Should I be Baptized?

Can you still go to heaven even though you are not baptized, or christened?

That is a great question. Many internal wars and disputes within the Christian community have been raised over this very question. As a matter of fact, historically many parents and clergy in the Christian church became so concerned for the salvation of the children that they began to baptize infants. Water Baptism is a very special ritual that signifies an outward cleansing which represents an inner spiritual renewal (rebirth) that takes place when you have accepted Christ as your redeemer. When we truly accept Christ as our savior, Scripture tells us that God sends his Holy Spirit to live in us (John 14:15-25). Most of the time people who truly accept Jesus as Lord, have a strong desire to be baptized as a way of making an announcement to the world that he, or she desires that everyone recognize that they have given their lives over to live in obedience to God.

Always keep in mind there is a baptism of the Spirit and a baptism performed by humans, which is by water (and I believe that is the basis of your question). The baptism of the Spirit is a gift from God and it is his choice as to whom he will choose (see John 3:1-8) to baptize. When we are born of the Spirit, we are “born-again,” but this time we are born into God’s family as opposed to our biological family. Moreover, it is not anything that we do to make this decision; God chooses us and then cleanses us from our sin. It is a gift, and we can accept it or decline it. If we reject it, then the Bible tells us that there is nothing left for our salvation in eternity.

Now, not everyone who goes through the ritual of the church’s baptism has truly given their life over to Christ. Just like any other outward ritual (like going to church), a person’s heart may not truly want God to rule over them. However, there are a few people who quietly give their lives to Christ and do not get baptized with water, or for whatever reason cannot at the time (like the repentant thief on the cross, see Luke 23:39-43). Their lives, however, clearly exemplify lives that desire to live within the boundaries which God has set forth in the Bible for those who belong to him.

The answer to your question is yes, if you have been born of the Spirit and you accept God’s gift through Christ, but not yet been baptized with water you can still go to heaven.

If you have a Bible, I encourage you to turn to the Bible passages mentioned above and make sure that you can intelligently defend this TRUTH when you have to answer someone else’s question on this topic.