Is Baptism Required for Salvation? An Alternate Look (2)by Lisa Kennedy | More from this Blogger 07 Nov 2006 08:23 PM In part one of "Is Baptism Required for Salvation? An Alternate Look" I wrote about the argument used with the thief on the cross. Now I want to directly deal with what the Bible says about baptism, and I want to make one assertion very clear before I begin. I do not believe that baptism alone is required for salvation. I think that there is a large misconception that those who believe that baptism is required for salvation believe that only baptism is required for salvation. I do not believe that baptism alone is required for salvation, but that other factors are involved as well. I believe that the Bible teaches that for salvation one must hear the gospel of Christ, believe, repent of their sins, confess Christ, and be baptized. The Bible does not teach that any one of these aspects alone is all that is necessary for salvation. Now to consider the subject of baptism, I simply want to list a few verses in the Bible which deal with baptism with just a few comments on some of the verses.
Sometime over the next week I plan to write an article about the conversion stories in the Book of Acts. Read the related article "God's Plan for Salvation" All Scripture references are taken from the ESV. Relevantchristian tags User Comments  Anna Glendenning (4234) 07 Nov 2006 08:54 PMInteresting. I believe there is one way and that is the acceptance that Christ died on the cross for our sins.... after that NOTHING is Required but instead Inspired which causes a believer to want to become more Christ Like. There would be little reason to witness to the sick and dying if Salvation didn't take place upon acceptance of Christ as our Savior... There would be no reason to have Chaplains on the Battle Fields if soldiers needed to be dunked to be saved. I don't believe that God demands ritual or 12-step programs in order to be Saved, I thought God took care of my salvation when he/his son died on the cross so that I would be saved from my own sins.... Anna Glendenning (4234) 07 Nov 2006 09:07 PMOne more thing: You Asked: "Would someone be baptized if they did not believe? " I Personally know 4 people who Were Baptised and did so only to please parents and others. In the Case of those religions that practice Birth Baptism I am 100% Sure that there are MANY people who have been baptized and not believers... My own daughter who is 22 States She was only Baptized (at 16) to get her father off her back--Pray for her because she is NOT a Believer at all and therefore feels NO Guilt for being Baptized just to satisfy her father.... I could continue for a long time giving examples of the different situations where a person might be Baptized and yet still not be Saved...or even Believe.  Lisa Kennedy (4068) 07 Nov 2006 09:30 PMI think that if someone if baptized without belief,it is simply a bath . . .not truly baptism for remission of sins. Lisa Kennedy (4068) 07 Nov 2006 09:31 PMBy the way, you are certainly entitled to your belief as to what the Bible says. . . I was just explaining what I believe the Bible teaches. Anna Glendenning (4234) 07 Nov 2006 10:15 PMOh, I respect your feelings I just have a hard time when salvation is made so difficult that some may not even accept it because the steps seem to be too hard. I guess I just don't like the idea that someone may read how hard it is to Be Saved...go to War and lay in the field of battle thinking, "What good it is to accept Christ right now? I will die before I can be baptized." While I certainly agree with you that a Christian is expected to take the steps outlined in the Word--I also believe God offers Salvation by Grace and that just as Christ offered salvation to the Thief we as Christians offer Salvation to those we meet and if I am sitting with a dying person My first Responsibility is to ACT Christ Like and offer to pray the prayer of Salvation... Don't get me wrong I agree Christian should take the step of Baptisms--I just disagree that it is a requirement for Salvation.  Valorie Delp (49340) 09 Nov 2006 12:36 PMInteresting blog. While I agree that you cannot point to one story in the Bible (such as the thief on the cross) and draw out theological conclusions, I also cannot accept that baptism is required for salvation. If man is utterly depraved (which I believe the Bible teaches we are) then there is nothing good in me apart from Christ. Nothing in me that would draw me to Christ. . . rather it is he that draws me to him. It is He that gives me faith etc. In other words, my salvation rests on Him and NOTHING that I can do--including baptism. I feel that saying that there is one thing that I can do to 'ensure' my salvation is in essence denying the all sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. Well, at least that's it in a nut shell. :-) I believe one should be baptized after accepting Christ, for the reason/explanation Anna gave above. It is an act of obedience. Community Tags baptism, baptize, bible, christian, salvation Discuss this article
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