Is baptism is necessary for salvation?

As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. I was never baptized into that faith, but, I recall that most members, when they’d been raised in that faith, would choose to be baptized when they were in their early to mid or late teens. They were baptized by immersion – usually at a JW convention or assembly.

While I was in my twenties, I started attending an AME church. During the alter call, when I came forward, I told the usher that I wanted to join the church and I wanted to become baptized. The usher wrote down the names of all of those who’d come forward, and why they’d come forward, and relayed this information to the pastor. When the pastor stated my name, the first thing he said was: “She’s not saved. She’s come forward to join the church and to become baptized.”

I cringed when I heard those words. So, since I had not yet been baptized, I was not saved? The pastor’s statement bothered me for a long time. It bothered me because, in my heart, I felt I was saved because I’d accepted Jesus. I believed he was the Son of God, He was God, and He came to earth to save mankind – all we needed to do was accept His gift of salvation. I really believed this in my heart, and the fact that I’d not yet been baptized… well, if I’d died that night, before my baptism the following Sunday, I truly believed I’d go to heaven.

When I mentioned to my co-worker that I’d be getting baptized, she was shocked. She said adults shouldn’t be baptized, I should’ve been baptized as a baby. She said all babies should be baptized. I kindly pointed out to her that not all churches baptized babies. Some churches wait until you’re old enough to have an idea about what you’re doing. A baby doesn’t have a concept of salvation, and, in the Bible, it’s never mentioned about babies being baptized – does a baby know how to repent? She seemed puzzled by my words and said that the Bible was written by men, but, in her heart, she felt babies should be baptized.

I was sprinkled in the AME church, not immersed. I joined a new church several years later, and that’s when I was immersed. That’s the way I felt, in my heart, that I really needed to be baptized, but, I don’t think my actions affected my salvation – but, I just wanted to do it.

I believe once you’ve accepted Jesus, you should become baptized, as an outward profession of your faith. However, if you’re not baptized, I feel that you’re still saved. For example, if you’ve accepted Jesus, and while you’re driving, on your way to get baptized, and you’re killed in a car accident – I still think you’re saved and will go to heaven.

Do you think that baptism is necessary for salvation? What were you taught about baptism when you were growing up? Do you remember any details about your baptismal day?

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^{Matthew 3:13-17}

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, who

m I love; with him I am well

pleased.”

²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ESV  So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

Have you ever read your Horoscope on a regular basis? Do you regularly read it now? If your answer is yes, why do you read it? Does reading your Horoscope give you hope? Does it provide a ray of joy in your day?

While getting my hair done a few weeks ago, I was telling my beautician that my son had a hot temper when he was upset. I told him how my son had burst into tears, crying, when he didn’t pass his Karate test for his purple belt. I also told him how my son would sometimes push board games off the table, mad, whenever he lost a game! He (my hairdresser) asked me, “When is his birthday?”

I said, “July 31^st.”

“Oh, he’s a Leo, then. That explains it.”

Whenever I hear people talk about the Zodiac and their Astrological signs, a little red flag goes up in my head. I feel slightly uneasy and I inwardly cringe. Why? Just the thought of relying on the stars, when you were born, and using the daily knowledge from someone (other than God) to predict your future – even for one day – just sounds ridiculous. Some check their Horoscope daily, and some let their Horoscope control their lives. I feel like using the Zodiac, Horoscopes, etc. is in the same category as Saul (old Testament Saul) consulting a medium for guidance. I kinda sense that some people may use the Zodiac for guidance. For example, they might not want to get into a relationship with someone with an incompatible Zodiac sign.

I’ll admit, several years ago, I used to read my Horoscope in the newspaper daily. I looked forward to it, and I laughed aloud when some of the stuff in the Horoscope turned out to be true. As I continued to read each day, I then found myself wondering which parts were true – I was sure that it was true sometimes, right? After all, I’d noticed some truth in some of my past Horoscopes. I finally decided to just stop reading it one day. I can’t recall why I made the decision to stop. I knew it was wrong to read the Horoscope, but, I did it anyway. I never went back to reading my Horoscope and I don’t encourage others to, either. Seek God for guidance, not a daily Horoscope.

Have you ever read your Horoscope on a regular basis? Do you read it regularly now? If your answer is yes, why do you read it? Does reading your Horoscope give you hope? Does it provide a light of joy in your day?

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