DO YOU HAVE TO BE BAPTIZED IN ORDER TO BE SAVE?

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Permalink Reply by Jubilee Jones on October 22, 2009 at 1:43pm

Wow am I the first to respond?! Omg! lol Ok, my answer is no. Baptism is merely an outward symbol of what has taken place in your spirit already. It is a symbolic death, burial, and resurection. Salvation starts when you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that you are a sinner and need Christ to forgive you of your sin, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior!

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Permalink Reply by Isaiah Green on November 9, 2009 at 2:32pm

That was my answer Outward sign of an inward act.

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Permalink Reply by Viktory on November 9, 2009 at 6:01pm

Amen. But if anyone wants to be baptized, i'd wouldn't urge them not too. But it isn't required for salvation.

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Permalink Reply by L.W. on November 10, 2009 at 5:57pm

I disagree

John 3:5 (New International Version)

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

yes you must be born in water aka your mothers womb, then you must be baptized in spirit! That way you may buried with him through baptism, so that you may live a new life! So to say its just a symbolic expression is false according to the Words jesus and his deciples qouted themselves!

Romans 6:4 (New International Version)
4We 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.

read Romans 6:1-7, 8:2

here"s more scripture

Acts 2:38 (New International Version)

38Peter 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.

Hmm peter is requesting you to not only repent but be baptized? why whould he say that if its not necessary?

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Permalink Reply by L.W. on November 10, 2009 at 5:59pm

you must understand that you must be baptized, you must be born again, not just water(mothers womb), but spirit (being submitted under water, wich is the burrial and ressurection)

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Permalink Reply by Viktory on November 10, 2009 at 7:32pm

I can see why you feel that "water and spirit" means literal baptism, but the Water and Spirit are not natural.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Galvatron3000 Smith III on November 10, 2009 at 10:20pm

The Baptism you mean is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, not water. No man can take credit for any part of salvation it is ALL God, even the baptism you refer too.

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Permalink Reply by Team Vik- Harry on November 11, 2009 at 10:30am

simple...the answer is no

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Permalink Reply by L.W. on November 14, 2009 at 5:18pm

hmm i made an errror and had a misunderstanding of baptizim according to john 3:5 water and spirt, jesus literally ment water! If you do research water was always used as a sighn of the blood & a coevanent! Remember when jesus was crucified? what did pilot wash his hands in? what about when jesus sent the flood? what did he do? purified the earth of all evil? what was left? the rightous! water is a sighn of purification! When you are baptized you are being purified, and coming out as a new creature, its a covenant! then the spiritual baptizm is the holy ghost! as my brother said! nbut its not for me to say if you have to be baptized because there is that mercy factor! but gods word says baptism is necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven! and it is repeated several times to repent and be baptized, and to go out and baptized, and baptism is taught and mention to many times, so i would say that it wasnt a light request! but hey thats just the bible i guess you have the choice to do what you please. oh and by being baptized in water how is a man taking credit for that when your doing it in JESUS name?

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Permalink Reply by yshwa4life on November 15, 2009 at 8:42am

Let's see what Matthew Henry has to say..

