What is the difference between being saved and being baptized?

Answer 1

Roman Catholic:

Baptism in the Roman Catholic church is the sacrament wherein one is made a child of God, all sin, personal or inherited (original sin) is washed away, and one is reconsituted as a new being capable of pleasing God. One is not capable of receiving any other sacraments without first receiving Baptism.

In the Christian tradition there are three things that happen in a soul on the way to heaven. Redemption, justification, and salvation (being saved). Please note that these three things have very different meanings in other religions, particularly those who have broken away from the Catholic church and redefined them. In the church, redemption was accomplished once for all by Christ on the Cross. Justification is what one is doing all through one's life as one works out one's salvation by living as a Christian, with all that entails. Salavation - being saved, is at the end when one is judged by God in the particular judgment.

The answer below refers to these things outside of Catholic belief.

Baptism is a rite or ritual of initiation into the Christian faith. The person being baptized may choose to publicly declare their faith in Christ through baptism, or parents may choose to have their child baptized as a new member of the community of faith.

Among certain Christian groups, a person is "saved" through a process of personally accepting Jesus Christ as "Lord and Savior." The process involves becoming conscious of one's sinfulness and guilt, and need for salvation followed by "turning" (repentance) away from that sin and accepting forgiveness through the grace of Jesus Christ (through his death and resurrection on our behalf.)

"Being Saved" is a personal, individual experience by someone capable of making a conscious decision, whereas baptism may be chose for an individual by a parent or other responsible party.

Answer 2

There is child baptisim in which infants are baptized , but as they know nothing it means nothing. But being saved means you understand that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and want to get forgiveness from all your sins.

A different response:

Being "saved" means committing one's life to follow Jesus Christ. One is saved "by faith," that is, trusting in the Lord. It is an inward act responding to the action of God on one's inner being. "Baptism" is the outward, public sign that one has committed one's life to Jesus Christ, and is performed by being sprinkled, splashed, dunked or otherwise touched with water in a ritual of prayer and commitment.