Scripture is very clear on the need of being baptized as part of God’s plan for a person to be saved. In other words, baptism is necessary for salvation.
(John 3:5) Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
Being born of water and the Spirit simply means being baptized and receiving God’s gift of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. If a person is not born again, they will not see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
Baptism Is For The Forgiveness Of Sins
(Acts 2:38) Peter 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.
(Acts 22:16) And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
(1 Peter 3:21) and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you
(Mark 16:15-16) 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These scriptures speak for themselves. The Bible plainly says a person has to be baptized to have their sins washed away. Peter’s reply in (Acts 2) was for everyone to repent and be baptized so our sins will be forgiven. Baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation.
Faith Only?
There are some who say baptism isn’t necessary for salvation. Most people with this view say that a person is saved by faith only in Jesus. The thinking is, if a person has to be baptized, then that is requiring the works of man to be saved instead of simply believing in Jesus. The following verse is often given to try and back this idea.
(Ephesians 2:8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.
As it says in Ephesians, it is certainly by God’s grace that a Christian is saved. Having faith in Jesus is obviously required. Without believing in Jesus, a person would never be motivated to obey the Bible and the plan of salvation God has given to us.
Having to be baptized is not a man-made idea. It comes directly from God’s word. Trying to explain away and ignore the scriptures that tell us to be baptized does not make them any less true. Requiring baptism as part of being saved is God’s idea, not mans. The action of being baptized is being obedient to God. The second chapter of James has a lot to say about how faith and works go together.
(James 2:14-26) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds. ”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Hi, Tha thief on the cross was not baptize……what about a dying man on a bed who repents of his sins and was not able to get baptize wil that man go to hell?
Thanks for the feedback. Your question about the thief on the cross has been answered as our most recent answer. The link is https://thebibleanswer.orgthief-on-the-cross-baptism-necessary/. You can also find it under our baptism category.
As for the second question, scenarios such as a dying man on a bed who wasn’t able to be baptized fall into playing the what-if game. What-if scenarios can be made up all day long regardless of what requirements God chose for us to be saved. Instead of just obeying God, many people come up with all kinds of reasons, excuses, and scenarios to get out of simple obedience to God and His Word.
However, there are others who sincerely want to follow after God and are truly seeking understanding of God’s word.
When you go back and read the Bible and what God requires of us to be saved, no amount of what-ifs can change the Scriptures and the plan of salvation that God has given for us to follow in Acts 2:38.
I sincerely pray our answers can be of help to you.