Does the NT gospel teach that baptism is necessary or that it is an option?

Question

Does the NT gospel teach that baptism is necessary or that it is an option in order for one desiring to be saved?

PLEASE GIVE SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE, as the Word is the rule of authority and not my opinion. This is a VERY important question for one desiring to be a Christian, and comes up very often when talking to people about the gospel.

Thanks.

Pat,
I'm talking about the one baptism that is supposed to be relative today, under this dispensation (water baptism).

Pat,
btw, I would NOT want that "baptism of fire" spoken of by Jesus in Mat. 3:11. Right?

JoJo,
You give some great scriptural references to support your position.

Could this be why Peter said that "baptism now saves us"?
"God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:20-21).

Andrew,
Thanks. You say: "It does not mean or help you that you are going to heaven."
Any scriptural reference?

How can I correlate that to?:

HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTISED SHALL BE SAVED; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16.

Jed,
Thanks I know there have been "unusual" circumstances. And certainly Christ has all power. I'm just trying to get the scriptural "truth" to the gospel that we should be preaching, teaching, and practicing as Christians.
For example: I seeking to understand from the book of Acts; what the early church taught on this subject. When we understand THAT. I suppose WE should be doing the same thing today.

biker,
Someone will probably ask THAT question. Right now I'm concerned about THIS question. But thanks.

bobbys,
"Once a person has accepted Christ as his/her personal Savior, the rite of baptism is a public way of acknowledging of what has happened inwardly".
Do you have any scriptural reference that support this statement? I've heard it alot. But, I just can't seem to find that idea in the SCRIPTURES.
I don't want give someone erroneous information concerning what I think is a most precious gift; the gospel.

Pat,
I'm sorry. Don't understand.
"declaration to the world that you belong to Christ"
Where are these words in the Word? I just don't see that.

I still don't want that "fire". Here's some reasons why: (from Mathew 3)
The immediate context would suggest that it is an allusion to the final fate of the wicked. Verse 10 says that “every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Then, at the conclusion of verse 12, Jesus continues: “whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

Why should the “fire” of verse 11 be viewed as something different from that referenced in verses 10 and 12, without some sort of compelling justification?

Answer 1

Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16)

Jesus told the apostles, "thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. " (Luke 24:46-47)

In Acts 2, beginning at Jerusalem, men were gathered together from every nation (verse 5), and Peter preached "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins."(verse 38) Exactly as Christ had commanded.

Jesus commanded baptism. (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20) Baptism is in the name of, or according to the authority of Christ and "for the remission of sins", "unto the remission of sins" or "so that your sins will be forgiven". (Acts 2:38 - quote depends on which translation you read) Baptism places one "into Christ" and "into his death" (Gal. 3:27, Col. 2:12, Romans 6:3-4) We cannot be saved outside of Christ. At his death is where the saving blood was shed. We cannot wash in that blood until we contact his death.
At Baptism we "rise to walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4) We cannot be saved if we are not "born again".

Jesus commanded baptism! "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him!" (Hebrews 5:9)

If you love Christ, you will keep his commandment to be baptized for the remission of your sins! Jesus saves those who obey him.

Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16)

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 what Jesus said. I believe Jesus! "He that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)

Some point to the theif on the cross. The theif on the cross lived under the Law of Moses. He lived and died BEFORE Jesus rose from the dead and gave the command about baptism. He could not have obeyed a commandment that had not yet been given. He could not have been baptized "in the name of Jesus" or according to the authority (instructions) of Christ, because Christ had not yet given those instructions.
Also, as I pointed out earlier, baptism is how we come into contact with Christ's death. The theif was there! He had direct contact with Christ at his death.
Finally, the death, burial, and ressurection that baptism represents had not yet occured at that time. So, the theif could not have been obediant to this baptism.

Again I believe Jesus! Who do you believe?

