Is water Baptism necessary for salvation?

And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of  the age.  Matt.28: 18-20

This final directive, given by Jesus to the Apostles just before He ascended into heaven, is often called "The Great Commission". This is how his followers were to spend the rest of their lives, teaching, baptizing and establishing the Christian Church. Clearly, Baptism was to be an important element in the initiation of new Christians.

After Pentecost, the Apostles and disciples spread out across the known world, following Jesus' command. Most of them were martyred for their efforts. However, upon reflection, there seems to be an implied injustice in the situation.

What about all those people who, through no fault of their own, had no chance to hear the Apostles' words and be baptized? Were they to be denied heaven?

That cannot be, since God, who embodies all perfection, is all-just. It would be unfair to condemn those who, through no fault of their own, had never heard of the true God to eternal suffering in hell.

However, since the earliest days of the Church, there have been two other recognized forms which could replace baptism with water.

BAPTISM OF DESIRE

The effectiveness of this baptism is shown by the words of Jesus. After he had declared the necessity for Baptism by water, (John 3:5) , he promised,

"They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them. "  John 14: 21

And again:

"Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14: 23

It is evident that sincere love of God, the Higher Power, or by whatever name he is known, a sincere desire to serve him, and sorrow when his will is disobeyed, will accomplish the principal effect of water baptism: the removal of sin andadmittance to God's family. These people may be called "Anonymous Christians".

On the cross, Jesus promised the good thief that he would be in heaven that very day. It is doubtful that the convicted felon had ever received water baptism.

The Council of Trent, (1545-1563) decreed that people cannot obtain original justice except by the washing of regeneration (baptism) or its desire.

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the true God, but who love and try to serve a Supreme Being, to fulfill all that he requires, and who have sincere sorrow when they displease him, will gain admittance to the heavenly realm.

BAPTISM OF BLOOD

Suffering martyrdom for the sake of Christ is termed the "washing of blood". Jesus said, "He that shall lose his life for me shall find it." ( Matthew 10:39).

And again, "Everyone therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10: 32

The Church Fathers constantly taught that this text also applied to the infants slaughtered by Herod as Jesus, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt. Although these babies were too young to confess him with their voices, they did so with their blood.

St. Augustine (354-430 AD) wrote: " When any die for the confession of Christ without having received the washing of regeneration (baptism) , it avails as much for the remission of their sins as if they had been washed in the sacred font of baptism." ( City 0f God 13.7)

The Church believes martyrdom remits all sin and all punishment due to sin. Catholics offer prayers for the souls of the deceased, but they never pray for martyrs.

St. Augustine says, " He does an injury to a martyr who prays for him."

There are still people on earth today who have never heard of Jesus, or the Good News of the Gospel. Missionaries from all Christian faiths continue to labor, just as the Apostles and disciples did, to evangelize all God's children wherever they may be. They are supported by prayers and donations by congregations at home.

In the meantime, it's reassuring to know that God has provided the means for everyone to attain salvation. He is not limited by restrictions of time, distance, languages or resources as humans are. He desires that all his children live with him in heaven forever, and has provided the means for this to occur.

All he asks is our love, obedience, and sorrow for the occasions when we fail to follow his word, as we understand it to be.