Do you believe that Christians must be baptized?

Question

or else they won't end up in heaven?

or is accepting that Jesus is our lord and savior, and his blood paid our sin debt in full. Seeing it would be a waste if his death didn't pay all the penalty for us, if we would be sent to hell if we were baptized.

people people Jesus didn't just die for us so that we will burn in hell because we didn't get baptized. Please make me feel 100% certain that baptism isn't a requirement but merely a symbol

So the criminal that was next to Jesus on the cross was saved without being baptized. I guess he couldn't be baptized. but what if I could be baptized but didn't. I mean and I was about to do it someday, but i get killed in a car crash, then what?

Answer 1

DEBRA G said:
"you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ-- to have your sins washed anew. meaning to be born again."

If that is so, why did Jesus get baptized? Did HE have to get his sins 'washed anew'? Why do you have to wash your sins again (anew)? Was Jesus 'born again'? Hardly. Someone doesn't know her Scriptures.

Baptism, as many have pointed out here, is merely a symbol of the OLD you dying and the NEW you coming up out of the grave. Can you say SYMBOL?

Answer 2

No you absolutely do not HAVE to be baptized to be saved BUT it is a very very very important step into your new life as a Christian. For those who say baptism is what washes away our sins they are wrong. It's the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior that washes away our sins and is more powerful than any water on earth. Baptism is a proclomation of your faith to people and is a very important symbol of faith. So no you do not have to be baptized but if you are truly saved there should be something in your heart making you want to proclaim your faith to everyone and baptism is the way the Bible says you should do this. God bless =).

Answer 3

Unfortunately like everything else people have turned baptism into a materialistic event when in fact it is a spiritual one. Baptism is cleaning the soul and accepting Jesus as your savior. It has nothing to do with water and oil. Think about it - God won't let you carry any physical things to heaven and even says that physical things are useless - so why would he place such importance on a physical thing that if you dont do it you wont get to bask in his glory?

Yes the criminal was baptised in the holy spirit. If you were killed in a car accident the same would apply to you if you have accepted Jesus as your savior. Many people get baptised in the physical since and believe this means the are baptised in the spiritual since. That is wrong. It is symbology. Just like getting down on your knees at the alter and acting like you are praying when in truth you just want attention or you are bored.

Answer 4

No, water baptism is not required for salvation, it is an outward sign of an inward change. Just before Jesus returned to heaven, He commanded His followers to preach the gospel to all people and to baptize believers. Baptism is a sign to everyone watching that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that you plan to obey Him and live to please Him. So, if you've been saved, why wouldn't you want to be baptized?

Answer 5

One criminal who hung on the cross next to Jesus was told by Him "Today, you will be with me in Paradise." The Christ also believed in baptism so strongly that He Himself was baptized.

So, if you can be baptized, the example of the Lord should compel you to do likewise. But if salvation is found near death and no baptism is performed, the truly repentant soul is still saved.

Answer 6

The bible is clear that baptism is not a requirement for salvation. Think of a wedding ring...I wear my ring because I am married not in order to be married. Baptism is a command for an outward testimony to the world of who our Lord now is.

I minister in the baptism ministry at a very large evangelical church in Southern California. We process and baptize about 150 people plus each year. I know that many do not understand the meaning and purpose of being baptized but it is important for a growing believer.

Answer 7

I agree with everything 2ndC is saying. If the world suddenly came to an end say through floods or fire nan destroying man through using nuclear weapons (sorry i mean man destroying man not nan) how the the Heck would only the chosen few be saved? would they be picked up and swept away to safety? is it like if your names not down you`re not coming in? God is love! You are not a sinner if you are not baptized. It`s not your fault. I was baptized confirmed and married in the same church. I have not been back for years except for funerals. So will i go to hell? No disrespect to J. witnesses but i have met many who have say 2 out of 4 in their family but only one of them follows the truth. if their armageddon sorry i can`t spell that Came about would the truth follower be saved while the rest of their family are doomed? None of them have answered me positively yet. This is the same as in christianity. I am not very good at explaining so i hope you understand what i mean! Bless everyone xxx

Answer 8

Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Truly accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the only absolute necessity. However Baptism is the outward public action that shows the inward commitment. Why wouldn't one want to be baptized? We are also supposed to follow the example that He set, and He was baptized by John the Baptist "to fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15) "

Answer 9

after John the Baptist came back from his vision quest...he started baptizing people. Can you imagine? Some wild-looking guy walks into town and starts telling people that they have to be baptized...for....wait a tic, I'm going to go look it up. Something about "a voice in the wilderness."

Nah, it was in Mark:16:16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned.

and also John 3:5. Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

(Unless a man be born again, etc... By these words our Saviour hath declared the necessity of baptism; and by the word water it is evident that the application of it is necessary with the words. Matt. 28. 19.)

Answer 10

God is a sensible being, if their were no water or no one to baptise, He would either make a way or know and accept you for what you belive in your heart. That's what the Bible expresses in fact.

God forgives 70 times 77, which means endlessly - because he is so loving and forgiving and generous- if you had the chance 2 b baptised and didn't take that chance but would now - the present time is where God is and can be : ) in fact some belive that even from the firey deapths you can be saved - when Jesus died on the cross He went in to Hades and brought captives with Him in to Heaven.

Answer 11

You are right-baptism is not a requirement to get to heaven. Baptism is for becoming born-again. Your sins are washed away and you start fresh in your new chosen life. I have just been trying to explain this to a girl in the UAE. There baptism is out of the question so all she can do is accept Him as her lord and savior.