Why is water baptism essential to salvation? Should baptism be avoided?

Question

If you aren't baptized can you still go to heaven? Some say if you are sprinkled on the forehead or have water poured over your forehead, you're baptized. Some say complete immersement is the proper way. Which is true?

Answer 1

The simplest answer to this question is found in the meaning of the word "baptize." It comes from a Greek word which means “to submerge in water." Therefore, baptism by sprinkling or by pouring is an oxymoron, something that self-contradictory. Baptism by sprinkling would mean "submerging someone in water by sprinkling water on them." Baptism, by its inherent definition, must be an act of immersion in water.

Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. “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” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV). The action of being immersed in the water pictures being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection. As a result, baptism by immersion is the only method of baptism which illustrates being buried with Christ, and being raised with Him. Baptism by sprinkling and/or pouring came into practice as a result of the unbiblical practice of infant baptism.

Baptism by immersion, while it is the most biblical mode of identifying with Christ, is not (as some believe) a prerequisite for salvation. It is rather an act of obedience to the command to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). Those who believe in baptismal regeneration fail to understand that it is the “repent” part that is necessary for salvation, not the act by which we declare that repentance to the world.

Recommended Resource: Believer's Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ by Schriener and Wright.

Answer 2

Total immersion in the water is the most referred to biblically, but it wasn't always, and it's not a requirement. Sometimes, for some, it's not medically possible. I have seen people in wheelchairs get baptized by someone just pouring a bottle of water on them.

Also, being baptized is NOT essential to salvation. Do you know about the thief on the cross next to Jesus? He wasn't baptized, but Jesus still told him that he would be in Paradise with Him, because of his faith, even at the 11th hour.

Baptism is the outward public expression of your inward commitment to Jesus Christ, much the same as a wedding ring is the symbol of the marriage commitment.

If you're married, but don't wear a ring, it doesn't make you any less married, but the ring publicly symbolizes your commitment to the one you vowed to love and cherish and be faithful to.

If you have accepted Christ as the Lord of your life, but aren't baptized, it doesn't mean you are any less saved, but, I would still recommend being baptized. A pastor doesn't have to do it. You could be baptized by the person that led you to the Lord. And it doesn't have to even be in a church. You could be baptized in a river, a pond, even a hot tub, as long as the commitment is there. Besides, there is something spiritual that happens to you when you come up out of the water and symbolically leave that 'old person' in the watery 'grave' to emerge a new creation in Christ.

Answer 3

Let's answer this in the negative: Not wanting baptism is like saying you want one foot in, one foot out of the Kingdom of God. You may as well be shaking your fist at the Lord after telling Him that you submitted yourself to His authority. You must not have meant what you said to Him in your repentance after all. Go ahead, skip the baptism, and neither did your repentance mean anything.

Sprinkled? Like the spattering of blood as Jesus was crucified for your sins? Poured out? Like the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon God's people? Nah. Means nothing, immersion may as well be taken just as lightly. It's all just a waste of time, a show only, fun and applause for the believer, if you even want it.

Get serious. Take a look at the covenant of circumcision, re-applied as baptism in the New Testament. Read the New Testament and say "new covenant" when you see that word, and you'll see the seriousness of this rite. God owns it, God accepts or denies baptisms as He sees fit. That should answer your "heaven without baptism" question easily enough. Your salvation, your new covenant, is not at all in your hands.

Answer 4

Water baptism is not essential for salvation.

John baptized in water "for the remission of sins" but those hwo were baptized in water were not saved by water, or Jesus's death on the cross is unnecessary. John the Baptist said "one is coming ,....He will baptize you with fire and Spirit. Well, if water baptism was necessary for salvation, Jesus would have said so. John 3:16 says Believing in Him is what saves.

Water does not wash away sin. Only Jesus can do that. His blood shed on the cross. Sure, many preach Acts 2:38 as the gospel message, but where in that verse does it mention grace, faith, salvation, eternal life, believing, etc? it doesnt, quite simply because Acts 2:38 is not the gospel. If you look at Acts 10, in the last several verses, you will see "believers" who are obviously saved and speaking in tongues...and Paul says to baptise them with water. Clearly, water baptism is for the believer...the ones who are already saved by grace thru FAITH.

Water baptism is an outward confession, of an inward grace. the same reason prophecies and tongues and miracles are signs for unbelievers, so too if baptism a sign to believers and unbelievers alike of the baptizees confession of faith in Christ. It is his testimony of God's work in Him, How he died to himself, and walks in newness of life which is only found in one name.

Answer 5

it incredibly is a few thing somebody that has found out Jesus is Lord and Savior might choose to do. there may well be an no longer likely or very uncommon case in that a individual that has commonly used Jesus as Lord and Savior did no longer or ought to no longer be baptized earlier death. So no. John the final of the prophets earlier Jesus baptized with water and this became the baptism of repentance. Jesus' baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

For some reason, the act of baptism is one of the most disputed steps of salvation among the Christian churches. The fact that baptism is necessary to be saved is evident in the Bible. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus told the remaining 11 disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." If baptism was not necessary in salvation, why would Jesus make sure he told his followers to baptize?The examples about baptism are so numerous. To find out more go to. www.bebaptized.org The evidence of the necessity of baptism is overwhelming. Don't ignore God's plan in order to please man!

Answer 7

It is through Baptism that we are "born again" (or "born from above") of "water and of the Spirit" (John 3:3-5).

The Old Covenant was entered into through circumcision; the New Covenant is entered into through Baptism.

