Is Baptism Required for Salvation? 4 Questions Answered

What does the Bible say about baptism? Rod McNair explains Christian baptism from Scripture, including the purpose of baptism, who is allowed to baptize, water baptism by immersion, and adult baptism vs. infant baptism. Ready for more specific details about baptism? Order our FREE study guide, “Christian Baptism: Its Real Meaning.” https://bit.ly/40xwkjq Why is it free? We are determined to follow Jesus’ command to “freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Browse our full library of resources at https://www.tomorrowsworld.org Learn more about the church that sponsors Tomorrow's World at https://www.lcg.org View our full sermon library    / @mylcgtv   00:00 Why is baptism important? 01:00 The purpose of baptism 03:35 Baptism symbolizes death and requires full immersion in water 05:01 Baptism is a commitment to change your life 05:43 Baptism is required for salvation (Mark 16 16) 08:28 Baptism works with faith and belief 09:37 Understanding that our sins caused our Savior’s death should stir us to action 11:03 Who should baptize? 13:41 Why be baptized? 14:38 Get baptized because Jesus Christ died for your sins 17:04 Prepare to be in the family of God 18:37 Infant baptism is not biblical 19:34 Baptism is how to respond to God’s calling Questions answered in this video: 1. What is the purpose of baptism? 2. Is the doctrine of baptism just a legalistic ritual? 3. Who should baptize you? 4. Why be baptized? Few Bible topics cause as much difference of opinion as baptism. And yet, baptism is a fundamental doctrine for New Testament Christians. Hebrews 6 1–2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. What is the purpose of baptism? At its very basic foundation, “baptize” means to submerge in and under water. First, let’s look at a literal example of how baptism was done in the New Testament—Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him (Acts 8 36–38). Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. That’s immersion. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more (Acts 8 39). It’s plain this is talking about full immersion. At its very core, baptism is symbolic of death. Romans 6 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? When we go down under the water, we are figuratively dying. We are to let the old man—or the old woman—die. We are to let go of our past sins, our habits, our ways of thinking, and our ways of doing things. We are then to be raised up out of the water ready to learn a new way. Romans 6 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. So what does baptism teach us? It’s about dying to the self. That’s what we must do when we’re baptized—die to the self. Galatians 2 20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Jesus instructed His apostles to baptize by immersion, a reminder to be crucified with Christ and dead to our past. Now baptism alone—just going through the act—doesn’t mean we are conquered and surrendered to God. But baptism has profound spiritual meaning for the Christian, if we’re truly repenting and surrendering to God. A person cannot live a life of lying, cheating, stealing, and even murdering—and still be saved. 1 John 3 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Obeying the commandments is simply doing what God says. And God will not give eternal life to anyone who doesn’t do what He says. Jesus Christ our Savior Himself said: Mark 16 15–16 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Baptism is a requirement for salvation—according to our Savior—and must be accompanied by faith, trust and belief in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins; deep appreciation for our personal Savior, and a commitment to obey Him in everything. We need belief and baptism—not one or the other but both. #christianbaptism #baptized #repentandbelieve