Is baptism essential unto salvation?

[clgustaveson]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I guess I'm not sure what the analogy is.

I don't know that love is even a prerequisite for marriage...

But the scriptures should define and measure our convictions - not be at odds with them.

I don't want this to divert us from the original topic but I will explain briefly what I am hinting at...

If getting baptized is a requirement for salvation, it is the failure to do so that is the action of consequence... therefore intent of the action or reason cant be judged in the same fashion as some sort of sin that we would commit.

So all of the ideological and philosophical debates regarding death before one could be baptized or the physical inability are just fun, because this is quite different from a sin of omission... since the act is explicit and very clear as what to do.

So follow me here... if a man doesn't follow a symbolic path to express his faith does he not have faith?

What saving power is there in symbolism? Making the assumption that everyone in the Bible did it so I should just isn't a strong enough argument to say that it is a requirement....

Being born of water and of spirit is a requirement, maybe not the only but it is one.... just being here pretty much shows we have accomplished one of those-- So do we really need to be baptized to go to be saved?