Question:
Dear Greg,
If
being baptized is nothing but an outward sign of commitment, then is it
necessary to be baptized in order to enter the
Linda
Answer: Dear Linda,
The
Bible says that only one thing is “necessary” to enter God’s kingdom of
heaven—acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
That means we believe and trust that God loves us unconditionally, that
everything that needs to be done to save us has been and will be done by Jesus
Christ and that we, in turn, will follow and obey our Lord.
Our obedience to anything is not a prerequisite for inclusion in the
kingdom—for if it were perfect obedience would have to be the standard because
God is perfect and holy and cannot dwell with sin.
We are not, and cannot be perfect. There
is only one way to become perfect—our acceptance of God’s grace that is
given to us, gratis, without condition.
If
we die before doing anything, having already accepted Jesus Christ, that thing
that we have failed to do will not need to be performed before God welcomes us
into his kingdom.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht