Why do you believe that baptism into Yahshua’s name is required for salvation?

Q.   I was baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a Charismatic church in 2003. Although I understand about being baptized into the singular name of Yahshua the Messiah, I am perplexed about it being a requisite to salvation. I believe that I am saved now. I am coming to the truth of Torah and growing daily. Does the fact that I haven’t been baptized into Yahshua’s name mean that I am not saved? I am totally committed to having it done, but where I live the only messianic Torah observant assembly rejects the Messiah and the other mainstream local assemblies would not baptize into the singular name of Yahshua. What can I do?

A.   We do not believe that salvation is assured. Even the Apostle Paul realized that it was possible for him to lose his salvation. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway,” 1 Corinthians 9:27. Yahshua too taught this belief. He confirmed that only those who endure to the end will be saved, Matthew 24:14. Therefore, we do not believe that we are saved or born again until we are changed at the resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4.

I believe we agree that baptism into Yahshua’s name is important. The reason we believe this is required for salvation, or more specifically for the first resurrection, is because it is through baptism that we die to the old man and become part of Messiah. This is also the only method for the forgiveness of sins. Paul in Romans 6:3-5 states, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yahshua Messiah were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:23 also confirms that only those in Messiah will share in the first resurrection, “But every man in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah’s at his coming.” Since we become part of Messiah through baptism, proper baptism is critical. Scripture also verifies that salvation is found only in Yahshua’s name through baptism, Acts 2:38 and 4:12. I’m not sure where you are located, but I have found that if we desire something enough, Yahweh will make a way for it to occur. For example, we recently had a man fly from Ireland to be baptized into Yahshua’s name.