When is Re-Baptism Appropriate?
I’ve been thinking about baptism quite a bit lately. My church had a wonderful baptism service on Easter in which a range of men, women, and children joyfully took the plunge. I was particularly stuck by the fact that some of the people being baptized were doing so for the second time in their lives.
I’d never encountered re-baptism before, but upon reflection, it makes sense to me. As with an initial baptism, re-baptism is a public statement of your faith, and there are myriad reasons why one might want to reaffirm that sentiment.
The text that’s often cited for re-baptism is in Acts 19:1-7 Paul baptizes a group of men into the “name of the Lord Jesus.” What makes this baptism interesting is that these 12 men had previously been baptized by John the Baptist.
I don’t think one can extrapolate an air-tight doctrine from this text alone, but it does suggest that there are circumstances in which re-baptism is an appropriate course of action. Church history is filled with examples of various denominations re-baptizing people upon conversion (often to the detriment of ecumenical relations).
What do you think? When, if ever, is re-baptism appropriate?
A few non-hypothetical scenarios might help frame this conversation. How would you respond to the following situations?
- As an adult, John was pressured into baptism by friends and family. He went through with it even though he wasn’t sure of the theology or ramifications of what he was doing. Later, he harmonized his feelings and theology and affirmed that baptism was a correct course of action. Should he be re-baptized now that his thoughts and feelings are different?
- Sharla was baptized by a pastor who was shortly afterward found to have been involved in deeply rooted sin that cost him his position at the church and tore his family apart. Should Sharla be re-baptized?
- Constance was baptized as a baby by her parents. Later as an adult she felt the need to recommit to baptism. Should she be re-baptized? Or just affirm the previous baptism?
- Jeffery was baptized at the age of 30. When he hit 50 a series of life circumstances brought him to the point of renouncing his faith. At 60 another series of life circumstances brought him back to the faith. He wants to recommit his life to the Lord. Should he be re-baptized?
Interesting thoughts, Chris. This isn’t a direct answer to your questions, but I wanted to point out an additional nuance to this issue (prompted by your second paragraph). For many churches (including those that practice infant baptism), baptism isn’t actually a “public statement of your faith”–it’s a symbol placed on you by God (via the church) that you are part of God’s family, mirroring the practice of circumcision in the Old Testament. In that sense, it’s more a public statement by the church than by the recipient (who, being an infant, has no idea what it means). The personal public profession of faith is something that you do separately.
I guess what I’m saying is that your answer might be different depending on whether you view baptism as a profession of faith, or as a symbol that can be administered without your conscious participation.
I’m glad you pointed that out. All of the churches I’ve regularly attended view it as part of a public confession of faith, so I wasn’t thinking about baptism with that nuance.
I’m assuming since you brought it up that your tradition views baptism in that way. So, a question for you:
Would you consider it an insult or redundant if someone decided to be baptized again as an adult? This time in a tradition where baptism is considered a public declaration of one’s faith?
(Just to be clear, I don’t hold any opinion on baptism too tightly. When it comes down to it I don’t think it’s a salvation issue. Regardless of whether or not you consider it a symbol bestowed upon you or a public declaration, I do think it’s something every Christian (or parent of a child) should consider. Especially given how often it’s brought up in the New Testament.)
Chris,
I would not consider it an insult if somebody who had been baptized as an infant wanted to be baptized again. The question I would ask is “Why is re-baptism necessary in your mind? What’s wrong with simply making a public profession/renewal of your faith? Being baptized doesn’t “add” anything spiritually to a profession of faith in Jesus Christ.” However, assuming they understand that, if they feel led by God to be re-baptized, then I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of that (although my church/denomination might decline to do it except in unusual circumstances).
As some of the other commenters have noted, the Bible makes a big deal about baptism, but doesn’t address some of these specific questions; so we have to do the best we can to interpret how baptism is “supposed” to work.
Andy has a good point. I’ve seen re-baptism taken to the extreme where people were getting re-baptized every time they felt like they had to “recommit” or even when their understanding was deeper and thus they felt like they didn’t really know what they were doing the last time they were baptized.
