Do you have to be baptized (submerged in water) to go to heaven?

Question

I DO BELIEVE IN WATER BAPTISM AND I AM BAPTIZED, however I would like to know - Can you just repent and say the prayer of salvation, totally turn life around and go to heaven? When Jesus was crucified he told one of theives that was crucified with him that "on this day you will be with me in paradise" - the thief was not baptized; his faith saved him. Also, the woman with alabaster box in the house of the Pharasees. Jesus told her, "your faith has saved you, go and sin no more" - the bible does not mention her baptism. Also, what about death bed salvation? Will those people enter heaven, even though they were not baptized?

Answer 1

Baptism is a command of Christ. He said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

Many will tell you that someone believes, is saved, and then he shall be baptized. This is not the same thing Jesus said. It is not in the same order.

What would Jesus have said if he had meant, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved”? I believe he said what he meant and meant what he said. I believe Jesus! “He that believes not shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Many agree that baptism is commanded by Christ, but they say it is not necessary for salvation. Hebrews 5:9 says, “He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

Acts 2:38 says that baptism is “for the remission of sins”, “unto the remission of sins” or “so that your sins will be forgiven”. (Depending on which translation you read.) I Peter 3:21 says baptism now saves!

In the conversion of Saul (Paul), Acts 22:16 says he was commanded to be baptized and wash away his sins. Can we be saved if our sins remain? The blood of Christ washes away sins (Revelation 1:5) .

Romans 6:3-4 says we are “baptized into Christ”. Can we be saved outside of Christ? (See Gal. 3:27 also.) These verses in Romans also say we are “baptized into his death”. At Christ’s death is where his saving blood was shed and offered for our sins. We must contact His death to contact that blood! Can we be saved if we have not contacted His death?

Romans 6:3-4 also say that at baptism we “rise to walk in newness of life.” At a birth there is a new life. Can we be saved if we have not been “born again” to this new life?

In the New Testament after Jesus gave the command about baptism, every example of a conversion specifically mentions baptism. None of these converts ate, drank, slept, or continued their journey until they were baptized. It was always immediate.

Some of the examples you mentioned were before this command was given. They could not have obeyed a command that had not yet been issued. Also the death, burial, and resurrection that baptism now represents had not occurred at that time. How could they be baptized into Christ's death, when Christ had not yet died?

Those before Christ's death lived under the Old Testament. The New Testament came into effect after Christ died and rose again. (Hebrews 9:15-17) And remember, it was after His death that he commanded baptism (Mark 16:16, Matt. 28:18-20) All those who live after that point in time are subject to the New Testament and to that command.

Saul who I mentioned earlier, is a good example of the necessity of baptism. He spoke to Jesus. He called Jesus “Lord” and he asked what he needed to do to be saved. Jesus told him to go into the city and it would be told to him what he “must do”. In the city he fasted for three days and he was praying. (Acts 9:9-11) Many would say he was saved at that point, but he still had not been told what he “must do”.

Then he was told to be baptized and wash away his sins. Please note, even though he had not eaten or drank for three days, he was baptized before he took food. (Acts 9:18-19) This shows the urgency of baptism.

After one believes, repents and confesses Christ, baptism is the point at which we come “into Christ”. The act of being immersed in water and rising up out of the water symbolically recreates Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It is this way God has appointed for us to contact Christ's death and be forgiven of our sins. Baptism is “for the remission of sins”.

As for "death bed salvation", we will be all judged on our following Christ according to our ability. You and I are able to be baptized.

I believe we will be judged on what we had done, and on the opportunities we passed up during our life. The person on their death bed may have to answer for all of the times they could have been baptized, but I will leave that to the Lord.

You and I, however, are not in that situation! We have the opportunity to be baptized for the remission of our sins, or we can decide to reject Christ's instructions. It is dangerous to bet our eternal condition on a hypothetical situation when we could just do what God said!

