Is Baptism a must to become a Christian? Why?

Question

Commonsense affirms that a child born into a Christian family to totally Christian parents is to be taken as a Christian. Then why all these Christianity rituals by sinful humans to enlist one into Christianity? Justifications can be many! But one can reasonably assume that God at the stage of creation does not distinguish between His creations and is infallible so that worldly humans can bestow an identity of their choice to God’s creations. Why this passport to Christianity and why be cruel to Children in Christianity by drenching them in man made holy water? Blind faith and rituals bind our World to remain in Stone Age as religions are concerned.

Answer 1

Baptism is the point when a repentant believer becomes a Christian (saved). Baptism is how God has appointed for us to receive the gift of salvation.

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.”

According to this verse, in order to be saved it is necessary to obey Christ, therefore it is necessary to be baptized since Christ commanded it!

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, amore 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)

Answer 2

Water baptism is the norm and is also a necessity. It is used for the washing away of Original Sin. It is not just a ceremony it is a sacrament. There is also a baptism of desire and a baptism of blood

Answer 3

God does not have any grandchildren. No one is born a christian. Being born into a christian home does not make one a christian.

Baptism doesn't make a person a christian either, a person is baptized (immersed) BECAUSE they are a christian, not in order to BECOME a christian.

Some believe that baptism is the first act of obedience that a christian does, but this is not supported by scripture. However, when a christian comes to understand that God expects him/her to be baptized then a christian is being disobedient if he/she fails to do so.

Salvation is a free gift of God and is eternal and is totally dependent on one's acceptance of Christ and His sin atoning death at Calvary and His resurrection from the dead. Nothing can be taken from and nothing can be added to it.

Answer 4

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/

click on the baptism sections. the church and the bible that came from god and established by christ tells us we must be baptized. to follow a christian life style one must be formed as a christian, should they choose to stop being christian that is up to them, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be baptized though, read through the bible, even just the gospels and the book of acts to see what jesus and the apostles taught us about baptism. holy water is made holy through christ, not by men.

"Commonsense affirms that a child born into a Christian family to totally Christian parents is to be taken as a Christian". common sense in no way affirms that a child born of christian parents would be a christian, the family may raise the child to the best as a christian but statistics and reality show us different, many children from christian families are sometimes the bad seed etc..........secondly, catholics are christian so it only makes common sense that a catholic christian parent would want their child to be a baptized christian, jesus established the catholic church and the catholic church gave us the bible so i think we would be best equipped to interpret the scriptures, jesus did afterall promise his church the guidance and protection of the holy spirit even against the nether world, the catholic church is the only church that has stood the test of time and that fits all that christ taught.

Answer 5

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.

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.”

John 3:3,5 - unless we are "born again" of water and Spirit in baptism, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. The Greek word for the phrase "born again" is "anothen" which literally means “begotten from above.” See, for example, John 3:31 where "anothen" is so used. Baptism brings about salvation, not just a symbolism of our salvation.

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?

Acts 16:15; 31-33; 18:8; 19:2,5 - these texts present more examples of people learning of Jesus, and then immediately being baptized. If accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior is all one needs to do to be saved, then why does everyone in the early Church immediately seek baptism?

Acts 9:18 - Paul, even though he was directly chosen by Christ and immediately converted to Christianity, still had to be baptized to be forgiven his sin. This is a powerful text which demonstrates the salvific efficacy of water baptism, even for those who decide to give their lives to Christ.

Acts 22:16 - Ananias tells Paul, "arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins," even though Paul was converted directly by Jesus Christ. This proves that Paul's acceptance of Jesus as personal Lord and Savior was not enough to be forgiven of his sin and saved. The sacrament of baptism is required.

Acts 22:16 - further, Ananias' phrase "wash away" comes from the Greek word "apolouo." "Apolouo" means an actual cleansing which removes sin. It is not a symbolic covering up of sin. Even though Jesus chose Paul directly in a heavenly revelation, Paul had to be baptized to have his sins washed away.



etc etc etc

Answer 6

You are making an excellent point. The baptism we have today is simply a ritual.