I believe the Bible tells us that the point and power of Baptism is not what we do (or what the pastor does) or feel, but rather what God does in baptism. That being the case, re-baptism is never necessary, because God is always faithful to do what He promises.
1. No
2. No
3. Not “should”, but could be again
4. No
It’s not about the baptizer, but about the baptizee.
Another common scenario: child baptized but not fully understanding what it meant; looking back, they were not truly saved at the time. They want to be re-baptized to make that public profession as a Believer.
In a study on baptism, it was pointed out that God is the one doing the baptism, not the pastor or the church. Extend that to the other circumstances, and I don’t think re-baptism is necessary. In fact, it takes away from the sanctity of the first baptism. I have participated in a service where everyone present re-affirmed their baptism verbally but did not go through the actual ritual.
There is no biblical basis for being re-baptized. In my opinion, it is at the discretion of the individual, although it is not necessary to be re-baptized to keep your salvation.
I believe baptism is the outward sign or acknowledgement of the inward work of God in our hearts. We should only do this when we have become a believer in Jesus Christ, have asked for forgiveness from our sins, and have accepted His free gift of eternal life. It is a sign of the inward cleansing. If you were baptized as a baby, you need to be re-baptized when you become a born again Christian. It is all about YOUR relationship with God.
Hi, I was re-baptised last year on Mother’s Day. I had re-dedicated my life to God and wanted to show my dedication to changing my life to myself , my family and friends. This was something I felt I needed to do…… it was between the Holy Spirit and myself. I was baptized the 1st time when I was 9 years old. I was married for 25 years to my highschool sweet-heart, we were divorced after our 25th year of marriage. He was a a repeat sinner, he continually had affairs with different woman, and was an achoholic. I was angry with God, for allowing this to happen in my life! I now know that that was just another challange I needed to experience to get where I am today.
My life has been anything but a clean life, since my divorce 14 years ago. My trials have lead me to deeper understanding of God and how this is all part of the plan !!! How are we going to fight our battles, with God in charge? If not, you will be wondering in the wilderness your whole life. How Sad !! Re-Baptism was a wonderful experience for me, at 57 years old, I am New Again !!!!
That is my experience as well and I will never regret it. It has been a life changing experience for me. Although some might argue and say it is just an outward display of something that should be happening on the inside? it has kept me accountable to God.
Thanks for sharing Debbie!
I have always believed that baptism like any and every “committment” that we make is based entirely on the state of the heart of the one making the committment. IF anyone feels in their heart that they didn’t understand (as in cases of small children and any that do so to please others) and later wish they had and desire to be “re-baptised” of their own choosing and based upon their own heart’s committment, I will certainly perform that ordinance with them. Baptism is not a requirement for salvation. As for salvation, I believe the same applies. When you dedicated your life to Jesus and spoke that prayer of salvation, did you really understand and mean every word of that prayer? If not, you may want to consider praying that prayer again with understanding and earnest committment.
Hi Howard, could you comment to my posting below. I’m a bit surprised as how we can say that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation when its all over the bible??? Ultimately we are saved by God’s grace but his avenue for salvation is baptism through faith…please see my posting below with a few of the many scriptures that validate this. Thanks!
I was baptized at birth, but when I joined another church in my adulthood and was able to understand and accept the truth of the Gospel and surrender to God I felt moved to “seal the deal” by getting baptized. to me it really was an outward sign of my commitment to serving God and living for him.
It certainly isn’t something that can spiritually hurt you so why not?
Throughout the Scriptures, Jesus and His apostles preached the necessity of baptism. If one believes in the Gospel and believes that it truly is God’s Word to us, I have never quite understood why people leave or cut out parts of His Word, such as baptism. The Phillipian Jailer, the Ethipoian Eunuch, the apostles, even Jesus Himself were all baptized as examples for this act of faith. I am inclined to agree with those who lean more towards the idea of baptism only being necessary once. God presents examples throughout the New Testament that show repentance is possible and His Grace and Mercy and Love “cover a multitude of sins.” Is re-baptism wrong? I don’t think so, but is it necessary? I will let my Papa up in heaven decide. My job is to love and encourage everyone…
The position we take on issues like this should never be based on personal experience, but always on what the Bible teaches about it. If your second adult baptism was because your first one was not done Biblically, or by believers, then a re-baptism is understandable.
