Do You Need Baptism To Go to Heaven?

Jimmy Akin, Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, answers this question.

[tramarherrera]

Scripture is very clear. You just can't pick and choose, do as the Lord commands.

[CarpDiemBaby]

Jimmy Akin really be giving us a super blue collar lesson on apologetics, just so logical. Thank you Jimmy : )

[Justin-kndp]

Right from our Lord's mouth : He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:16

[cehson]

Thats why we have Church Magisterium to tell us what is needed for salvation, not having bilion opinions and understandings. This is clear teaching

[chrisgunn]

Jesus himself was Baptized, and was without sin. How much more we sinners should pursue this sacrament to help us attain salvation. The new Testament speaks of baptism in many places, it was the first thing any new Christian would receive (including entire families, babies and all) after believing. Why would any Christian gamble on his/her salvation?

[declancronin]

Jesus himself was baptised in the Jordan by John the Baptist, that is good enough for me, it is a great Grace.🙏

[AndrewLane-pmro]

It's ironic that Evangelicals say you must be born again, but many of them don't realize that Jesus is talking about baptism, which is what he meant by "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" in John 3:5.

[realjoshuamck]

Please pray for my Dad to get baptised 🙏

[kentd]

Quoting Scripture selectively: such a common problem among so many.

[CatholicSamurai]

I’ve found that the best way to answer this wuestion, especially if it’s being thrown at you pretty quickly and you don’t have the time or energy to do a 5-minute apologia, is to simply start with “generally speaking…”

“Generally speaking, yes you do need baptism to be saved”

Saves you from getting into the weeds of all the minutia caveats and hypotheticals while still acknowledging that a broader understanding exists, while still giving an inquisitor a straightforward answer that clearly communicates the main/most important point of it all.

[samuelludke]

Baptizing people is an amazing gift from God the father

[linkinparkfan]

Actually it's at least 4 things. The fourth being eating the flesh of the son of man and drinking his blood.

[mattwatson-ht]

It's too bad the guy hanging on the cross next to Jesus did not get a chance to be baptized or go to church or really do anything except die. All that guy hanging next to Jesus said was Lord remember me and Jesus said You shall be with me today in Paradise.

[terrykessinger]

Is the select reading that Jimmy is talking about, is that what it means to prooftext? I’d never heard that word until I started investigating the Catholic faith.

[Catholicity-uwyb]

ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II: “The universality of salvation means that it is granted not only to those who explicitly believe in Christ and have entered the church. Since salvation is offered to all, it must be made concretely available to all. But it is clear that today, as in the past, many people do not have an opportunity to come to know or accept the Gospel revelation or enter the Church. The social and cultural conditions in which they live do not permit this, and frequently they have been brought up in other religious traditions. For such people salvation in Christ is accessible by virtue of a grace, which, while having a mysterious relationship to the Church, does not make them formally part of the Church but enlightens them in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation. This grace comes from Christ; it is the result of his Sacrifice and is communicated by the Holy Spirit. It enables each person to attain salvation through his or her free cooperation.”

[_jillkay]

But does infant baptism count as baptism that saves you? In the scripture it says “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.“
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How can a baby or child make the pledge of a clear conscience towards God? So if we were baptised as an infant, we should do it again as a believing adult, right?

[AdaraBalabusta]

In our locale, some of the Baptist churches are not baptizing. Isn't that false advertising? (Get it? They're Baptists that don't baptize! 🤣I'm here all week, folks! ) Seriously, though, that is something that some of the local Baptist churches are teaching; I am glad to have an explanation. Thank you.

[davidarnold]

Only Baptism in the Roman Catholic Church? There seems to many other sacraments that have to be done, and within the church, to satisfy God!

[michaelhoerig]

Baptism is the only way to remove the stain of original sin...

[annakimborahpa]

Do You Need Baptism To Go to Heaven?
Response:
1. Yes, agree entirely with Akin's expert exegesis.

2. Most preferable would be a Trinitarian baptism with the correct form and intention that is recognized by the Catholic Church.

3. This valid sacramental baptism can be found in the Catholic and Orthodox (Eastern & Oriental) Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East and most Protestant Churches.

4. According to the Catholic Church, the water baptisms of Iglesia Ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Latter Day Saints among others are not valid nor sacramental due to an incorrect intention based upon their unorthodox understanding of the Holy Trinity.

5. Nevertheless, in their calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, these unorthodox groups express a baptism of desire that can be saving.

6. This baptism of desire places them in the company of those that the Catholic Church offers the hope of salvation in No. 16 of the DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH, LUMEN GENTIUM, SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964, CHAPTER II, ON THE PEOPLE OF GOD:

LG, No.16 - Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God. (Mk. 1:15; cf. Mt. 4:17) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh. (Cf. Rom. 9:4-5) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues. (Cf. Rom. 1 l:28-2) But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things, (Cf. Acts 17:25-28) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved. (Cf. 1 Tim. 2:4) Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. (Mk. 4:14) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel. (Lk. 12:32) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator. (Cf Rom. 1:21, 25) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, "Preach the Gospel to every creature", (Mk. 16:16) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
[Vatican VA