“Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching.”—1 TIM. 4:16
[Study 42 from ws 10/20 p.14 December 14 – December 20, 2020]
The first paragraph launches into persuading the readers that baptism is vital for salvation when it says “What do we know about the importance of baptism? It is a requirement for those seeking salvation.”
Is that really the case? What does the Bible teach?
What follows are the scriptures relevant to this topic, found in the Bible as opposed to the Watchtower article:
There is no teaching about salvation in the books of Matthew, Mark, and John. (There is only 1 use of the word in each of those books in other contexts).
In Luke 1:68 we find the prophecy of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist where he said: “he [Jehovah God] has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, just as he, through the mouth of his prophets from of old, has spoken of a salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those hating us, …”. This was a prophecy referring to Jesus who was at this time, now an unborn fetus in the womb of Mary his mother. The emphasis is on Jesus as the means of salvation.
During his ministry, Jesus commented about Zacchaeus who had just repented of his sins as a chief tax collector saying “At this Jesus said to him: “This day salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and save what was lost.”. You will note, however, that there is no mention of baptism, just salvation, and by the description of Zacchaeus' attitude, there had also been repentance on his part.
We have to move beyond the 4 gospels to the book of Acts to find our next mention of salvation. This is in Acts 4:12 when the Apostle Peter addressing the rulers and older men in Jerusalem stated about Jesus, whom they had just impaled, “Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”. Again, the emphasis is on Jesus as the means to obtain salvation.
In Romans 1:16-17, the apostle Paul stated, “For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is, in fact, God’s power for salvation to everyone having faith, … for in it God’s righteousness is being revealed by reason of faith and toward faith, just as it is written: ‘But the righteous one – by means of faith he will live.’”. The quote Paul uses is from Habakkuk 2:4. The good news was the good news of the kingdom ruled by Christ Jesus. You will note that faith [in Jesus] is the requirement for salvation.
Further in Romans 10:9-10 the apostle Paul said, “For if you publicly declare that ‘word in your own mouth,’ that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.”. In context, what was the public declaration for salvation? The preaching work? No. It was the public declaration acknowledging and accepting that Jesus is Lord, along with faith that God had raised him from the dead.
In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the apostle Paul wrote “For sadness in a godly way makes for repentance to salvation that is not to be regretted; but the sadness of the world produces death.”. This scripture mentions repentance [from former sins] as vital.
In Philippians 2:12 Paul encouraged the Philippians to “… keep working out YOUR own salvation with fear and trembling;” and in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 he talked about “the hope of salvation … to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”.
Further in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, he wrote “However, we are obligated to thank God always for YOU, brothers loved by Jehovah, because God selected YOU from [the] beginning for salvation by sanctifying YOU with spirit and by YOUR faith in the truth. 14 To this very destiny he called YOU through the good news we declare, for the purpose of acquiring the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”. Here he talked about being selected for salvation, sanctified by the spirit and by their faith in the truth.
He mentioned how Timothy had become wise for salvation through faith in connections with Christ Jesus because of knowing the holy writings (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
How does one get salvation? In the apostle Paul’s letter to Titus in Titus 2:11, he categorically states “For the undeserved kindness of God which brings salvation to all sorts of men has been manifested …” when referring to “… the Saviour of us, Christ Jesus, … ”.
To the Hebrews, the apostle Paul wrote about “… the Chief Agent [Jesus Christ] of their salvation …” (Hebrews 1:10).
In contrast, therefore, to the claim made in the Watchtower article in paragraph 1, there is not one scripture I could find that even hinted that baptism was required for salvation.
So, what did the apostle Peter mean in 1 Peter 3:21? This scripture is partially quoted in the study article (para.1) with “Baptism [is] now saving your … through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” putting the emphasis on the baptism. However, a closer examination of this verse in context reveals the following. The baptism only saves us because it is a symbol of the desire to have a clean conscience toward God, by putting faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that through him we can gain salvation. The emphasis is on faith in Jesus and his resurrection. The baptism is a symbol of that faith. It is not the physical action of baptism that will save us as the study article suggests. After all, one can ask to be baptized because of pressure, from friends, parents, elders, and Watchtower study articles like this, rather than because of wanting to demonstrate one’s faith.