If you were baptized as an infant in a Biblical way, ie., accepting the blessed state of a covenantal relationship (as opposed to a faith-based relationship) between a believing parents child and God, and there are Biblical arguments that support both forms of baptism, then to be re-baptized would be redundant. That is because baptism, whether infant or adult, is always a sign of a covenant relationship between the person and God and not a sacrament that has the power to save anyone. The adult proclaims faith as well because as a believer he has already entered into a covenant relationship with God.
I felt compelled to be re baptized when I realized I had not truly repented of an addiction which has caused pain and suffering to my family. I prayed about it and asked God to please accept this baptism and that I was not trying to mock him. Will I sin again, yes. But I never repented of my addiction. I pray God will accept what I have done. I have truly repented and will not return to the vomit that was my addiction. Praise God, I could not do it without his help and the help of fellow Christians.
Ron, it’s great to hear that with God’s help, you have overcome your addiction. It sounds like in your case, re-baptism was a powerful event in your life… whatever one’s theology of baptism, you can’t really argue when you see the spiritual fruits that resulted in your case. Thanks for sharing!
This speaks to me of Confirmation. In Baptism there is a clear gift of sactifying grace, however, it seems to me that this is perfected with the witness of the Holy Spirit. A witness that “Confirmes”. I believes this happens in other places in the NT as well. Though the word used is baptise it clearly doesn’t mean the same as a water of repentance.It seems the church grew in understanding as Jesus had said in the parable of the mustard seed.
(I used the RSV)
Acts 19:1-7
While Apol’los was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
[2] And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
[3] And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
[4] And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”
[5] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
[7] There were about twelve of them in all.
1) only if John wishes to but unless I’m overlooking somthing in the bible I don’t think so 2) It was before God and not her pastor that she was baptized then again if she feels the need then go ahead. 3) I think so now that she knows right from wrong.4) it will get this back on track.
I feel that only one knows the kind of relationship they have with god and if they feel the need to redicate their lives and knowing as they get older what baptism is really about and most of all understanding it as it very important to understand what it means and what it does for them and in that i will say it is good to do it and know what you are doing as it is so important too. And to go to the next level with our lord and savior jesus christ to me it is so cleansing to my soul as i have been thinking about doing it again myself peace i leave unto amen.
I re-baptized. My mindset was because the first time I got baptized I did it because of pressure from parents and was getting baptized with other family members. When my heart was converted I asked to be baptized again. Looking back now, I don’t believe it was necessary because salvation is about Christ and Him alone. And my life is an example of the conversion that took place in my heart.
I have taught the baptism class at our church for a number of years and have found the number of those seeking re-baptism equal to or higher than those seeking baptism for the first time. Is there a scriptural mandate for re-baptism – no, Is there a scriptural prohibition against re-baptism – no. So to answer your question “When is Re-baptism appropriate?” I would have to say whenever the person seeking baptism has demonstrated the prerequisites of repentence and acceptance of Christ as Saviour. God’s heart always says come to Him and if someone feels the need to “come again” in baptism whom am I to prohibit them.
I believe the reason we see so many seeking re-baptism is because we don’t do a very good job of helping people understand it the first time. Water Baptism is a physical picture of spiritual conversion. Romans 6:1-7 explains that we have been crucified with Christ (going under the water as a sinner and dying to ourselves) we are also raised to new life in Christ (coming up out of the water cleansed by His Blood and resurrected to life). The pattern in scripture is pretty simple:
1. Repentence
2. Salvation
3. Baptism in Water
4. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
5. The Great Commission – Just do it.
Karen, that’s pretty fascinating to me that you have so many people seeking re-baptism. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Karen…you quoted Romans 6:1-7 but yet your order of the plan of salvation is off. You indicate that you are saved before baptism. Yet the scripture clearly says that in baptism ‘we die’ with Christ. The scripture is not saying that this is ‘like’ dying with Christ, or that its a physical symbol of dying with Christ. On the contrary it says that we are spiritually dying with Christ when we are baptized and are raised with him (saved).
In order to be reborn we must die. The question is when do we die? The scripture indicates that this occurs at baptism…and during this spiritual death we come in contact through FAITH with the blood of Christ which washes our sins…
I’m concerned that you are teaching something contrary to the scriptures. I agree that the issue at hand with the topic of this blog is that many (including my self) never understood bibilically why baptism was needed. I look forward to your thoughts.
Hi Fernando, i do undrestand yoor effort in trying to correct Karen but you got it all wrong. Baptism is not spiritually dying with Christ as you stated but it is a public affirmation of our faith in Christ, and that comes after salvation. Any sinner that is baptised is still a sinner unless he or she is born- again. John 3:3
Well the key is to really understand what the purpose of baptism is for. Its not to show everyone your a believer, and its not because you just joined a new church. The purpose of baptism is for remission (removing/taking away)of sins (Acts2:38). The reason the disciples of John were re-baptized was because John’s baptism was just a baptism to repentace the people were mearly admitting they were sinners, but John’s baptism DID NOT take away there sins. So to address the topic when or is it ok to be re-batized, only when you haven’t been baptized the right way which is in the name of Jesus…
David, I agree completey with your comments. Not understanding the biblical ‘purpose’ of baptism is where we must all start to decipher thru the confusion that exists today on this topic.
I am not a theologian, so I shy away from speaking directly to the 3 situations that you ask about. What I can, and am commanded to do is to witness, another word for doing what the 12-steppers call sharing experience, strength and hope. I have a disorder that has always led me to crave attention so desperately that I used to do just about anything (lie, cheat, steal if I couldn’t get attention in positive ways). The salvation question came up right around the time that I was just beginning to understand my liar’s heart and try to discipline it with the help of my pastor (with little success back then). Getting saved and baptized gets you attention. How could I do either and be sure that they were not just another embarrassing play for attention? To speak to your subject more directly, getting saved would require another Baptism. I had grown up Lutheran. When I joined the church, I was told that a good dunking was just simply necessary as a part of joining the church. When I got saved and told my mom that she would be invited to my rebaptism, she asked just how many times I thought I needed to get dunked in order to take away the sins that had been perfectly well taken care of back when I was a Missouri-Synod Lutheran. Well, to address these concerns, I waited about a year between the once-for-all last invitation of Christ into my life and my biblically obedient baptism. I had to make sure I wasn’t making a fool of myself, the church, and God. I did some research on Baptism. And, though I can’t find it now . . . I would swear that I found a place in Acts or somewhere where this situation happened. Paul and Barnabas went to a Jewish synagogue in a new town to preach. There was a positive initial reaction, but then some troublemakers started stirring up dissension. Paul and whoever was with him decided it was time to take their leave of the synagogue and preach somewhere else in the city. (Now, it’s been a long time since I read this.) I thought that some of the Jews went with them, maybe even the head of the synagogue. And, it seems like there was just a little sidenote included in the text that the ones who came with Paul tended to be the ones who had been baptized with the baptism of John, in other words the ones whose previous repentance had made their hearts tender, good soil for the seeds of the Gospel. To me, this was important. I was seeing a parallel. A number of the best Christians that I had known at the Lutheran church had spent some time during their adolescence or early adulthood in the Jesus movement or closely tied to Bible studies run by Baptists or often some story like that. It made them a little defensive about being Lutheran, but they also seemed to be the people in the church with real faith. There weren’t a lot of them, just a remnant. To me, it began to seem like the baptism as a 4-year-old had served a purpose, to set my feet on the path that led to my salvation. It didn’t save me, and sort of accomplished little of anything eternally. Then, I can trace a spiritual line through my life. I was given a little Gideon Bible when mom ran out of other books for me to read. I must have read the Sermon on the Mount a hundred times.