Just as children were once circumsized as infants, they are now baptized as infants because the Kingdom of God, which is entered into through Baptism, most certainly includes them.

Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul, so one may be baptized only once.

The earliest extra-Biblical writing we have on the topic is the Didache, a 1st c. document known as "The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles." On the topic of Baptism, it reads:

But concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having first recited all these precepts [i.e., all that is included in the Rite of Baptism], baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water; but if thou hast not running water, baptize in some other water, and if thou canst not baptize in cold, in warm water; but if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. But before the baptism, let him who baptizeth and him who is baptized fast previously, and any others who may be able. And thou shalt command him who is baptized to fast one or two days before.

If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but have not been baptized, be baptized as soon as possible, and have your children baptized, too!

"Ego te baptizo in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti."

Answer 8

Baptism is a holy sacrament. I dont believe that baptism gets you to heaven. It is by faith that we are saved.

If you are mailing a letter and just fold the flap in without licking the glue to seal the letter, can you still mail it and it arrive to it's destination? Of course. However, it's better that you seal the letter to ensure that the contents dont become contaminated with unknow fingers and eyes reading it's contents.

That's kinda the way it is with Baptism. I'm not trying to make light of the fact. Bapitism is a command, and we should participate only after a person has accepted Christ, that he took their payment in full for their sin, at the cross. This is salvation....saved from eternal damnation, or seperation from God. Baptism seals us with a promise. However, if one accepts Christ and dies before being Baptised, he will surely go to heaven to be with God.

Also, it is the Water and the Word.....method makes no difference. However, I believe that immursion shows the burial and resurrection of Christ. ( I could be wrong).
I hope this helps.

Answer 9

Baptism is by immersion.

The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. The Greek word we get the word "baptism" from, means to immerse.

Immersion is to dip down into the water. It is an overwhelming. The one being baptized is lowered into (until he is completely under) the water and then lifted up out of the water. It is not just sprinkling or pouring a little water on top of someone.

This can also be seen in Scripture.

John 3:23 says, "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized." Only immersion requires "much water".

Baptism is described as going down into the water and coming up out of the water. (Matthew 3:16-17, Acts 8:38-39) Only immersion has the one being baptized going into the water.

Also, baptism is described as a burial. (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12) Only immersion buries the one being baptized.

It's funny that the only place that people have trouble understanding baptism is in religion. If someone were to say they were "baptized in debt", would you think they had just a sprinkling of debt (a few bills)? No, someone described in this way is figuratively "covered up" with debt.

I saw a sports article that said the freshmen on a football team had an "early baptism". Of course it mean they were plunged into full sudden participation in the program. They did not just see a sprinkling of activity, but they were fully involved.

If we can understand this everywhere else, why not in religion?

As for the necessity of baptism, some may point to the verse that says, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” To call on his name, means to rely on his authority. According to the authority (instructions) of Christ, Belief + Baptism = Saved (Mark 16:16) Note Saul was told “be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord”. (Acts 22:16) Obviously this calling was more than saying His name or praying since he had been praying for 3 days. “Calling on the name of the Lord” is relying on his authority and doing what he instructs. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matt 7:21)

In 1 Peter 3, it talks about the salvation of Noah from the flood. The flood washed away the wickedness in the world and allowed those in the ark to begin a new life in a new world. Verse 21 says, “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of filth of the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” What would Peter have said if he meant, “baptism now saves”?

We are saved by the blood of Christ that was shed at His death (Romans 5:9-10). In baptism, we are “baptized into his death”, therefore, that is when we come into contact with His saving blood and we “rise to walk in newness of life”, or we are “born again”. (Romans 6:3-13) You must be born again to be saved.

Salvation is not by belief only. The devils believe, but are not saved. (James 2:19) Some in Jesus’ time believed, but would not confess (John 12:42-43). Jesus must not only be acknowledged, but he must be lord of our life. We must be willing to do what he says.

One more point, EVERY example of conversion in Acts specifically mentions baptism. None of these converts ate, drank or slept until they were baptized. It was always immediate. Saul had been fasting for 3 days (Acts 9:9). He was baptized and then took food (Acts 9:18-19). The jailer was baptized about midnight (Acts 16:25, 33). In Acts 2, about 3000 were baptized “that day” (verse 41). Surely it would have been more convenient to schedule this many baptisms over a period of time, but this shows the importance (urgency) of baptism.

Belief, confession, repentance, and baptism are all important! If any one of these is omitted, the plan of salvation is incomplete.

Baptism:

Saves
Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21

For remission of sins
Acts 2:38

Puts one "into Christ"
Romans 6:3-4, Galatians 3:27

Puts one into contact with his death/saving blood
Romans 6:3-13, Col. 2:12

Washes away sins
Acts 22:16

Is by Christ's authority
Mark 16:16, Matt 28:19, Acts 19:1-5


Jesus commanded, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).

Some will tell you that you believe, are saved, and then you shall be baptized. This is not the same thing Jesus said! It is not in the same order.

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 exactly what he said! I believe Jesus! “He that believes not shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Jesus commanded baptism! “And being made perfect He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him!” (Hebrews 5:9)

Why is Baptism necessary? Because Jesus said so! (His apostles said so too!)

Answer 10

Because God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, said you cannot enter the kingdom without it. What is ambiguous about that statement? I don't know of any church that sprinkles people. Pouring of water and complete immersion are the two valid methods of baptism, both of them used since Apostolic times. The notion that immersion is essential, like so many other Protestant beliefs, is a modern tradition of men that no Christian on earth ever heard of until a few hundred years ago.