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Are There Any Unbaptized Christians?
It is important to consider how baptism connects with being a true follower of Jesus. If there are unbaptized Christians, this would mean that baptism is not necessary for salvation. There are certainly many people who claim that just believing in Jesus is enough for salvation and, therefore, enough for becoming a Christian. But, let’s consider what the Bible teaches about this important question. Namely, let’s observe what the Bible says about each situation the Christian finds himself/herself in – and how baptism is also involved in the same.
1) A Christian is in Christ Jesus. A person is either in Christ or outside of Him (Ephesians 2:11-13). Every spiritual blessing is given to those who are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). This includes the blessings of hope, peace, forgiveness, and salvation. And, Galatians 3:27 tells us how a person goes from being outside of Christ to being in Christ. So, baptism is the final step involved in a person going from outside of Christ to coming into a right relationship with Him. Since it is impossible to be in Christ without being baptized, it is impossible to be a Christian without being baptized!
2) A Christian has been forgiven of past sin. Those who are Christians have been forgiven of their sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. This is one of the blessings found in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:7). Acts 2:38 shows us, though, that baptism is necessary to forgiveness. Similarly, in Acts 22:16, Saul was told to get up and be baptized to wash his sins away. So, baptism is presented in the Scriptures as being the last step involved before a person can have his/her sins washed away/forgiven. Since it is impossible to be forgiven of sin without being baptized, it is impossible to be a Christian without being baptized!
3) A Christian is a new creation. Christians are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old ways of sin have been put to death and their lives are now committed to Jesus Christ. But, this transformation cannot happen without baptism. For example, Jesus said that unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). And, Romans 6:4 says that we are buried with Christ by baptism into His death and then we are raised to walk in newness of life. So, baptism is the final step one takes between the old person of sin and the new person who is committed to living for God. Since it is impossible to be a new creation without being baptized, it is impossible to be a Christian without being baptized!
4) A Christian is in a saved condition. Everything we have considered means that Christians are in a saved condition and have the hope of spending eternity with God in Heaven. Now, you must recognize the connection between baptism and being saved. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said that both belief and baptism are required for salvation. Then, 1 Peter 3:21 says that baptism now saves us. So, baptism is the final step one takes to go from being lost to being saved. Since it is impossible to be saved without being baptized, it is impossible to be a Christian without being baptized! Since Christians are in Christ Jesus, forgiven of past sins, new creations, and saved – and baptism is essential to all these, there cannot possibly be any unbaptized Christians! Although there are many people who possess a certain degree of faith in Christ who have not been baptized, the Bible teaches that baptism is the final step in becoming a Christian. Then, there are also many who have been baptized, but have been baptized for the wrong reasons (i.e. an outward sign of an inward grace) and are, consequently, not true Christians. For, all true Christians have been baptized according to God’s instructions for baptism