Why do people not believe that baptism is neccesary to be saved and go to heaven? Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 8; Romans 6; and many more scriptures clearly say it is. Please tell me why they don't beleieve the truth?
2007-11-15 03:02:24 · 9 answers · asked by George Kings 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers... And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
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. However, 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 6:3-13 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 have been “buried with Christ” (Col. 2:12) when Christ had not yet been buried? 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 “calling on the name of the Lord”. Obviously, “calling on the name of the Lord” involved more that saying ‘Lord’, more than praying, more than belief and more than repentance. Saul had done all of these things, but he still needed to call on the name of the Lord!
The phrase “calling on the name of the Lord” means to rely on His authority. Saul had not done this until he did what the Lord authorized (instructed), namely “be baptized”. (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20, read Luke 24:47 along with Acts 2:5 & 38).
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 the examples of the conversion of an alien sinner in the book of Acts. Love, grace, mercy, confession, repentance, and the blood of Christ are all necessary for salvation, but, even though they can be inferred, they are not specifically mentioned every time. 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)
2007-11-15 03:45:17 · answer #1 · answered by JoeBama 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many people believe baptism is simply an act of obedience to God. I think this is because some verses explaining how to obtain salvation do not mention baptism. I'd be interested in emailing about this one, but my understanding is the verses that do not mention baptism as an element of salvation far outnumber those that do. Let me know what you think!
Here's a random page with lots of salvation verses that don't mention baptism.
http://www.topical-bible-studies.org/41-0011.htm
Here's another question - suppose you profess belief in Christ on your deathbed, but die before you can be baptized. Are you saved?
2007-11-15 11:08:56 · answer #2 · answered by slinkywizzard 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is an outward sign that one has received Jesus as his savior. Baptism is not a mandatory component of salvation.
John 3:
...as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
2007-11-15 11:15:55 · answer #3 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is a work. Works do not save.
Water Baptism signifies what happens when we are saved.
When we are saved by Hid Grace, our soul is crucified with Christ, buried, and being born into a new life.
At this point, our soul has eternal life but our body is still the old man. When our body dies our sins die with it. They do not "stain the soul" or cause us to lose God's grace.
2007-11-15 11:07:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Listen, it is not necessary to get Baptised (dunked in Water, h2o) to get Saved (Born-Again) and Make it to Heaven!!!
But, it is a Good Thing to Do!!!
So, Do It!!!
Then, if your Still not Sure---Your Covered!!!!
What's the Deal about it?
But to help you out, The Water Baptism that The Bible Speaks of IS FIRST, getting Baptised in the WATERS of FAITH.
GOD uses Faith to Recreate your Spirit.
Faith is a Real Spiritual Substance.
See?
2007-11-15 11:09:04 · answer #5 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because of the thief next to Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus said, this day you will be with me in paradise and he had no time for baptism by water.
2007-11-15 11:13:56 · answer #6 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Baptism is like taking a shower once in your lifetime whether you need it or not!
2007-11-15 11:10:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They do; they just have a different perspective currently (speaking for self only at present)!!!
2007-11-15 11:14:46 · answer #8 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because they are blind to the Truth.
2007-11-15 11:06:16 · answer #9 · answered by Marie F 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