Do you have to have a baptism?

Question

I grew up in a household that didn't express religion. I have recently been saved but I don't go to a church. I have never felt comfortable in a church, so I chose to worship at home until I find a church I feel comfortable with. Anyways, Do you have to be baptized to go to Heaven and/or have a relationship with God? Or is that just a just a Baptist thing?

Answer 1

No, But it a good idea to be baptized. Baptism is the outward public act of your salvation.

Answer 2

It is not a Baptist thing, it is a Christian thing. Look at the Bible and you will see that you have to be baptized to be saved. Notice that most of those who agree have used scripture. Jesus did it as our example. No where in Acts was anyone saved without baptism, the reason we use Acts is because it is the history of the early Church setting the example to follow. Baptism has many functions.
Acts 2:38 - for forgiveness of sins
Acts 22:16 - Washing away of sins and calling on Jesus' name
1 Peter 3:20-21 - an appeal for a good conscience.
Galatians 3:27 - Putting on Jesus
Romans 6:3-9 - Uniting ourselves with Jesus' death, resurrection, and giving us a newness of life.
There are several other passages that make the point that baptism is part of salvation. Just as much as belief is, Mark 16:16. Note that if you don't believe you won't get baptized. If you just remain at belief, that cannot save you, James 2:14-23. You will notice that the demons also believe, are they saved? Also note that baptism IS NOT A WORK, Colossians 2:12 says that it is a work of God, not anything we have done. Baptism is required to unite us with Jesus.

Answer 3

Everyone has a different opinion on that one. Jesus told the thief on the cross he would 'see him in paradise' and the thief wasn't baptized. If Jesus himself said he would meet him there then I think that gives us the answer.

Some people think unless you are 'dunked' rather than sprinkled you won't make it to Heaven. No where in the Bible does it say that! A baptism is an outward expression of your faith. It is a very moving spiritual experience. I am sure you will be getting many different answers to this question because many denominations view it differently. Don't get wrapped up in the 'title' of the church and its denomination...as long as they are preaching the true word of God and you feel like you fit in then so be it. I am an evangelical Methodist, and often I will attend my friend's baptist church. God doesn't look at the denomination--he looks at our hearts.

I hope you find a church that teaches the truth about God, somewhere where you can embrace the church family as your own. Sometimes it is a very long journey to find the right one, but when you do you'll know it! Until then keep studying the word and praying! God bless you! <><

Answer 4

You may be interested in this link, it's not my own writing so I don't feel free to just "block and copy" as if it was my own:

http://www.reformed.org/sacramentology/index.html
Click on "An allegory intended to illustrate Covenant Theology's view of history, the relationship of water baptism to circumcision, and the reason we baptize infants."
By: Robin Griffin

It provides a view that makes sense of baptism being tied to salvation.

It's when baptism has nothing to do with a covenant, that you get such wildly divergent answers about it not being necessary and yet being a commandment of Christ.

Answer 5

You have been saved from WHAT? Any place where you can establish communication with God is a suitable place for a link with Him. Don't worship God if you mean praises doling out to Him. Live to the dictates of your conscience that does good to the society. Baptism is a human invention that does not make any sense. In our Church they charge hundreds for a few liters of well water. By your actions and attitude you can feel heaven right around you. What is your proof that Heaven exists and if there is proof, share it with Yahoo Forum.

Answer 6

Christian baptism, according to the Bible, is an outward testimony of what has occurred inwardly in a believer’s life. Christian baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible declares, “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV). In Christian baptism, the action of being immersed in the water pictures being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection.

In Christian baptism, there should be two requirements before a person is baptized: (1) the person being baptized must have trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior, and (2) the person must understand what baptism signifies. If a person knows the Lord Jesus as Savior, understands that Christian baptism is a step of obedience in publicly proclaiming his faith in Christ, and desires to be baptized – then there is no reason to prevent the believer from being baptized. According to the Bible, Christian baptism is simply a step of obedience, a public proclamation of one’s faith in Christ alone for salvation. Christian baptism is important because it is a step of obedience – publicly declaring faith in Christ and commitment to Him, and identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Recommended Resource: Believer's Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ by Schriener and Wright.

Answer 7

its only a public display of the symbolism of what a re-birth in Christ represents......
remember the thief on the cross next to Jesus? he wasnt baptized yet Jesus told him "today you will be with Me in paradise"....
sister.....dont look for a denomination....i was raised in a baptist church...then i finally sat down and read the Bible myself and found soooo many things id never been taught or heard mentioned......
i know it sounds extreme....BUT i have found to be most comfortable in a Non- Denominational church anymore.....
Con grats on becoming a New Creature in Christ........
my best word for you would be to tell you tha t God said " No weapon formed against you shall prosper" !!!!!

Answer 8

Everyone needs to have fellowship with l;ike minded people and to help you grow spiritually.

Baptism is a public declaration of faith in Christ by the believer before man. It is his outward demonstration of an inward act, and is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Immersion fully portrays the place of death; there are some people, even today, who have met actual physical death after coming up out of the baptismal waters. Those who have come out of other religions evaluate the ordinance of baptism more highly than those who have been raised in Christian homes. Not only does baptism show the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it also shows the believer’s identification with Christ. Baptism is his full declaration of his own death in Christ (II Cor. 5:14): dead to sin, dead to self and dead to the old life. It is also his declaration of being raised with Christ, after burying the old life, to walk in newness of life with Him.

The baptism of all believers, as recorded in the Word, pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The baptism of John the Baptist looked forward to Christ’s death and resurrection, and our baptism today looks back to the death and resurrection of our Lord.

It is not a saving ordinance. Man is saved by faith alone. This occurs before baptism. It is true, however, that baptism is a public declaration of faith before man, and God looks not upon the baptismal waters, but upon the heart of man.

Who should be baptized? I believe only the believer! “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Faith is first, then baptism. Again the question arises, “Does man have to be baptized to be saved?” No, for this Scripture says that he that believeth not shall be damned. If water baptism were essential, the Lord would have added these words, “He that is not baptized is damned.” The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Corinthians said, “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius. . . . For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be of none effect” (I Cor. 1:14, 17). If baptism were necessary for salvation, Paul would not have boasted in the fact that he had baptized so few. He plainly states that baptism had nothing to do with the Gospel (Rom. 1:16), for Christ had sent him not to baptize, but to preach.

It is impossible to baptize an unbeliever, for if he is an unbeliever before he is immersed, he will be an unbeliever when he comes out of the baptismal waters.

Answer 9

See Acts 2:38-9 please!!!! Yes, you must be baptized in Jesus' name (specifically) as part of salvation. Go to upci.org. That can answer alot of questions. Like salvation, locating a bible-based church, etc. God Bless, God Luck, and I'm soooo happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

You must be Baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Answer 11

I don't think you need to be babtized, I'm sure prayer would be enough. Baptizm is really to show the community that you are ready to embrace your faith with their help. I would recommend seeing some other people of your faith, maybe in an alpha course or something, just to answer any questions you have and to encourage you.