Paragraph 2 rightfully states that “To make disciples, we need to develop the “art of teaching””. Yet, the Watchtower study article does not have “the art of teaching”, at least, in teaching truth.
In conclusion, is baptism “a requirement for those seeking salvation” as claimed in the study article?
In light of the evidence found in the scriptures and presented above, NO, Baptism is not a requirement per se. Most importantly there is no obvious scriptural requirement stated that it is required. The Organization places too much emphasis on the baptism, rather than on the faith in the resurrected Jesus. Without true faith in the resurrected Jesus, salvation is not possible, baptized or not. However, it is reasonable to conclude that someone who wants to serve Jesus and God would want to get baptized, not to save themselves, but as a means of symbolizing that desire of serving Jesus and God to other like-minded Christians. We must remember that just as the Apostle Paul wrote in Titus 2:11, it is “… the undeserved kindness of God which brings salvation …”, not the act of baptism itself.
One thing that it clear baptism should not do is to bind the one being baptized to a man-made Organization, no matter what claims are made by that Organization.
For a more in-depth examination of the Watchtower Organization’s changing stance on baptism during its existence, please see this article https://beroeans.net/2020/12/07/christian-baptism-in-whose-name-according-to-the-organization-part-3/.
Archived Comments
We have moved to the Disqus commenting system. To post a new comment, go to the bottom of this page.
Comment by Frankie on 2020-12-20 18:25:32
Hi Tadua.
Thank you for this review, which prompted me to think more deeply about the interrelationship of the words "salvation" and "baptism." I also understand your attempt to point out the use of baptism for the growth of the Organization's membership, which is fact. But there is something else. Sorry for rather long text.
In the first part of your review, you tried to find the words baptism and salvation in individual verses and you tried to prove that baptism and salvation are not related. In this way, you actually separated the two concepts. For me, the problem is that such separation of salvation and baptism is not possible. You wrote: "Baptism is not a requirement per se". I agree.
But you also wrote: "there is no obvious scriptural requirement stated that it [baptism] is required". Not quite. I have to add - it depends on circumstances. Sometimes yes, sometimes not. The following text is my opinion only.
With respect to salvation-baptism issue, I’d like to mention three circumstances and corresponding requirements for salvation. The essential requirement in case of first of two is - faith.
1 Baptism is possible without obstacles
--------------------------------------------------
Two requirements are needed for salvation in this case - faith in Jesus Christ and baptism, whilst baptism is not possible without faith. In this case, baptism is a requirement. I consider three scriptures, 1 Peter 3: 20-21, which is confirmed by Col 2:12 and Romans 6:4.
"because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," (1 Peter 3:20-21, ESV)
Noah with family was saved in ark through water, baptism corresponds to this, and baptism saves you. Baptism is an appeal to God.
„having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Col 2:12, ESV)
„We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4, ESV)
These two verses say about the same - death through baptism, because without baptism, the resurrection, and therefore salvation, is not possible. If I believe in Jesus Christ, I still have to die in baptism with Him. And without faith it is impossible either - “also raised with him through faith”.
What about appeal to God? Someone can believe in the name of Jesus Christ, preach about Him and try to act like a Christian. But did he/she confirm their faith with a personal appeal to God? ? In verse 1 Peter 3:21, the Greek word "eperótéma" (Strong 1906) is used to mean: inquiry, request, appeal, demand; a profession, pledge (Biblehub). These words express the way someone turns to God in case of baptism. It is personal confession.
If I do not want to be baptized while there are no obstacles (Acts 8:36), do I find it unnecessary to personally confirm to my heavenly Father that I have a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Definitely not. But if it's not unnecessary, then it's necessary. And if necessary, then baptism is a requirement provided that the circumstances allow it.