Answer 2

Baptismal regeneration is the belief that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. It is our contention that baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, but we adamantly reject baptism as being required for salvation. We strongly believe that each and every Christian should be water baptized by immersion. Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 declares, “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” The action of being immersed in the water illustrates being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection.
Baptismal regeneration is not a Biblical concept. Baptism does not save from sin, but from a bad conscience. Peter clearly taught that baptism was not a ceremonial act of physical purification, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. Baptism is the symbol of what has already occurred in the heart and life of one who has trusted Christ as Savior (cf. Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12). To make the source of salvation perfectly clear, Peter added, “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (cf. 1 Peter 1:3). Baptism is an important step of obedience that every Christian should take. Baptism cannot be a requirement for salvation. To make it such is an attack on the sufficiency of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

Which baptism are you talking about?

Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:


Alot of people have accepted Christ on their deathbed and never had the opportunity to be baptized with water, one example is the thief on the cross.

The most important baptism is that of the Holy Ghost and that is a sovereign act of God.

Water baptism is important after accepting Christ as Savior, and it is a declaration to the world that you belong to Christ.

If you want scripture references email me and I'll give you an exaustive list but it will take time to look up all the references.



Concerning the baptism of fire, if you are a believer you wont escape it, but it is not a penalty, it is to purify, it doesn't happen in this life, it will happen at the judgement seat of Christ.

Answer 4

Baptisms occurred in the Jewish culture before Jesus was born. It was a means of spiritual cleansing. Baptism is mentioned several times throughout the Old Testament aka Hebrew Bible.

Christ was a Jew and many of the earliest Christian dogmatic rituals were Jewish in origin.

Somewhere along the way, Jews stopped practicing baptism and only Christians continued. I think your real question should be why did Jews stop doing it (not why did Christians start doing it).

Answer 5

Hi, I will tell you what I know about Baptism.

Does it make any difference which way we are Baptized? Should you be Baptized?
Christ commanded Baptism.
Baptism is the outward sign of our repentance, and willingness to surrender our lives to God, being willing to bury the old self.

Matt. 3:13-17 Jesus was Baptized in swirling waters.
In Peter 2:21 Jesus sets the correct example of true Baptism.
Peter preached “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

There is only one Baptism , one valid, authorized, right baptism, according to God.
The Greek word “baptizo” means to submerge, to immerse into water fully, to bury, to plunge into water. Romans 6:4 -5
Some churches pour or sprinkle water and the word Baptizo never means sprinkling. A body cannot be buried in a sprinkling of dirt or water.
Baptism is a total submerging into the water as a sign of the burial of the old self, the death of the way you have been. Coming up out of the water represents a resurrection of a new you, surrendered to God., to live in a totally different manner.
Since baptism is an outward sign of total repentance, and the willingness to bury the old self, it should never be done to infants. Baptism symbolizes the putting away the life of sin. It is not a secret ritual for joining a church or a Christening of a baby at birth. Baptism is NOT for children! It should be done as a result of faith in Jesus, which takes a mature mind and repentance, a new life, trying to follow Christ. A person would have to know what sin is first, repent of it, and consent as a mature person to be baptized.
I hope this helps, and God Bless you for wanting to become a Christian.

Answer 6

Obviously, we should follow the Lord's example and be baptized...even HE did it!
But is it really necessary for salvation? I would say not, the reason is that God will NOT require of you something you would be unable to do.
The theif on the cross had no ability to get baptized, yet Christ told him that he would later be in paradise with Him.
If someone is incapable, I suspect it would not be expected, but if the person is, then yes, of course.
When a person comes to Christ, when they learn just what baptism is really all about, they should have the desire to be.

Answer 7

I don't have the scriptural reference handy, but baptism is symbolic. Once a person has accepted Christ as his/her personal Savior, the rite of baptism is a public way of acknowledging of what has happened inwardly...down under the water goes the old "man" and up emerges a "new creature" in Christ. Jesus, Himself, was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended as a dove. Colossians 2:12 reads "having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." That's the "picture" I am trying to convey, but the faith in Christ, not the baptism, itself, is the key. Salvation comes first; baptism is a beautiful moment of obedience and a way of publically proclaiming what Jesus has done in your heart and life.

Answer 8

Being baptized is a outwardly sign telling people that you are a Believer in Christ. It does not mean or help you that you are going to heaven. My nephew 15 at the time got baptized and he couldn't give me a reason why he did ( his parents pride forced him )How can a baby infant know Christ as his savior when the baby can't even talk ?