Malankara World

What Shall I Do To Be Saved?

By Rev. Dr. Curian Kaniyamparambil

Question 49. What is the truth about this argument: 'For salvation, all one needs to do is to believe in his heart. But proclaiming by mouth is just a public witnessing and baptism is not essential for salvation.'

Baptism commands a very high priority in the Holy Scriptures.

  1. John 3:5 - "Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, He cannot enter the kingdom of God." Baptism is a prerequisite for entering heaven.

  2. Acts 2:38: "Peter said to them, repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of the sins and you shall receive the gift of Holy Spirit." Through baptism one receives remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

  3. Acts 22:16:- "Ananias to Saul: Arise and be baptized and wash away the sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

  4. Roman 6: 3-8 - "Or do you know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death. Just as Christ was raised from dead by the glory of the Father, even we should also walk in newness of life.? Now if we died with Christ we believe that we shall live with Him." The same message can be seen in Colo. 2: 12-13.

  5. 1 Cori 12:13 - "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body."

  6. Gala 3:27 "For as many of as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

  7. 1 Titus 3:6 "Our savior appeared not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit whom he richly poured on us through Jesus Christ our savior."

  8. 1 Peter 3:21 "There is also an anti-type which now save us - baptism (not the removal of filth of the flesh but the answer a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ".

In spite off all these writings, it is quite unfortunate that some argue against baptism.

If one says, baptism is for public witnessing, what does this mean? It means to declare in public. If baptism is that trivial, why do such fellowships make it mandatory that its members should have the baptism of faith? They propagate that, without such a baptism of faith, there is no salvation, and make it of utmost importance in one's Christian life. Isn't this contradictory? They say baptism is trivial and they themselves imply that it is of utmost importance. I have not seen any verses in the Bible that could be interpreted as saying that, baptism is just an act of public witnessing.

We have seen that through baptism one receives:

  1. Remission of sins

  2. Gift of the Holy Spirit

  3. Admission to Heaven

  4. Salvation

  5. The dignity of becoming sons of God

  6. Oneness with Christ.

  7. Sanctification

  8. Gift of the Holy Spirit

  9. Participation in the assembly of sons of God

  10. Adoption to God's family

  11. Birth to the heavenly life

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