Christians: A question about baptism?

Question

Is actual water baptism REQUIRED for salvation? Or are we saved by simple baptism of the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ?

I always thought water wasn't required because I always went by, "Only by faith you are saved," but right now I don't know.

Answer 1

The one thief on the cross recognized he was a sinner & recognized who Jesus Is. He asked Jesus, "Lord, please remember me when you enter your Kingdom?". Jesus said back, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise.".

The Thief did the minimal requirement. He believed Jesus Christ was righteous. He knew he (thief) was a sinner. He knew Jesus would enter His Kingdom, that Jesus is King. It is written elsewhere that whosoever confesses Jesus Christ Lord and believes in their heart He raised from the dead shall be saved. This is what the thief did.

Water baptism is an act of obedience. It represents how ones life is changed by His redeeming blood. The old man dies, the sins are washed away in His redeeming blood, the new man in Christ alive forever more.

It has to be confession & honest heart faith. God looks at your heart. We are born of God, Gods way. Not by being good enouph. Some can be water baptized & not have heart faith & just took a bath. Some can confess with their mouth... & have heart faith & not water baptized & are saved. Some people get saved when they are water baptized because that is when they confess with their mouth & believe with their heart also.

You need to confess (to God) Jesus Christ your Lord & Savior (that is commitment) and believe in your heart He raised from the dead and you will be saved (inherit everlasting life).

John 3:5 Except you be born of water & of the spirit you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That who is born of the flesh is flesh and that who is born of the Spirit is spiritual.

Being born of Water in this verse isn't water baptism. It is being born from the mothers water bag. To be born again is to born of His Spirit, cleansed by His blood, joint heirs with Jesus, part of the family of God.

Answer 2

Baptism is a picture of what has happened to a person on the inside. Romans chapter 6 is that picture. Buried in the likeness of His death, raised to the newness of life. Only immersion was used in the New Testament as baptism because that is the only mode of baptism that pictures someone dying and being raised from death to a new life. The water is a picture of the ground we are normally buried in. Infants were not baptized in the Bible because a decision needs to be made for Christ first, which infants can't make. Acts teaches, they that gladly received His word were baptized and added to the church. Babies can't decide this. Peter teaches that baptism does save us, (our conscience because it is the right thing to do because even Jesus did it as an example) but it does not wash away our sins. 1 Peter 3:21. Again it is only a picture but an amazing one anyway! Holy water isn't holy! Holy water comes from the city water tower and we know how clean that can be at times. We can only get saved from the inside out, not the outside in! :-) Hope that helps, billy, Isaiah 62:3

Answer 3

Anything in the Word of God requires faith. By faith you accept the water baptism. Because when you participate in the water baptism, you are announcing to the church and the world that you have died to your old life and are now living for God. The scripture also says that anything that is not of faith is sin. Are you ashamed to be baptized? If you love God that much water baptism should not be an issue. I have found out over the past, alot a christians give their life to the Lord, but they refused to be baptized. Why? Because they understand the significance of it. It symbolizes leaving your life of sin behind and some people are not ready to give up everything for God. Those people who refuse to be baptized usually end up right back in the world doing what they did before. Why? Because when you are contentious about the Word of God it is because pride has set in. And where there is pride their is sin. A scripture in Proverbs says, "Pride cometh before the fall". Read Mark 16:15-18. The Lord would not have mentioned water baptized if He did not want you to do it".

Answer 4

Baptism isnt a requirement, your absolutely right when you say that your baptized through the Holy Spirit when you accept Christ. The bible also says that if we believe in our hearts and proclaim with our mouths that Jesus is the Lord over all, then we will be saved. Baptism is a way of telling the world of our decision to follow Christ. So although Baptism in not required, it is a good idea for all Christians.

Answer 5

Anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ as being required for salvation is a works-based salvation. To add ANYTHING to the Gospel is to say that Jesus' death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation. To say that we must be baptized in order to be saved is to say that we must add our own good works and obedience to Christ's death in order to make it sufficient for salvation. Jesus' death alone paid for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus' payment for our sins is appropriated to our "account" by faith alone (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, baptism is an important step of obedience after salvation, but cannot be a requirement for salvation.

Answer 6

We are saved by simple baptism of the Holy Spirit!! As long as we accept Him we will have eternal life in Heaven!! In the book of Luke there was a man who gave his heart to Jesus while he was on the cross and Jesus accepted him. There are some parts of the world where they actually pour sand on their heads instead of water as there is a shortage of water where they live! These people are still saved as they have Jesus in their hearts! I hope this answers your question!!

Answer 7

Mark 1:9, 10 -- In the course of those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. And immediately on COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER he saw the heavens being parted, and, like a dove, the spirit coming down upon him; ... next is verse 11.

Answer 8

Right now, there is alot of controversy over this.

Scripture tells us we are saved when we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour and have a personal relationship with Him.
However to be baptized is an outward expression of our faith - It is a symbol of a re-birth. Think of it this way: In the beginning, before God created the world, the Spirit hovered over the darkness of the deep waters. Everything was in chaos.... but God brought the new creation out of the chaos.... isn't this a picture of baptism? To be obedient to the true calling of our Lord in your life, and to be baptized in His name - giving yourself wholly over to Him and living by His will alone.

You cannot lose your salvation if you are not baptized of water. Scripture supports that, but in your walk with the Lord, certainly baptism is an logical and desired declaration of your love for Him and your willingness to live only for Him.

Hope this is helpful
Blessings :)

Answer 9

Petina, we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ as being required for salvation is a works-based salvation. To add ANYTHING to the Gospel is to say that Jesus' death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation. To say that we must be baptized in order to be saved is to say that we must add our own good works and obedience to Christ's death in order to make it sufficient for salvation. Jesus' death alone paid for our sins.

The ordinances (sacraments) of the New Testament are baptism and the Lord's supper.

Baptism is a ordinance, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, signify and seal our in-grafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.

Baptism is to be administered to any that are part of the visible church and profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to Him.

Some denominations believe in Baptismal regeneration, a belief that a person must be baptized in order to be saved.

Answer 10

Baptism is not to guarantee your salvation. Baptism is a public declaration of you, dedicating your life to God. When you are put down into the water, it symbolizes the death of your old self when you have not yet known God. When you are brought up it symbolizes your new way of life, not returning the mistakes you did but putting on the new personality in harmony with bible principles. Baptism does not take away sins.

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptizer with water, it is an example for us. Baptism is like marriage, with it shows the love between a man and a woman. Wouldnt you like everyone to know youre getting married?

Baptism in spirit can only be done by Jesus himself... “I, for my part, baptize you with water . . . , but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off. That one will baptize you people with holy spirit.” (Matthew 3:11) A person who is fit to corule with him in heaven as king/priest by having a spirit body.