Is baptism essential unto salvation?

[Jermyn Davidson]

Sam,

Do you believe that a person who has the opportunity for baptism and simply denies it and dies unbaptized will inherit eternal life?

I don't think that the waters in baptism washes sins away, but I think that every believer must be baptized, in accordance with scripture.

What do you think?

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Sam,

Do you believe that a person who has the opportunity for baptism and simply denies it and dies unbaptized will inherit eternal life?

I don't think that the waters in baptism washes sins away, but I think that every believer must be baptized, in accordance with scripture.

What do you think?

Bro. Jermyn,

What do you do with this verse?


38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Blessings,

Falla39

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Sam,

Do you believe that a person who has the opportunity for baptism and simply denies it and dies unbaptized will inherit eternal life?

I don't think that the waters in baptism washes sins away, but I think that every believer must be baptized, in accordance with scripture.

What do you think?

I would not judge anyone on their baptism.
Over the years I've interacted with and fellowshipped lots of people from various church backgrounds. Some were sprinkled as children and did not believe they had to do anything else as far as baptism. Some had been sprinkled as children and then immersed as adults after they had made a personal commitment to the Lord. Some thought it was wrong to be immersed as an adult if you had been sprinkled as a child. Some were baptized (immersed) using the FS&HG wording and others were baptized (immersed) using the name of Jesus and maybe some titles like Lord and/or Christ.

I do not know what is in a person's heart and how much he/she understands about doctrines like communion, baptism, church membership and other things where there is diversity among Christians. It is my opinion that if a person is sincerely in love with and serving Jesus, that person will walk in whatever light he/she receives. I have to leave that between the person and the One who is our Judge.

[Sam]

I personally believe the name "Jesus" was spoken audibly in early Christian baptism.

This may be reflected in James 2:7 in the Amplified Bible which says:
"Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?"

Also by a comment by William Barclay in his comment on James 2:7 in his notes:
"It is the rich who abuse the name by which the Christians are called. It may be the name Christian by which the heathen first called the followers of Christ at Antioch and which was given at first as a jest. It may be the name of Christ, which was pronounced over a Christian on the day of his baptism. The word James uses for called (epikaleisthai) is the word used for a wife taking her husband's name in marriage or for a child being called after his father. The Christian takes the name of Christ; he is called after Christ. It is as if he was married to Christ, or born and christened into the family of Christ."
page 67 of The Letters of James and Peter

However, some believe that in places like Acts 2:38, 10:48 and others where the expression of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ or in the name of the Lord is used, it means in the authority of Jesus or as authorized by Jesus. So, people who understand it that way go to see where Jesus authorized baptism and by whom and they use the words of Matthew 28:19 as Jesus spoke them. To them that is being baptized in Jesus' name because they use the words He used with His disciples.

I've also seen Acts 2:38 paraphrased as "be baptized in the name of Jesus who was anointed for the the forgiveness of your sins."

I have heard (so this is hearsay) of two UPC churches (one in Louisiana and one in Ohio) who use the following formula when baptizing a person, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."