Answer 2

Baptism is an outward act and confession that you have been born again. To be born again the old man must die and the new man must come forward. It is not to wash away sin as the catholics believe.The blood of Jesus is sufficient to do that.Jesus was baptized to set an example and He had no sin in Him. John ministered to those who were lost the baptism of repentance.Repentance is what brings us to Christ to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Acts 19:1-7. When something dies we are to bury it.When the old man in us dies we are to bury him.That is why we are commanded to immerse.It is as if we are having a funeral.We never bury a live person.That is why we must first repent and be baptized. Note: An infant cannot repent, nor should the be baptized until they are accountable for sin.Until then they are saved by grace and automatic Angels.Jesus was thirty when He was baptized.Read Mark 16:16. Now that the old man is buried, he now comes up out of the water which represents the new man.And the power of the resurrection of Christ,Philippians 3:10. Baptism is a act of obedience and one that should be carried out with fear and respect to what Christ has done for you.Those that you mention in the Bible were saved without baptism,salvation is free but it cost us everything to keep it.They after being saved now had to be obedient as well.Amen!

Answer 3

Nowhere in the Word of God is there even a portion of a verse that even remotely refers to Infant Baptism. No Baby was ever sprinkled in the Bible.

Just because some big “church” believes it does not necessarily make it correct theology. People will believe things that have absolutely no Biblical basis.

Baptism means nothing unless a person has received Jesus Christ as their Saviour. How can a baby show a good conscience towards God?

Baptism save a person as the Catholic church claims.

The Catholic Pope and his goons cannot unbiblically "infuse" the Holy Spirit into unbelieving babies through infant baptism.

Biblical Baptism means of spiritual renewal. How can a baby need a spiritual renewal?

Biblical Baptism is a public testimony to one's faith in Jesus Christ. How can a baby testify his faith in Jesus Christ? Can a baby talk?

No unclean person can enter God's kingdom! Do you think a priest can clean you with your sins ?

If we can get saved by baptism, then Christ's death was a waste of time. Galatians 2:21.

Answer 4

The important thing to remember is what salvation actually is.

Salvation is the confession of Jesus Christ as a person's savior, and submission to him as your Lord.Baptism, at no point in Scripture, is ever given as a condition of salvation.

-Romans 10:9 tells us that "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God saved him from the dead, you will be saved."
There is nothing about baptism that is salvific, that is, required for salvation. However, that doesn't mean that it is worthless, either. We are commanded to baptize believers in Matthew 28:19

Baptism is an outward and public expression of a person's faith.

-Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, not of yourselves, lest any man should boast."

Nothing that a person does saves them. There is a serious problem that arises when we tag a work as something salvific.

This raises another interesting question. Isn't the prayer of salvation a work? Yes. Saying the prayer of salvation, in and of itself, is not what saves a person either. Before I start getting flamed, let me qualify that. The prayer of salvation generally marks the beginning of a person's Christian life.

It is possible for a person to pray the prayer of salvation and not be saved. This is not a "Get out of hell free" card. God is not sitting on his throne, saying to Michael. "Why didn't somebody tell me there was a loop hole!" Salvation is a change of the heart to serve God. It is not an occasion to sin, rather an occasion for good deeds. Not because good deeds save us, but they result of a heart that wants to serve the Lord.

Baptism is one of these things that result of a heart that wants to serve the Lord. It is commanded, and if we have determined in our heart to follow Christ, then we will do as he commands.

Answer 5

Apparent misconception; When God created the Earth; there was water to be divided. You mentioned teh 'thief on the cross'; let me add here also that the Israelites were 'baptized' when they passed thru the Red Sea (1 Cor.10:2) on DRY GROUND (Exodus 14:22).
As for 'death bed confessions'; that is God's call not mine presently.

Answer 6

Catholics call this "Baptism of desire."

The Catholic Church believes that Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have heard the Gospel and have had the opportunity of asking for Baptism.

Therefore
- Those who die for the sake of the faith with being Baptized are baptized by thier death for Christ. This is called Baptism of blood.
- Those who die while preparing for Baptism are assured salvation. This is Baptism of desire.
- Those who die never hearing of Christ but have sought the truth and does the will of God as they understand it can be saved. See Romans 2:13-16. This is also Baptism of desire.
- Children who have died without Baptism are entrusted to the mercy of God.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

Do you have to be baptized (submerged in water) to go to heaven?

