A question for every Christian?

Question

There is a lot of confusion out there. What is the purpose of baptism? Once you tell me the purpose of it, is it important to one's salvation? Please include scripture references.

Fireball, can you give me a verse that says it is an outward sign?

Sing, same question that I asked Fireball. Where is the verse that says it is an outward sign? You also contradicted yourself. James 2 says that faith without works is dead. Doesn't that imply that without works you have no salvation.

Jean, if baptism is not required why did you say in the end that you do have to get baptized? If you have to then it is required. If you don't have to get baptized then it is not.

Answer 1

"Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall recive the gift of the Holy Ghost" Acts 2:38

So you need the baptism so your sins will be forgiven and then you may get the gift of the Holy Ghost, otherwise you can't be saved.

Answer 2

Yes, water baptism (which means dipping, not sprinkling) is required for salvation. It also saves us.

Verses 1 Peter 3:20, 21 KJV
20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Jesus must baptize them with Holy Spirit (Ghost KJV) for them to go to heaven. Matthew 3:11, John 3:3. That is, they must be chosen for the covenant to be judges to go to heaven and to be worthy of taking the emblems of his death. Luke 22:28-30, 1 Cor. 6:1-6, (Revelation 5:9, 10, 14:3) They sing a new song of kingship and priesthood which no one can learn but them.

But, yes, water baptism is a command needed to save a person even if they are not chosen as judge.

Debbie

Answer 3

Water baptism is the outward symbol of the internal change - the old has gone and the new has come. The symbolism is literally one of rebirth, of energing from the world womb again a new creation in Christ Jesus. Like a wedding ceremony, it is a ritualization for (1) our own psyches to demark the time that came before and the time that comes after and (2) let's the community see us confirm our place among the church.

While Baptists and others argue it is required, I would say that is simply a doctrinal rule necessary for the early church - in that case, Acts also says God will strike you dead unless you turn over all your physical property to the church to be shared in common (literal communism) and the Baptists are screwed, too.

I believe what God cares about is the state of your soul and how that led you to treat others: Luke 10:25-37, Romans 2:13-15, Matthew 25:31-46.

Answer 4

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 5

Baptism is an outward show of your faith in the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, to try and live your life by the word and commandments of God. Though it is not a requirement of Salvation, it is much like faith without works. If you have the one, the other is evident for all to see. There are many references to it in the Bible, Matthew 28 is just one of them.

Answer 6

Baptism is an outward show of your acceptance of Christ as Savior. Being dunked is symbolic to Jesus death (we are dying of our sins) and coming back up (His Resurrection) is the cleansing of our sins and the hope of Resurrection after death through Jesus
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Answer 7

Baptism itself is symbolic of death, and resurrection.
Baptism by immersion takes one under the surface of the earth, like a grave. Coming up out of the water shows new life.

It is a ritual practiced in the Church to identify publicly with the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a public statement of what has already happened with the heart of the individual.

The ritual of Baptism is not a prerequisite to salvation. We go through the ritual because Jesus told us to do so, but if it was a requirement for salvation, then death-bed conversions would be in vain, and the one thief on the cross would not have gone to Paradise to be with Jesus on the day that they both died on their crosses.

Answer 8

(1 Peter 3:21-22)
(Col 2:12)
(Matt 3:11) "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the holy spirt and fire."

Baptism is the way to express true repentance which is turning 180 degrees away from the sin that separates you from Christ Jesus. It is symbolic of dying with Christ and rising a new being. It gives the individual the opportunity to walk forward on a new journey with Christ. If Christ Jesus pays attention to anything it is the people being baptized. One cannot be baptized by Christ if they do not take this step in acknowledgement of their previous sin and the death of that sin.

Answer 9

For the Christian:-
Baptism is a public ceremony where the new Christian publicly proclaims that he/she has been saved. It is just a ceremony, and nothing more. It represent washing away the sins. It is not required for salvation, but is generally required for denomination membership. Some immerse, others pour, and others sprinkle. The method is not important.
All throughout the NT when you see a salvation account then a public baptism follows. But, remember the thief on the cross with Jesus-he was not baptised, but he was saved.

Answer 10

Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 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.” The action of being immersed in the water illustrates being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection.

Baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, but is not required for salvation.

Answer 11

Water baptism is a symbol of the real baptism that is related to Christ's resurrection.
1 Peter 3:18-22 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (19) in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, (20) who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (21) This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (22) who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.


When we are baptized, we are publicly declaring that we have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.

Romans 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Romans 10:9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.