Someone asked me, “Does a Christian need to be water baptized? And further to that question, will it prevent someone from entering heaven if they don’t get water baptized?”
Another person asked me, “Can you address infant baptism, both Catholic and Reformed?”
Another person asked me, “Is baptism required for salvation? I was baptized as a baby, but I was born again later on in life. I don’t have the opportunity to be baptized at this time, if Jesus where to return right now would I be sent to hell for not being baptized after I repented?”
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(Acts 19:1-6)
“1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said to him, ‘No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3 And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ And they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ 4 Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.”
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First and foremost, there is no different baptism for Catholics versus Protestants even if some of them choose to practice baptism their own way based on human tradition. There’s only one baptism and it’s only as GOD’s Word tells us it is. What we think about baptism doesn’t matter. What GOD’s Word says about baptism matters.
So, what is baptism? Baptism is a witness to the grace of GOD, and marks the beginning of the human response to this grace. Baptism signifies new life through Christ Jesus, is participation in Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12); a washing away of sin (1Corinthians 6:11); a new birth (John 3:5); an enlightenment by Christ (Ephesians 5:14); a reclothing in Christ (Galatians 3:27); a renewal by the Spirit (Titus 3:5); the experience of salvation from the flood (1Peter 3:20-21); an exodus from bondage (1Corinthians 10:1-2) and a liberation into a new humanity in which barriers of division, whether of sex or race or social status, are transcended (Galatians 3:27-28; 1Corinthians 12:13). Baptism is multifaceted, possessing many different dimensions and levels of meaning. The images are many but the reality is one — baptism symbolizes the fact that your old sinful self dies, is buried, and then you rise up as a new creation in Christ who is no longer a slave to sin (2Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:1-10; 13:14; Colossians 3:10)!
But is baptism required for salvation? I believe we should definitely get baptized as an outward symbol of our true inner change; after all, Christ Jesus Himself got baptized (Matthew 3:13-16) and Jesus is the ultimate example for us in everything we should think, say, and do. In addition, Jesus commanded us to baptize people (Matthew 28:19). However, I believe (based upon the Word of GOD) that neither the eucharist nor baptism can bring anyone into salvation because they both rely upon what a human can do and neglect to accept what Christ has already done – it is finished (John 19:30)! And Ephesians 2:8-9 is clear on the matter: “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
We must remember that the criminal on the cross beside Jesus was saved yet was never baptized nor partook in the eucharist (Luke 23:39-43). What saved the criminal on the cross was his repentance and his faith in Christ. In addition, in 1Peter 3:21, after explaining how people died in the water of the great flood in Noah’s day, Peter said, “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Thus, baptism is an outward symbol of a true inner change. Moreover, Christ Jesus died for all people in all places throughout all time as a perfect eternal sacrifice – even the people who lived by faith prior to His incarnation, death, and resurrection (Hebrews 5:9; 7:27; 9:12-15; 10:10-14). How many people got baptized in water from the Old Testament? None. But is Christ’s sacrifice sufficient for those in the past who had faith in GOD and His words which the prophets spoke? Absolutely. Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness, (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4; Galatians 3:5-9), just like many others who are now in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11).
Also, consider the fact that John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11 that he baptized with water for repentance, but that people would be baptized in the Holy Spirit later on. Thus, in Mark 16:16, when Jesus said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved,” Jesus was saying that we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to be saved. Again, Jesus is our ultimate example, and when Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit was His true baptism (Matthew 3:13-16).
In Acts 1:5, Jesus told His disciples “for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” And this was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:4). And Acts 8:14-17 tells us that people who had been baptized by water still had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit; therefore, their baptism wasn’t complete. Acts 19:1-6 again speaks of another event where people got baptized with water without having been baptized in the Holy Spirit. But it is the Holy Spirit who dwells within us who seals our eternity and ensures our salvation (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). In fact, when Christ returns, He is going to be looking for whoever has His Spirit within them (“The Owner Returns”). Therefore, we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And this is exactly what we see in Acts 11:15-18 when Peter told the other believers about how the Gentiles were baptized in the Holy Spirit: “ “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” ”
The word “baptism” is of the Greek word baptisma (bap’-tis-mah), which carries with it baptizo (bap-tid’-zo), which is the sense of washing by dipping, immersion, or submersion. Therefore, I believe that we should be baptized in water (full immersion – we’re being washed); however, I don’t believe water baptism is what ensures our salvation. As Scripture reveals, you can get baptized in water and still not receive the Holy Spirit. I believe our faith in Christ alone ensures our salvation. After all, think of the amount of babies who are aborted every day who never got baptized. Would they all go to Hell? I don’t believe so. But if they do, how does one explain the fact that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to children (Matthew 19:14) and adults who are as children (Matthew 18:3)? And finally, in 1Corinthians 12:13, Paul says, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” Thus, Christians form one body through their common experience of immersion in the one Spirit. Full immersion water baptism is merely symbolic for the true baptism, which is full immersion in the Spirit.
