Is Baptism Required for Salvation?
Is Baptism Required for Salvation? Many, perhaps most, Protestant denominations in the western church consider the moment of salvation to be the moment of a decision to follow Jesus Christ, often accompanied by a prayer of repentance and commitment, after which baptism is a first act of obedience for a new believer while not required for salvation. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches as well as a minority of Protestant denominations consider baptism to be necessary for salvation (with rare exceptions). How can we know who is right? The Early Church One of the most important things to remember when reading the Bible is that it is a collection of books, all inspired by the Holy Spirit, each telling their own story but together presenting the overarching story of God's creation and redemptive plan for humanity. It was written at a time different from ours by many different authors using many different literary styles, some of which may seem familiar