This one has bugged me for years. About Baptism?

Question

Does anyone in the world other than me think that the baptism that gets you saved isn't what is done by a minister? John the Baptist said,"I baptize you with water BUT the one who comes after me will baptize you with FIRE and THE HOLY SPIRIT." I think that is what gets us to Heaven,(even though I don't really know what it is).
If we had to get baptised in church to go to Heaven...then it is a work,and salvation is not free.
Also,when Jesus was on the cross.He saved the thief beside him who said,"Remember me when you come into your kingdom." I son't think the Roman soilders let the guy come down long enough to get a water baptism.
Your thoughts please.

Thanks yo you all who confirmed that I am not crazy!lol

Answer 1

Water baptisim is a sign to others that you have died to the world (going under water) and are raised (out of the water) to new life in Christ.
Not necessary for salvation.
Faith + 0 = Salvation. Praise God.
Paul said "It is by grace that we are saved through faith and not by works ,least anyman boast" Ephesians 2: 8 & 9.

Answer 2

I saw a lot of responses but few scriptures.

I don't believe you need to be baptized by a minister... but you need to be baptized. Baptism is not a work, in the sense of 'we are saved by works' (although 'we're not saved by works' is not as clear-cut a concept as you might think). Do you need to believe to be saved? Well... here's John 6:28-29... "Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Baptism is the point in time in which our sins are forgiven... kind of like saying your 'I do's' when you get married. Marriage isn't about the 'I do's' in one sense, but in another sense, you can say you're married all you want, but if you don't say your 'I Do's' in front of some witnesses, you're not married.

We have a spiritual 'death (to the old self) and resurrection' when we go into the water and come out (see Romans 6:1-4, Colossians 2:11-12).

Acts 2:38 'Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one 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 22:16 'And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

I Peter 3:21 '... and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.'

There are many other passages that don't say it quite as directly but refer to it.

By the way, the thief on the cross was saved (1) before the new covenant baptism was initiated by Peter in Acts 2 and (2) directly by Jesus. Hey, if Jesus comes down and directly tells you not to sweat getting baptized, don't sweat it. Until then, do what the Bible says.

Answer 3

Baptism is Not what gets you saved. You can be baptized in every tadpole hole from here to the other end of the world and still die and go to hell. You must be "Born Again", Baptism is an outward appearance to the will of God,that represents the death ( when you accepted Christ,) Burial ( when you go under the water, ) and Resurrection ( when you come up out of the water; The old man dies, and a new man rises up.
it is not an absolute necessary have to be baptized to be saved

Answer 4

First Baptism is an outward Symbol to show you die to yourself the worldly life(going under the water) and coming up from the water is a symbol that you have new life in Jesus Christ it's not the water or action it's the change inside when you repent of your sins and ask Jesus into your heart.

When John said i baptize you in water but the one who comes after me will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and Fire it also is a symbolism that He Could only baptize with water But Jesus(the one who comes after me) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire(refers to speaking in tongues from full gospel baptist believe different about tongues).
I don't believe after searching the bible you have to be saved
like I said it' a symbol, I think every believer should be baptized to show to the world that you know longer are living that life.

When Jesus spoke of seeing the Thief that day was because the Thief had repented and asked forgiveness and believed that Jesus is the Christ, God didn't say you can't come to heaven because you can't be baptized no he said because you be lived.

That same invitation is available to every one out there Jesus died for your sins he took your place what you going to do about that choice is in your hands Except and ask forgiveness and by doing nothing you refuse his offer for eternal life.
It's your choice.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Study the new testament for yourself.
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Answer 5

When Jesus saved the thief on the cross Jesus was alive on the cross and could forgive sins under the old covenant, but when Jesus died the only way now that our sins can be forgiven is in the new covenant.He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.Now we can not be saved like the thief on the cross was.Now we have to be baptized to see the kingdom of heaven.

Answer 6

Water baptism is what you do after you get saved. It is an outward show of an inward work in your heart. The other baptism you speak of is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that is done by God in the lives of a saved and seperated person.

Answer 7

You're absolutely correct....water baptism does not save us. Placing your faith and trust in Christ is sufficient for salvation. Baptism is only a step of obedience once a person is saved....a means of identifying with Christ. Being lowered beneath the water and raised again is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Another interesting topic is infant baptism. Because baptism does not save, there is no purpose in baptizing infants. Each of us must make our own decision to trust in Christ when we reach an appropriate age....our parents cannot make it for us. This is one area where I feel many denominations go astray of the bible. Nowhere in scripture will you find any evidence of infant baptism. All those who were baptized in the bible were adults who had first placed their faith in God.

Great question....doctrine should always be measured against the bible. When in doubt....trust the book.

Answer 8

baptism is not what gets you into heaven. The bible tells us that we have only three things to do to get into heaven and these things are not physical works, only within ourselves. 1. Accept that christ gave his life for our sins, 2 believe that Jesus christ is Lord and only through his death were we redeemed from sin, and 3. Confess that we all are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. Baptism is an outward action of the obedience that we are children of God and it expresses that we are dead to sin and washed as a new child of christ, we should not even be baptized until these things have been explained to us. The things of God are not hard, man makes it that way. The actions of Christ were actions of love and the things that we do should be heart felt issues not man made actions. hope this helps.

Answer 9

Your are right. Only God can baptize us by fire(the Holy Spirit), but the Baptism you get by a minister is a ceremony of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. You die to the "old man" or sin, are buried (submersion in water) and resurrected (bought out of the water). It represents the washing away of sins and birth of a new being.

Answer 10

Yeah I think that a water baptism is a nice way to show your devotion to God but it isn't nessesary to enter the kingdom of Heaven...Like Jesus said, the only way to the Father is through the Son.