Why do so many people believe that church attendence and/or water baptism gives them a ticket to heaven?

Question

pangi, Blondie, Judy ET, DougLawrence, kj7gs, Rachel H---water baptism has NO spiritual substance or benefit in a person's salvation! Wash away "original sin"?? Water CANNOT wash away sin! You better check the Bible and makes sure what you believe is in God's word! In Mark 16:15, 16 states: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." There is no mention of water in this verse, neither in Matthew 28:19! "Baptised" and "baptizing" in these verses means WASHING. Please look at Ephesians 5:26. It says "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"

The Lord is the only One who can cleanse a person from sin and He does this through the "hearing of the gospel." This sis why the word of God is so important. In Romans 10:17 we read, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us that ALL men are born spiritually DEAD in sins and trespasses. Just as Lazarus was in the tomb 4 days and was a stinking corpse, so is every human being before they are saved. Why do you think Jesus makes the point so many times in Scripture, If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. This is why Christ likens us to blind, and deaf, and lame, and having leprosy. We cannot hear, or see, or stand, etc until after Christ has saved us.

In addition, water baptism is a work that we do! God tells us in Ephesians 2:8, 9 and Titus 3:5 that we cannot do anything to merit or earn eternal life-salvation is a work of God alone. Take a look at Galatians 2:16--"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Church attendance is a work also.

southernmale42....what are you going to do with John 1:12, 13--"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Or what about Romans 9:16? "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."

Or Matthew 22:14? "For many are called, but few are chosen."

You already mentioned Matthew 7:21-23. The point I am trying to make is that your church (and all the rest) have chosen certain verses out of the Bible and made this your "plan of salvation." Did the thief on the cross follow your plan of salvation? But the Bible tells us that the same thief was going to be with Jesus in paradise the same day he died. How about the man that had the legion of devils in him (Mark 5)? He did not go through your plan of salvation. You see, what you have been taught .....

is a "false gospel". It was made up in the minds of men. It utilizes Bible verses but it is a false gospel that cannot save anyone. God has elected certain individuals to become saved before he created the world (Ephesians 1:3-5). We are all filthy rotten sinners and on our way to hell. We are DEAD in sins and tresppases. However God in His great mercy and kindness elected some of these rebels to become saved by the work of Jesus Christ, the God-man. He had to edure the equivalent of spending eternity in hell for these rebels to pay their sin debt so they could enter heaven. There is no work that a person can do to merit salvation--it is God's grace. God at a time He has chosen, will apply His word to that person and give them a new resurrected soul. The Holy Spirit then resides in the child of God and grows in the knowledge and grace of the Lord. Sin becomes hateful to a child of God because he/she wants to be obedient to the Lord.

MILES-how in the world do you "accept" Jesus in your heart? I do not find this in the Bible anywhere. Did the Samaritan woman accept Jesus in her heart? Did the maniac of Gaderra accept Jesus in his heart? Did the thief on the cross accept Jesus in his heart? Did the woman with the issue of blood or the blind or the lame or the leprous people accept Jesus in their hearts? NO! Christ saved them though. Please read Romans 9 slowly and Ephesians chpt 1 & 2 also.

kj7gs-water baptism is NOT required for salvation. Water baptism is a sign telling us that just as water washes away the filth from our skin, so we need to be washed from our sins. Water baptism has no spiritual benefit at all. In fact it has become a stubbling block just as circumcision was to the Jews. Circumcision did not insure one would inherit the kingdom of God. In Deuteronomy 30:6 the Bible tells us that we need to have our hearts circumcised...and only God can do that. In Ehesians 5:26 the Lord tells us, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," Salvation occcurs through the hearing of God's word. In Ephesians 1:3-5 the Lord tells us that God has chosen those whom He planned to save before He created the world. We do not know who these "elect" are but God does. The Bible tells us that God is no respector of persons so, therefore, we all stand on level ground. The environment in which God saves a person is hearing the word of God.

Therefore, we should continue to read the Bible and pray to the Lord for mercy (Lamentations 3:26). We should try to obey the Bible but obeying God's law cannot save us.

Answer 1

Because they have been taught that?

Answer 2

Because the Bible stresses Church attendance and baptism a lot, people see only that and forget the true way to Heaven. Look at the Catholic Church, when you think of salvation, Baptism and Church forgiveness are the first things that pop into your mind, not the belief in Christ.. People are afraid to teach that Belief in the death and Resurrection of Christ is the way to Heaven. A lot of other Churches are so interested in making their church the "Best"(which by the way, there is nothing wrong in that as long as you remember why churches exist), that they concentrate on the quantity and not the quality. I believe The ONLY way to heaven is to be "born again" and believe in Christ as your Savior. If you care to know more, check out my sources for further details. Thanks for the question, and have a great day!

Answer 3

Fellowship in a loving Bible based Church is essential. Baptism is supposed to be a public ceremony acknowledging that a person has accepted Christ in their heart and the convert is holding him/herself accountable to the people of God. Baptizing babies is not really a baptism because the infant can't choose. In actuality the child is being DEDICATED to God.

Answer 4

The same reason that so many think Joan of Ark is Noah's wife.
Or that only one out of three polled can name ONE of the four Gospels.
Or that a large percentage don't know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
The Church is failing in it's duty to God and man.

Answer 5

Water baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is the authentic sacrament of initiation into the church, and into the family of God.

Anyone who's willing to bet their salvation on the "sinner's prayer" and discount the words and actions of Jesus Christ himself, is a fool.

And once a member of the authentic church, Sunday attendance is mandatory.

These, plus a lifetime of full and active participation in all of the work, worship, sacraments and devotions of the authentic church just might get one into heaven ... subject of course, to the judgment of Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

The Bible says Faith without works is dead , so baptism alone is no guarantee of salvation.

Answer 7

Well, a ticket to heaven would be a nice thing to have, wouldn't it? So lots of people are naturally going to be looking for one, and churches present some of those people with a place to do their looking for that ticket.

Personally, while I do believe in heaven and hope to end up there, I find the concept of a "ticket to heaven" too simplistic to accept, and I'm suspicious of people -- mere humans -- who try to sell those tickets.

Answer 8

They have been led to believe salvation is a numbers game. One can purchase salvation like groceries and once price is established and paid, it is theirs forever. That is wrong.

It is a free gift given at the end of lifetime.

As James 1:22 says "become DOERs of the word, not hearers only." More is required than showing up.

Answer 9

When youre baptized, youre washed clean of your sins. Youre reborn, starting over. The water symbolizes cleanliness, like when you take a bath, correct? yes. So, when being baptized, you are being washed clean of your sins. Just as you would wash off the dirt with water in the bath/shower.

Answer 10

Because they have no idea what baptism is supposed to mean. It is related to salvation but they end up replacing it with salvation.

Answer 11

after you accept jesus into your heart you are supposed to be baptized jesus commands it. being baptized mean you are reborn in christ. its not as you put it a ticket into heaven. u have to believe that jesus is the only way cause he is the only way.