Why do people think that Acts 8:37 proves baptism is not necessary for salvation?

Question

If you read in the KJV or any version that has verse 37 you can see that it is meant to go with verses 36 and 38. Also verse 37 it is in the NIV, it is in the footnotes.
36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
<<<<>>>>>>>
37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
>>>>>This is how the eunuch responded after he said he believed Jesus was the son of God>>>>>
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

I would also like to add John 6: 28-29 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (Added for those who say there are no works needed. It also fits very well with Acts 8:36-38)

livinginchrist~ you said "Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Jesus states, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6.
If I am baptized but have not accepted Christ, I still do not have salvation."
John 14:12a says ...Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
...If you believe in Jesus you will do the things he has done. Jesus was baptized in water. When did the spirit dove from heaven land on Him, after he rose from the water.
John 14:15 says...If ye love me, keep my commandments. which leads to Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Edge why would you be baptized except for having faith in Jesus?

Answer 1

Let's take a look at the passage you cite:

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

I don't see any implication that baptism is not required for salvation. As soon as the eunuch believed, he wanted to obey the command to be baptized, to be born again of water and the Spirit. Belief alone was clearly not sufficient.

Few truths are so clearly taught in the New Testament as the doctrine that in baptism God GIVES us grace. The sacred writers tell us that it is in baptism that we are saved, buried with Christ, incorporated into his body, washed of our sins, regenerated, cleansed, and so on (see Acts 2:38, 22:16; Rom. 6:1–4; 1 Cor. 6:11, 12:13; Gal. 3:26–27; Eph. 5:25-27; Col. 2:11–12; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:18–22). They are unanimous in speaking of baptism as really bringing about a spiritual effect.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 2

Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Jesus states, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6.

If I am baptized but have not accepted Christ, I still do not have salvation. On the other hand, I can accept Christ at the moment of my death and enter the gates of heaven.

Answer 3

Baptism isn't necessary for salvation. Jesus states, "i'm the way and the fact and the existence. no person consists of the daddy different than via me" John 14:6. If i'm baptized yet have not everyday Christ, I nevertheless don't have salvation. on the different hand, i will settle for Christ on the 2d of my loss of existence and enter the gates of heaven.

Answer 4

If you confess with your own Mouth that Jesus is Lord and the savior of the world, You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

The water is a ritual but the truth is with or without water.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is who he is, then you are baptized with the holy spirit.

the water baptizing is just a symbolic ritual. like I was baptized when I first went to church only i was with oil.

but Baptizing with water or oil is very important It is a symbol that God has cleansed you. but as soon as you confess you are already clean before you even get physically baptized.

Answer 5

This SUPPOSED passage is not found in any manuscript older than the 6th century. It is NOT AUTHENTIC. It also has nothing to do with the question you asked. If you want to see baptism's relationship with salvation, look at how the scriptures say we get INTO CHRIST where we come into contact with his saving blood:

Romans 6:3 All of us were BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST Jesus. Don’t you know that we were baptized into his death?

Galatians 3:27 All of you who were BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have put on Christ as if he were your clothes.

Acts 8 clearly impacts the question, but it is not the ANSWER which is missing from all of the best manuscripts of Acts, BUT THE QUESTION ITSELF that we need to consider. After, as verse 35 tells us, Philip "told him the good news about Jesus," he asked the question recorded in verse 36:

“Look! Here is water! Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”

Obviously, the "good news about Jesus" INCLUDED BAPTISM.

... The QUESTION PRESUPPOSES that baptism is our "point of contact" with the blood of Jesus. That part of the "answer" is built into the question itself...

Peter's statement about baptism "SAVING US" should solve the question... 1Pe 3:21 The water of the flood is a picture of the baptism that NOW SAVES YOU also. The baptism I’m talking about has nothing to do with removing dirt from your body. Instead, it promises God that you will keep a clear sense of what is right and wrong. Jesus Christ has saved you by rising from the dead.

The problem is that many people misunderstand "works" in Paul's writing. Paul does not say we are saved apart from any action on our part, but that the "works of the law" which the Jews thought made them righteous are actually meaningless.

Look at Jesus' teaching: Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. ONLY THOSE WHO DO WHAT MY FATHER IN HEAVEN WANTS WILL ENTER.

According to Jesus' teaching, you have to DO something ... However, NOTHING a person can DO can make them DESERVE heaven, BUT, to reach heaven, you MUST OBEY the teachings of scripture. Salvation is found "IN CHRIST." How does a person get to be "IN CHRIST?"

Back to the idea of "Works..." We see repeatedly that the context in which we have salvation "without works" involves "works of the LAW..." The things which the Jews believed made them right with God. It is NOT no action at all involved in bringing us into a saving relationship, BUT not these "works of the law" as practiced by the Jews -- and those trying to WORK their way to heaven, (Galatians 5:4 Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace... The ONLY verse that talks about falling from grace, and they did it by trying to follow the law!)

Romans 3:28 We firmly believe that people are made right with God because of their faith. They are not saved by obeying the law.
Galatians 2:16 We know that no one is made right with God by obeying the law. It is by believing in Jesus Christ. So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus. That is so we can be made right with God by believing in Christ, not by obeying the law. No one can be made right with God by obeying the law.
Gal. 3:11 We know that no one is made right with God by keeping the law. Scripture says, “Those who are right with God will live by faith.”

... This idea is always couched in the concept of works of the law done for the purpose of becoming or staying right with God. THAT is Paul's meaning, not that no action of any kind is needed.

It is NOT "HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM" since it is not sufficient to place us "in Christ." Cornelius and his family received the Holy Spirit THEN were instructed to receive water baptism.

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 Some Jewish believers had come with Peter. They were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on those who weren’t Jews. 46 They heard them speaking in languages they had not known before. They also heard them praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Answer 6

If baptism saves us then we are saved by works and not by faith. We should be baptized because Jesus was and He said to be. However it does not save us.

Answer 7

Real disconnect there if it's not looked at as a covenant that replaces circumcision.

Answer 8

You know, I've never even thought about that.