will also be an equivalent recognition from the Heart and they may use different names or terminology but the effect is still the same. God’s compassion is so great even atheists or agnostics would be granted further opportunities to recognise Lord Jesus. As the Great William Blake declared “All religions are one”. Being baptized by use of water is a meaningless ritual so you should not concern yourself with such thoughts. Kind Regards Sean
2007-01-23 01:43:44 · answer #4 · answered by Cool Breeze 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Salvation is all that's required.
Baptism shows that you believe and accept the death, burial, and resurrection and ritually do this through baptism because when you are saved- you have been washed by the Blood of the Lamb, when you go under the water-you are "buried", and when you are raised up - you are "resurrected".
This ritual requires total immersion to be truly effective but I repeat baptism is not a requirement for salvation.
As far as the suicide attempt goes, God knows what is in your heart and He can help you more than anyone else. Pray for guidance and if possible, go with a friend to a church where you feel comfortable talking to someone and tell them what's going on in your life.
Get a support group going with this person and your family and friends and establish a prayer group.
You'll be surprised at how effective it is.
2007-01-24 07:25:56 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am in exactly the same problem. I have a fear of water and it has nothing to do with being scared of being cleansed and being unwilling to cast out the devil or anything else. It is simply a fear developed from drowning in a pool as a child. If you love God with all your heart and all your mind and all you soul and bear good fruit, follow the laws of the bible and Jesus, then baptism should not be too much of an issue. Baptism should only be entered into if you are 100% devoted to Christ and is not to be taken lightly. As for commiting suicide, it is not your life to take, you belong to God so it's the same as murder really. Speak to Salvation Army who can help you to get out of the rut you've been in. I am sure that there will be many people praying for you after reading this.
Love in Christ. X
2007-01-22 08:04:24 · answer #6 · answered by loopyannielou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can give you the correct answer. Yes, you can go to Heaven if you are not Baptized.
Your last question is between that person and the person wanting to do this horrible act of suicide would be God's decision. Living for God brings peace & joy. The coming of Jesus is upon us now. We have come to far to do this suicide. Jesus said, "Seek & you shall find me"
2007-01-25 17:05:23 · answer #7 · answered by NJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian, I am born again, Jesus is my Lord and Saviour, but I haven't really been baptized with water. It's something I've thought about lately, and perhaps, God-willing, I will be baptized with water.
Is it necessary to be baptized? The thief on the cross wasn't, but he called on the name of the Lord and was saved. If you want guidance, I guess just read the Bible and pray about it, the Spirit can guide us into all truth.
2007-01-24 03:40:28 · answer #8 · answered by dublinman87 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because you have not been baptized doesn't mean your going to hell. The Bible tells us to get baptized with water and the holy spirit, there are plenty of people who aren't bapt. by the holy spirit. The only way to get to heaven is through the blood of Jesus and it is our job to try our best to follow all the rules while we are on earth.
I do recemend that if you are worried about it you go ahead and take the plunge. Just remember that the Lord will be with you so you really don't have anything to fear. ask God to give you peace of mind.
Best of wishes
2007-01-25 06:15:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you become Catholic, you don't have to be baptized by total immersion in water -- the priest simply applies the water to your forehead.
The Catholic Church holds funeral rites for unbaptized babies who die, and commits their souls to the mercy of God.
It's very possible -- probably even highly likely -- that the souls of such babies are admitted to Heaven.
As for adults: the Catholic Church holds a teaching known as "baptism by desire," which says that an unbaptized non-Christian can still enter Heaven -- provided that he/she made a sincere effort to find God and lived a reasonably Christian life.
This teaching is based on the fact that, as Jesus said, nothing is impossible with God.
.
2007-01-18 09:41:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