do i need to be baptized to be saved?

Question

are we not saved by grace? i thought baptism was an outward sign of what God is doing through the Spirit in my life, not that it actually makes me more approved in God's sight. Please help...

Answer 1

Yes, you do need to be baptized. Or else Jesus is a liar...


John 3:3,5 - Jesus says, "Truly, truly, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." When Jesus said "water and the Spirit," He was referring to baptism (which requires the use of water, and the work of the Spirit).

John 3:22 - after teaching on baptism, John says Jesus and the disciples did what? They went into Judea where the disciples baptized. Jesus' teaching about being reborn by water and the Spirit is in the context of baptism.

Acts 8:36 – the eunuch recognizes the necessity of water for his baptism. Water and baptism are never separated in the Scriptures.

Acts 10:47 - Peter says "can anyone forbid water for baptizing these people..?" The Bible always links water and baptism.

Acts 22:16 – Ananias tells Saul, “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins.” The “washing away” refers to water baptism.

Titus 3:5-6 – Paul writes about the “washing of regeneration,” which is “poured out on us” in reference to water baptism. “Washing” (loutron) generally refers to a ritual washing with water.

Heb. 10:22 – the author is also writing about water baptism in this verse. “Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Our bodies are washed with pure water in water baptism.

2 Kings 5:14 - Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh was restored like that of a child. This foreshadows the regenerative function of baptism, by water and the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 44:3 - the Lord pours out His water and His Spirit. Water and the Spirit are linked to baptism. The Bible never separates them.

Ezek. 36:25-27 - the Lord promises He will sprinkle us with water to cleanse us from sin and give us a new heart and spirit. Paul refers to this verse in Heb. 10:22. The teaching of Ezekiel foreshadows the salvific nature of Christian baptism instituted by Jesus and taught in John 3:5, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 3:21 and Acts 22:16.

Matt. 28:19-20 - Jesus commands the apostles to baptize all people "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Many Protestant churches are now teaching that baptism is only a symbolic ritual, and not what actually cleanses us from original sin. This belief contradicts Scripture and the 2,000 year-old teaching of the Church.

Acts 2:38 - Peter commands them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in order to be actually forgiven of sin, not just to partake of a symbolic ritual.

Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38 - there is nothing in these passages or elsewhere in the Bible about baptism being symbolic. There is also nothing about just accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior in order to be saved.

Mark 16:16 - Jesus said "He who believes AND is baptized will be saved." Jesus says believing is not enough. Baptism is also required. This is because baptism is salvific, not just symbolic. The Greek text also does not mandate any specific order for belief and baptism, so the verse proves nothing about a “believer’s baptism.”

Acts 8:12-13; 36; 10:47 - if belief is all one needs to be saved, why is everyone instantly baptized after learning of Jesus?

Answer 2

It'll be interesting to see which answer you pick as the best one, but I'm siding with Father K on this one -- mostly. The "thief on the cross" issue would not have been a "baptism of desire" without making yet another exception to baptism and free passes for babies, developmentally deficient adults, and whoever else we decide to throw in there if are going to make baptism a requirement.

He does make a point about baptism being paralleled with circumcision that I do agree with. But if God is in charge of the rite as he was with circumcision and loving Jacob but hating Esau (both were circumcised), then God can surely accept non-baptism. The focus though must be on God's prerogative, not what we "earn" for ourselves.

As for grace, it precedes faith -- it does not follow it. False religion will always give you "something to do" so baptism can't possibly be an outward sign from you. You can take no credit for your salvation, and you don't "make God happy" by being baptized. Therefore the only answer you should consider is that baptism is a covenant between God and you, carried forward from circumcision -- not something you have to do for God and an audience of people that gets to clap for you.

Answer 3

Spirito, Colbert, and God’s Child, my hat is off to you for using God’s word to answer questions about God, instead of some quote a preacher made up to soothe the consciences of his flock. Jesus came to fulfill the old covenant with the Israelites, and to establish a new covenant with all the world. The thief on the cross excuse is meaningless. The Greek word for thief was also the same word the Pharisees used to refer to any Galilean, and the Bible does not say if this man was baptized in the past or not. The Bible does not contradict itself, and water baptism is commanded over twenty-seven times. Are we saved by grace? Are we saved by faith? Are we saved by water baptism? Yes, Yes, Yes. Which came first, the chicken or the egg. Does it really matter? Ask God when you get there, but in the mean time, please don’t add to, or take away from God’s new covenant. We are saved by following the new covenant Jesus made with us. Denominational religions create luke-warm followers, which includes a great many in America. We must put aside denominational prejudice and strictly follow God’s word. If you do, you will be noticed because living for Christ is the opposite of a secular life.

