Do you have to get baptized to go to Heaven?

hawknelsonaddict · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 1724

i have friends that believe this but i dont believe it.

cuz if someone gets saved amd then dies in a car crash the next day, would he go to hell cuz he was never baptized?

or if someone got saved on their deathbed they couldnt be baptized cuz they're dying.where would they go?

crazyforchrist · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 1837

I don't believe you have to be baptized to go to heaven. If there was another way, such as baptism, to get into heaven, then why did Jesus suffer the way He did when we could get to heaven just through baptism?

Kevin_McNeese · **NRTeam Admin** Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 104

I've had this discussion a lot, and I think the issue starts almost immediatly with the question "do you HAVE to?" I really don't think it's a matter of have to or don't have to, but it's really a commandent from God. It's something God asks us to do. That should be enough to do it without questioning the neccessity of the act in order to get into heaven or not. The end result is irrelevent when talking about the question. It's asked of us.

Not sure if that makes sense.

crazyforchrist · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 1837

Crazydragonclk · **NRTeam Novice** Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 89

i dont think it a requirement i think it is more of a ritual that we as christians do in order to announce publicly that we are coming of faith to serve God, as i remember hearing a sermon on this a while back that in the olden days they tis was customary for them when changing religions or certain belief systems. They would often do things like this to show that they were entering into a walk of faith etc. So i think the same thing applies here similar to circumcision, it is medically outdated, but some people still do it as a customary thing.

carrtoondragon · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 2199

crazyforchrist · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 1837

akcooper · **NRTeam Beginner** Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 104

You should get baptized, but you don't have to. Here's why I say you don't have to, look at the thief on the cross, he was not baptized yet Christ said that he would enter the kingdom of heaven.

justinisthecrazy · **NRTeam Pro** Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 958

Baptism is a rite of identification and not salvation and therefore is not a requirement for entrance into heaven. What then is the requirement for entrance into heaven? The story of the malefactor will give us the answer. This man recognized that he was where he was because of his own actions and he repents and asks for grace. The grace of the cross is what instantly transformed a reviling sinner into one with the attitude of confession and saving faith. That faith is what saves and gives the sinner entrance into eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ three days later.

The repentant thief began to see that his own punishment was just, he also saw the sinless character of Christ and he recognized that only Christ was able to save him. The thief was saved because of his trust in God's grace through Christ. In like manner, the sinner today must recognize that God's judgment of us is just and that we cannot save ourselves and we then choose to receive the gift of grace that God has made possible through the LORD Jesus Christ and that is the only requirement for salvation and for entrance into eternal life in heaven. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). If baptism were necessary it would be "works" and we cannot add our works to His grace.

crazyforchrist · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 1837

crazyforchrist · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 1837

hawknelsonaddict · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 1724

duh! i cant believe i didnt remember the sinner on the cross when i was "debating" with my friends....

ZZ · **NRTeam Beginner** Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 104

should baptism be restricted to a purely physical act?

i agree that that normally baptism is done to show a spiritual rebirth. maybe when we truely accept Christ as our savior we are spiritually baptised... same concept as the physical kind but actual spiritual death (of our sinful selves) and life (of Christ living in us).

let me know if this is unbiblical, id like to know.

patpc36 · **NRTeam Expert** Joined: 03 Aug 2009 Posts: 5381

Our pastor tells us that "Baptism is just an outward display of a public decision that you have made." Your decision to trust Jesus Christ is what gains you access to heaven. Your decision to be baptized is just going public with that decision.

jmorg1980 · **NRTeam Newbie** Joined: 25 May 2009 Posts: 43

First let me say the thief on the cross was not under the new law of Christ because Christ is still alive at that point. Like a will and testament. Someone soesn't get your stuff until you die. The New Testament is the new perfect law the law of Christ. Not that it matters but who is to say at some point John the Baptist didn't baptize him.

Jesus commands his disciples in the Great commission to go out and teach and baptize. Matthew 28 and Mark 16.

Jesus states in Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. His words not mine.

The word and puts both objects in a sentence of equal importance. If someone asks you to go to the store and get bread and milk. Do you only get one of those items?

Look at the first time the gospel was preached in Act 2. Peter told those Jews who were pricked at the heart to do what?

Then Peter said unto them, 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.

Again the word and is in there. for what remmission of sins

Look at any conversion of a person found in Acts. All without exception are baptized.

Well if baptism saves you, why did Christ shed his blood? Jesus shed his blood to was away our sins. How do we come in contact with that blood. Through Baptism. We are batized into Christ. To be raised in newness of life.

All in Romans 6

What about the guy who dies in the car crash? Never heard of that happening but God is righteous and just, he knows that persons heart. Which is another thing to mention on the imprtance of baptism. It should be done immediatly because it is that important.

Acts 2 from earlier. That same day they were baptized verse 41.

Acts 16 Paul and Silas preach to prisioners at midnight and baptize them that same hour. Didn't wait till the next morning.

Baptism is important Crist commanded it the apostles preached it, and they now better than any man or preacher who told you it is an outward sign. It may be that to some, if so you need to evaluate your reasoning for doing so.