₦airaland Forum

Question: "Is baptism necessary for salvation?"

Answer: The belief that baptism is necessary for salvation is also known as " baptismal regeneration ." It is our contention that baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, but we adamantly reject baptism as being required for salvation. We strongly believe that each and every Christian should be water baptized by immersion. Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 declares, “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We 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.” The action of being immersed in the water illustrates dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection.


Requiring anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works-based salvation. To add anything to the gospel is to say that Jesus' death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation. To say that baptism is necessary for salvation is to say we must add our own good works and obedience to Christ's death in order to make it sufficient for salvation. Jesus' death alone paid for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus' payment for our sins is appropriated to our “account” by faith alone (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, baptism is an important step of obedience after salvation but cannot be a requirement for salvation.

Yes, there are some verses that seem to indicate baptism as a requirement for salvation. However, since the Bible so clearly tells us that salvation is received by faith alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), there must be a different interpretation of those verses. Scripture does not contradict Scripture. In Bible times, a person who converted from one religion to another was often baptized to identify conversion. Baptism was the means of making a decision public. Those who refused to be baptized were saying they did not truly believe. So, in the minds of the apostles and early disciples, the idea of an un-baptized believer was unheard of. When a person claimed to believe in Christ, yet was ashamed to proclaim his faith in public, it indicated that he did not have true faith.

If baptism is necessary for salvation, why would Paul have said, “I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius” (1 Corinthians 1:14)? Why would he have said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:17)? Granted, in this passage Paul is arguing against the divisions that plagued the Corinthian church. However, how could Paul possibly say, “I am thankful that I did not baptize…” or “For Christ did not send me to baptize…” if baptism were necessary for salvation? If baptism is necessary for salvation, Paul would literally be saying, “I am thankful that you were not saved…” and “For Christ did not send me to save…” That would be an unbelievably ridiculous statement for Paul to make. Further, when Paul gives a detailed outline of what he considers the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-, why does he neglect to mention baptism? If baptism is a requirement for salvation, how could any presentation of the gospel lack a mention of baptism?

From the Scriptures (The Holy Bible) Water Baptism is a prequisite for Salvation. i.e. To Make Heaven
JOHN 3:1-5 - the Nicodemus Experience

bedspread:
From the Scriptures (The Holy Bible) Water Baptism is a prequisite for Salvation. i.e. To Make Heaven
JOHN 3:1-5 - the Nicodemus Experience

"born of water" is not water baptism

solite3:
"born of water" is not water baptism

To be born of water means the sanctification that takes place through regeneration


Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;


Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,


this water means the sanctifying effect of the word of God.

also see,



Ezekiel 16:9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.


John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.


1 Corinthians 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.



so you see these verses are not talking of baptism at all but the washing of regeneration.

Entry through to Christen Life, here on Earth, is Water Baptism.

Entry through to Eternal Life, there in Heaven, is Holy Spirit Born Again.

Water baptism is not a requirement for salvation... I agree 100% to the answer provided in the OP... It's only faith in the finished work of Christ that saves... But a Christian can be baptised after being saved.

solite3:
To be born of water means the sanctification that takes place through regeneration


Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;


Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,


this water means the sanctifying effect of the word of God.

also see,



Ezekiel 16:9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.


John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.


1 Corinthians 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.



so you see these verses are not talking of baptism at all but the washing of regeneration.

Beautiful explanation my bro!! We think alike!! I am so happy for you bro.... Keep waxing strong in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!!

bedspread:
From the Scriptures (The Holy Bible) Water Baptism is a prequisite for Salvation. i.e. To Make Heaven
JOHN 3:1-5 - the Nicodemus Experience

water baptism is not a requisite for salvation. The only requisite is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ

Yes. It's The Gate-Way to Christen Life.

jiggaz:
Beautiful explanation my bro!! We think alike!! I am so happy for you bro.... Keep waxing strong in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Amen

Its a fulfillment of all righteousness.

Nope!!
John3:16

princeking2:
Its a fulfillment of all righteousness.

which righteousness?

Luke23:42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.d ”

43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
WAS THE THEIF BAPTIZEF?

Baptism is required to seal your salvation but not water baptism but baptism with the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13.

TruthinAction:
Baptism is required to seal your salvation but not water baptism but baptism with the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13.

not true,
Spirit baptism is to bear witness for Christ
act 1:8

ichuka:
Luke23:42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.d ”

43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
WAS THE THEIF BAPTIZEF?

I was about to point that out too.

solite3:
not true,
Spirit baptism is to bear witness for Christ
act 1:8

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT of promise,

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also SEALED US, and given the EARNEST of the SPIRIT in our hearts.

TruthinAction:
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT of promise,

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also SEALED US, and given the EARNEST of the SPIRIT in our hearts.

that verse is talking about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

solite3:
that verse is talking about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Yes, it's about the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who also is our seal of redemption or a stamp of ownership of God upon our lives.

TruthinAction:
Yes, it's about the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who also is our seal of redemption or a stamp of ownership of God upon our lives.