John 3:5

3:1-8 Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came in the night. When religion is out of fashion, there are many Nicodemites. But though he came by night, Jesus bid him welcome, and hereby taught us to encourage good beginnings, although weak. And though now he came by night, yet afterward he owned Christ publicly. He did not talk with Christ about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation, and went at once to them. Our Saviour spoke of the necessity and nature of regeneration or the new birth, and at once directed Nicodemus to the source of holiness of the heart. Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew, as those who have lived much amiss, or to little purpose. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. By our first birth we were corrupt, shapen in sin; therefore we must be made new creatures. No stronger expression could have been chosen to signify a great and most remarkable change of state and character. We must be entirely different from what we were before, as that which begins to be at any time, is not, and cannot be the same with that which was before. This new birth is from heaven, ch. 1:13, and its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. Something is wrong, whereby such a life begins as shall last for ever. We cannot otherwise expect any benefit by Christ; it is necessary to our happiness here and hereafter. What Christ speak, Nicodemus misunderstood, as if there had been no other way of regenerating and new-moulding an immortal soul, than by new-framing the body. But he acknowledged his ignorance, which shows a desire to be better informed. It is then further explained by the Lord Jesus. He shows the Author of this blessed change. It is not wrought by any wisdom or power of our own, but by the power of the blessed Spirit. We are shapen in iniquity, which makes it necessary that our nature be changed. We are not to marvel at this; for, when we consider the holiness of God, the depravity of our nature, and the happiness set before us, we shall not think it strange that so much stress is laid upon this. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is compared to water. It is also probable that Christ had reference to the ordinance of baptism. Not that all those, and those only, that are baptized, are saved; but without that new birth which is wrought by the Spirit, and signified by baptism, none shall be subjects of the kingdom of heaven. The same word signifies both the wind and the Spirit. The wind bloweth where it listeth for us; God directs it. The Spirit sends his influences where, and when, on whom, and in what measure and degree, he pleases. Though the causes are hidden, the effects are plain, when the soul is brought to mourn for sin, and to breathe after Christ. Christ's stating of the doctrine and the necessity of regeneration, it should seem, made it not clearer to Nicodemus. Thus the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural man. Many think that cannot be proved, which they cannot believe. Christ's discourse of gospel truths, ver. 11-13, shows the folly of those who make these things strange unto them; and it recommends us to search them out. Jesus Christ is every way able to reveal the will of God to us; for he came down from heaven, and yet is in heaven. We have here a notice of Christ's two distinct natures in one person, so that while he is the Son of man, yet he is in heaven. God is the HE THAT IS, and heaven is the dwelling-place of his holiness. The knowledge of this must be from above, and can be received by faith alone. Jesus Christ came to save us by healing us, as the children of Israel, stung with fiery serpents, were cured and lived by looking up to the brazen serpent, Nu 21:6-9. In this observe the deadly and destructive nature of sin. Ask awakened consciences, ask damned sinners, they will tell you, that how charming soever the allurements of sin may be, at the last it bites like a serpent. See the powerful remedy against this fatal malady. Christ is plainly set forth to us in the gospel. He whom we offended is our Peace, and the way of applying for a cure is by believing. If any so far slight either their disease by sin, or the method of cure by Christ, as not to receive Christ upon his own terms, their ruin is upon their own heads. He has said, Look and be saved, look and live; lift up the eyes of your faith to Christ crucified. And until we have grace to do this, we shall not be cured, but still are wounded with the stings of Satan, and in a dying state. Jesus Christ came to save us by pardoning us, that we might not die by the sentence of the law. Here is gospel, good news indeed. Here is God's love in giving his Son for the world. God so loved the world; so really, so richly. Behold and wonder, that the great God should love such a worthless world! Here, also, is the great gospel duty, to believe in Jesus Christ. God having given him to be our Prophet, Priest, and King, we must give up ourselves to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. And here is the great gospel benefit, that whoever believes in Christ, shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and so saving it. It could not be saved, but through him; there is no salvation in any other. From all this is shown the happiness of true believers; he that believeth in Christ is not condemned. Though he has been a great sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins deserve. How great is the sin of unbelievers! God sent One to save us, that was dearest to himself; and shall he not be dearest to us? How great is the misery of unbelievers! they are condemned already; which speaks a certain condemnation; a present condemnation. The wrath of God now fastens upon them; and their own hearts condemn them. There is also a condemnation grounded on their former guilt; they are open to the law for all their sins; because they are not by faith interested in the gospel pardon. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It springs from the enmity of the heart of man to God, from love of sin in some form. Read also the doom of those that would not know Christ. Sinful works are works of darkness. The wicked world keep as far from this light as they can, lest their deeds should be reproved. Christ is hated, because sin is loved. If they had not hated saving knowledge, they would not sit down contentedly in condemning ignorance. On the other hand, renewed hearts bid this light welcome. A good man acts truly and sincerely in all he does. He desires to know what the will of God is, and to do it, though against his own worldly interest. A change in his whole character and conduct has taken place. The love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, and is become the commanding principle of his actions. So long as he continues under a load of unforgiven guilt, there can be little else than slavish fear of God; but when his doubts are done away, when he sees the righteous ground whereon this forgiveness is built, he rests on it as his own, and is united to God by unfeigned love. Our works are good when the will of God is the rule of them, and the glory of God the end of them; when they are done in his strength, and for his sake; to him, and not to men. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a subject to which the world is very averse; it is, however, the grand concern, in comparison with which every thing else is but trifling. What does it signify though we have food to eat in plenty, and variety of raiment to put on, if we are not born again? if after a few mornings and evenings spent in unthinking mirth, carnal pleasure, and riot, we die in our sins, and lie down in sorrow? What does it signify though we are well able to act our parts in life, in every other respect, if at last we hear from the Supreme Judge, Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity?



Ezekiel 36:25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
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Matthew 19:24 "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
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Matthew 21:31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
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Mark 9:47 "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,
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Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
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John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
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Ephesians 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
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Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (NASB ©1995)

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Permalink Reply by AnDraea on November 19, 2009 at 2:05pm

Salvation is by faith in the finished work of Christ. Salvation comes from God to those who repent of their sins. Water baptism is open testimony and symbolic of our faith in Christ, however baptism does not save us. Baptism is a natural response for every true believer in Christ. No one who has Christ in his heart is gonna refuse baptism. Jesus himself was baptised to fulfill all righteousness. But if a true christian just so happens to die before they are baptised, i believe they are still saved- God is looking for people who have been washed- not by water- but by the blood of Jesus.

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Permalink Reply by Di on November 21, 2009 at 10:37pm

I agree. There are times when people accept Christ and unable to be baptized. King David's son was not baptized but David had assurance he was with God. The thief on the cross accepted Christ. He said, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

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