Baptism in the Bible
He that believes and is baptized shall be saved but he that does not believe shall be damned[edit]
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Notes[edit]
- The end of the verse makes it clear the penalty is for not believing, but no penalty is given for not having physical baptism with water.
(By believing in Jesus, Bahá’ís are saved without a water baptism)[edit]
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
(After John the Baptist all baptism should be with fire and the Holy Ghost, so it can’t be a literal baptism)[edit]
“John answered ... I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh; ... He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire”
(Baptism does not automatically bestow the Holy Spirit or true faith but is a physical gesture or symbol)[edit]
“Peter and John who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”
(Baptizing with water could occur after receiving faith)[edit]
“Then Peter declared, ‘Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’”
Note[edit]
- Baptizing with water is an independent event of receiving the Holy Spirit and faith and in this case occurred after receiving faith. Therefore, literal baptism is not necessary to achieve faith.
(Peter quotes Christ and gives a case where baptism occurs only with the Holy Spirit and water baptism is no longer necessary for having faith)[edit]
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”
(Baptizing by proxy for dead people demonstrates the symbolic nature of baptism)[edit]
“If the dead will not come back to life again then what point is there in people being baptized for those who are gone? Why do it unless you believe that the dead will someday rise again?”
(The Spirit does real baptism and “baptized” is clearly used symbolically)[edit]
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body”
Baptism is a “spiritual operation”[edit]
“When you came to Christ, He set you free from your evil desires, not by a bodily operation of circumcision but a spiritual operation, the baptism of your souls.”
(Criminal crucified without water baptism)[edit]
“Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.”
Notes[edit]
- Jesus speaks these words to the criminal crucified at the same time as Jesus when this man accepts Jesus as his Lord. Therefore, this criminal was saved without water baptism.
See also[edit]
Table Of Contents
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1.1 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved but he that does not believe shall be damned
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1.1.2 Notes
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1.1.2 Notes
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2.3 (By believing in Jesus, Bahá’ís are saved without a water baptism)
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3.4 (After John the Baptist all baptism should be with fire and the Holy Ghost, so it can’t be a literal baptism)
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4.5 (Baptism does not automatically bestow the Holy Spirit or true faith but is a physical gesture or symbol)
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5.6 (Baptizing with water could occur after receiving faith)
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5.1.7 Note
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5.1.7 Note
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6.8 (Peter quotes Christ and gives a case where baptism occurs only with the Holy Spirit and water baptism is no longer necessary for having faith)
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7.9 (Baptizing by proxy for dead people demonstrates the symbolic nature of baptism)
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8.10 (The Spirit does real baptism and “baptized” is clearly used symbolically)
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9.11 Baptism is a “spiritual operation”
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10.12 (Criminal crucified without water baptism)
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10.1.13 Notes
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10.1.13 Notes
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11.14 See also