Why get baptized if "accepting" Jesus gets you into heaven?

First of all, what do you care? You are an atheist, I don't know why this would matter to you.

Second, you are absolutely correct as the rite applies to believer's baptisms. It is often defended as "an outward sign of an inward commitment," but that only means "show and tell" for the believer, nothing else. And for some reason this show and tell was commanded by Christ. Very important, but it doesn't do anything. I don't blame you for not believing really bad theology.

If you decide to become a Christian again, I would go for a covenant theology that makes a lot more sense. It loses the "verse wars" because there is no direct, written example of infant baptism in the Bible. What it does show is that baptism as a covenant is valid and necessary from a weight of Scriptural evidence that shows a replacement for circumcision rather than a completely new rite that would not have been understood at all by the Jews. If circumcision was a covenant for Abraham and ALL of his posterity, then there would never be a cessation of the rite UNLESS the administration of that rite was changed to something else besides a "cutting off" of sins. Well, what about a washing away? Same principle, only done away with through the blood of Jesus Christ that baptism clearly points to. We are still "under the promise" in the same manner that the Israelites were under their promise -- as well as their obligation to the Lord as citizens of the Kingdom. We keep the moral law, and lose the ceremonial law since Christ was the fulfillment of it.

Kind of a long way around what you were asking, but your question was logical and deserved a logical answer in spite of the fact that you don't believe anyway.

God is glorified by making an outward showing of the transformation or regeneration that has happened

if you cant do it your still saved

if you can you should

a child being born is a happy occasion for the parents and they announce it to the world, you dont hide a new born from the world.

but something you glossed over is important. God only needs to say something once for it to be really important

getting right with God and following the footsteps of Christ is no small thing

I heard this from someone who did our Bible study few weeks ago he said you will end up in heaven if you are not baptized if God accepts you into heaven but you will not be in the same place as others who did will be. When you get baptized the sin from Adam and Eve are being cleaned off you. And you rather go in heaven clean than half way clean.

Not true. Just because you accept Jesus. Don't mean, you will get into heaven. Did you know what is meant by following in his footsteps?

If not. heres some of the things, he meant:

Are you willing to give up your family and home?

Are you willing to live under the stars at night, without no shelter to keep you warn from the cold?

Are you willing to go without sleep hours maybe days?

Are you willing to eat off the land?

Are you willing to answer questions, put to you.24/7.

Are you willing to be humiliate yourself? Or to have people hate you for what you believe?

Are you willing to be shunted by family and friends.

Are you willing to walk alone,with no one to protect you from the night?

As Jesus said himself.

"Not everyone who says Lord Lord. I have done all you ask of me. " Will enter the kingdom of heaven."

Something like that. I don't know where the verse is. But i know it says something like that.

If you believe in the Bible, then it tells you to get baptized. The very word used in the Bible means full immersion.

Salvation & baptism is so firmly linked together that many think you aren't really saved until you are baptized. Whether you agree with that or not, it illustrates how important baptism is in the Bible.

Accepting Christ means living for him. Baptism is a symbol of your dedication to God and your resolve to follow Christ. Hence, the Bible shows baptism to be necessary for salvation. -1 Peter 3:21

I agree I ust to be a chirstian then I became atheist for pretty much the same reason you did and also because a lot of the stuff that I hear about god makes no since ( I'm forced to go to church even though my mom knows I hate it )

If all you have to do is accept Jesus, WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED????

Baptism is a REQUIRED ordinance for salvation. Jesus was perfect and had no need for sins to be washed away, but even HE had to perform that sacred ordinance.

There are several ways to be saved according to the gospels, in one they simply say "Believe and you will be saved, you AND your entire household" so the whole household is saved through the man of the house's belief

No, you also have to live up to the ten commandments and what Jesus and God is wanting us to do.