Is Baptism Essential for Salvation into Heaven?

[Dunemeister]

I'd say it's necessary. If a person were "saved" yet refused baptism and communion with the community of redeemed persons, I'd have to conclude the person hadn't really been saved. On the other hand, a baptism not mingled with faith is likewise useless. Faith is proved by her works. If one has saving faith, she will eagerly agree to baptism and will be anxious to undergo the rite, once she understands it.

[Starfish]

Matt. 3: 15 "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."

Matt. 28: 19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost".

Mark 16: 16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Luke 3: 21 "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,"

Luke 7: 30 "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."

John 3: 5 "Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Acts 2: 38 "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 receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10: 48 "and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."

I don't understand how any Biblically based religion can teach that baptism is not essential.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by 3.14

if it was alot of people would be screwed over even though they are good people, because they were unable to get baptized

Not so. The early saints at Corinth practiced proxy baptism on behalf of their deceased ancestors. The Latter-day Saints today do so as well. I don't see how the scriptures could possibly be more clear on this. Baptism is essential to salvation. (We could probably elaborate on exactly what is meant by "salvation," but that would be digressing somewhat.) When Christians who deny that baptism is essential try to argue their point, it's clear to me that they are simply ignoring what the Bible has to say on the subject and are using your rationale to justify their beliefs. I know you're not a Christian, by the way, but your argument is a common one among Christians. They simply cannot imagine how a loving, just God could possibly condemn billions to an eternity in Hell because they were born in the wrong place or at the wrong time. I can appreciate their reasoning. Of course it doesn't make sense that God would do that, but God doesn't need us to find loopholes in His laws in order to continue to believe that He is fair and equitable with all of His children. Furthermore, He doesn't need to turn a blind eye to the fact that not all had the opportunity to be baptized during their mortality. He has provided a way for all to receive this essential ordinance, thereby proving Himself to be both merciful and just.

[uss_bigd]

Originally Posted by Starfish

Matt. 3: 15 "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."

Matt. 28: 19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost".

Mark 16: 16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Luke 3: 21 "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,"

Luke 7: 30 "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."

John 3: 5 "Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Acts 2: 38 "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 receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10: 48 "and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."

I don't understand how any Biblically based religion can teach that baptism is not essential.

I agree ... Baptism is an essential requirement to salvation... see this

1 Cor 6:9-10

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

1 Cor 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.


Paul was talking to the Christains in Corinth, The christians in Corinth were baptized, and thats how they were washed from their sins as it states in verse 11.

The questions then will be:

1. What is the correct way of baptism?
2. does that mean if you were not baptized you will not be saved?
3. who has the authority to baptiste?
4. who is qualified to be baptisted?

[uss_bigd]

Originally Posted by 3.14

if it was alot of people would be screwed over even though they are good people, because they were unable to get baptized

You are misled sir.

There is a difference between essential reqiurement and only requirement to salvation.

[tigrers99]

It is true that most Christians have been literally washed via water baptism. However, that is not what saved nor sanctified them. The moment they came to true belief is when they were 'relocated' into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col.1:13). Their soul or spirit was relocated (via the Holy Spirit) into the cleansing blood of Christ, which is the same as being in His Spiritual body or being in Christ. Neither the Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit wait until the moment the person's body is submerged in water in order to implement this process.

The only change to water baptism since John the Baptist was administering it, is the authority of it, or in whose authority it is administered. Since water baptism is called the baptism of repentence unto the remission of sins: John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Mk.1:4)

Also, since Jesus and His immediate disciples were water baptizing at the same time as John the Baptist, if they were claiming that their water baptism was to wash away sins it would have been a lie. Only Christ's blood can wash away sins and that was not to be for another 3 years!




John 3:22-26 (New International Version)

22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew[a] over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."



John 4:1-2 (New International Version)

1The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

[uss_bigd]

Originally Posted by tigrers99

It is true that most Christians have been literally washed via water baptism. However, that is not what saved nor sanctified them. The moment they came to true belief is when they were 'relocated' into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col.1:13). Their soul or spirit was relocated (via the Holy Spirit) into the cleansing blood of Christ, which is the same as being in His Spiritual body or being in Christ. Neither the Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit wait until the moment the person's body is submerged in water in order to implement this process.

Since this is a biblical debate, could you support your claims with scripture?
what is your definition og being "saved"?
specifically this statement :

It is true that most Christians have been literally washed via water baptism. However, that is not what saved nor sanctified them them

[Mister Emu]

Originally Posted by Catechism of the Catholic Church

1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.59 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.60 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.61 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
1258 The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.
1259 For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. 1260 "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery."62 Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.

From Catechism of the Catholic Church - The sacrament of Baptism

[Katzpur]

Hey, I want to change my answer! Baptism is not required for entrance into Heaven, but it is required for those who wish to receive the fullness of salvation.