by Benjamin Lloyd

Created on: October 28, 2008

No it is not necessary to be baptized, especially if you believe it gives you access to Heaven. Baptism is simply an outward appearance of an inward change. However, if you do get baptized, you must be baptized in "the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost". (Matthew 28:19) Jesus is the son, therefore we are to baptized in His name, along with the Father and Holy Spirit. Do not baptize in the name of Buddha, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, Billy Graham, Pastor so and so.

Often times people take verses out of context, like Mark 16:16. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Many people use this scripture to support their belief that baptism is necessary for salvation. They do not like to compare it to other verses of Scripture. When we look at other verses, we see that the heart is the center of salvation.

Baptism is not a requirement to get into Heaven as many people believe. The thief on the cross next to Jesus was never baptized. Is he going to Hell?

Old Testament saints were never baptized. Are they going to hell? If you get saved in the Wal-Mart parking lot and die before you have a chance to be baptized, are you going to hell? Of course not. Baptism is only a symbol of salvation, not a requirement.

And baptism is complete submerging under water. When God saved you, he didn't just save the top half of your body. No. He saved your entire body, hair to toe. Therefore, we submerge our entire body as a symbol toward the entire cleansing of the inside.

I know people who have been baptized so many times they stay waterlogged! Of course, I know some churches who use their baptismal pool as storage space.

If baptism in the name of Jesus is the key to salvation, I would dunk every American under water. But the water is not holy. The water does not change man's heart. Only Jesus can do that.

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God".

"Repent ye therefore and be converted"

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in thine heart..."

At any rate, if and when baptism is done, it must be done in the name of Jesus. Whether it is done in a baptistry at church, a family or local swimming pool, a lake, or river, it is still Jesus who saves us.

That brings up another question, Why did Jesus Himself be baptized? He never got 'saved' because He was never lost. He was and still is the perfect Son of God.

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