Question:"Does the Bible teach that people today must be baptized in water in order to become a Christian?"
Bible Answer: This is a very good religious question. The Bible will be the source of authority for the proper answer. Man’s opinions are not good enough when it comes to answering such a serious question! Please read the following passages of scripture: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16.15,16; Acts 2.38; 22.16; Rom. 6.1-4; I Cor. 12.13; Gal. 3.26-28; Eph. 4.4-6; I Peter 3.21.Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 2:38 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.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
I Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, 28 there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Eph. 4:4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.
I Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Yes! The Bible clearly teaches that people living today (those who are accountable before God for their sins) MUST be baptized scripturally in water in order to become children of God! This means that people are NOT Christians who "thought they were saved" before and without water baptism. Please pay particular attention to the fact that just because one has been "baptized" does not necessarily mean that they are truly a child of God (See Acts 19.1-5 for one example of this)! Being "baptized" for the WRONG REASON would NOT make one a Christian. Almost all religious groups on the face of the earth today are NOT teaching and practicing this essential "step" in one’s initial obedience to God! This is wrong and needs to be addressed!
Many religious teachers are teaching falsely today.
When a person asks the essential question, "What must I do to be saved?", or "What must one do to become a Christian?" the answer needs to come from the "sum of God’s Truth" on the subject and not what your "Pastor" or "denomination" thinks. The BIBLE ANSWER includes: a person who hears the Word of God, having faith and that faith leading that individual to confess Christ before men and repent and be baptized in water for the remission of sins. Notice how the chart above clearly depicts the Biblical truth that one is OUTSIDE of Christ (in an unsaved state) until he is "baptized into Christ" (See the passages of scripture cited and read them for yourself). Are you Out of Christ or In Christ, according to the BIBLE? Please remember that just because a person is "baptized" does not necessarily make that baptism VALID. A baptism for the "wrong reason" is NOT scriptural and does not result in a proper conversion! Please email me with your thoughts. This vital issue is too critical to ignore! mjw
