Is baptism really necessary for salvation? — Section 37
Is a simple ritual like baptism really necessary to be saved?
Representative of a Christian church:
I understand that it is one of the first four principles of the Latter-day Saint Church that baptism is necessary to be performed and that a man or woman cannot live with God again without that baptism. Is a simple ceremony like baptism really necessary to be saved?
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Our Savior, speaking to a group of Pharisees and lawyers, said on one occasion, “All they that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized of him.” (Luke 7:29-30) We thus learn that it was the counsel of God to be baptized, and as Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) That means doing the will of the Father, and his will is that we be baptized. We read in 1 Peter 1:22-25 that the word of the Lord was to endure forever, and the word to which the Gospel was preached unto them was to purify the souls of the saints; they were to be born again (baptized) and follow the word of the Lord forever. Galatians 3:2 tells us “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” It goes on to say “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. It is by baptism that we receive the “adoption of sons” and become the sons of Abraham and of God. Peter taught baptism preceded salvation (Acts 2:38). Paul taught baptism just as emphatically as that in Romans 6:3-5. Baptism is not just a ceremony, but it is a vow and a covenant to make with the Lord that we will serve him, and keep his commandments. By it we receive forgiveness of sins and complete remission.
Representative of a Christian church:
But as long as we are in the flesh, we will sin. Thus, sin cannot separate us from God. Christ died for our sins, and we all shall live with him again.
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
I don’t think that Paul would agree with you. He said in Hebrews 10:26, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins”. Thus, Christ’s death is applicable to those follow him and obey him.
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