Is baptism required to be a Christian?
Answer:
Baptism is one of the ordinances of the church and a symbol of salvation. The act of baptism, however, does not make one a true believer in Jesus Christ (and therefore it does not make one a Christian).
Baptism is also not a requirement for salvation. For example, Luke 23:43 records that Jesus told the thief on the cross, “today you shall be with me in paradise”. That thief had not been baptised and had only moments earlier confessed that Jesus was the Son of God. From this example we can see that baptism is not a required component of salvation.
Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6, Acts 4:2).
The following is an excerpt from AskAnything’s “About” page:
Water baptism (Matt 3:6,11,13-16; Mark 1:5-9; Lk 3:16,21; John 1:26,33) is intended only for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become his disciple (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 32-33; 1 Cor 1:16; Rom 6:3-4; Col 2:12; Gal 3:27). Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command (Matt 3:15; 28:19; Acts 2:38) and as a testimony to God, the Church, oneself, and the world, a believer should be immersed in water (Matt 3:16; Mark 1:5,10; John 3:23; Acts 8:36-39; Rom 6:3-4; Col 2:12) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19). Water baptism is a visual demonstration (Rom 6:3) of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of his death and resurrection (Rom 6:4-5). It signifies that his former way of life has been put to death, and vividly depicts a person’s release from the mastery of sin (Rom 6:6-11).
1 Comment
Some commentators might use Luke 23:43 to support that one of the thieves did not request for the receipt of Jesus prior to his proceeding to paradise. Discuss.
Prior to tackling this question, let’s meditate Matthew 27:44:
Matthew 27:44, “The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.”
As the phrase, cast the same in his teeth, is mentioned in Matthew 27:44, it implies that both the thieves did sin against the Lord.
Did one of the thieves repent from sin in accusing Jesus? Let’s meditate Luke 23:42-43 carefully below:
Luke 23:42-43, “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Nothing is mentioned in Luke 23:42-43 that the thief did repent from sin and it should be there or else it would not be possible for him to inform Luke 23:42, “…Jesus (that), Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom…”
If you would refer the word, Lord, in Luke 23:42 to Strong Concordance, you would have discovered that the definition of the word, Lord, in Luke 23:42 coincides with the word, Lord, in Romans 10:9 that refers to allowing Jesus to take control of his life to be his Master. Or in other words, the thief had the desire to have Jesus to take control of his life to be his Master. As the phrase, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom, is mentioned in Luke 23:42, it implies that the thief did request Jesus to remember him when He had gone up to paradise. The word, remember, in Luke 23:42 implies his willingness to accept Jesus and to be accompanied with Him in paradise. As the word, Lord, in Luke 23:42 has been linked up with the phrase, remember me, it implies that this thief did sincerely ask Jesus to come and take control of his life to be his Master and Lord so as to be able to accompanied with Him wherever He went and that caused Him to mention that he Luke 23:43, “…shalt be with (Him) in paradise.”