Baptism is not about words. It is more - it is a commitment to God himself. It is confirmation, it is signature. It is call: „Jehovah, I am yours, I believe and sign“. The scriptures Col 2:12 and Romans 6:4 with respect to 1 Peter 3:20-21 are about this.
But what about those who have been baptized as babies? Do they have to be “re-baptized”? I think not. It is a wholly personal choice and a matter of close relationship with God and his Son. Again, God knows heart. Perhaps a devout prayer in which one would confirm admission of such baptism would suffice.
I think, in this special case the faith in Jesus Christ is crucial.
2 Baptism is not possible
--------------------------------
Crucial thing is needed for salvation - faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Within the discussion, circumstances such as "iron lungs" or other severe health disabilities were mentioned.
Jehovah is not a clerk, unconditionally insisting on some regulations. God knows everyone's heart and everyone's faith and everyone's circumstances. And on the basis of faith, such a person will be saved. (1 Peter 1:5)
For me, excellent example is a criminal who was executed with Jesus (although in the case of Jesus, I would rather use the word murder). How many good works of faith did he have to do, and which way did he have to be baptized to be forgiven? Funny questions.
“And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.“ 42And he said, „Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.“ 43And he said to him, „Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.“ (Luke 23:41-43)
Faith and repentance, grace and salvation. That is all.
3 No faith, no baptism
----------------------------
But there are people who do not believe in Jesus Christ. There are many people in the world that may not be able to understand the significance of Jesus' ransom sacrifice because they have a severe mental illness.
And there are others, including small children, who, based on objective circumstances, will not be able to learn about Jesus at the time of His coming to Earth.
Is it possible for someone to be saved without faith or without baptism?
“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, „Who then can be saved?“ 26But Jesus looked at them and said, „With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.“ (Matt 19:25-26) Because God knows the heart of every man.
4 Conclusion
-----------------
By no means we can speak of the salvation or destruction of anyone (Luke 6:37). And not at all on the basis of some rules or doctrines fabricated by men on the basis of human imperfect knowledge (1 Cor 13:12).
The final verdict in all cases will be given by God, who will judge the world through his Son Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). We love Jehovah and Jesus and they love us. So no worries! (1 John 4:18)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And in the end, thank you Tadua for all your work. I consider you work, including such reviews of WT articles, as very useful, especially for all JW’s to encourage them to study Bible without preconceptions and with open mind.
Love to you and all. FrankieReply by Naomi on 2020-12-21 07:05:32
Wonderful comment ! Thank you for this insight. I just wonder about what You said about faith in Jesus’ ransom is crucial & that is true. So how can an infants baptism be exceptable?
Comment by safeguardyourheart on 2020-12-14 13:56:45
Living Up to Our Responsibilities
14. Why is baptism in itself not a guarantee of salvation?
14 It would be a MISTAKE to CONCLUDE THAT BAPTISM IS IN ITSELF A GUARANTEE OF SALVATION. It has VALUE only if a person has TRULY DEDICATED HIMSELF TO JEHOVAH THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND THEREAFTER CARRIES OUT GOD’S WILL, BEING FAITHFUL TO THE END “He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.”—Matthew 24:13...............WORSHIP THE ONLY TRUE GOD BOOK
The ORGANIZATION sure know how to manipulate. Members needs to be careful when studying their publications. With the ORGANIZATION, members can never be too sure. They should remember what baptism symbolize.
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-12-16 04:55:21
Another fine article, Tadua. You are getting better and better at getting to the point with these shorter summaries. Having said that, I noted no consideration of Matthew 28:19.
Surely, if we claim to have faith in Jesus, we would seek to be baptised . This makes it a command. How on earth we would do that when the commitment is to belong to a particular religious group, I have no idea.
When I was baptised many years ago, the questions had not been redrafted and I felt I was getting baptised to serve Jehovah and follow Jesus.