Chances are VERY good that there was more to it when John the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus were doing it. That early "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" IS A MYSTERY. No one knows what that was about.

But this resource gives an explanation... and supports the very statement you are making.

Answer 7

Being born into a Christian family does not make you an automatic Christian. If you can't look back on your life and remember the one "moment" when you became a Christian, then you aren't one. Even those raised in a church must have their Calvary experience, and willingly accept Christ as Saviour. But that is a separate issue from baptism. Baptism is a ceremony of professing one's faith and intention to lead a Christlike life before others. For most of us (Catholics excepted), children cannot even be baptized before they are old enough to make that statement. Baptism is not necessary to be a Christian- I was one for several years before actually being baptized in water. But it is an important step in one's spiritual development. Jesus said that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before the Father in Heaven. Baptism is a way of making that public confession of Christ.

Answer 8

OK, please understand the problem always starts when we listen to all of the "professionals" we encounter in life and do not do our own research. To my Christian brother who claims you have to be baptized to be saved, please add Luke 23:40-43. I am sure the criminal did not get baptized but Jesus told him he would be with him in Heaven. It is a very important commandment of Jesus and is in fact one of the first things he expects you to do after being saved. It is not common sense that a child born to a Christian home is a Christian. I do believe if any child dies before the age of accountability they will go to heaven. That is probably why many choose to have there children baptized and I find no fault in that as they are just showing concern for there child's soul. Whether it’s necessary, I do not know. In the Old Testament it was a tradition to dedicate your child to God, in essence giving them to him. All faith in a God you can not see is blind. Rituals, if you are referring to baptism, it is a commandment of Jesus. Holy Water, hmmm, all water is Holy if God made it. I am not sure what Stone Age religion you are referring too, but God is the same as he always has been and always will be. He loves you despite all of your issues.

Father K> I admire you knowledge of scripture, but please be careful as it can be interpreted many ways and most of the time all but one is wrong. You are wrong in many of your interruptions but the most dangerous one is if you are telling people that you must be baptized to be forgiven of sin. I will give you Luke 23; 40-43 as proof, and if you are wrong here you surly can accept that you are wrong elsewhere.

Answer 9

Yes, because it is physically signifying that you are washing away your sins, but I do believe that you should be at least 17 before making that decision. I got bapitized at 12 and I had no idea of what I was doing, I was raised by christian parents, but I only done it because my friends were doing it and I thought I understood what it meant at the time. Dude, I was clueless.

Answer 10

No. Just remember the Good Thief. He was never baptized, yet he was the first one in.
Baptism is a SIGN, and an act of OBEDIENCE. Nothing more.

You must be born again. Accepting Jesus is important. Turning from your sin is equally important, but you won't be successful witthout the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 11

Yes. Jesus said so explicitly, if ambiguously, in 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."

No one can interpret ancient documents without ancient commentary ("sola scriptura") to resolve the original meaning. The key commentary on baptism comes from the Fathers of the Church, who were disciples of the Twelve who walked with Jesus and plied him with questions.

Justin Martyr: "For, in the name of God, the Father . . . and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit [Matt. 28:19], they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, ‘Unless you are born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:3]" (First Apology 61 [A.D. 151]).

Irenaeus: "‘For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord, from our old transgressions, being spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, even as the Lord has declared: ‘Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’" (Fragment 34 [A.D. 190]).

Tertullian: "No one can attain salvation without baptism, especially in view of the declaration of the Lord, who says, ‘Unless a man shall be born of water, he shall not have life’" (Baptism 12:1 [A.D. 203]).

Those who cite the crucified robber take the exception as the rule. The robber was saved by "baptism of desire." All the rest who would become Christians are not impeded from baptism by being nailed to a cross.

Cheers,
Bruce