Baptismal regeneration vs baptismal confession

[Bold Believer]

From time to time, the question "Do I have to be baptized to be saved" comes up. So then just what does baptism have to do with our salvation?

Some groups (notably Roman Catholicism and some parts of the Church of Christ) believe that baptism is essential to salvation: i.e. no baptism, no salvation.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Salvation Army which doesn't practice baptism at all.

Most Christian theology seems to lie somewhere in the middle.

Entire denominations have sprung up over HOW and WHEN baptism should be carried out. Full immersion, sprinkling, pouring; infant baptism, adult baptism, believer's baptism.

So then where is the truth?

Mark 16:16 clearly states: "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Some will immediately cite the example of the condemned thief on the cross as a proof that baptism is irrelevant. My answer to that is that there are exceptions, (Imminent death. Lack of water availability, health reasons.)

Others will say: Well if I have to baptized to be saved, isn't that a form of works? I would say that faith without works is dead.

You see, baptism doesn't save you, IT SHOWS (confesses) that you are saved.

Romans 6 is the perfect primer on the 'why' of baptism. It explains the correlation of baptism to Christ's death for us.

So then, I personally believe in baptismal confession. It's a public way of saying "I believe in Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His death and the fact of His resurrection."

[~candice~]

You see, baptism doesn't save you, IT SHOWS (confesses) that you are saved.

It is an act of obedience, not salvation.

[enoob57]

From time to time, the question "Do I have to be baptized to be saved" comes up. So then just what does baptism have to do with our salvation?

Some groups (notably Roman Catholicism and some parts of the Church of Christ) believe that baptism is essential to salvation: i.e. no baptism, no salvation.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Salvation Army which doesn't practice baptism at all.

Most Christian theology seems to lie somewhere in the middle.

Entire denominations have sprung up over HOW and WHEN baptism should be carried out. Full immersion, sprinkling, pouring; infant baptism, adult baptism, believer's baptism.

So then where is the truth?

Mark 16:16 clearly states: "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Some will immediately cite the example of the condemned thief on the cross as a proof that baptism is irrelevant. My answer to that is that there are exceptions, (Imminent death. Lack of water availability, health reasons.)

Others will say: Well if I have to baptized to be saved, isn't that a form of works? I would say that faith without works is dead.

You see, baptism doesn't save you, IT SHOWS (confesses) that you are saved.

Romans 6 is the perfect primer on the 'why' of baptism. It explains the correlation of baptism to Christ's death for us.

So then, I personally believe in baptismal confession. It's a public way of saying "I believe in Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His death and the fact of His resurrection."

I think you would be a great carpenter! You hit the proverbial nail on the head...

Rom 10:10

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

NKJV

So if we believe in our heart so that we speak it with our mouth and we show forth works like baptism and witnessing and other obediences! We have the Gospels satisfied and Paul and James satisfied and most importantly God satisfied ! Love Steven

[HitmanR2]

It appears that all early local churches and/or groups baptised by immersion. Salvation by the act of baptism is false as you clearly pointed out. Regenerative baptism does not save.

Amen!

[Bold Believer]

It appears that all early local churches and/or groups baptised by immersion. Salvation by the act of baptism is false as you clearly pointed out. Regenerative baptism does not save.

Amen!

Actually, pouring and sprinkling (when the water tables were low) were also acceptable baptismal forms from some reading I've done. When enough water was available immersion was (and should be) followed.

[~candice~]

From time to time, the question "Do I have to be baptized to be saved" comes up. So then just what does baptism have to do with our salvation?

Some groups (notably Roman Catholicism and some parts of the Church of Christ) believe that baptism is essential to salvation: i.e. no baptism, no salvation.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Salvation Army which doesn't practice baptism at all.

Most Christian theology seems to lie somewhere in the middle.

Entire denominations have sprung up over HOW and WHEN baptism should be carried out. Full immersion, sprinkling, pouring; infant baptism, adult baptism, believer's baptism.

So then where is the truth?

Mark 16:16 clearly states: "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Some will immediately cite the example of the condemned thief on the cross as a proof that baptism is irrelevant. My answer to that is that there are exceptions, (Imminent death. Lack of water availability, health reasons.)