My only further comment, on the article, is that paragraphs 4 and 5 in the study are rather hypocritical. "Let the Bible do the teaching" , while paragraph 5 simply encourages getting the student to explain carefully selected verses. Unfortunately the person taking the study will not know any better, and believes that this is the teaching God wants. Under those circumstances it is not solid food, it is not like rocks on which to build. If we try to build a house with bricks (some solid food from the Bible) and cream (incorrect interpretations), it will not stand.
Comment by Meleti Vivlon on 2020-12-16 08:28:46
Nice article, Tadua. Concise and to the point. I get that your thrust is to counter the over emphasis that the organization puts on baptism, which for them is all about growing their numbers. However, in the cause of accuracy, one alert reader emailed me to show that there is evidence in the Gospel of Mark that baptism is linked to salvation.
15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15, 16 BSB)
John also spoke of Jesus baptizing in holy spirit and fire. We know that holy spirit only came upon those who were baptized in the name of Jesus. We have this account.
“. . .In the course of events, while A·polʹlos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came down to Ephʹe·sus. There he found some disciples and said to them: “Did you receive holy spirit when you became believers?” They replied to him: “Why, we have never heard that there is a holy spirit.” So he said: “In what, then, were you baptized?” They said: “In John’s baptism.” Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism in symbol of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the holy spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in foreign languages and prophesying. There were about 12 men in all.” (Acts 19:1-7 NWT)
When we get to 1 Peter 3:21, you make the point that it is not the baptism which saves directly, like some magic bullet. Agreed, but unless one gets baptized, can one lay claim to having made the request to God for a good conscience?Reply by Tadua on 2020-12-16 10:28:34
Hi Meleti
Mark 16:15-16 is in the long version ending of Mark which is not in all manuscripts, so I have not considered this as evidence.
The account in Acts 19 indicates it was the choice of those disciples who heard Paul. There is no evidence that Paul said they should get baptized again.
Your point about Holy Spirit only coming upon only those who got baptized is not entirely accurate. Cornelius and his household received Holy Spirit before Peter asked them to get baptized.
Re 1 Peter 3:21 one can ask for a clean conscience in prayer. Can a person in an iron lung get baptized by full immersion in water? (And that is not the only condition that could stop someone getting baptized) No, but surely that does not exclude them from being given salvation does it?
There is a difference between between a principle and a command, which is a rule.
There was someone dying of cancer in a hospice care home, who was refused baptism because of not doing any field service, or attending meetings. That person was most concerned that they would not considered as worthy of salvation.
How would you answer that person?
For the absence of any doubt, I am not saying we should not get baptized. I am just saying there is no scriptural command to do so, rather it is a principal that it shows outwardly what we have already decided in our heart.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2020-12-17 09:00:51
Good point about Mark in some manuscripts.
However, your point about Cornelius actually proves the need for baptism, doesn't it? The spirit came upon them first because God knew their heart, but he also knew the powerful cultural resistance against Gentiles becoming one with Jews that Peter and others would have felt. So by pouring out his spirit first, he removed any question as to whether they should be baptised. We see this from Peter's response.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.
Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days." (Acts 10:44-48)
If baptism wasn't viewed as a requirement, why did Peter "command" that they be baptized?
I'm not arguing that baptism is an absolute requirement, since we know that Abraham was saved, but he was never baptized. Abraham as saved by a show of faith. However, today, God asks that we show our faith in many ways, and baptism is like a first step on a path to Christian obedience and faith. It is a public declaration that we belong to the Christ. Once the Eunuch understood about the Christ, the first thing he wanted to do was to be baptized. Why? Because refusing to be baptized would demonstrate a lack of faith. How can we ask God to forgive us--to give us a clean conscience--if we are not willing to commit to him. That is the point Peter is making at 1 Peter 3:21. We commit through a public act of faith.