And this leads me to the next question I received from a sister in Christ. She asked me, “I’ve always been confused with being baptized with the Holy Spirit. I’ve been told you receive the Holy Spirit as soon as you believe in Jesus. But in Acts 19:2, Paul asked some believers if they received the Holy Spirit after believing and they said no. Then Paul had to baptize them in the name of Jesus. And when Paul laid hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit. So how can a believer not receive the Holy Spirit after believing? And how do we know that we don’t need someone to baptize us in the Holy Spirit like Paul did with those believers? Because if they believed, they should have received the Holy Spirit, right?”
That’s a good question. Let’s examine Acts 19:1-6 because that entire passage will answer most of these questions. And then I’ll fill in the gaps and explain the rest. So, Acts 19:1-6 says, “1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said to him, ‘No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3 And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ And they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ 4 Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.”
And so, those disciples had been baptized by John the Baptist before John had been able to point them to Jesus with the Holy Spirit in mind. They repented; they wanted to be cleansed of sin and to be righteous. But they had not been baptized with their faith in Christ with the Holy Spirit in mind. But once they put their faith in Jesus and knew they should receive the Holy Spirit, they received the Spirit. But how will we know if we have received the Holy Spirit within us? Well, for those disciples, they began speaking in tongues and prophesying, which became proof of them receiving the Holy Spirit. Understand this: every tree is known by its fruit (Matthew 12:33). The fruit of the Spirit is evident! But Scripture also informs us what gifts the Holy Spirit gives to us. Not everyone will have the same gifts, but all people who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit should have been enhanced with at least one of the following gifts: wisdom, a word of knowledge, prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, mercy, faith, healing, the effecting of miracles, speaking of tongues, or interpretation of tongues (Romans 12:6–8; 1Corinthians 7:7; 12:4-11,28-30; 13:1-3,8; 14:6,26; Ephesians 4:11; 1Peter 4:9,12). We all receive different gifts. When I gave my life to Christ and received the Holy Spirit, I received prophetic visions. But I never spoke in tongues, nor did I heal anyone. Every person is going to be different. In fact, I received the Holy Spirit before I ever got baptized in water. But I eventually got baptized because I wanted to publicly declare my faith while symbolizing my death and resurrection in Christ Jesus. But regardless of what happens when you receive the Holy Spirit, all Spirit-filled people will have fruit of the Spirit that will be evident.
However, 1Corinthains 13:1-3 tells us that even if you do certain gifts from the Spirit yet do them with the wrong motive, then it’s without value. Everything must be done with love. Examine what is written in Galatians 5:22-25: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Therefore, the fruit of the Spirit should be evident.
Now, in regards to infants, may it be understood that an infant is unable to consciously and deliberately place his/her faith in Christ. An infant does not possess the mental capacity to understand such a decision nor does an infant possess the ability to obey Christ’s commands. The Bible does not record any infants being baptized. Infant baptism is the origin of the sprinkling and pouring methods of baptism – as it is unwise and unsafe to immerse an infant under water. Even the very method of infant baptism fails to agree with the Bible. How does pouring or sprinkling accurately illustrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus? It doesn’t. Therefore, infant baptism is not a Biblical practice. If you were baptized as an infant, it means nothing because it was done against your will and you didn’t understand it. Water baptism must be a personal choice to die to yourself and emerge alive in Christ, publicly declaring your faith in Jesus.
Conclusion:
What saves a person is repentance and faith in Christ’s finished works.
Recommended Reading:
“Is Fear A Sign I’m Not Saved?”
“What Does It Mean To Be Saved?”
Quest For Truth 
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