Grace Over Ritual: Why Heaven Isn’t Earned Through Water

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I was recently reminded of an ongoing — and frankly absurd — theological argument that baffles me to no end because it’s literally split churches:

Will a person go to heaven if they aren’t water baptized?

I had a conversation with someone who was adamant that a deathbed acceptance of Christ, without baptism, meant nothing. According to them, that person would still be going to hell. 

They said the heart alone was worthless without water baptism, it didn’t matter when they accepted Christ, that baptism was a must, no matter what.

And yep, you read that right. And before anyone makes assumptions — no, this wasn’t a Baptist.

Some people genuinely believe this. Not only believe it, but preach it, sometimes even shouting it. I’ve been in their presence to witness this first hand.

So, do I believe a person who accepts Christ but isn’t immersed in water will still go to heaven?

Absolutely — and I’ll argue that till my last breath.

Because no person has the right to remove God’s grace from anyone.

The Thief

We know one of the men crucified next to Jesus mocked Him, but the other recognized who He truly was. And what did Jesus say to that man?

“Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

We also know this man wasn’t baptized before he died.

The usual argument I always hear is that he was under “old covenant laws” and, therefore, exempt from the requirement of water immersion. But here’s where that collapses.

Jesus died before that man did.

That’s where the discussion went south fast. They got angry, actually accused me of lying, and when I directed them to John 19, instead of pausing to reconsider, they doubled down and refused to read John, and then they claimed Jesus must have made a one-time exception for this man.

I don’t know about their Bible, but mine doesn’t show Jesus making exceptions for anyone. He holds everyone equally accountable.

It’s good — great, in fact — to defend your beliefs. But when Scripture clearly challenges your position, maybe back the heck down a bit.

This person was defending his opinions and feelings at that point, not God.

Things to Consider

Works don’t get us into heaven. Period. Never have, never will.

When you turn baptism into a mandatory requirement for salvation, you’ve made it a work and that's a big no-no.

Scripture absolutely shows the importance of baptism. If you can do it, you should. It’s a powerful outward demonstration of your new life in Christ. But there is no Biblical command that says you must be baptized to pass those pearly gates.

Look at this verse:

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16

Notice what it doesn’t say. 

“Whoever does not believe AND isn’t baptized will be condemned.”

That difference matters.

Paul also speaks about baptism in Romans 6:3–4, Galatians 3:26–28, and Colossians 2:11–12, as an outward sign of conversion, not a ticket to heaven.

And logically, you can’t make something required if it’s not always possible.

Think About This

A year ago, I listened to the church I attend online sometimes and my heart was crushed. A young man and his girlfriend both gave their lives to Christ at 17 years old. They planned to be baptized together on the next baptism Sunday which was just two weeks away.

But he was tragically killed in a car accident days before.

Are we seriously saying that the God of mercy said, “Sorry, son. You gave your heart to Me, but you didn’t make it to the water tank”?

Or consider a young boy I know who is in a wheelchair and can’t be fully immersed for medical reasons. Is he denied heaven too?

Because, according to this “work” parameter, he’s not properly saved.

Another thing I want to point out, because I got curious about the matter while writing this.

What about prisoners? They have the religious right to be baptized, but the process can take months for approval — and some prisons don’t have baptismal tanks or anything similar I learned. They’re drenched with water from bottles. So are they out too?

Please. Make this make sense.

I was always taught that God’s grace is sufficient — beautiful and merciful. Has that been edited out of people’s Bibles?

Let’s Be Honest

We have a Father who forgives murder, adultery, theft, lies, and wipes our slate clean.

“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:2

And you’re gonna tell me and others that a lack of water will keep someone out of heaven?

Come on.

Let’s stop twisting grace into legalism.Let’s stop pretending that human rules can limit divine mercy.

Because the cross was enough.

“Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 

The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 

But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.” John 19:31–33

© Jane Isley

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