Others will say: Well if I have to baptized to be saved, isn't that a form of works? I would say that faith without works is dead.

You see, baptism doesn't save you, IT SHOWS (confesses) that you are saved.

Romans 6 is the perfect primer on the 'why' of baptism. It explains the correlation of baptism to Christ's death for us.

So then, I personally believe in baptismal confession. It's a public way of saying "I believe in Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His death and the fact of His resurrection."

I think you would be a great carpenter! You hit the proverbial nail on the head...

Rom 10:10

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

NKJV

So if we believe in our heart so that we speak it with our mouth and we show forth works like baptism and witnessing and other obediences! We have the Gospels satisfied and Paul and James satisfied and most importantly God satisfied ! Love Steven

OK Steven forgive me. I just wanted to go through your recent posts to find something we can agree upon . Here here! Spot on brother Steven!

[LeonaWithHumility]

I am not yet affiliated with a particular church, but I feel very strongly that I should be baptised. How do I go about finding a church that will do this (I want the good old-fashioned full-immersion dunking) without them trying to get me to join a church? Do you call up and ask "Do you baptise non-members?" I'm very serious about this, and obviously fairly clueless.

[OneLight]

I am not yet affiliated with a particular church, but I feel very strongly that I should be baptised. How do I go about finding a church that will do this (I want the good old-fashioned full-immersion dunking) without them trying to get me to join a church? Do you call up and ask "Do you baptise non-members?" I'm very serious about this, and obviously fairly clueless.

Why do you feel you need a church? All you need is another brother or sister and a body of water. The place is not important, but the why. Obedience to His word is what it is about, to give an outward confirmation of an inward change.

[OneLight]

I am not yet affiliated with a particular church, but I feel very strongly that I should be baptised. How do I go about finding a church that will do this (I want the good old-fashioned full-immersion dunking) without them trying to get me to join a church? Do you call up and ask "Do you baptise non-members?" I'm very serious about this, and obviously fairly clueless.

Why do you feel you need a church? All you need is another brother or sister and a body of water. The place is not important, but the why. Obedience to His word is what it is about, to give an outward confirmation of an inward change.

Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together and more as you see the day approaching. Find a good local Bible believing church that follows New Testament teaching or Bible teaching if you perfer.

We just had a new member yesterday. The pastor told the church, by accepting this person as a member you are signifying you are here for them to support them and help them day or night 24/7.

Find yourself a good NT church and you'll be glad and enjoy the fellowship and preaching and teaching.

Never said not to. You use that verse as if I did.

Leona was asking about baptism and one does not need a church to be baptized. That is mans way, not scripture.

Acts 8:36-38 (New King James Version)

36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said,

[UncleAbee]

In Acts chapter Peter was preaching to the Jews who had crucified Jesus. The Jews realizing what they had done asked "what must we do" in vs 37. They wanted to know what did they have to do to become reconciled to God again and remove the stain of what they had done. Peter did not reply with "say the sinners prayer, all you have to do is believe, just place your trust in God," or any such answer. He told them to "repent and be baptized" in vs 38. He tied repentance and baptism to the remission of sins and the gift of the HG in the same verse. This makes baptism necessary to your salvation. Immersing someone in water in and of itself has no power. If it did then all who go swimming are saved. The power comes when you are immersed as a faithful response to Christ. Christ saves you once you obey Him through faith. In Romans 10:9-10 Paul does tie confession to salvation. This is not the end of it though. These are all moves toward salvation. In Gal 3:27 Paul says that all who have been baptized have put on Christ. Peter says that baptism saves in 1 Peter 3:21.

How do we make sense of all this. Salvation requires several faithful responses to Christ.

1 - Hear - Matthew 17:5 - We all must listen to what Jesus has to say.

2 - Believe - John 8:24 - We must believe that Christ is the son of God.

3 - Repent - Luke 13:3 - We will all die if we don't make a change.

4 - Confess - Romans 10:9-10 - We must say that Jesus is the savior and the son of God.

5 - Baptism - Acts 2:38 - We must be baptized as the final act to enter the Kingdom.

6 - We must continue in the faith - 2 Peter 1:5-9 describes this.

None of these acts are good alone nor if they are not accompanied by faith in Christ.