Why baptism isnt required for salvation

Salvation requires Belief. 

Jesus said "Repent and Believe." The Apostles did too. 

The Bible so clearly tells us that salvation is received by faith alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), so there must be a different interpretation of those verses. Scripture does not contradict Scripture. In Bible times, a person who converted from one religion to another was often baptized to identify conversion. Baptism was the means of making a decision public. Those who refused to be baptized were saying they did not truly believe. So, in the minds of the apostles and early disciples, the idea of an un-baptized believer was unheard of. When a person claimed to believe in Christ, yet was ashamed to proclaim his faith in public, it indicated that he did not have true faith.


If baptism is necessary for salvation, why would Paul have said, “I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius” (1 Corinthians 1:14)? Why would he have said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:17)? Granted, in this passage Paul is arguing against the divisions that plagued the Corinthian church. However, how could Paul possibly say, “I am thankful that I did not baptize…” or “For Christ did not send me to baptize…” if baptism were necessary for salvation? If baptism is necessary for salvation, Paul would literally be saying, “I am thankful that you were not saved…” and “For Christ did not send me to save…” That would be an unbelievably ridiculous statement for Paul to make. Further, when Paul gives a detailed outline of what he considers the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-8*), why does he neglect to mention baptism? If baptism is a requirement for salvation, how could any presentation of the gospel lack a mention of baptism?

*"Now I would remind you, brothers,1 of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For l delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."



Baptism is not necessary for salvation
Baptism is the symbol of what has already occurred in the heart and life of one who has trusted Christ as Savior (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12). Baptism is an important step of obedience that every Christian should take. Baptism cannot be a requirement for salvation. To make it such is an attack on the sufficiency of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And another point, the thief on the cross wasnt baptized. And what if someone after believing in Jesus dies before they can get baptized? Are you saying in both cases the person wasnt saved? Then you are calling Jesus a liar. For He said "today you will be with me in paradise". 

To look at this deeper, (and other verses), this will give more answers. 

Hope this helped. God bless






PS. We receive the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion. Not baptism.  A person wouldnt be a believer if they were not born again, "born from Above".
 You cannot believe and 2 weeks later get baptized and then boing become a saved one(*). You receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. He then indwells in you. He seals you eternally to God. Scriptures clearly teach this. So you should go look deeper in Scripture.

The top religious leaders in Israel didnt even understand the basics that people arent married nor get married in Heaven bcuz of their lack of understanding Scripture. It has not said straight up say "The Holy Spirit will not convert people or come upon them until they are baptized". No. You find Scripture is clear, The Holy Spirit fell when He was gifted when Jesus left, then whenever someone got saved after that, new believers received Him immediately.  

Romans 8:9
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

👉Salvation is a gift, as is the Holy Spirit. Both happen at the same time, upon conversion. Without the Spirit there is no Spiritual Life, in a believer, for He is the one who gives it. Without Him, you are spiritually dead.
 




Understanding various things taught in Scripture, is what grows people, and moves them from older established denominations, to newer ones which have uncovered the answers and clarity on such matters. Many decide to remain where they are, but sit under either false teachers or those who may never understand what Scripture teaches on various matters. They stay for a pastor or the friendly people in the church instead of moving onward. More and more has been uncovered and understood over time from the reformation through the Southern Baptist Denomination, and into non denominational churches that are actually biblical. [We're not talking about newer ones that are unbiblical like progressives and liberals].  

But when we learn and God reveals such things to us, we grow and now know the truth. And that is a good thing. We should not seek to have stunted growth and remain drinking the milk of basics. 

And we know there are people who just show up at a church, believe the basics, have low mental faculties, are not very educated, dont grasp things well, and their offspring also are as they are for generations, so they got stuck in an older denomination and never grew much, never studied much, believed the basics and were fine with that and whatever the pastor preached. We know that in later generations some came out of that, by reading, seeing something deeper and clearer and this is how each of the denominations came about and people moved onwards to those ones that taught more biblically until the last one (Reformed Baptist/SBC). Today more are better educated, some are still simpltons and others may be smart but lack common sense. People are all at diff areas of growth and faith, which is why diff denominations are fine, as long as they hold to the main essentials. They'll come to understand the rest better in their lifetime if they actually read and study the Bible. 

But you learned something new today and received more clarity. Rejoice for God has revealed it to you. 😊



Footnote:
(*) imagine how ridiculous it sounds that if after repenting & trusting in Jesus for salvation, you die in a car wreck before you had a chance to be baptised at church in water, (at a baptism ceremony), 🤷🏻‍♂️ you would end up in Hell cuz you werent born again and baptised. Thinking baptism is required is not logical, nor biblical. 



Trust only in Christ. 



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Footnotes: 
Sone info from GQ

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