Do You Have To Be Baptized To Be Saved?

This is an issue that raises lots of conflict within the Christian community. Baptism or 'birth of water and spirit', so it is referred to, is meant to symbolize the death, burial, and resurrection of your old self to new; like that of Jesus Christ. Throughout the bible there are countless references and or instances of baptism, or 'birth of water and spirit'. Let's take a look at some.

Here is a perfect example in John. After Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, shortly before the Passover, he clears all the men who were selling goods and exchanging money out of the temple, and when they asked for a miraculous sign to prove His authority, He tells them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." After hearing and seeing of this Nicodemus comes to talk with Jesus.

John 3:1-5

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, " How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be bon?" Jesus answered, " I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

You cannot deny this scripture! Christ says here plainly you cannot enter the kingdom of God unless you are born of water and spirit.

Stay with me now. In Acts 2:38-41 Peter is addressing all the people of Jerusalem and basically tells them (in Acts 2:22-24), "Oh uhh.. hey by the way, that guy you just had put to death, yeah He's the Savior of the world, God's only son. Good job!" And when they heard this, scripture says they were 'cut to the heart' asking, "What do we do now?" Peter's response was (in verse 38):

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him."

Wait a sec! These people are responsible for the death of Christ! They had Him put to death! But God's grace is so amazing that He offers them forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit through 'birth of water and spirit' or baptism. Scripture says that about 3 thousand people accepted Peter’s message that day and were baptized into Christ. How awesome is that?!?!

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And for those who have still not made the decision to take up their walk with Christ yet, my challenge to you is to consider this: His only mission is to save you. He is all that you’re missing. No matter how much you drink or smoke, no matter how much sex you have or how much drugs you do, you will not fill the void in your life by satisfying your greed or your lustful nature. That’s just Satan in all his attempts to convince you that you don’t need God. But the satisfaction of self only lasts a moment, Christ offers you His eternal love. He is begging you to let Him help you. He is the missing piece that fills the void. Your search ends here! Take the initiative. This is your opportunity to change. He has been pursuing you. Let him take the emptiness from your life. Now is your opportunity to pursue Him. He is waiting for you.