I meet people that say they don't believe water baptism saves you.?

Question

What do you think?

Answer 1

water baptism does not save you. Acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ saves you. Water baptism is just an outward expression of an inward commitment

Answer 2

I think that water baptism is symbolic. You can't just dip yourself in water and be "saved." It's about what's in your heart.

Answer 3

Luke 3:16

John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

Answer 4

Are you suggesting that the thief on the cross that Jesus told would be with him in paradise that day was not saved because he did not get baptized?  

Answer 5

Baptism Saves?

The Catholic church contends that baptism is necessary for salvation:

"The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation." Pg. 320, #1257

All Catholics should be aware that the Lord does not agree with this statement. The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift that works can never buy. This doctrine was devised by Catholicism:

"The Church does not know of any other means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude..." Pg. 320, #1257

"The faithful are born anew by Baptism..." Pg. 311, #1212

"Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, and are incorporated into the Church..." Pg. 312, #1213



The Bible could not disagree more:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12  

Despite Bible verses like these, the Catechism teaches that:

"Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte 'a new creature,' an adopted son of God, who has become a 'partaker of the divine nature,' member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit." Pg. 322, #1265

"By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin." Pg. 321, #1263 (See pg. 257, #985)



All these doctrines violate a host of Scriptures. The Bible teaches that only Christ can forgive our sins, performing a "good work" like baptism will never do it:

"In whom we have redemption through his (Christ's) blood, the forgiveness of sins..." Ephesians 1:7  

If baptism is necessary for salvation, would the Apostle Paul have proclaimed:

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." 1 Corinthians 1:17  

Or would this same great man of God have stated:

"I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;" 1 Corinthians 1:14

John the Baptist's message was:

"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2  

After people repented, then they were...

"... baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." Matthew 3:6

Listen to what the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip as they discussed the subject of baptism:

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:36-37  

The Bible teaches that baptism should occur after salvation, not as a requirement for salvation. When the Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul answered:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house... And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." Acts 16:30, 31, 33  

First, they believed, then they were baptized. Baptism always follows salvation! Here's another example:

"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8

In Acts chapter two, Peter, the supposed first pope, preached. When he finished:

"... they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41  

Again, they were baptized, not to become sons of God, but because they already were sons of God.

When Philip preached to the people of Samaria, first came salvation, then baptism:

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12  

Soon after in that same passage, Simon, a deceiving sorcerer, followed the same path:

"Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip..." Acts 8:13  

The Catechism states:

"All the sacraments are sacred links uniting the faithful with one another and binding them to Jesus Christ, and above all Baptism, the gate by which we enter into the Church." Pg. 248, #950

Just before his death, the thief on the cross next to Jesus put his faith in Jesus Christ. Obviously, he was never baptized, but he still went to paradise. Why? Because salvation is through faith in Christ, not through baptism.

The Catechism also contends that when a person is baptized, it is really Jesus Himself who is doing the baptizing:

"By his (Christ's) power he is present in the sacraments so that when anybody baptizes, it is really Christ himself who baptizes." Pg. 283, #1088

Simply stated, this is another Catholic tradition not found in God's Word.

Another Contradiction

Here is another Catholic doctrine:

"Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." Pg. 324, #1274

But the Bible disagrees again, statin

Answer 6

Jonathan,

                  Water baptism is symbolic of the new birth experience. It doesn't do anything . Nor is a required for salvation. It's kinda the same as taking Communion . Communion is symbolic of our having received the body and blood of Christ for the remission of our sins .

Hope this helped.. God bless you !

Answer 7

Baptism by water is to outwardly show others the baptism of the holy spirit that you went through at salvation. It is merely an outward expression of faith.

Answer 8

The purpose of baptism is for the remission of sins.... when you are baptized, all your past sins are forgiven, and you start again with a clean slate.

Even Jesus Christ himself was baptized, even though he was perfect. He was baptized because he was setting the example for the rest of us.

Baptism itself doesn't save you though.... the atonement of Christ is what saves. He died to take upon himself the pain and sins of the world. We just have to repent and turn it over to him, and he does the rest.

