You must be baptized to be saved?

Question

If this is so what about the thief on the Cross?

spiritroaming - I am not denying we should be baptized. I have actually been baptized twice. Once as a baby in the Catholic church. Then again by choice when I was older in a Pentecostal church. I believe baptism is important however I do not agree that it is what saves us. I think baptism is more a public declaration of a salvation that has already occurred. As babies cannot make a choice to serve Christ for them I see baptism as useless.

atom - If you search for the truth in the mormon church you will never find it.

Carmel - First what use would baptism be if you were not saved? If you are not a Christian it is merely getting wet. Second, God forgive me for my lack of knowledge? What in the world does that mean. Maybe you could explain.

The comment to atom above no longer makes sense. He found my comment offensive and thus removed his answer.

Answer 1

No way, baptism does not save but it is a commandment of the Lord which gives us an opportunity to declare our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to the world around us and also gives us an opportunity to declare what baptism means: we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

Answer 2

It's an apparent contradiction if the thief on the cross could "get away with" no baptism and yet baptism "now saves us" (1 Peter 3:21). Which is it? I think the only way to resolve this is to look at baptism as a replacement for circumcision, i.e. a covenant by God that the Almighty, not us, can reject or accept as He sees fit. Notice in Romans 9:13, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." Both were circumcised, but God did not accept Esau's circumcision. In the same manner, can He not accept the lack of the baptism and call the person saved, based on His prerogative as God? This would put the thief on the cross in the position of a Jew that was uncircumcised, yet the heart revealed his salvation, not the outward act.

I think this was also one of those passages that showed the power of Jesus not only to forgive sins, but to grant salvation as the second person of the Godhead. Only deity can do this. Therefore baptism as a profession of faith is only part of the reason for this rite. The real reason is the "circumcision" that marked out the Jew, as baptism marks out the Christian today. Baby Jews were circumcised as belonging to the family of God, and some churches baptize infants today for the same reason -- an address in the kingdom, as the will of God allows. Which means your first baptism was valid, by the way. At least in my opinion.

Answer 3

Mark16:16- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts2:38

Acts8:36-39

Romans 6:4,5,6

1 cor.12:13

Galatians 3:27

Colossians 2:12

1 Peter 3:21

The book of Hebrews and Romans says that a testament is not in effect until the testator dies. Jesus as testator had not yet died. Trying to justify not being baptized using the thief on the cross is like trying to take over Elvis estate simply because while alive Elvis gave away lots of money and cars and etc. If you understand that people cannot get money and cars from Elvis estate then you should be able to understand the thief on the cross.

It boils down to this is man right or the bible?
BB

Answer 4

The entire notion of the thief on the cross is ludicrous. The punishment for thievery in ancient Judaea was public flogging and/or restitution. NO ONE was crucified for thievery. Crucifixion was limited to what would be classified now as 'capital crimes'. The mention of a thief on a nearby cross was what we call 'poetic license'.

P.S. Since the entire concept of baptism did not come about until after John the Baptist, no one in the entire history of the planet was Baptized prior to the first century AD. It seems unlikely that NONE of them would be saved, so perhaps you need to re-think this whole baptism idea.

Answer 5

When asked what we must do to be saved, Jesus replied "ye must be born again". When asked what He meant by that phrase, He replied, "ye must be born of water and the spirit" - an obvious reference to the sacrament of Baptism.

The Christian Church has always taught that one who gives his life in defense of the faith, even though unbaptized, still receives the graces of Baptism. This has long been known as "baptism of blood".

Christ's Church likewise teaches that one who accepts Christ, and thereby commits himself to doing all that Christ commands, including being reborn through water and the spirit, but who is physically prevented from carrying out such commitments (because of death, for eaxmple) still receives the saving graces of Baptism. This has long been know as "baptism of desire". This applies to the thief on the cross. had he survived, he would have follow Christ, been baptized, and been saved through the normal means.

Answer 6

Scripture says that Baptism now saves us (I Pt 3:21), washes away our sins (Acts 22:16), forgives sin (Ac 2:38) and regenerates us (Titus 3:5). Of course, the water in and of itself cannot do these things, but when poured over the forehead with the invocation of the Blessed Trinity, Jesus imparts His saving grace to the soul. As the Eternal Word redeemed us through the instrument of the Cross, so He applies that redemption to us through the instrument of water.

Martin Luther affirmed the necessity of baptism. He wrote: "Baptism is no human plaything but is instituted by God himself. Moreover, it is solemnly and strictly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. We are not to regard it as an indifferent matter, then, like putting on a new red coat. It is of the greatest importance that we regard baptism as excellent, glorious, and exalted" (Large Catechism 4:6).

As for the theif on the cross, we don't know alot about him, but he did chastise the other thief and turn to Jesus Christ. There are exceptions to water baptism: It is possible to be saved through "baptism of blood," martyrdom for Christ, or through "baptism of desire", that is, an explicit or even implicit desire for baptism.
Perhaps his was a baptism of desire?? Scripture teaches that one’s final salvation depends on the state of the soul at death. As Jesus himself tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31–46). One who dies in the state of friendship with God (the state of grace) will go to heaven. The one who dies in a state of enmity and rebellion against God (the state of mortal sin) will go to hell.

Answer 7

Point taken! (And I believe in baptism!) However, what we don't know is whether this thief was already a Jew and in the Old Covenant (with its equivalent to baptism - circumcision) or whether he was a proselyte (so he would have been baptised). The whole point, however, is that he was saved because he put his faith in Christ, at the eleventh hour and the 59th minute. THAT's what saved him! But those who could undergo baptism after their conversion, but who don't, will have to answer to God for that. I don't judge them. I hope you don't, either! None of us are perfect in our obedience to the Lord's commands.

Answer 8

you're talking of two categories of baptism: the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and the baptism of water. The Holy Ghost could desire to come first, that occurs on the 2d of redemption once you commit your self to the salvation Christ grants. it extremely is mandatory for salvation. If this does not ensue, you're actually not stored. The 2ond is baptism, water baptism, is the subsequent step after salvation. it extremely is not an element of the saving technique. in case you have not have been given a water baptism, you will nonetheless pass to heaven, yet you is basically not interior the ideal will of God.

Answer 9

He had a personal contact who got him a free pass to Heaven... so did I... so can you... If you want to know how to claim your free gift feel free to email me.

You do not need to get dunked to receive Salvation... but it is a strongly recommended thing to do any way... I did not get dunked until a year and a half after I received My free gift... And Salvation is indeed a Free Gift.... at the instant of ones Salvation they are Baptized by The Holy Spirit... That is the Baptism that counts with God... The water Baptism is a demonstration of Faith before man.

Answer 10

All you have to do is be saved, because baptism is only a outward showing of an inward work.

Say a man repented of his sins and he died on the way to be baptized do you think that God is not going let him into heaven. Because in a sense he is baptized but and inward baptism.