Answer 4

The Bible never says that if one is not baptized then he is not saved.

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned." If baptism was a condition of salvation, it should read, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe AND is not baptized will be condemned."

The Bible is clear that we are saved by faith alone. Abraham was saved by faith, and we are saved by faith (Romans 4:1-25; Galatians 3:6-22).

Throughout the Bible, in every dispensation, people have been saved without being baptized. Every believer in the Old Testament (e.g., Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon) was saved but not baptized. The thief on the cross was saved but not baptized. Cornelius was saved before he was baptized (Acts 10:44-46).

Baptism is a testimony of our faith and a public declaration that we believe in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures tell us that we have eternal life the moment we believe (John 5:24), and belief always comes before being baptized. Baptism does not save us any more than walking an aisle or saying a prayer saves us. We are saved when we believe.

Throughout the Bible we see that at the point of faith a believer possesses all the promises and blessings of salvation (John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 20:31; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31). When one believes, he has eternal life, does not come under judgment, and has passed from death into life (John 5:24)—all before he or she is baptized.

If you believe in baptismal regeneration, you would do well to prayerfully consider whom or what you are really putting your trust in. Is your faith in a physical act (being baptized) or in the finished work of Christ on the cross? Whom or what are you trusting for salvation? Is it the shadow (baptism) or the substance (Jesus Christ)? Our faith must rest in Christ alone. “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Baptism is an act of obedience, not a requirement for salvation!

Answer 5

Yes, Baptism is required to be saved 1 Peter 3:20-21. It is not simply enough to believe or else the men of Acts 2:36-37 would not have asked after they believed and were sorry, "What shall we do to be saved." They needed to be baptised (dunked completely into water) in order to be baptised into Jesus' death and to be raised into a new life with your sins forgiven. The biggest misconception is the thief on the cross, whom if you noticed lived before Jesus' death and would have died under the law of Moses that used shadows of Christ to connect with His death (i.e. passover to which Christ is the complete passover lamb). In the same manner we put Jesus our passover Lamb on with Baptism Galatians 3:27.
The final thought is that we are saved by the grace of God, it wasn't by anything that we have done to earn our salvation, God by His grace gave us Christ that if we obey him we shall not be disappointed. In James it is said that our faith is perfected by our works, and that is the only place in the Bible that the phrase faith alone appears when it says that we are not saved by faith alone. But if you still think that baptism is a work, check out Colossians 2:12 where it states that baptism is a work of God not man. Baptism is required for salvation, Mark 16:16

Answer 6

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).


"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]"
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"

Answer 7

The rejection of baptism is one of those red flags of a poorly informed Christian trying to learn the faith in a man-made organization. They put human philosophy over the teachings of Christ, which invariably leads to reducing the call to faith and works to some simple formula negating concrete action in obedience to God.

Christians are NOT saved by faith alone. James 2:24: "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

Why not listen to Jesus?

Mark 16:16: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

John 3:5: Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."

Original Christians have always taught that sacramental baptism, except in the most extraordinary circumstances, is needed to be born again into the life of Christ.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 8

Mark16:16,
Acts2:38,
Romans 6:3,4,5,6,
1 Corinthians 12:13,
Colossians 2:12,
1 Peter 3:21.

Are you going to believe the bible or man? It is your choice. Baptism contrary to what man says is not a work. If someone told you they would give you a Porche and all you had to do is be dunked in water, you would not dare say you earned the car by working.
I never understand Christians they claim to believe in Christ and the bible but don't do what it says
BB

Answer 9

I see it this way. Baptism doesn't save you...but if you refuse to be baptized...it can condemn you. It is a little thing called obedience. Obedience is our faithful works that justify us for grace. If we refuse to obey we are in rebellion against God. Even if we think that something that God has asked is unnecessary...we are to still do it if for no other reason than God has asked us...That is obedience...that is exercising faith. Remember that Faith without works is dead.

Other thing to remember...Jesus was baptized. He was baptized in water by immersion by one holding the proper authority. Why would you want to NOT do something that Jesus thought was so important? So important that he did it Himself and commanded His disciples to do as well? Something to think about.

Edit 1: The thief on the cross. We know that the Thief didn't get into heaven because Jesus didn't go to Heaven that day...so paradise and heaven aren't the same thing. I'm not saying that paradise is bad...just that they are different. Therefore, this is not a good example of a reason NOT to be baptized.

Answer 10

You do not need to be baptized to be saved...baptism comes AFTER salvation.

You would have no clue what baptism is as an unbeliever.

Romans 6:4 Therefore 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.

Baptism is identifying with Christ, an outward expression of an inward change.