Do you have to be baptized to go to Heaven?

February 26, 2008

So is Christ saying that unless we are born through "natural birth" we can't get into heaven?

What are you alluding to? As far as I know, there is no other type of birth. Even the "possibility" of clones still requires a womb.

Christ's point was that you have to be born naturally and spiritually.

That makes no sense to me whatsoever. ( and Honeybee88 I'm not picking on you...I'm just using your words )

Why would Christ tell someone they had to be born naturally before they can be born spiritually? If they were not born naturally, Christ wouldn't be talking to them.

Can you guys understand what I'm saying? It doesn't make any sense.

Christ said "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."

He then says "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit".

Now we all know that flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God. So why would Christ make ref. to our physical birth? It makes no sense.

Christ Himself was baptized by John. Immediately after that the Spirit descended upon Him.

How many times are we told we need to be like Christ?

I personally believe you need to get baptized. Yes I do understand there are situations like the man on the cross and so on, but it still says we need to be born of water.

If no one else believes this, I'm ok with it.....I'm not gonna push it.

I just want to know where this belief of a physical birth came from. I mean it's just common sense that you have to be physically here in the flesh before you can be spiritually saved.

And LadyC I know what being "born again" is.....but thanks for asking.

February 26, 2008

just trying to help...you asked a question that appears to have been answered so I thought I would supply something for you that might give a better more detailed instrument of explanation...

Thank you.

Now can you point me in the direction to the answer to my question.

sure, Jesus is right there...search Him and the word.

Nice way to say "I don't know".

jackie d · February 26, 2008

QUOTE (jackie d @ Feb 26 2008, 11:47 AM)
QUOTE (man @ Feb 26 2008, 09:05 AM)

QUOTE (jackie d @ Feb 26 2008, 10:53 AM)

just trying to help...you asked a question that appears to have been answered so I thought I would supply something for you that might give a better more detailed instrument of explanation...

Thank you.

Now can you point me in the direction to the answer to my question.

sure, Jesus is right there...search Him and the word.

Nice way to say "I don't know".

actually man I do know...and I provided material thinking that you didn't know but in fact you did know, you were playing games with people as your previous post indicates so it would not have mattered in which way I responded to you...

You have not addressed me in anyway but with little signals that you take what I have to say as stupidty or ignorance as you have on more than one occassion put the little " " up as your response to me.

Please do not be condescending to me in these ways as you haven't taken the time to discover what I do or do not know...and if you don't like what I have to say you can do as many choose to do and simply not respond or ignore me, it makes no difference to me...

God bless you in your quest.

February 26, 2008

God bless you in your quest.

Thank you.

jackie d · February 26, 2008

God bless you in your quest.

Thank you.

you're welcome

irishcowboy · February 26, 2008

My teacher yesterday was saying last week how you have to be baptized to go to Heaven...etc..I was thinkin to myself, hold up, my youth pastor told me you don't..but you should be.

So, I took the time today to see because I've never really thought about it..

Well, we're Saved by Grace..and Jesus is the Way, The Truth, and the Life...Isn't believing and trusting in Him the way to Heaven?
Isn't it more of just showing obedience to God..Not a ticket to Heaven?

What do ya'll think?

God Bless,
Kris

being "DUNKED" in water will not get you into heaven, and not being dunked in water will not keep you out.....

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward event. an outward testimony of what has taken place with in the heart...

what did Christ say to the thief on the cross?

was the thief on the cross baptized?

baptism is also a sign of obedience.... however, Christ Himself, did not baptize anyone, the disciples did, but not Christ..

if it was a requirement to enter the gates, then the thief on the cross has no chance, and Christ would have been doing a lot of it.....

it is no more a requirement then washing ones feet, or having ones feet washed by some one else....

mike

exrockstar · February 26, 2008

That makes no sense to me whatsoever. ( and Honeybee88 I'm not picking on you...I'm just using your words )
Why would Christ tell someone they had to be born naturally before they can be born spiritually? If they were not born naturally, Christ wouldn't be talking to them.

Can you guys understand what I'm saying? It doesn't make any sense.

Christ said "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."

He then says "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit".

Now we all know that flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God. So why would Christ make ref. to our physical birth? It makes no sense.

Christ Himself was baptized by John. Immediately after that the Spirit descended upon Him.

How many times are we told we need to be like Christ?

I personally believe you need to get baptized. Yes I do understand there are situations like the man on the cross and so on, but it still says we need to be born of water.

If no one else believes this, I'm ok with it.....I'm not gonna push it.

I just want to know where this belief of a physical birth came from. I mean it's just common sense that you have to be physically here in the flesh before you can be spiritually saved.

And LadyC I know what being "born again" is.....but thanks for asking.

the born of water being "equal" to born from a woman's waterbag is typically what is stated in any study bible. As one should know that the study bible is also an interpretation. With that being said no where else in the bible is it implied that Jews said they were "born from water" and meant "being born from a woman." On the contrary, scripture says:

Job 10:18

Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

Numbers 12:12

Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.

etc etc etc

Jews knew and addressed a birth as coming from a womb

so im not a big fan of interpreting "born of water" meaning "naturally born."

once upon a time i was but left that interpretation behind.

I do know that it does not mean baptize.

I do however feel the answer lies in the OT because Christ was commenting to Nicodemus as if he is testing his studies.

This line also test's the readers studies. It's testing all the people on this thread and if they cannot prove their interpretation

with OT scripture then they are confused like Nicodemus.

But this is one of those debatable subjects that many can't agree on.

February 26, 2008

the born of water bring "equal" to born from a woman's waterbag is typically what is stated in any study bible. As one should know that the study bible is also an interpretation. With that being said no where else in the bible is it implied that Jews said they were "born from water" and meant "being born from a woman." On the contrary, scripture says:
Job 10:18

Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

Numbers 12:12

Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.

etc etc etc

Jews knew and addressed a birth as coming from a womb

so im not a big fan of interpreting "born of water" meaning "naturally born."

once upon a time i was but left that interpretation behind.

I do know that it does not mean baptize.

I do however feel the answer lies in the OT because Christ was commenting to Nicodemus as if he is testing his studies.

This line also test's the readers studies. It's testing all the people on this thread and if they cannot prove their interpretation

with OT scripture then they are confused like Nicodemus.

But this is one of those debatable subjects that many can't agree on.

Thanks.

exrockstar · February 26, 2008

Thanks.

no problem but i must stress that i am not saying anyone is wrong.

i havent visited this passage in a while. my word study is a little sharper today so

i may look at it again some time soon.

but you do have the right to ask and glad you are doing so.

Kansasdad · February 26, 2008

John 3:3,5 - Jesus says, "Truly, truly, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." When Jesus said "water and the Spirit," Was he referring to baptism with water? Yes that is the question?

Lets look then to what the disciples did after Jesus taught them this lesson.

John, 3;22 After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea: and there he abode with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Ennon near Salim; because there was much water there; and they came and were baptized.

John 4;1 When Jesus therefore understood that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus maketh more disciples, and baptizeth more than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself did not baptize, but his disciples,)

Now why would the disciples immediately go out after receiving this teaching from Jesus and start baptising people, and why did they consider water to be important, if Jesus was only referring to being born of a woman. Doesn