OK you are correct, every believer is baptized with the holy Spirit but not all are filled with the spirit.

solite3:
To be born of water means the sanctification that takes place through regeneration

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ephesians 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

this water means the sanctifying effect of the word of God.

also see,

Ezekiel 16:9
Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

John 13:10
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

1 Corinthians 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.

so you see these verses are not talking of baptism at all but the washing of regeneration

jiggaz:
Beautiful explanation my bro!! We think alike!!
I am so happy for you bro....
Keep waxing strong in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!!

MuttleyLaff:
"¹There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
²The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:
for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
³Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
⁴Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
⁵Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
⁷Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again"
- John 3:1-7

A bible useful rule of thumb is that to remember the bible wasnt originally in chapters and verses and so be careful when reading it

I love John chapter 3 a lot and have noticed that John chapter 3 actually, appropriately should have started from John 2:23
but it sad to see, many, be under a delusion or living in a fool's paradise, cavorting with the "born again" cliché

TATIME, most, familiar with driving a car or riding a motor-cycle
know how a car's flat/dead battery is brought back to life
or know how a motor cycle thats being lying sitting for months/years is brought back to life

Now, here's the beginning of the point, many so-called believers, "believers" and/or christians, misunderstand John chapter 3
and as a result, unnecessarily slip into resorting to using a "born again" cliché

I am unable to understand why some and/or others dont ever wonder why Jesus never publicly gave, not even one "born again" teaching
I guess it's because born from above also known as, born again, actually isn't a badge of honour, but is a matter of just fact
It is unneccessary to publicly teach a known fact

TATIME, what was Nicodemus opening remark and what was Jesus' immediate reply back to Nicodemus opening remark?
The arresting point that got Nicodemus captivated
was the mention of regeneration in Jesus' immediate reply to his opening remark.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, it takes one having a spirit renewal or spirit re-birth, to see and recognise the kingdom of God
He said, except born from above, one cant accept the truth of nor admit the existence of the kingdom of God
If one isnt, then such one, will rubbish, ridicule, make fun of, poke fun at, make jokes about, scoff at, be sarcastic about the kingdom of God
Such one not born from above, will take the mickey out of demonstrations & power of the kingdom of God

Notice, it's, born from above, in order to be able to acknowledge the demonstrations & power of the kingdom of God
and its' born of water and born from above, in order to enter into the kingdom of God

TATIME, here is an illustration, to explain "see the kingdom of God" and "enter into the kingdom of God"
When you're on a plane from France to Ghana, with a connecting flight at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you see Holland
you dont go outside or beyond Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you see Amsterdam city and/or Holland from inside Amsterdam Airport Schiphol,
Except you have the correct travelling documents etcetera, you cant go into town, cannot enter into Amsterdam city and/or Holland
you will just see Holland and the city from whilst inside Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (i.e. the main international airport of the Netherlands)

Now lets rewind a bit TATIME
After dark one evening, Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus.
"Rabbi," he said,
"we all know that God has sent you to teach us.
Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you."
- John 3:2

Going back to John 3:2,
Nicodemus in John 3:2 managed to have seen somethings, admitted and confirmed the origin of what hes being seeing
but Jesus switched gear on Nicodemus, changed from ''see the Kingdom'' to ''enter the Kingdom'' only when Nicodemus was wrestling with the Born Again enter mother's womb
- it is a fact, it is possible, we can see things of thing without entering the thing

People jumble two separate things together here TATIME.
Just because you cant enter, doesnt mean or imply you can't see

People see America, people watch America
but to enter into America, to set foot on American soil in America, requires certain criteria being met

Two people looking at the same thing at the same time,
both observing the same thing but only one is seeing something,
only one is admitting seeing what's being observed or only one aknowledges what was played out before them both

You see things when the spirit falls or rests on you
You can't see things unless you are born from above (i.e. you are born again)

Please study John 3:1-3 by slowing reading but reading it out loud
Hope you notice how Nicodemus instigated Jesus switching the gear on him.
Jesus in responding to Nicodemus' admitted John 3:2 observances, decides to up the ante
from ''see the Kingdom'' to ''enter into the Kingdom'' after Nicodemus brought in the issue of re-entering a mother's womb

Nicodemus had no problem with Jesus' first reply
This is confirmed if John 3:3, is re-read like this:
You are right Nicodemus, I say to you, EXCEPT a man be born again, he CANNOT "see" the kingdom of God

Jesus knew what Nicodemus was having a problem with
and also knew why Nicodemus asked that question in John 3:4

TATIME, you see, Nicodemus was confused about the entering aspect,
He was thinking, is it going to be his present body or would he have to return into his mother's womb for a re-birth?

