2007-12-03 05:01:55 · 25 answers · asked by Rakkety Tam 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of good conscience toward it God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 3:21.
This baptism is in reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The water symbolizes our death and resurrection with Jesus Christ. We are dead and buried and then resurrected a new person in Christ.
"That if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
It does not say you might be saved. It does not say there are other things that you need to do to be saved, it simply says, you will be saved.
2007-12-03 05:08:53 · answer #1 · answered by Acts 4:12 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Let me show you what the Bible says and not simply my opinion. Please carefully look at these verses and they will explain the answer. Our sins lead to our death, Romans 6:23. This death prevents us from being with God. Our sins can be forgiven by blood, Hebrews 9:23. Animals could not do it, Hebrews 10:4. Jesus, however, could Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:12, and Revelation 1:5. This is why Paul says there is no condimnation for those in Jesus in Romans 8:1 because we are cleanzed by His blood, Hebrews 2:14. Granted we must believe in Jesus and that His blood saves us or else we won't come into contact with that saving blood. How do we come into contact with Jesus' blood. Romans 6:3-13 teaches us that though baptism we are buried in His death and rise with Jesus to a new life. Galatians 3:27 tells us the same. It is through baptism that the forgiveness of our sins is obtained, Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16. That sounds pretty important to me. No where in Acts was anyone saved without it. It is hard to ignore this fact in the light of 1 Peter 3:20-21. Baptism now saves you. It is an appeal for a clean conscience. That is exactly what all of these verses say. Jesus Himself made it a condition of salvation in Mark 16:16. Some claim that it is a work and thus we aren't saved by it, but that cannot be further from the truth. Colossians 2:12 puts that to rest because baptism is a work of God not man. In conclusion, as these verse plainly tell, baptism is essential to salvation.
2007-12-03 05:21:19 · answer #2 · answered by mlcros 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Yes. Through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
The first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2007-12-03 08:11:11 · answer #3 · answered by Isolde 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is the way God chose for us to show Him we have accepted His commandments. It is a solemn covenant much like the wedding vows of a couple getting married. Without the wedding... they are not married.
Baptism was so important that even Jesus was required to be baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness. Remember it was immediately after His baptism that the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove and the Father's voice proclaimed Jesus His only Begotten Son. If Jesus being sinless and holy had need of baptism in order to fulfill all righteousness... how much more do we, being unholy, have need of baptism!
A wedding does not make a marriage... it is only the beginning. Baptism does not save a person alone, but is the beginning. The person must also keep Christ's sayings and endure to the end. Jesus prophesied that at the judgment day many shall say "Lord Lord have we not done many wonderful works in thy name" and Jesus shall say unto them "Depart from me ye workers of iniquity" because they failed to keep His sayings or commandments. Those who profess God but fail to obey God do not really believe in Him, do they? Baptism is one of God's commandments, shown by example by Christ Himself... how can Evangelicals dismiss this as some meaningless outword work?
2007-12-03 05:17:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Might want to review cuchlain's scriptures. They indicate a necessity to be baptized. But let me give you a practical point. Being cleansed of sin is a prerequisite to salvation. I think any Christian would agree we can't go to heaven with sin. We are cleansed of sin through baptism. The Bible states no other way to accomplish this. If a sin cleansing is necessary and baptism is the only cleanser, then baptism is necessary. Least, that's the way I understand it.
2007-12-03 05:14:11 · answer #5 · answered by starfishltd 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
No, baptism is the covenant sign that the baptized person is in the covenant family. The thief on the cross died and went to heaven without baptism. Salvation comes by faith alone, through grace alone in what Christ did alone.
Ath
2007-12-03 05:07:36 · answer #6 · answered by athanasius was right 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes. Christian baptism is a symbol that you have made a complete, unreserved, and unconditional dedication through Jesus Christ to do the will of God.
Acts 2:41: " those who embraced his word heartily were baptized."
2007-12-03 05:33:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
According to the Bible it is
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved"
Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Look at it this way: If it were not essential then:
Why would Jesus Himself command it (Mark 16:16)?
Why would the apostles command it (Acts 2:38)?
Why would EVERY person saved in the New Testament covenant of Christ be baptized? (be careful to consider that the covenant of Christ began after His resurrection)
Why would Paul explain that it is the power of the death of Christ (Romans 6:3-6)
Why would it be the way that we are born again (John 3:5)
2007-12-03 05:04:48 · answer #8 · answered by Cuchulain 6 · 5⤊ 3⤋
No.
Some are saved when they are baptized. Some are saved before they are baptized. And some people aren't saved at all when they are baptized (because they didn't have faith in their heart).
Whosoever confesses Jesus Christ their Lord & believes in their heart He raised from the dead shall be saved.
When sinners voice confession / does an act of faith & believes in their heart; a creative miracle happens. The person is born of His Spirit, cleansed by His blood, And the person is a child of God. (God created everything by the Word of God & by the Faith of God.) That is why we are born of His Spirit when we confess & believe in our heart.
Below 1Peter3:21, The pledge (confess with mouth) of good conscience (honestly) to God (look up). Believing in the Resurrection.
Water baptism is essential. In that this is an act of obedience to Christ. Jesus really already did it for us though. But He is our example & so we should follow His example. Baptism isn't essential to salvation (eternal life). But it is essential as saving us today. Because we are doing an act of obedience & that saves us in our house building on the Rock of Salvation. I have been water baptized. There are eternal rewards for doing anything (obedience) the Lord directs us to do. And it always saves us from conscequences of disobedience. All lies/unforgiveness will be fried when our house is tested by fire.
below starfish thinks water baptism is the only act that washes away our sin. He is wrong. Jesus shed his blood for the remission of our sins. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Jesus gave his life to be a ransom for many. See? Jesus shed blood is what washes away our sins. The Holy Spirit washes us daily in the Word of God & renewed in the Spirit. After we are saved & this gives us continual more freedom in Christ. The Truth sets us free.
mlcros. There is elswhere in Acts where people were filled with the Holy Spirit first. Then they were baptized. (Holy Spirit baptism is what Jesus baptizes with.)
2007-12-03 05:05:39 · answer #9 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Nope. Water baptism is a public profession and demonstration of one's faith in Christ. It is merely a symbolic reflection of the old man being washed by the death and resurrection of Christ and being made new.
If it were essential to salvation, then it would be a works-based faith rather than grace-based, which is central to fundamental Christianity.
Don't let the Baptists tell you otherwise.
2007-12-03 05:09:00 · answer #10 · answered by Stop Global Whining! 2 · 3⤊ 4⤋