 | Rev. Patrick Notley is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church located at 525 N. Broadway in downtown Wichita. Reverend Notley received an MA in Divinity at San Francisco Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA. Born in Denver, CO and raised on the East Coast, Reverend Notley along with his wife, relocated to Wichita in 1997 to join the church, where he is responsible for Evangelism Educational programs. You can reach Reverend Notley at (316) 263-0248 ext. 22 or by email at pwnotley@firstpresbywichita.org |
Religion
2005-10-01 14:59:00
Is baptism required to enter heaven?
: Does a person have to be baptized in order to enter heaven? Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were not baptized, yet Scripture affirms that they are in heaven. Did the Old Testament have a different type of Baptism than we have?
ANSWER: The short answer is, "No, baptism is not a requirement to enter heaven!" The Sacrament of Baptism, for the Christian Church is a sign and seal of a person's inclusion in the Family of God. What this means is that baptism points to the reality that God has named and claimed each person and in response to that we acknowledge God's presence in our lives through the Sacrament of Baptism. When we grasp onto the reality that it is God who chooses, God who claims and God who acts we are freed up to respond to these gracious gifts. A very important and meaningful response for the Christian is baptism. For when we truly understand the lavish gift that has been given to us by God - God's presence and God's love - how could we not respond? How could we not want to publicly proclaim that we understand that God has chosen us? How could we not want to mark that occasion of understanding and response in such a manner as offered to us through the Sacrament of Baptism? So, no it is not a requirement for entrance into heaven, but it is a sacred and meaningful way to mark that we understand, at least in part, that God cares for and claims humanity as God's own.
