For those who were or are Evangelical. Is being saved more important than Baptism?

[WildCatholic]

I ask this because when I was in college a few years ago, I roomed with 3 evangelical/nondenominational roommates. One of them was a convert from Lutheranism (though he never went to church other than weddings and such). Anyway he and most other people who became Christian (All were members of churches affiliated with Campus Crusade), seemed to focus more on being saved and talked about how that was kind of like a spiritual birthday. Baptism seemed to be an afterthought. My friend even got baptized and I told him that it was awesome, but he said it wasn’t that big of a deal.

So in evangelical circles, does baptism matter? Or can one just be saved and that is enough. My friend and I even had a discussion about this and he told me how it was still possible one could be a christian without baptism (Ironic because I thought it was mentioned in the bible that one had to be baptized to be a part of the church, and obviously he was part of a very bible oriented church) as long as they were saved.

 

[dronald]

We are commanded to be Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore if we do not get Baptized then we are in disobedience of what God has commanded us to do, so Baptism is a must in all denominations to show strict obedience to God.

If one refuses to be Baptized their entire life, I would wonder if God would question why you went your entire life as a Christian without being Baptized. But like the man on the cross and people who convert on their deathbeds, Baptism is not necessary for Salvation. It’s believed in most Protestant denominations that Baptism is an outward expression of Faith.

 

[berk60]

I ask this because when I was in college a few years ago, I roomed with 3 evangelical/nondenominational roommates. One of them was a convert from Lutheranism (though he never went to church other than weddings and such). Anyway he and most other people who became Christian (All were members of churches affiliated with Campus Crusade), seemed to focus more on being saved and talked about how that was kind of like a spiritual birthday. Baptism seemed to be an afterthought. My friend even got baptized and I told him that it was awesome, but he said it wasn’t that big of a deal.

So in evangelical circles, does baptism matter? Or can one just be saved and that is enough. My friend and I even had a discussion about this and he told me how it was still possible one could be a christian without baptism (Ironic because I thought it was mentioned in the bible that one had to be baptized to be a part of the church, and obviously he was part of a very bible oriented church) as long as they were saved.

Is see the purpose of the question because in the Catholic faith the belief is that you must be baptized in order to be saved hence why baptism is administered to infants before repentance is expressed in the persons life.

The Bible is abundantly clear of what baptism is, who it is for, and what it accomplishes. In the Bible, only believers who had placed their faith in Christ were baptized - as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Jesus (Acts 2:38)

Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after faith in Christ. It is a proclamation of faith in Christ, a statement of submission to Him, and an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4)

If you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless. Many people who were baptized as an infant see no reason to be born again as in Jesus pointed out in John chapter 3.

 

[MaryT777]

 

[Nine_Two]

In fairness, when we (Apostolic Churches) speak of Baptism, we view it as the first step on the path to salvation, which makes it quite important. While at the same time we have little or no concept of “being saved” in the sense that they do.

However, if you were to transport their concept of “being saved” into the Apostolic Churches, it seems to me that since the ultimate goal for which Baptism is only a start has now been achieved, Baptism loses much of its previous importance.

In other words, if you are already saved, why would you begin the journey (through baptism) to salvation?

 

[OROTHLAIN]

So, I was raised evangelical… I think I can help.
It comes down to how you view salvation.
As an evangelical protestant salvation is an occurrence in and of itself. After you have this experience where you become saved (usually by saying a prayer to Jesus inviting him into your life/heart) you may be prompted to be baptized. However there is no set timing and it will vary depending on the congregational practices. Baptism is full immersion into the water.
Baptism is generally seen as a public confirmation or declaration of your decision to become saved.
It is my understanding in catholic thought that salvation is in the future and baptism is sort of your (for lack of a better term) golden ticket when you reach the judgement (correct me if I’m wrong, and again, this is a crude analogy).
Technically evangelicals will say that you can be saved and not baptized. Not that they run around advising that, but that the two are separate things.
Here are some links from the evangelical perspective:
ag.org/top/Beliefs/gendoct_11_accountability.cfm
myhillsong.com/equip/baptisms
ccvonline.com/Arena/default.aspx?page=12693&campus=5

 

[Jon_S_1]

We are commanded to be Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore if we do not get Baptized then we are in disobedience of what God has commanded us to do, so Baptism is a must in all denominations to show strict obedience to God.

If one refuses to be Baptized their entire life, I would wonder if God would question why you went your entire life as a Christian without being Baptized. But like the man on the cross and people who convert on their deathbeds, Baptism is not necessary for Salvation. It’s believed in most Protestant denominations that Baptism is an outward expression of Faith.

When I was Evangelical, Baptism was a purely symbolic act of your salvation. You were already saved by saying the sinners prayer. Baptism was an inconvenient symbol. Who wants to get all wet anyway if it means nothing. Baptism was always described as a public display of your commitment to Christ. It was not necessary for anything (after all it is a work so can’t have any of that!).

Most people I knew in my Mega Evangelical Church were either baptized as infants/kids before they became Evangelical or they were baptized in high school at the beach because the church did require baptism before you went in the big high school mission trip abroad.

People who requested baptism in front of the church amounted to about 3 a year tops (out if 8,000 people .

 

[PRmerger]

It’s believed in most Protestant denominations that Baptism is an outward expression of Faith.

Do you have a Bible verse that supports that baptism is an outward expression of Faith?

