Christians, is this a true statement concerning baptism?

Question

I just asked a different question about baptism and this was what one person said at the end of his answer.

"You are not saved before baptism, nor is sprinkling or pouring baptism scriptural." (in context he were saying only water submerging is acceptable)

In your opinion, is that a true statement, especially the first part that you are not saved until you are baptized?

Answer 1

The Bible specifically states that baptism is "an answer of good conscience toward God" and nothing more. The actual symbolism is based on the Jewish MIKVA ceremony, where the participant goes under the water and is raised to a new life–used when one converts to the Jewish faith, etc. The water doesn't do anything but make somone wet if they don't ALREADY believe in Jesus when they go under it. Just like going in a garage doesn't make someone a car, there are many people who are trusting in baptism to "save" them, and they have no relationship with Jesus.

It is true that the original Greek text indicates, as does the historical context, that it was an act of submersion, but again, it is a ceremony that is meant to reflect an inward change.

Answer 2

Baptism and salvation go together. Pouring, sprinkling, or immersion is valid. And it doesn't matter what age the recipient is. Telling you that sprinkling or pouring is not scriptural, and that you are not saved before baptism, is just twaddle. There is an argument about the thief on the cross not being baptized, but if they go together, this person was "escaping through the flames" and my guess is not being baptized brought him further agony in his death since he could not be marked of God for the kingdom.

Baptism is much more than just a "tie a little ribbon around it," feels-good ceremony used to make a statement of faith and gain any applause that goes with it. It is a covenant owned and operated by God, and he can accept or reject that baptism as he so desires. Christians get baptized out of obedience, with the same attitude of reverence toward God. If you are one of his sheep, you will most definitely want to gain that mark. And you will want to get your entire household baptized, because this is how your family will conduct their affairs from this point forward-- whether or not anyone in that household will be among the reprobate.

Answer 3

No, this isn't a true statement at all. There is nothing in scripture that says that we should NOT have a baptism that involves sprinkling. Yes, there are baptisms that including submerging, but there isn't one that excludes sprinkling. I believe that baptism is an outward symbol of an inward grace that we receive as a gift from God. I beleieve that the moment that someone accepts Christ,then they are a Christian and saved in the eyes of God. We do not need a public ceremony to finalize the choice we make to follow God.

Answer 4

Jesus plainly said that you cannot enter the kingdom without being reborn through water and the Spirit, an obvious reference to the sacrament of baptism. Entering the kingdom is synonymous with being saved.

It is certainly not true that the Apostles baptized only by immersion. They preached in a desert country, and many of the places they preached and baptized there was no water for many miles except the town well. That's what they used to baptize - a bucket of water from the well. It's also significant that every known early work of art depicting the baptism of Jesus - and there are many of them - shows Him standing in the water while John pours water over His head. Some like to point to the passage which says Jesus "came up out of the water" as supposed proof of baptism by immersion, but the passage means no such thing. It says that Jesus went down into the river ... John baptized Him (no indication of how ... then, the baptism having been completed, Jesus "came up out of the water" onto dry land. Why would he stay in the water after the baptism was done? We see this same phrase where Philip baptizes a man. In that passage, Philip and the man go down into the water ... Philip baptizes him ... and then THEY "come up out of the water". Are we supposed to assume that both Philip and the man he was baptizing were submerged??

Answer 5

No, and no. I view baptism as a symbolic rite. But it depends on the tradition, Christian traditions that sprinkle infants have different beliefs about original sin, etc...To say that only immersion is acceptable that is faulty as well. One of the oldest non-biblical church writings, the Didychae has a whole section about baptism and the acceptable forms, because even the first Christians recognized that baptism could take various forms. This person sounds like a "hard-liner," in other words, some strict conservatives actually believe baptism is a vehicle of salvation, but most mainstream Christians wouldn't go with that idea.