If we define baptism as only full immersion in water, then we make it a rule. So your iron lung patient cannot be saved because he cannot be fully immersed in water. However, if baptism represents a public act then we can be flexible, can we not? Would Christ not recognize the situation? You make the point that it is a principle not a command. A principle is more powerful than a command. If baptism is a principle, how do we obey the principle? We could, in the case of the iron lung patient, pour water over his head. Would that not fulfill the requirement for baptism? My point is that to do nothing by making the excuse that we cannot comply with the act of full water immersion ignores the fact that a principle must always be applied. We just have to find a way to make it work.
So instead of defining baptism by a very particular and specific act, we should rather understand we can be flexible when needs require. I contend that baptism is a requirement for salvation, but full water immersion is not. We are looking for a symbol after all, but the symbol should never become the reality if represents.
The principle of baptism is given to us by our Lord who initiated his work by water immersion. Only after he took that step, did the Father pour out his spirit upon him. Why did Jesus get baptized? In part to set the example for us to follow. So if full water immersion is possible, we should follow that example.
I guess that I could say that I don't want to get baptized, but instead I'm going to walk around town with a T-shirt that says "I'm for Christ". Would that fulfill the principle of baptism? I don't know, but I'm thinking that since Jesus set the example, and since Christians were baptised in his name, and since Peter tells me that baptism saves me, I can't see how we can suggest that baptism doesn't save us.
"In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. 21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge off a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him." (1 Peter 3:20-22 BSB)Reply by Tadua on 2020-12-17 09:48:53
I agree with almost everything you say in this comment, however I do have this comment:
Yes, principles are definitely to be followed, but we have to be careful about imposing on others as to how to do that in places where that principle is difficult to follow and leave it up to their conscience and God and Jesus love for us.
According to Strongs and Helps Word studies at least baptism means to dip, submerge, dip under, rather than sprinkle which is a different Greek word. See https://biblehub.com/Greek/907.htm
Over emphasis on baptism (the symbol) has led to infant “sprinkling” and the like, lest someone die without baptism, instead of the meaning and reason for baptism.
Perhaps summing up it would be fair to say that a Christian or one desiring to be a Christian would want to display to others his repentance at any former wrong deeds and the desire to obey God and Christ, accepting Christ as the means of salvation. He would do that by being baptized in the name of Jesus, if that were possible for him/her.
By faith one does works, and by works one demonstrates ones faith, but works alone cannot save. See James 2:14-24. Likewise, baptism (a work) in itself does not save us, but the faith that moves us to do that does. It is in that sense only that baptism can save us because it shows we have faith in God’s provision of salvation, Jesus Christ.
Why did Jesus get baptized? Now that’s a question we cannot truly know the answer too. But a thought is that all were getting baptized by John in repentance of their sins. That was a key component in Christian baptism, repentance and a request for a clean conscience. It would be therefore reasonable to conclude Jesus got baptized to emphasise that, without repentance, accepting him was pointless, after all if a perfect man asked to be baptised then repentance was vital, ( even though of course Jesus had nothing to repent about), which John’s baptism represented.Reply by Jeremiah on 2020-12-18 14:50:42
Dear Brothers Eric and Tadua. I have found the article and your exchange here most interesting, thank you. I do have a thought I would like to put forward but could never develop it in the fine way the brothers do here. Please could you consider this and I look forward to hearing your views.
Looking at other scriptures with commands related to baptism I only see commands to go and baptize people, not commands that people must get baptized, except for what appears to be the case in Acts 10:48.
I ask how can anyone be commanded to be baptized? Isn't this a personal decision? Rather was Peter not commanding that they, (the jews), baptize them (the gentiles).
The NLT rendering of Acts 10:48 for example seems to go this way when it says 'So he gave orders for them to be baptized'. Not to them but for them, so another group was ordered. Doesnt this fit better with all the other references to commands to baptize? Another translation uses 'direct' in place of command or order.
A principle has an enduring effect, whereas a command can be a once off occurence, which again could be why some translators render it an order or directive.
