Is water baptism compulsory

Answer 1

What baptism is:-

It symbolizes death to sin, burial, and rising to new life in Christ :-

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?

Rom 6:2 Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Rom 6:3 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been joined together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection;

Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.

Col 2:10 And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power, Col 2:11 in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,

Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, raising Him from the dead.

It is expected :-

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them [the disciples] , saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen

Repentance is required before baptism:-

Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Act 2:40 And with many other words he earnestly testified and exhorted, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation.

Act 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added about three thousand souls.

There is no verse that says baptism is obligatory, or those not baptized will go to hell.

The thief on the cross repented but he was not baptized: it was impossible for him to be baptized, but it didn't stop him being saved and going to heaven.

Water baptism is not compulsory, but repentance is. Repentance is the equivalent of spiritual baptism and is a compulsory and absolutely essential requirement. Water baptism is voluntary and not obligatory, but it is recommended if physically possible as it is an outward physical sign of death and burial of the old self, and the resurrection to a new life with Jesus Christ.