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?

Please leave a comment!

^{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,