This is a phrase that drives me crazy when Christians use it, they are going “all in” by getting baptized?

The phrase “all in” implies you are part way there before. Churches (Christians) use this as a typical way to describe someone who has “accepted Christ”, thus being partway in I suppose. Then when they get baptized they are going “all in”?

But with Christ you are either in or not in so what are they talking about? They are giving people a false sense of hope that you can “accept Christ” and not be baptized and yet still be saved but somehow not totally committed?

This is obviously not a biblically viewpoint! Let’s start with the beginning of the church (small c) in Acts chapter 2. Peter gives a powerful sermon and in Acts 2:37 the crowd responds “ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  So at this point they realize then depth of there troubles, they crucified the Christ (Acts 2:36) and are now asking what they should do to? Believing in who Christ was is shown, he was both Lord and Savior (Acts 2:36) (most forget the Lord part) and knowing they are dead in their sins, they as, What shale we do?

Peter has the greatest response to this:  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Notice that Peter gives two commands (Gospel Commands), “Repent and be baptized”. This is for everyone, in other words each person must do this. They must do this “in the name of Jesus Christ”! Then what will happen according to Peter? They will receive “fogginess of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”! When does this happen, in baptism not when you “accept Christ”, what ever that means!

The point of salvation is when a believing repentant sinner submits to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in baptism!

NOT when you say some prayer or ‘accept Jesus into your heart’ or raise your hand in some church meeting. The biblical answer is Faith, Repentance, Baptism! For which you receive fogginess of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirt.

Paul describes our baptism experience this way “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4) Oh, and yes this is water baptism, not spirit baptism as some will argue. This comes from Paul’s own experience when he had fasted and was blind Ananias came to him “And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’” (Acts 22:14-16) Faith and repentance are implied and he is then told to do what? Ananias says “say a prayer and accept Christ into your heart”, NO HE DOES NOT SAY THIS! He commands Paul to be baptized and what? wash away his sins in the name of Jesus.

Yes you can take things out of context and imply only portions of this but when you look at the big picture and what those in Acts did you will understand that there is no partially in and using the term “all in” implies there is. You are either a follower of Christ or you are not. You become a follower of Christ when you believe who and what he is, repent of your sins and are baptized. Until than you are out, or you are still an unsaved sinner who needs Christ!

The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by grace, through faith, but saved in baptism.

Eph. 2:8-10 and Col. 2:12, thus: we are saved BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH, IN BAPTISM, FOR GOOD WORKS

See also: Saved by Grace #10 — SAVED BY GRACE, FOR GOOD WORKS by Jack Cottrell