Is baptism essential for salvation?

[WaitingForJesus]

I'll let the Bible speak:

"Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 3:21

"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’" Acts 22:16

"And Peter said to them, “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 2:38

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:16

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24

"having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses," Colossians 2:12-13

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:3-5

 

[jari]

it's not essential. this is like the question is it lawful to work on sabbath? according to God's law its big no. but what did Jesus do? Heal people at sabbath and let disciples gather food for them selves .

babtism cannot save anyone if the person doesn't believe in God at all.... faith is what matters ... and because faith saved us babtism purpose is to ask good conscience toward God like it says in 1 Peter 3:21
The 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:

note it says Figuratively saves us, Not literally saves us.

 

[WaitingForJesus]

You are correct in saying that it is faith that saves us. That is why infant baptism is wrong, since infants cannot believe or repent.

Baptism alone does not save, baptismal regeneration is unscriptural. It is faith at baptism that saves, baptism is a point at which God's grace is extended to you and your sins are washed away, due to your faith. Paul describes in Romans that our baptism imitates Jesus' death and resurrection. Our flesh crucified and buried, and resurrected all during baptism.

He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that does not believe shall be condemned. Mark 16:16

Many people love to twist Scripture and say "He that believes and is not baptized shall be saved" (Sola Fide)

OR "He that does not believe and is baptized shall be saved" (infant baptism)

OR "He that does not believe and is not baptized shall be saved" (Universalists)

OR "He that believes and is baptized shall not be saved" (Non-Christians)

Who believes in "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved"? Bible believers!

 

[WaitingForJesus]

Also what does baptism have to do with Sabbath?

Sabbath Old Covenant which was nailed to the cross, baptism is the New Covenant which is binding on us.

 

[jari]

He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that does not believe shall be condemned. Mark 16:16

Many people love to twist Scripture and say "He that believes and is not baptized shall be saved" (Sola Fide)

not having babtised doesn't stop God from giving people the Holy spirit. which is what makes one born again. so babtism isn't nessary to be born again and saved.

Act 10:44-47 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?


in acts God gave the people Holy spirit before baptism so it wasn't nesessary for them. and thefore salvation isnt held to moment of baptism but it happens in moment of faith.

that's why mark 16:16 isnt putting any extra conditions of salvation as i see but its mere statement of faith saved will do / should do (be baptised)


what do you think of Joh 6:47 then? There's no conditions except faith in there.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

why bible says in one place theres condition and in one there isnt? like i said I believe baptism is mere sign of believer and itself isn't required to save anybody. But if you believe its natural to be baptised.


also WaitingForJesus do you believe you can loose salvation? if you do that would mean you would have to get re-baptised over again to get saved all over again. everytime you would loose salvation. if it were true baptism is required for salvation.

baptism to me symbolizes how we are raised to gether with Jesus and this is one time event which reminds me that we dont have to get saved all over again but remain always saved and risen with the Lord.

 

[WaitingForJesus]

not having babtised doesn't stop God from giving people the Holy spirit. which is what makes one born again. so babtism isn't nessary to be born again and saved.

Act 10:44-47 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?


in acts God gave the people Holy spirit before baptism so it wasn't nesessary for them. and thefore salvation isnt held to moment of baptism but it happens in moment of faith.

that's why mark 16:16 isnt putting any extra conditions of salvation as i see but its mere statement of faith saved will do / should do (be baptised)


what do you think of Joh 6:47 then? There's no conditions except faith in there.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

why bible says in one place theres condition and in one there isnt? like i said I believe baptism is mere sign of believer and itself isn't required to save anybody. But if you believe its natural to be baptised.


also WaitingForJesus do you believe you can loose salvation? if you do that would mean you would have to get re-baptised over again to get saved all over again. everytime you would loose salvation. if it were true baptism is required for salvation.

baptism to me symbolizes how we are raised to gether with Jesus and this is one time event which reminds me that we dont have to get saved all over again but remain always saved and risen with the Lord.

If Cornelius was saved before he was baptized, he was saved before he had faith. Peter began preaching the message of salvation in verse 34 ending in verse 43. The text tells us that while he spoke those words the Holy Spirit fell upon them. The text of Acts 10 does not tell at what point the Holy Spirit fell upon them but only "while Peter was still speaking these words." However, in Acts 11 where "Peter explained...in order from the beginning" what had happened in Acts 10, we read how he was told by Cornelius that an angel had instructed him to send for Peter "who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (Acts 11:14). Let us pause to digest this. Cornelius was to hear "words by which you and all your household will be saved." Then Peter said, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning" (verse 15). So the Holy Spirit fell upon them "as I began to speak" says Peter. So Cornelius had not heard the words of salvation at the point when the Holy Spirit fell upon him and his household.
Someone may ask, "Why was the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on the Gentiles before conversion?" Answer: To persuade the Jews that the Gentiles should receive the same salvation as the Jews received. Those Jews who did not believe that Gentiles could receive the gospel had to be convinced by miracle that Gentiles could be saved through Jesus Christ the same as the Jews who obeyed the gospel. Please read Acts 10:44-48; 11:2, 3, 15-18.

