The Danger of Water Baptism
by David J. Stewart
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." —Mark 16:16
There is a great danger in being water baptized, and that is thinking that
it is mandatory to be saved. Such thinking is a sure road to Hell. Someone
might speculate that if a person believes on Christ, but ignorantly also
trusts in water baptism, that God would understand and not send that person
to Hell.
However, a person who trusts in water baptism for salvation has NEVER BEEN SAVED. It is not a matter of fulfilling religious obligations and requirements as so many people foolishly think. This is what the Catholic Church has caused. Most people errantly view salvation as merely meeting the requirements of some church or religious organization (such as the Jehovah's Witnesses). These are false cults.
Being born-again is a matter of getting one's sins forgiven. You are a sinner, and so am I (Romans 3:10). There is a penalty for that sin, death (Romans 5:12; 6:23). This includes a Second Death in Hell forever (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). God in His love sent His only begotten Son into the world to pay for our sins, to redeem mankind to God the Father. Jesus paid the price for our sins with His precious blood (1st Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5). Hence, salvation can ONLY be found in the precious name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10-12). No religion can save you. No Pope nor priest can absolve your sins. No group on earth can save you. Only He Who has the nail-scared hands and feet, Jesus Christ, can save your soul from Hell.
But consider yourself warned, adding Sacramental Salvation (as Catholics do) to faith is a false gospel of Works Salvation which leads only to Hell and perdition. Adding anything to simple trust in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God to forgive our sins is a false gospel, a false way. DON'T add anything! Jesus plus anything equals Hell forever. Water Baptism will send you to Hell if you're relying upon it to save you.
I remember back in 2003 during the Iraqi invasion, that our troops in Iraq were lining up to be water baptized, “just in case” they died in battle. Here's the Chicago Sun Times article. I have sad and tragic news for all of you who think water baptism will save you, it won't. If you get baptized “just in case,” then you are still in you sins and bound for the Lake of Fire. You need Jesus Christ my friend, not a bath in some water tub. Baptism doesn't make a person a Christian anymore than walking into a garage makes a person an automobile. Water Baptism is one's public profession of faith; but it NOT essential nor required for salvation.
Martin Luther who started the Protestant Movement was an unsaved heretic who required Water Baptism and Sacramental Salvation (by keeping the Mass) in a futile attempt to be saved. Luther is burning in Hell this moment. The Bible does NOT teach sacraments. The word isn't even in the Bible. Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper are simply ordinances done in the Church. They are important for the believer, but they are only for the believer and have nothing to do with receiving the free gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul plainly stated that Christ did NOT send him to baptize, but to preach the Gospel (1st Corinthians 1:17).
No one in the Old Testament was Water Baptized; yet Acts 10:43 tells us they were all saved by faith in Jesus Christ, just as today. Acts 10:43, “To him [Jesus] give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” It's so simple, even a caveman could do it...lol. This is why Jesus spoke of childlike faith. Mark 10:15, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” That means to push away all your doubts and mental blocks that have blinded you your whole life from getting saved, and in your heart believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31).
Water Baptism is the profession of one's faith in Christ, done the Biblical way, nothing more. The thief on the cross was never baptized, solid proof that Water Baptism is NOT necessary for salvation. In all of the Apostle Paul's Epistles, he never stresses the importance of being water baptized. The Apostle John wrote the Epistle of 1st John to help believers KNOW (1st John 5:13) that they are saved; yet John never mentions Water Baptism even once in all three of his Epistles. All this preponderance of Scriptural evidence shows that Water Baptism is NOT necessary for salvation.
John 20:31 tells us the sole purpose of the Gospel of John, which is to convince us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we will be saved. Carefully notice that being baptized with water is not an issue in the Gospel of John. Most religious people have baptism on the brain and are as lost as can be in their sins. Self-righteousness is a guaranteed path to destruction and a road to Hell (Romans 10:3-4).
You must receive the gift of eternal life freely, apart from all works of self-righteousness (Romans 4:5-6). Paul said that his desire for Israel was for them to be saved (Romans 10:1); yet in Romans 10:9-10 Paul does NOT mention Water Baptism at all. Rather, Paul says that salvation is of the heart, and not achieved by some magical words that a person may speak (and certainly not by some ritual nor act of being dunked in a bathtub).
We learn in Matthew 7:21-23 that saying “Lord, Lord” repeatedly to Christ is not salvation; but rather, obeying the will of God just as Matthew 7:21 proclaims. John 6:40 tells us what the will of God is concerning salvation, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” If you believe on Jesus as He is presented in the Scriptures, i.e., the Christ, the Son of God, then your sins will be forgiven eternally. Jesus proclaims to be THE DOOR (John 10:9). There is NO other name given under Heaven by which men may be saved, other than the precious name of Jesus (Acts 4:10-12).
