Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation? No—And This Is Why

Can you be saved without being baptized?

This came up in conversation with a friend recently. I found out they were attending a Church of Christ church. And I knew this about the Church of Christ—they teach that water baptism is actually necessary for salvation.
Maybe you have a friend who believes this. And maybe they believe it about infant baptism, or about immersion.

Either way, this is a question you need to know how to answer.
Maybe you’ve even wrestled with it yourself.

In this debate episode, you’ll learn:
• Whom should be baptized?
• Does baptism cause your sins to be forgiven?
• Why does Peter say “Baptism saves you” in 1 Peter 3:20–22?
• And is baptism necessary for salvation?

Then, you’ll hear my dialogue with the gentleman about baptism.
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[Sarah-fsli]

Just wondered why you said this is just for men? This is helpful for Christian women too!

[zenfsh]

Absolutely wonderful point about the thief on the cross. That closes the case for me. Thanks Joel. Abraham was what I used to refer to as being someone who was saved without being baptized. Abraham's "belief" was counted as righteousness, not any of his works.

[jasonrol]

To Make disciples that what baptism does if those belive

[Daniel.Ministry]

T here are many who are more learned that disagree with you:

Barnabas (circa 75 AD)
"Blessed are they who place their trust in the cross and descend down into the water... We indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement, however we come up, bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear of God and trust in Jesus in our spirit."

Hermas (circa 110 AD)
"Before a man bears the name of the Son of God, he is dead. But when he receives the seal, he lays aside his deadness and obtains life. The seal then is the water. They descend into the water dead, and they rise alive."

Justin Martyr circa - (circa -160 AD)
"But there is no other way than this to become acquainted with Christ; We must be washed in the fountain spoken of by Isaiah for the remission of our sins, and for the remainder of our lives we must live sinless lives."

Iranaeus (circa 180 AD)
"But there are some Gnostics who assert that it is unnecessary to bring people to the water. Rather they mix oil and water together, and they place this mixture on the heads of those that are to be initiated. .. This they maintain to be the redemption... But there are other heretics that reject all of these practices and maintain that the mystery of the unspeakable should not be performed by visable and corruptible creatures. They claim that the knowledge of the power of God is itself perfect redemption."

Tertullian (circa 198 AD)
"(Unless a man is born of water and of Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.) {Quoted from John 3:3} These words have tied faith to the necessity of water baptism, and accordingly, all those that became believers were thus baptized. It was also this way with Paul, that when he believed, he was baptized."

Cyprian (circa 250 AD)
"One is not re-born by the imposition of hands when they receive the Holy Spirit; Rather it is through water baptism. Therefore, having thoroughly cleansed, he may receive the Holy Spirit."

Archelaus (circa 320 AD)
" If he (Jesus) was not been baptized in water, neither are any of us baptized. Yet, if there is no baptism, neither will there be the remission of sins. Rather, every man will die in their sins."

Apostolic Constitutions (circa 390 AD)
"He who, out of contempt will not be baptized in water, he will be condemned as an unbeliever. He will be reproached as ungrateful and foolish. For the Lord says, unless a man is born of water and spirit, he will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Quoted from John 3:3) and again he said, He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. (Quoted from Mark 16:16)"

There are many more quotes from many other men throughout history that taught that baptism is the method of conversion, where we receive the remission of our sins. The doctrine that you teach is a creation that was invented by the Gnostics and is not a teaching of the Bible nor Apostles nor of Christ. If you want true interpretation of scripture, it is best to go to the writings of the men that were taught directly by the Apostles, lived and worked with them. They did not learn from the scriptures but were taught hands on, directly from those who knew the truth. Trust their words. I pray you have a heart for this truth and can overcome your indoctrination.

[jasonbolejack]

FAITH ONLY will not save you: James 2:24 - Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.