 

[Theophilus76]

I was raised church of Christ, and we were taught baptism is required for salvation. Even the intent to be baptised was not enought to be saved, afterall, it was the water that saves you. This differs from other protestants in our area. The churches of Christ are pretty close to Catholics, but place great attention on being different from other demoninations, let we be too Baptist, or Church of God, or whatever was across the street.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Do you have a Bible verse that supports that baptism is an outward expression of Faith?

haha you want a Bible Verse from a Bible Only Evangelical on this !!!??!!

There is no such Verse, Just their tradition …

Seriously though, they usually quote verses like Romans 6:3-18 or Colossians 2:11-13 (below). These verses speak of the symbolic side of baptism, but one must ignore the entire context of the New Testament, and countless verses that clearly show that Baptism is necessary for becoming a Christian and cleansing your sins. This symbolic only view of baptism is completely unbiblical and has its roots in the reformation, but really gained traction with Big Tent revivals, where the traveling preacher wanted converts easily.

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses (Colossians 2:11-14).

 

[aemcpa]

The Bible is abundantly clear…

You’re already off the rails.

 

[Jon_S_1]

You’re already off the rails.

 

[Nicea325]

Is see the purpose of the question because in the Catholic faith the belief is that you must be baptized in order to be saved hence why baptism is administered to infants before repentance is expressed in the persons life.

The Bible is abundantly clear of what baptism is, who it is for, and what it accomplishes. In the Bible, **only believers who had placed their faith in Christ were baptized **- as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Jesus (Acts 2:38)

Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after faith in Christ. It is a proclamation of faith in Christ, a statement of submission to Him, and an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4)

If you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless. Many people who were baptized as an infant see no reason to be born again as in Jesus pointed out in John chapter 3.

Okay,but you do understand those first believers were converts from Judaism, since there were no cradle Christians. Scripture no where states one has to “decide” in order to be baptized or reach the age of reason.

 

[berk60]

Okay,but you do understand those first believers were converts from Judaism, since there were no cradle Christians. Scripture no where states one has to “decide” in order to be baptized or reach the age of reason.

Scripture says that we must repent and be baptized. To repent is to change ones mind.

 

[aemcpa]

Okay,but you do understand those first believers were converts from Judaism, since there were no cradle Christians. Scripture no where states one has to “decide” in order to be baptized or reach the age of reason.

Also, they were baptized “along with their whole households”. It is not reasonable to assume that only adults were included in that phrase.

St. Irenaeus, in the second century, upheld the practice of infant baptism as of Apostolic origin. St. Cyprian, in the third century, denounced the practice of some who were waiting until the 8th day after birth to baptize infants.

catholic.com/tracts/early-teachings-on-infant-baptism

 

[Jon_S_1]

Is see the purpose of the question because in the Catholic faith the belief is that you must be baptized in order to be saved hence why baptism is administered to infants before repentance is expressed in the persons life.

The Bible is abundantly clear of what baptism is, who it is for, and what it accomplishes. In the Bible, only believers who had placed their faith in Christ were baptized - as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Jesus (Acts 2:38)

Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after faith in Christ. It is a proclamation of faith in Christ, a statement of submission to Him, and an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4)

If you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless. Many people who were baptized as an infant see no reason to be born again as in Jesus pointed out in John chapter 3.

Please note that in every case where believers professed faith they were then immediately baptised. Of course this makes sense, you hear the gospel, profess faith in that gospel and say I want in, they then immediately baptise you because that is how you became Christian. (Mark 16:16)

There was no debate about infant baptism until the reformation, oh wait no there was some debate…on whether baptism should be performed immediately upon birth or on the eighth day (when circumcision had traditionally been performed).

Irenaeus

“He [Jesus] came to save all through himself; all, I say, who through him are reborn in God: infants, and children, and youths, and old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, sanctifying infants; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that age . . . [so that] he might be the perfect teacher in all things, perfect not only in respect to the setting forth of truth, perfect also in respect to relative age” (Against Heresies 2:22:4 [A.D. 189]).

“‘And [Naaman] dipped himself . . . seven times in the Jordan’ [2 Kgs. 5:14]. It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being baptized, but [this served] as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord, from our old transgressions, being spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, even as the Lord has declared: ‘Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:5]” (Fragment34 [A.D. 190]).

Hippolytus

“Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them” (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215]).

 

[ellzeena]

Do you have a Bible verse that supports that baptism is an outward expression of Faith?

If it is not, why was Christ baptized? I should think to confirm John the Baptist’s declarations for salvation. Do we not have to be “born again of water and the spirit”?

 

[Darryl_B]

Being evangelical for almost 20 years (although it is quite hard to truly define evangelical as there is a spectrum) the answer would be being saved is a one off acceptance of Jesus into the heart by saying the sinners prayer although I don’t know where that came from.

Baptism was a public confession of faith with no intrinsic value. It is an act that was encouraged, but not a basis for salvation.

 

[PRmerger]

If it is not, why was Christ baptized? I should think to confirm John the Baptist’s declarations for salvation. Do we not have to be “born again of water and the spirit”?

Christ’s baptism was absolutely not a profession of Faith.

Jesus did not have Faith. He had the Beatific Vision and Knowledge. Very different than faith.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Christ’s baptism was absolutely not a profession of Faith.

Jesus did not have Faith. He had the Beatific Vision and Knowledge. Very different than faith.

Yes! He is God and needs nothing! Christ was Baptized as an example to us and to make it clear how ESSENTIAL baptism is for our salvation. Jesus was without sin and did not “need” baptism. also since he is God he did not need a profession of faith in himself. He is God!