As for John 6:47 or John 3:16, if it teaches faith only then...:

Lk 13:3 teaches repentance only,

Mt 10:32 teaches confession only,

1 Pe 3:21 teaches baptism only,

James 2:24 teaches works only,

I know Catholics lean to baptism, works,and confession only, Protestants to faith only, but I lean to whole Biblical truth.

 

[WaitingForJesus]

Of course I believe you can lose salvation. Bible cannot be more clear on this subject.

My favorite...

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Revelation 3:5

"If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15

Why would I need to get re-baptized all over again? All I need is repentance to not get my name blotted out of book of life for my sins. My name cannot be blotted out until Particular Judgement (Abraham's Bosom or Tartarus).

 

[jari]

If Cornelius was saved before he was baptized, he was saved before he had faith. Peter began preaching the message of salvation in verse 34 ending in verse 43. The text tells us that while he spoke those words the Holy Spirit fell upon them. The text of Acts 10 does not tell at what point the Holy Spirit fell upon them but only "while Peter was still speaking these words." However, in Acts 11 where "Peter explained...in order from the beginning" what had happened in Acts 10; we read how he was told by Cornelius that an angel had instructed him to send for Peter "who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (Acts 11:14). Let us pause to digest this. Cornelius was to hear "words by which you and all your household will be saved." Then Peter said, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning" (verse 15). So the Holy Spirit fell upon them "as I began to speak" says Peter. So Cornelius had not heard the words of salvation at the point when the Holy Spirit fell upon him and his household.
Someone may ask, "Why was the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on the Gentiles before conversion?" Answer: To persuade the Jews that the Gentiles should receive the same salvation as the Jews received. Those Jews who did not believe that Gentiles could receive the gospel had to be convinced by miracle that Gentiles could be saved through Jesus Christ the same as the Jews who obeyed the gospel.

i think this view of the people receiving Holy ghost and not being saved at the time is not proveable by scripture. you also said your self God gave the holy spirit to convince them to believe yet you said cornelious didnt believe when he had received holy spirit... sorry but you contradicted your self here. Did cornelious have faith or not when he received the Holy spirit? I think at that point he did receive the faith as he was listening word and received Holy spirit. Who wouldnt at that point?

to say he wasnt saved yet until he was baptised is really raising a question mark why not? what exactly is the purpose of baptism? He heard the word he received holy spirit. and still baptism required? No i dont believe thats true because like peter says thats not baptisms purpose. It says that very clear to me in God's word, what is baptisms purpose:

Peter 3:21
The 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:


Now do you believe what this verse says or not? You seem to contradict this particular verse in your theology in few ways and then you don't have the correct understanding....

 

[jari]

Of course I believe you can lose salvation. Bible cannot be more clear on this subject.

you are very selective on your scriptures. does it make the truth to take single verses out from bible and form a doctrine?

you think no one was saved before book of revelation was written? what's in there cannot change the way of salvation written in Gospels and by apostoles.

what revelation says can only elobrate on salvation. otherwise its really only book on salvation in bible...

 

[Acebopata]

I think that baptism is essential for the Christian walk, not necessarily for salvation. Salvation comes form faith, with comes from the belief that Jesus can cleanse us from our sins, with comes from a realization that we all have sinned and come short, that without Jesus and his gift of salvation, we are of all things doomed to the lake of fire.

 

[ForumAddict]

I'll let the Bible speak:

"Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 3:21

"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’" Acts 22:16

"And Peter said to them, “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 2:38

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:16

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24

"having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses," Colossians 2:12-13

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:3-5

Where are all the verses like John 3:16,

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



Romans 10:13 (ESV)
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”




I could go on and on but it would do no good. We must quit taking certain verses out of context and instead leave them in the context of the whole bible!

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Water baptism is symbolic of salvation; an outward sign of inward conversion. Keep in mind that in many countries where Christians are violently persecuted, believers are sometimes martyred before they have an opportunity to be baptized.

SLE

 

[EphremHagos]

It is never too late to know why, according to St. Paul, baptism with water is equivalent to “robbing Christ’s death on the cross of its power”. (1 Cor. 1:17)

Any suggestions?

 

[EphremHagos]

There is absolutely nothing "symbolic of salvation" in water baptism, a.k.a., "robbing the cross of Christ of its power". Is there?

(1 Cor. 1:17)

Water baptism is symbolic of salvation; an outward sign of inward conversion. Keep in mind that in many countries where Christians are violently persecuted, believers are sometimes martyred before they have an opportunity to be baptized.

SLE

 

[SpiritLedEd]

It is never too late to know why, according to St. Paul, baptism with water is equivalent to “robbing Christ’s death on the cross of its power”. (1 Cor. 1:17)

Any suggestions?
h

"For Christ not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (1 Cor 1:17)

Paul was not degrading water baptism. He was merely saying that his job was to preach, not to baptize. Jesus didn't baptize either. He left that to the disciples. (Jn 4:2)

SLE