An objection to BAPTISM is often posed something like this…

“What if a person hears and believes the truth and desires to be baptized, but they get into a car accident and dies on the way to be baptized, will God still save them?”

This is a very emotional appeal to a not very likely scenario. But, since you asked, let us go to scripture and ask some more questions. Can one be saved without Confession, Repentance, or even belief?

Can we be saved without…

BURIAL in Him? Col 2:11-12

Can we be saved without…

ADDED to the church? Acts 2:38-47

APPEAL to God. 1Pet 3:21; Acts 23:16

Can we be saved without…

PUTTING on Christ? Gal 3:27

Can we be saved by…

TRANSGRESSING the command of Christ, (& Apostles)? Luke 6:46; Mark 16:16; 1Cor 14:37; 2Thess 1:7-9

Can we be saved without…

IMMERSION INTO the likeness of His death? Rom 6:3-4

Can we be saved without…

SINS washed away? Acts 22:16; Is not SAVED. 1Pet 3:21

Can we be saved without the urgency to obey at…

MIDNIGHT, MIDDAY, or in the MIDDLE of an INCONVENIENT time? Acts 16:33; 26:28

LET’S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE BIBLE.

What if Cornelius had Died before Peter came to him to “tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” (Acts 10:1-6). Would he have been saved? If not, why not? Some will have him be saved based solely on the intent of the heart.

What if the Eunuch died before he heard Jesus Preached to him by Philip (Acts 8:35)? Would he have been saved because of the intent of his heart? He was reading about Jesus in Isaiah.

We must be careful to teach the whole counsel of God. Baptism is essential to salvation, but not the ONLY thing that saves. This is why we read of the urgency of those who hear Jesus being preached. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36; cf 16:33)

WHEN IS IT TOO LATE TO OBEY THE GOSPEL?

When life EXPIRES. Luke 12:19

When TIME is no more. Jas 4:14

Take TOO long. Acts 26:28

When you suffer brain damage through ACCIDENT, or Disease. Belief is essential to scriptural baptism. Mark 16:16.

When the LORD returns. 1Thess 4:13-18