Question: I’ve been talking with a friend at work. He grew up attending a church of Christ but is now Baptist. He believes that baptism is not necessary for salvation but that it is something you should do after you are saved to show you are saved. Can you show me some verses I should talk with him about to show him baptism is necessary for salvation? Thanks!
Answer: Yes, there are many verses throughout the New Testament that teach baptism is necessary to be saved. It would be good to study these passages with your friend.
Acts 2:38 – Baptism is for the remission of sins.
Acts 22:16 – Baptism washes away a person’s sins.
1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism Saves.
Mark 16:16 – Jesus said he who is baptized will be saved.
Romans 6:4 – Baptism is done to walk a new life.
Galatians 3:26-27 - Baptism is the way a person puts on Christ.
Acts 10:47-48 – God commands baptism.
Matthew 28:18-20 – Baptism was authorized by Jesus.
Ephesians 5:26 – Baptism cleanses a person.
John 3:3-5, Acts 2:47 – Baptism adds you to the Kingdom (the church).
I Corinthians 12:13 – Baptism gives entrance into the one body (church).
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Baptism is to become a new creature.
Acts 8:36-39, Acts 16:32-33 – Examples of those who rejoiced after being baptized.
A person with an open heart and mind will read these verses and want to be baptized for the remission of their sins, just like the people did when the church began in Acts 2.
- Charles Steiner
- Charles Steiner
So if I give my heart to Jesus and spend my life living for him, but I never get Baptized - I'll spend an eternity burning in hell?
ReplyDeleteA couple of your captions next to your scripture references are misleading.
God doesn't command Baptism in Acts 10:47-48. Paul is talking directly to the Gentiles in these verses.
1 Peter 3:21 says we are saved by the resurrection of Jesus. We are not saved by the Baptism. We are saved by the resurrection of Jesus - and our sins being subsequently washed away, which is what Baptism is symbolic of: Our resurrection as a new creation in Christ.
In Mark, Chapter 16 - Jesus says that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. He then says "but those who do not believe will be condemned." Jesus never said baptism was necessary to avoid condemnation.
Hi Romeo. Thank you for visiting our blog and thank you for your interest in Bible study and serving the Lord!
ReplyDeleteYou said: "So if I give my heart to Jesus and spend my life living for him, but I never get Baptized - I'll spend an eternity burning in hell?"
I'd like for us to agree on something. The Bible is always right. Do you agree with that? So if the Bible says something is true and you or I believe that something is not true, that something is true...right? I hope we can agree on that as we continue. My goal is to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. I hope that is your goal as well. It doesn't matter what I say or think. It matters what the Bible says and what the Bible teaches.
Can you show me a scripture that says "If I give my heart to Jesus and spend my life living for him I will be saved"? I can't find one. I have however listed several verses that teach baptism is necessary to be saved.
You wrote:"God doesn't command Baptism in Acts 10:47-48. Paul is talking directly to the Gentiles in these verses."
It's actually Peter talking directly to the Gentiles, but yes this passage is Luke's account of Peter speaking to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were commanded to be baptized. Are you of the opinion that a Bible verse or passage must be speaking directly to you or it doesn't apply to you. I have not seen any verses in the Bible that say "Romeo you shall do...." or "Charles you shall do...". Each book of the Bible had an original specific audience. So what part of the Bible does apply to you? I believe a good rule of thumb, is the Bible is binding upon me or less the context says it is not.
You wrote: "1 Peter 3:21 says we are saved by the resurrection of Jesus. We are not saved by the Baptism. We are saved by the resurrection of Jesus - and our sins being subsequently washed away, which is what Baptism is symbolic of: Our resurrection as a new creation in Christ."
Are you reading the right verse? The verse says "Baptism now saves you".
You wrote: In Mark, Chapter 16 - Jesus says that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. He then says "but those who do not believe will be condemned." Jesus never said baptism was necessary to avoid condemnation."
Jesus said in Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned." Is it necessary for Jesus to say that if you are not baptized you will be lost when he had just said if you believe and are baptized you will be saved? If believing and being baptized a person is saved than a person who doesn't do this is.....what? Lost. So Jesus did say that baptism is necessary to avoid condemnation by saying that it is necessary to obtain the opposite of condemnation which is salvation.
- Charles