Baptism no longer necessary? If Baptism is no longer necessary, is Repentance? Is receiving God's Spirit.....

Question

necessary for salvation? You decide!

It has to be necessary or else Peter who was given the keys to the kingdom of God would not have said it, right? Right!

Salvation comes through believing, but believing is incomplete apart form baptism. To repent and be baptized IS HOW WE BELIEVE.

Grace pertains to what God does for us, and faith pertains to our response to His grace. God took on human nature and died for our sins because He loved us. This is grace!

Jesus Himself instructed, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE BELIEVETH NOT SHALL ME DAMNED" Mark 16:15-16.

OBEY ACTS 2:38! THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE ACTS 2:39!

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses do not want anyone to get baptized even one moment before he is ready (and qualified).

Becoming baptized as a member of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. Generally, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness requires hard work and determination.


Baptism has important spiritual meaning, related to one's relationship with God and Christ. Of course, a dedication can be made in one's heart, and of course a heart-felt dedication is more important than any half-hearted immersion in water.

(1 Peter 3:15,16) But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts... Hold a good conscience

(Ephesians 3:17-19) Have the Christ dwell through your faith in your hearts with love; that you may be rooted and established on the foundation... and to know the love of the Christ


But (to be fair) Jehovah's Witnesses do believe the bible to teach that baptism is required for a person to demonstrate a complete repudiation of his former association with this "system of things", and thus be free from its "community bloodguilt" (see 'The Watchtower' 11/15/1995, pg 15-20). What degree of bloodguilt is tolerated by Jehovah? Jehovah's Witnesses prefer to stay well inside any margin of doubt. In any event, the typical JW student is moved by love (rather than duty) to eventually recognize baptism as necessary for himself personally.

(1 Peter 3:21) This is also now saving you, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


It is perhaps noteworthy that an unbaptized person who follows the bible, associates with the congregation, and joins in their ministry is called "brother" or "sister", is considered "a believer", and may even be called a "Jehovah's Witness" all before he is baptized. However, he cannot be called "in the Lord" or "in the Christ" until he himself publicly declares himself so by valid water immersion (see 'The Watchtower' 7/1/2004, pg 30-31).

Naturally, Jehovah's Witnesses do not pretend that Jehovah cannot preserve alive anyone he wishes to preserve. Jehovah's Witnesses also have unlimited confidence in Jehovah's wisdom, love, justice, power, and mercy in selecting whom he will for eternal life. Certainly, Jehovah can read hearts.

(1 Samuel 16:7) Not the way man sees is the way God sees, because mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is.”



Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20030301/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20020401/

http://watchtower.co.uk/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_14.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm

Answer 2

HOW DOES ONE RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HG? The moment we Believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. Surrendering Body, Soul and Spirit totally to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Note: Believe, not just to know but to Believe this whole Heartedly. Note: This normally happens after Baptism in Water but exceptions is not uncommon. Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Acts 11:14-16 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Acts 15:7-9 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Answer 3

No, repentance and baptism are not "HOW WE BELIEVE". We believe by the grace of God through the conviction and revelation of the Holy Spirit.

We are SAVED by repenting and accepting Christ as savior.

We display our belief and salvation by baptism.

If you take Mark 16:15-16 to the extreme you could make a case for someone who BELIEVES in God but never repented and who gets baptized getting into heaven.......but we all know that's not what that means.

NOTE TO CATHOLIC CRUSADER:

How about you knock off MISQUOTING the Bible: 1 Peter 3:21-22 REALLY says:

"water SYMBOLIZES baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[e] of a good conscience toward God. IT SAVES YOU BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."

Answer 4

Living and CJ - if baptism is NOT necessary, then are you calling Jesus a liar??

"Baptism . . . now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21)

"Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.'

"Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death..."

In him 5 you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
12
You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
13
And even when you were dead (in) transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;

Whoever believes AND(not OR) is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Answer 5

Who said it isn't necessary? The Bible says it IS necessary. Christians have always interpreted the Bible literally when it declares, "Baptism . . . now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21; cf. Acts 2:38, 22:16, Rom. 6:3–4, Col. 2:11–12).

Thus the early Church Fathers wrote in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381), "We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins."

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The Lord himself affirms that baptism is necessary for salvation [John 3:5]. . . . Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament [Mark 16:16]" (CCC 1257).

The Christian belief that baptism is necessary for salvation is so unshakable that even the Protestant 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).

Yet Christians have also always realized that the necessity of water baptism is a normative rather than an absolute necessity. 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.