Answer 9

Only Jesus can Save. Water baptism is a physical affirmation and a statement of faith by the individual that he/she believes in the Power of Jesus to wash away our sins, and is symbolic of a new life. If water baptism alone could save then the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Our Lord would not have been necessary.

Answer 10

It's what Jesus thinks that counts, he's the judge. He said:-

"He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues" (Mark 16:15-17)

Peter who was first given the keys to the kingdom said to people seeking salvation:-

"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 2:38)

Yes, water baptism doesn't take away sin, but it is the answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21), without which we cannot proceed, so it is part of the way of salvation.

Answer 11

You're saved when you give your heart, soul, life over to God.

The water is a symbolic cleansing you of your sins following you being saved.

Answer 12

No. It does not save.  John the Baptist baptized for removal of sins but when Jesus died for our sins, that was no longer needed.  Today we are baptized as an outward sign of our leaving our old lives of self interest and living for Jehovah.  We die to our former ways and are reborn to serve the creator. We symbolize this by complete water immersion.  

Answer 13

i dont think water baptism saves you. But instead it refreshes your soul it cleanses it so that you can start over. I believe it all depends on your relationship with the holy spirit weather or not your saved, but I  cant be judge, can I.

Answer 14

Some faiths believe that water is their way of washing away your sins and you becoming a child of God- the rest is up to you- the only way to be saved is to accept Jesus.  

Answer 15

well i dont think that water baptism saves you, the only one that saves is god. there are many people that are baptized and it doesnt mean that they are save. you are save because of the way you act and because you follow god's word. baptism is just a step to take to be save.

Answer 16

The actually water baptism it self doesn't. But it is a way of forming an example saying I love the lord. And that the old you is being buried in the water and that the new you is going to stay in the water . You don't physically change but you change mentally and spiritually.

I personally an a Baptist so we do practice water baptism

Answer 17

Water baptism is only symbolic of an internal baptism.  The act of pouring water on someone does not save them.  The only way to salvation is to accept Jesus Christ as your saviour.  Therefore you don't have to be baptized with water to be saved.

Answer 18

Water baptism, in itself, does not save you. If it did, we would be putting the power of salvation in our own hands or in the hands of the person doing the baptisms. Only God has the power to save, and He does not make his decision based on rituals. The New Testament, and Jesus himself, makes it clear that we are saved through grace, by believing and following Jesus, not through our own works.

That being said, water baptism is still a very important part of being a Christian. The Bible says, 'Repent and be baptized, in the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.' As Christians, we should all be water-baptised as a public declaration of our faith, and a symbolic show of us becoming new in Jesus Christ.

Water baptism is important because we are told to do it. Although it in itself does not save, if we refuse to do it we need to ask ourselves why, because it could point to a major problem in our faith. Jesus told us to be baptized, so we should be, and if we don't it is like saying Jesus didn't really know what He was talking about or He won't mind if we only choose some parts of His teachings to follow.

You can be saved without water baptism. The man on the cross beside Jesus was told that he was saved, and he was never baptised. However, it is an important thing to do as part of being a Christian and out of obedience to God.

Answer 19

Water baptism cannot save, and water baptism is not required for salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 2:9-10, Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16, John 6:29, and tons of other scriptures that have no water baptism named in the plan of salvation.  

The few verses that bring up water baptism, are easily shown by Greek construct to say that water baptism is not required, and so those that say water baptism is required, are teaching a false doctrine.

The only way to be saved is by believing that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose from the dead.  Salvation is a free gift  :)

Answer 20

If water baptism could save people then Jesus went to the cross in vain. He could have just thrown water on people instead!

Baptism is only an outward sign of what has taken place in the heart of the sinner when he/she accepts Jesus as Lord. It is a believer's baptism only. The baptism has no special powers.

Catholics do the water baptism thing for babies. It is not only unscriptural, but also just a waste of time. There never was any salvation in the baptism, there is not now, nor ever can there be. Read the Bible people and get enlightened as to what the Bible teaches.

Answer 21

baptism doesnt do anything but symbolize that you have given your life fully to God...it doesnt 'save'...Jesus saves.