Baptism and wedding rings

There is a prominent belief in the Christian world that baptism is essential for salvation. This ignores several examples to the contrary, such as the penitent thief, who was saved despite his inability to be baptised (Luke 23:43), and Cornelius' household, who were explicitly said to have received the Holy Spirit before they were baptised (Acts 10:44-48).

This heresy is based on a failure to understand what baptism is. Baptism isn't an action necessary to save us, but is rather one of the first things we should do to prove it. A comparison can be drawn between baptism and wedding rings. In Western culture, a married couple will wear gold rings to symbolise their union. However, the marriage isn't predicated on wearing it. For example, Prince William doesn't wear a wedding ring, yet no one would argue that this invalidates his marriage to Kate Middleton. He receives heavy criticism for it, but this is because in the eyes of the world, he's not showing his love for Kate by refusing to wear it, not because it somehow invalidates the marriage.

In other cultures, wedding rings are non-existent, yet these marriages are just as valid as Western marriages. Gay couples in the West also sometimes wear wedding rings, yet this doesn't mean they are married. The ring is just a symbol.

Baptism is much like a wedding ring. Just as you can be married without wearing a ring, so also do you not have to be baptised to be saved. And just as you can wear a ring without being married, so also can baptism be fake. Most importantly, unless something is seriously wrong with your finger that prevents a ring being placed on it, it is assumed your heart isn't really in the marriage if you don't wear it. Similarly, unless there's something preventing you getting baptised, a refusal to do so casts doubt on the legitimacy of your conversion.

In the book of Galatians, Paul declares a curse on any spirit that testifies to another Gospel. This is the same Paul that stated in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that baptism is separate from the Gospel. Therefore, it can be categorically stated that if any religion preaches that baptism is essential for salvation, thus preaching a different Gospel, that religion is non-Christian, and the spirits behind it are accursed (Galatians 1:8). I therefore urge anyone entangled in such religions turn from them, putting their faith instead in the Gospel that Paul did preach.