Answer 6

I know many Christians who hold the view that you are not "saved" until you are baptized and know many Christians who hold the view that baptism is only an "outward sign" of your faith. I happen to disagree with both of them because neither is supported by the Bible. You won't find any verses that say baptism saves you. Trust me... I've looked! You also won't find any verses that describe baptism as "an outward sign" of your faith. Again, I've looked.

The Bible does say faith saves you (actually God's grace because of faith). The Bible also says faith without action is dead (and it's implied that it won't save you). So if you really believe, you will want to turn your faith into action. So what action? That's where baptism comes in as one action that was done by new believers almost immediately following the time the believed (the Ethiopian Eunich, Saul, Cornelius and his household, the jailer and his household, the 3000 on the day of Pentecost). Jesus even said "whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" as if the actions were tied together.

So basically I read that baptism is something God commanded those who love Him to do "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38) and why would somebody NOT be baptized if they really believe? If they aren't baptized, I would wonder if maybe they don't really believe. Of course, that's not my call - it's God's call. But reading the Bible leads me to teach what the Bible says. It's obviously important - very important - and very closely related to salvation. It's also not ever described as an outward sign of faith... it's a very personal inward act where we are united with Christ (Romans 6) in His death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible does say that the baptism brings forgiveness of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and a "new life" in Christ. Those aren't my words... those are directly from the Bible (Acts 2 and Romans 6).

As far as sprinkling goes... baptism actually means to be overwhelmed so a water baptism would "overwhelm" with water. It's hard to say you are "overwhelmed" by sprinkling. Also, it talks of people going down into and coming out of water. Again, the conclusions drawn from those statements are for you to decide but it leads me to think baptism should be by immersion.

I'm not giving any standard Christian answers from any church or anything... I'm just quoting the Bible. You can see why people are on both sides of these subjects I think. I hope this helps you make a good decision...

Be blessed

Answer 7

It depends on your denomination as to what is considered a "valid baptism." Most denominations recognize each others baptism. The only things required are:

1. Water must be used as a sign of the soul being washed (amount or how it is applied is not critical).
2. The person Must be Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost).
3. Either the person (if an adult) or designated Representatives (god parents in the case of a child or infant) must accept Christ and reject Satan and attempt to follow Christ.

Upon receiving this sacrament, your soul receives an indelible mark, a seal of Christ. You are forever a changed person in the eyes of God.

The baptism I described above is considered a "Traditional" Baptism. You can also be "Baptized by Blood" also known as Martyrdom. I also believe that anyone can make it to heaven if they truly follow their heart. Even the natives in the middle of the amazon who have never heard of Christ. As long as they follow the instructions God has written on their heart, he will not hold the failure of us Christians from preaching the good news to them against them (for it is our failure, not their's). This is not necessarily taught by all christian denominations, and I would ask you to consider why.

Ask your pastor for more details/information about the sacrament.

Answer 8

Believe and be baptized to be saved.

This suggestion is taken from a misunderstanding of Acts 2:38. Peter did not suggest that baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins, rather, he was calling for members of that generation which was guilty of having crucified Christ to separate themselves from a generation under the judgment of God. That separation was to be publicly signified through baptism. Moreover, the baptism signified that the people had received the forgiveness of sins.

A second passage sometimes cited to suggest that baptism is necessary for salvation is Mark 16:16. The phrase “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved” is not the same as saying baptism is necessary to salvation; this is seen in the last half of the verse, which omits the reference to baptism. Condemnation comes from refusal to believe, not from a failure to be baptized.

Answer 9

Many Christians believe baptism is necessary for salvation, thus:

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved

I do not believe the Bible mandates total immersion rather than sprinkling or pouring of water onto the head.

Answer 10

No. All churches do it different, but I believe that baptism by water is an outward statement of what has happened to you on the inside. To just be baptised does not mean anything if you do not understand and believe. Mark 16:16 "Whoever BELIEVES and is baptized will be saved but whoever does not BELIEVE will be condemned." Act 11:16-17 read this one too, I hope this helps.