I am suggesting that Peter commanded (or gave direction to) the facilitation of baptizm of these gentiles by the jews that were present. Perhaps a study on the Greek words and context would reveal something because I am merely relying on the various renditions.
Surely no one is under command to be baptized. Is not the main command to make disciples of people, and baptism is the heartfelt personal decision of the new disciple, and if they so wish to be baptized then the disciple maker is under command to baptize the new disciple.
Comment by Fani on 2020-12-16 09:20:49
Nous sommes bien d'accord : c'est Christ notre sauveur.
Christ qui n'avait évidemment pas besoin d'être baptisé nous a donné l'exemple :
Matthieu 3:13-15
[13]Alors Jésus vint de la Galilée au Jourdain vers Jean, pour être baptisé par lui.
[14]Mais Jean sy opposait, en disant: Cest moi qui ai besoin d`être baptisé par toi, et tu viens à moi!
[15]Jésus lui répondit: Laisse faire maintenant, car il est CONVENABLE QUE NOUS ACCOMMPLISSIONS AINSI TOUT CE QUI EST JUSTE. Et Jean ne lui résista plus."
Il est juste de se faire baptiser. Math 28 : 19 C'est un acte de foi. Il ne suffit pas de dire qu'on croit au Christ comme notre sauveur, il faut le dire et le montrer.
De même, la foi sans les oeuvres est morte.
Les œuvres ne nous sauvent pas mais elles sont nécessaires.
Le baptême n'est pas la base de notre salut mais il est nécessaire (quand les circonstances le permettent) et important.
Il ne faudrait pas non plus le minimiser.
Comment by Beroeans Creed on 2020-12-19 11:10:35
We see the real motives behind both of these studies, in fact the numbers presented in the first study that 10,000,000 studies were being conducted with only 280,000 being baptized must be an indication that the publishers are terrible teachers and not pushing these studies aggressively to become baptized as Jehovah’s witnesses.
So they are instilling more guilt on the R&F when in fact they know the real reason is because most people today although they may study for a time with the witnesses they are doing their research on the net and seeing all the plethora of negative information about what it means to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and are saying “no thanks”
The GB knows this and instead equipping the publishers to know what is being said about JW’s and how to refute the negatives, they take the easy way out , because there is know defense.Reply by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-12-19 12:40:46
Well stated, BC
The Org has encouraged publishers to count anything resembling 3 conversations as a Bible study, so it is hardly surprising that nothing comes from these. One also has to wonder how many of those baptised were witness children, and how many of the bible studies are with such ones.
The articles 1 & 2 look like nothing more than stick poking and carrot waving.
Comment by Menrov on 2020-12-20 05:33:19
WT doctrines are based on the view that nobody is saved or will inherit or will be given eternal life unless ..... this means, you need to earn it.
The scriptures teach that based on Jesus sacrifice, all people who put faith in him are already save, and will inherit and are granted eternal life. You can lose it, but not win it.
Therefore these 2 studies and many others, are based on the WT view that you (people) need to work and hope to be rewarded. In the WT view, baptism is a step to your potential reward as about all who are baptised as a JW are still not sure of their reward.
In addition to being baptised, there is preaching (writing time), associate with the organisation, blindly follow the directions of the organisation and put trust in the leaders of the organisation, regardless. If one does all that, well, who knows, Jehovah might resurrect you so you can live another 1000 years with the unrighteous who also will be resurrected. And if you do well in these 1000 years, you will be granted eternal life.......
Comment by Naomi on 2020-12-20 09:37:37
Thank you so very much, for this well researched reasoning from the scriptures. You have helped me to grasp a deeper understanding of what is required for salvation. Christian baptism has been a subject of concern for me for many years. I was baptized as an infant in Catholicism & then as an adult when I became a JW. But I have wanted to understand whether it really is required for everyone to gain salvation & how can a child truly grasp the meaning of Christ ransom sacrifice &exercise faith in it. And it should have nothing to do with connecting oneself to a man made organization. This article you wrote helps me to understand it better.