Christians - Who believes that baptism is essential to salvation, you cannot be saved without it?

Question

why was the phillipian jailer and all his household baptised the same night that they believed

Answer 1

I believe that water baptism, in the name of Jesus, is an essential part of the plan of salvation.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

After reading some of the other answers, I must add:
The man on the cross next to Jesus did go to Heaven. I agree, there was no way he could have been Baptized. However, he died before the Holy Ghost had been given. Therefore he was under the Mosaic law, which did not require baptism for salvation.

Answer 2

I am a practicing, believing Catholic and I do not believe that there is no possibility of salvation without baptism. It just doesn't make sense - where does that leave all those who lived before baptism became the institution it now is? What about the Jews, who are God's Chosen People? What about babies who die at birth, people in remote jungles, etc. etc. etc.?

I'm not discounting baptism, not by a long shot. I cannot stress how important I think it is!

But I cannot believe in a all-loving God who would not grant salvation to those in situations such as those above. And what about people who live good lives? Jesus even said that good done in whatever name was done in the name of God - surely that means something.

EDIT - whoa!!! No no no, the Roman Catholic church does NOT teach that there is no salvation without baptism. The documents of Vatican II say that there is ALWAYS a possibility of salvation, due to the love of God.

Answer 3

Jesus died and rose again on the third day. A baptism does NOT save you. It is a picture symbollic of Jesus' death and ressurection. When we go under the water the old man (unsaved) dies and we come up out of the water meaning we rise again to new life in christ. We receive baptism with a serious heart pledging our love for Him. The christian walk is the hard part. Anyone who believes the christian life is a cakewalk isn't dying to self or this world's agenda.

Answer 4

Baptism is your declaration to the world that you have accepted Christ. It is not required for salvation - the thief on the cross was saved by Jesus and never baptized. I believe It is just a first step as a new Christ follower to show that you intend to live by Christ's commands.

Answer 5

Not me. While we should preach that all men are commanded to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38), adding any other requirement to salvation by grace becomes "works" in disguise. Even though numerous Scriptures speak of the importance of water baptism, adding anything to the work of the cross demeans the sacrifice of the Savior. It implies that His finished work wasn’t enough. But the Bible makes clear that we are saved by grace, and grace alone (Ephesians 2:8,9). Baptism is simply a step of obedience to the Lord following our repentance and confession of sin. Our obedience— water baptism, prayer, good works, fellowship, witnessing, etc.—issues from our faith in Christ. Salvation is not what we do, but Who we have: "He that has the Son has life" (1 John 5:12).

Answer 6

I believe that baptism should be the first act of obedience to signify outwardly the cleansing that has happened inside your heart. However, I do not believe that baptism is essential for salvation. "For by grace are you saved through faith". The thief on the cross had no opportunity to be baptized, but Christ said to him, "Today, you shall be with Me in paradise".

Answer 7

Essential, no, but to enter ministry that God calls us to at the end of Matthew (The Great Commission), certainly. We have to go by Christ's example here.

Christ was baptized by both water and the Holy Spirit before he began his ministry to teach the Gospel and save souls. It is also a public sign of commitment. You are letting the public know that you are committing your new life to Jesus Christ. That your old self has died (gone under the water) and you are a new person in Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

I don't believe it's a prerequisite. After all when the thief on the cross asked the Lord to remember him, Jesus said, "Today you shall be with me in paradise" and he wasn't baptised. It's an outward expression of an inward conviction, to die with Christ and be raised a new creature... and the right step to take, but not a determining one.
Regardless of where you want to put the coma in this verse:
"TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE"
(Luke 23:43)
This verse still indicates that the thief unbaptised was accepted by Jesus and was going to be with him, after death.

Answer 9

Baptism is essential for salvation. Jesus gave authority to the apostles to baptize "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

To answer the person above if someone from a far off land never heard of Jesus and lived a good life, followed his concience and died without baptism this person could be saved according to church teaching. The Catechism is loadid with information and relevantradio.com or station in your area is a good way to learn more about the faith.

Taken from Catholic.com
The head of the apostles is supported by Paul, who said to the Corinthians that "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified" (1 Cor. 6:11). By washed he was not referring to the Corinthians’ bathing practices, because sanctification and justification are not dependent on hygienic practices. The verb meant that they had been baptized, and it was their baptism that brought them, for the first time, a state of sanctification and justification. Baptism changed them internally, spiritually, as it changes us.


Here is what the Catechism says:

1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.

Answer 10

Not in the Protestent religions. Baptism is simply a public display of your belief that Jesus Christ died for your sins. Salvation is having that belief.