Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

[TheNewMan]

What do you say to ...

“Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17).

I answered that in the post above.

Paul said that he came to preach the gospel, not to baptize: "I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." (1 Cor. 1:14-17). If baptism is necessary for salvation, then why did Paul downplay it and even exclude it from the description of what is required for salvation? It is because baptism is not necessary for salvation.

You took that verse well out of context. The reason Paul was glad that he had not baptized any of them, is because there was dissension among the Christians at Corinth, and he didn't want them to say they were baptized into his name. You carefully left out verse 13, which says "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"

No, Christ was crucified for them. Therefore, they were crucified in the name of Christ.

Paul didn't NEED to be sent to baptize. It's not as if he's the only one who could physically baptize someone. Any Christian can baptize another Christian. But they have to hear and believe the gospel before that can have the faith necessary to be obedient and repentant to Christ. You're making a false and ungrounded conclusion about baptism from this verse, contradicting it to 1 Peter 3:21, which plainly says that baptism DOES save us. (keep reading)

Edited August 20, 2011 by TheNewMan

[SoGrateful]

What do you say to ...

“Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17).

I like this particular verse standing alone on its' two little feetsies (or footsies?)

... because it agrees with other verses which say baptism is not mandatory.

Edited August 21, 2011 by SoGrateful

[TheNewMan]

What do you say to ...

“Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17).

I like this particular verse standing alone on its' two little feetsies (or footsies?)

... because it agrees with other verses which say baptism is not mandatory.

I've addressed all these verses. If you want to know about it, just read my post with the red font.

[Guest Jeff Murnahan]

What do you say to ...

“Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17).

I like this particular verse standing alone on its' two little feetsies (or footsies?)

... because it agrees with other verses which say baptism is not mandatory.

Your interpretation of (1Corinthians 1:17) is wrong. Paul was an Apostle so Christ DID send him to baptize, it is his great commission as an Apostle (Matthew 28:19) If we view (1Corinthians 1:17) your way then we have a contradiction, but if we view it differently there is no contradiction.

First off what is the gospel? the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1Corinthians 15:1-4). Second off, where does baptism fit into the gospel? baptism is the "burial" of Christ (Colossians 2:12).

Paul was trying to correct some of the Corinthians misunderstanding that he was the Christ (1Corinthians 1:11-12). So then what was Paul saying? Paul was saying in (1Corinthians 1:17) that baptism is just the burial, there is still the death and resurrection, there is still more for them, and that he is the one who teaches about those things, he is not the one whos authority it is done under. It is done under Christs

[TheNewMan]

Actually, if we take the position that it WAS Paul's job to baptize men, then we still have a contradiction, because the passage says he was NOT send to baptize, but to preach the gospel.

The commandment in Matthew 28:19 was to the eleven disciples of Jesus, whom later became known as apostles. Paul's apostleship does not necessarily subject him to that commandment.

Regardless, I think this point matters very little. We really can't know exactly what Paul meant when he said he was not sent to baptize them, although I think you are right when you say he was doing it by the authority of Christ. The passage really tells us very little about baptism or whether or not it's necessary for salvation. The point is that all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3), including salvation itself (2 Timothy 2:10), and even the ability to be made a new creature, and die to the sin of this world (2 Corinthians 5:17). The only way to be in Christ is to be baptized (Romans 6:3-5)(Galatians 3:27). Baptism IS necessary for salvation.

[Guest Jeff Murnahan]

Actually, if we take the position that it WAS Paul's job to baptize men, then we still have a contradiction, because the passage says he was NOT send to baptize, but to preach the gospel.

The commandment in Matthew 28:19 was to the eleven disciples of Jesus, whom later became known as apostles. Paul's apostleship does not necessarily subject him to that commandment.

Regardless, I think this point matters very little. We really can't know exactly what Paul meant when he said he was not sent to baptize them, although I think you are right when you say he was doing it by the authority of Christ. The passage really tells us very little about baptism or whether or not it's necessary for salvation. The point is that all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3), including salvation itself (2 Timothy 2:10), and even the ability to be made a new creature, and die to the sin of this world (2 Corinthians 5:17). The only way to be in Christ is to be baptized (Romans 6:3-5)(Galatians 3:27). Baptism IS necessary for salvation.

I agree with you that salvation is necessary for salvation. Although I do not agree that (Matthew 28:19) was only to the other eleven Apostles. In fact I believe it was to everyone who believes in Christ, because you see ones who were not Apostles baptize like Philip and Ananias in (Acts 8 and Acts 22).

What I was trying to say in my last post was that if you look at the verse as a whole Paul says he was not sent to baptize but to preach the gospel. If you look at that as a whole then the verse is saying he was not sent to baptize only but show you the full message of salvation which is the gospel (1Corinthians 15:1-4), which includes baptism, for it is the burial of Christ (Cololssians 2:12). The full message of the gospel is this (Death=Repentance, Burial=Baptism, Resurrection=Holy Ghost.)

[Guest Jeff Murnahan]

Actually, if we take the position that it WAS Paul's job to baptize men, then we still have a contradiction, because the passage says he was NOT send to baptize, but to preach the gospel.

The commandment in Matthew 28:19 was to the eleven disciples of Jesus, whom later became known as apostles. Paul's apostleship does not necessarily subject him to that commandment.

Regardless, I think this point matters very little. We really can't know exactly what Paul meant when he said he was not sent to baptize them, although I think you are right when you say he was doing it by the authority of Christ. The passage really tells us very little about baptism or whether or not it's necessary for salvation. The point is that all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3), including salvation itself (2 Timothy 2:10), and even the ability to be made a new creature, and die to the sin of this world (2 Corinthians 5:17). The only way to be in Christ is to be baptized (Romans 6:3-5)(Galatians 3:27). Baptism IS necessary for salvation.

I add this also. If you say baptism was a commandment just to the eleven other Apostles in (Matthew 28:19 [the great commission]) and not to every Christian, then you could just as easily say that preaching the gospel to every creature was just to the eleven other Apostles and not to every Christian (Mark 16:15 [Marks account of the great commission].) I believe the great commission was to every Christian.

Besides all of this in (Matthew 28:20) Jesus says to teach all the nations everything He commanded them...(Matthew 28:19) was one of the things He commanded them to do.

[TheNewMan]

You're definitely right. I agree with you.

[UncleAbee]

Over the centuries two different lines of thought of Christians has developed.

1 - Performing the various works of Christ is necessary for salvation. Faith is active and you play a role in your salvation. You are not the source of your salvation but you must do something to receive it.

2 - The other says that the works have nothing to do with salvation. Faith is a passive act in which Christ does everything and you do nothing. All of your actions are responses to the salvation you have been given.

I agree with # 1. I believe the deeds we perform through faith in Christ are necessary for our salvation. I agree with this because I see Christ commanding us to work in the bible (Matt 10:38). The works grow us as Christians (Eph 4:15). We work because Christ worked and we are to follow His example (John 13:15). Jesus says we will be judged according to these works (Matt 16:27).

I also think that those who give examples such as "what if you are on a plane and can't get baptized...." are ignoring the command and providence of God and are focusing on the exceptions instead of the rule. If the plane crashes before the man has the opportunity to be baptized then God will judge that properly. That in no way should effect the fact that baptism is commanded to all who want to be saved for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Let us focus on what God told us "to do" and not on the many "what if's" that rarely if ever happen.