TATIME, re-read Jesus' John 3:5 reply to Nicodemus bewilderment, like this:
"You are right Nicodemus,
I say to you, EXCEPT a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he CANNOT "enter" into the kingdom of God"

Nicodemus was like, OK, I've seen the demonstration and power of the Kingdom,
but my question now is, how do I enter the Kingdom. What are the qualifications?
Remember Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and the Pharisees idea of what the Messiah and His Kingdom is or would be is different

Born Again isnt the false doctrine it's being built up to be,
but is a fact, reality and truth that, except one is biologically born of human being (i.e. born of water)
and spiritually born of God (i.e. born again, as in born from above, born of the Spirit) you cannot enter the kingdom

To see the kingdom you need to be born again, as in born from above, born of the Spirit but to enter the kingdom,
unless you are born of water and born again, as in born from above, born of the Spirit, it is not going to happen

If not for Nicodemus, Jesus didnt even have to mention this one event, dead in the night, mention of born of water and born again.
Jesus was even baffled at Nicodemus
He told him off for being a teacher of Israel and not knowing such a basic and obvious thing like this

All's well that ends well, Nicodemus, who came in the middle of the night,
left, being able to draw in the lines
and eventually accept that Jesus is God, from the slight rebuke and dots to join together, Jesus gave him.

Bottom line and to make a short work of this, is that, no one is entering the Kingdom without a glorified body
(i.e. EXCEPT a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he CANNOT "enter" into the kingdom of God)

jiggaz, about what you wrote re: solite3, I agree without demur

Great minds think alike, it's often said

I am so happy too for solite3, our brother....
Pray he keeps waxing stronger in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, our God!!

MuttleyLaff:
jiggaz, about what you wrote re: solite3, I agree without demur

Great minds think alike, it's often said

I am so happy too for solite3, our brother....
Pray he keeps waxing stronger in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, our God!!

Amen!! Thank you my brother..

bedspread:
From the Scriptures (The Holy Bible) Water Baptism is a prequisite for Salvation. i.e. To Make Heaven
JOHN 3:1-5 - the Nicodemus Experience

Indeed it is!

■ "born of water" is not water baptism

On the contrary, to be born of water actually is in reference to water baptism

Baptism by water, as explained by John the Baptist in the context of Matthew 3 vs 7 - 11, Mark 1 vs 1 - 14, and Luke 3 vs 1 - 18, which he referred to as Repentance is, in fact, to mark an abandoning of the Old Law of Moses(old way), and adoption or rebirth in the New Law and Way, the Gospel and Truth in the Kingdom of God. The Law —God's Truth — is described by Jesus Christ in the context of John 4 vs 2 - 12 & John 7 as Living water which when inside of those who believe — those who drink from Him — will never thirst again and will bring them eternal life; Rivers of living water will flow from out of the inside of them.

So, in essence, water baptism as taught by John the Baptist is the message of repentance, which was then reechoed by Jesus Christ, marks the end of one's life in the old law and a new life in the new Law, God's new source of living water in Jesus Christ.

■ To be born of water means the sanctification that takes place through regeneration...this water means the sanctifying effect of the word of God. also see, so you see these verses are not talking of baptism at all but the washing of regeneration.

I think you are reading each and every one of those texts out of context. Jesus Christ never mentioned sanctification as a benefit of being born-again in John 3 vs 1 -21. Rather, being born-again opens one to the possibility of sanctification which one can obtain by choosing to continue in obedience.

Kobojunkiee:
On the contrary, to be born of water actually is in reference to water baptism

Baptism by water, as explained by John the Baptist in the context of Matthew 3 vs 7 - 11, Mark 1 vs 1 - 14, and Luke 3 vs 1 - 18, which he referred to as Repentance is, in fact, to mark an abandoning of the Old Law of Moses(old way), and adoption or rebirth in the New Law and Way, the Gospel and Truth in the Kingdom of God. The Law —God's Truth — is described by Jesus Christ in the context of John 4 vs 2 - 12 & John 7 as Living water which when inside of those who believe — those who drink from Him — will never thirst again and will bring them eternal life; Rivers of living water will flow from out of the inside of them.

So, in essence, water baptism as taught by John the Baptist is the message of repentance, which was then reechoed by Jesus Christ, marks the end of one's life in the old law and a new life in the new Law, God's new source of living water in Jesus Christ.

to be born of water is not water baptism. You Don't you understand the bible and you don't want to learn

delkuf:
to be born of water is not water baptism. You Don't you understand the bible and you don't want to learn

Well to be born of water simply means water baptism!
Nobody knows when a Christian dedicates his life to God because that's done in secret {Matthew 6:6} but presenting oneself to become a member of the family of faith requires the presence of other members that's the time you are BORN into their midst as they all witness your baptism.
That's what water baptism signifies!

MaxInDHouse:
Well to be born of water simply means water baptism!
Nobody knows when a Christian dedicates his life to God because that's done in secret {Matthew 6:6} but presenting oneself to become a member of the family of faith requires the presence of other members that's the time you are BORN into their midst as they all witness your baptism.
That's what water baptism signifies!

Guy I wasn't talking to you. Face your front

delkuf:
Guy I wasn't talking to you. Face your front

This is what you told someone else:

delkuf:
You Don't you understand the bible and you don't want to learn

So humble yourself and learn it's not too late to do so!