No does not seem like it - but is heaven and the kingdom of God the same thing??

John 3:5

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Answer 8

BAPTISMAL REGENERATION IS A TENET OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST BUT NOT THE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE (EPHESIANS 2:8,9)
JUST SIMPLY SAYING A PRAYER DOES NOT SAVE ONE EITHER (SEE THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN).
LUKE 18:9-14
I. I find RELIGION in this parable (10)
A. There are PLACES associated with religion.
The Pharisee and the Publican both came to the temple. Today the church is a place that is associated with religion. Religious people go to church.
Heathens are observers of temple-worship. Our Lord, and his apostles, went up to the temple; and we are commanded by the apostle, "not forsaking the assembling ourselves together, as the manner some is” in our days. Though our devotions may begin in our closets, they must not end there. If people never show their devotions before others, I must suspect they have little or none at home. "Two men went up to the temple."
B. There are PRACTICES associated with religion
What went they to the temple for? Not to make the house of God a house of merchandise, or turn it into a den of thieves; not to criticize the preacher, or disturb the congregation; no, they came to the temple, says our Lord, "to pray."
"Two men went up to the temple to pray." I fear one of them forgot his errand. I am at a loss as to what to call the Pharisee's address; it certainly does not deserve the name of a prayer. It may rather be said that he came to the temple to boast, than to pray; for I do not find one word of confession of his original guilt; not one single petition for pardon for his sins, or a request for grace to help in time of need. He only brings to God a reckoning of his performances. "The Pharisee stood, and prayed thus with himself; God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, erers, or even as this Publican."
To thank God that we are not extortioners, unjust, erers, and as wicked in our practices as other men are, is certainly good if we are owing it all to God's restraining, preventing, and assisting grace, but this was not what the Pharisee was doing.
The attitude of this Pharisee was one of self-trust, self-righteousness, and contempt for others. These are the very attitudes which Jesus underscored at the beginning of the parable (9).

ONLY ONCE IS THE QUESTION ASKED - WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED AND THEN THE ANSWER IS AS FOLLOWS:
ACTS 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Answer 9

It would not. i'm effective which you will acquire some responses suggesting in any different case, yet I strongly disagree with those perspectives. Do human beings fairly think of that God intends for us to be making legalistic policies on "how issues ought to be performed"? remember all those issues Jesus stated to the Pharisees approximately "policies", "standards", and type? ought to or no longer that's that we weren't given specific training interior the NT for precisely that reason: so as that we don't turn issues including baptism into some ritualistic technique? Romans 6:4 (that's frequently referred to by employing those advertising immersion)isn't discussing a technique for "a thank you to baptize". fairly, it fairly is addressing the religious fact: our baptism connects us with the death & resurrection of Christ. whether Paul grow to be intentionally portray the photograph that they recommend, is that to declare that it consequently ought to be performed a definite way/technique? Baptism, at its maximum user-friendly point, is a "washing with water". the flexibility of the Holy Spirit isn't "extra smart" in share to the quantity of water we use. the flexibility of baptism is interior the Spirit, no longer the format. BTW: a million Corinthians 10:a million-2 "For i do no longer choose you to be unaware of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers have been all below the cloud and that all of them handed interior the path of the sea. They have been all baptized into Moses interior the cloud and interior the sea" grow to be this being submersed in water? They crossed on dry floor. on the main it grow to be a "mist" or "sprinkling". If Paul grow to be portray a photo in Romans of what metthod ought to be utilized in baptism, what's he portray for that reason? BTW2: in accordance to Greek language lexicons, the which skill of the Greek verb "baptizo," is denoted as: "to dip, wash, pour, or immerse in/with water" (only based upon the context wherein the be conscious is used.

Answer 10

For starters, no one is goes to heaven when they die. From dust thou art and dust shalt thou return. Read the Bible! Geneses 3: 19