Thus the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if they have not been baptized" (CCC 1281; the salvation of unbaptized infants is also possible under this system; cf. CCC 1260–1, 1283).

Answer 6

John the baptist said that there would be one that would be able to baptise in the Holy Spirit(John 1:32,33)baptism in water offers the admission of telling everyone in front of man we accept Him(God),Jesus baptises in the Holy Spirit..you will not be damned if you are not baptised in water

Answer 7

Believe as you wish, be it Allah, God, Buddha, or anything.

But I disagree with you, belief in anything does not require one to be baptized or repentance.

You might mean, to repent and be baptized is what you and others believe, but it is surely not how everyone believes.

Answer 8

Water baptism can't save you. Repentance can't save you. Works can't save you.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

The only way to be saved is to believe that Jesus, who is God, died for your sins on the cross and rose again.

Answer 9

1 Peter 3:21 says, “…baptism now saves you -- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Baptism is a command of Christ. He said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

Many will tell you that someone believes, is saved, and then he 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 what he said. I believe Jesus! “He that believes not shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Many agree that baptism is commanded by Christ, but they say it is not necessary for salvation. Hebrews 5:9 says, “He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” It is necessary to obey Christ to be saved!

Acts 2:38 says that baptism is “for the remission of sins”, “unto the remission of sins” or “so that your sins will be forgiven”. (Depending on which translation you read.) I Peter 3:21 says "baptism now saves"!

What would Peter have said if he had meant, “baptism now saves”?

In the conversion of Saul (Paul), Acts 22:16 says he was commanded to be baptized and wash away his sins. Can we be saved if our sins remain? The blood of Christ washes away sins (Revelation 1:5) .

Romans 6:3-4 says we are “baptized into Christ”. Can we be saved outside of Christ? (See Gal. 3:27 also.) These verses in Romans also say we are “baptized into his death”. At Christ’s death is where his saving blood was shed and offered for our sins. We must contact His death to contact that blood! Can we be saved if we have not contacted His death?

How can our sins be washed away by the blood (Revelation 1:5) if we have not contacted that blood? To contact the blood, we must contact His death where the blood was shed!

Romans 6:3-4 also say that at baptism we “rise to walk in newness of life.” At a birth there is a new life. Can we be saved if we have not been “born again” to this new life in Christ?

In the New Testament after Jesus gave the command about baptism, every example of a conversion specifically mentions baptism. None of these converts ate, drank, slept, or continued their journey until they were baptized. It was always immediate.

Some point to examples, such as the thief on the cross, before Jesus issued his command of baptism. He could not have obeyed a command that had not yet been issued. Also the death, burial, and resurrection that baptism now represents had not occurred at that time. How could he be baptized into Christ's death, when Christ had not yet died? How could he rise from baptism “in the likeness of His resurrection” when Christ had not yet risen?

Those before Christ's death lived under the Old Testament. The New Testament came into effect after Christ died and rose again. (Hebrews 9:15-17) And remember, it was after His death that Jesus commanded baptism (Mark 16:16, Matt. 28:18-20) All those who now live after that point in time are subject to the New Testament and to that command.

Also, the thief on the cross was at the scene of Christ's crucifixion. He had direct contact with Christ at His death. We are not in that position. Again, it is through baptism that we contact His death!

Saul who I mentioned earlier, is a good example of the necessity of baptism. He spoke to Jesus. He called Jesus “Lord” and he asked what he needed to do to be saved. Jesus told him to go into the city and it would be told to him what he “must do”. In the city he fasted for three days and he was praying. (Acts 9:9-11) Many would say he was saved at that point, but he still had not been told what he “must do”.

Then he was told to be baptized and wash away his sins. Please note, even though he had not eaten or drank for three days, he was baptized before he took food. (Acts 9:18-19) This shows the urgency of baptism. In fact, none of the new converts in the book of Acts ate, drank, slept or continued a journey until they had been baptized!

Baptism is specifically mentioned in all of these examples. Love, grace, mercy, confession, repentance, and the blood of Christ are all necessary for salvation, but they are not specifically mentioned every time, but baptism is!

After one believes, repents and confesses Christ; baptism is the point at which we come “into Christ”. The act of being immersed in water and rising up out of the water symbolically recreates Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It is this way God has appointed for us to contact Christ's death and be forgiven of our sins. Baptism is “for the remission of sins"!

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord!" (Acts 22:16)

Answer 10

As long as you didn't come out of the water with the old dirt still on ya!