This led me to the better promise than the one we usually quote out of Jeremiah 29. We always quote the one about Him knowing the plans that He has for us. That’s okay, but it just seems like a restatement of Romans 8:28 in light of God’s timeless view of the universe. It’s verse 12 that always catches my attention. To chase a rabbit, before Noah entered the ark, God “saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” After the flood, even as He was smelling Noah’s sweet sacrifice, God still knew that evil was bound up in the heart of men (and women). He said, ” . . . for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth . . . ” So, he left us this priceless promise in Jeremiah 29:12, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
But, among all this rambling I haven’t forgotten your question. I just don’t think that there’s a hard and fast rule about rebaptism. I think it depends on the person and takes a discerning pastor to see through God’s eyes what is the real motivation in the heart of this person and would, though it may not hurt anyone, baptizing this person teach him/her to come to God’s holiness expecting Him to cater to all of their needs/wants rather than them being willing (even having a longing to change their lives in response to the HOLY, ALMIGHTY, OMNIPOTENT GOD.)
Is that any kind of an answer at all. You can always tell when I’m lonely. I do go on and on. Sorry.
Carla
I believe that re- baptism is VERY appropriate! NOT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO OF COURSE but, if u feel like re-baptism the… go for it!!!
Oh! And I think (actually, I know…. ) that re-baptism is appropriate any time in a man or woman’s life when they feel that the Good Lord is leading them to do so… hope you found this helpful
jasmine bumgarner (age 12)
As I read these comments I’m wondering where you are obtaining the belief that baptism is simply a sign to others that you are committing your life to Christ?? I can’t find biblical scripture to validate that belief. On the contrary what I do find is various scriptures pointing that we are saved at baptism ‘through’ faith.
Galatians 3:26-29
• Faith is what allows us to become children of God. What does Paul mention confirms this fact? being baptized ‘into’ Christ.
• At baptism we become clothed with Christ. God removes our old, dirty clothing and replaces it with Christ. How does he achieve this?
Titus 3:4-7
• Ultimately we have the opportunity to be saved because of God’s kindness/love – we will never be able to earn our salvation. It is a wonderful GIFT! Although, how did he save us?
• Through the ‘washing’ of rebirth and ‘renewal’ by the Holy Spirit.
o Washing – is a direct reference to the waters of baptism.
o Renewal – when we get baptized, our sins (dirty spiritual clothes) are washed away and we are made ‘a new’ by the receipt of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
 We are made into a new creation if we are ‘in’ Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The question then is how we get ‘into’ Christ? (as we read in the in Galatians we get ‘into’ Christ through baptism).
Example: How did Paul get saved? Did he follow his own teaching as it was him who wrote both the book of Galatians and Titus.
Acts 22: 6-16
• v.8 – its pretty clear that at that point Paul believed in Christ but yet Jesus gives him some more direction as to what he needs to do.
• v.12 – Paul was to know Gods will (his plan for salvation). What is it?
• v.16 – Paul is asked to immediately get ‘baptized’.
o If it wasn’t necessary for salvation, then Jesus wouldn’t have asked him to do it as soon as possible. He literally tells him, “What are you waiting for?†(baptism is essential for salvation, not something that is done supposedly after one is saved)
o For what purpose was he to get baptized? To ‘wash’ his sins away. Therefore, prior to Paul getting baptized his sins hadn’t been forgiven, although he already had faith. (When our sins are forgiven is when we obtain salvation). This is why Paul taught the same thing in Galatians and Titus because he understood this was Gods’ will for salvation.
Acts 2:37-39
• Repentance is needed for baptism to obtain forgiveness of sins.
• At baptism we obtain forgiveness of sins (they are washed away) and we receive the Holy Spirit (we are renewed).
Acts 16:29-34
• This man asked Paul what he needed to do in order to be saved. (It was about 12 midnight when this occurred.)
• Remember, Paul was given God’s will for salvation which he followed himself. What do you think he told him he needed to do?
o That he should have Faith in Christ.
o After hearing the Word of God they were ‘immediately’ baptized. Why was that?
 Paul knew that their sins needed to be forgiven in order to be saved.
 If baptism wasn’t necessary for salvation then why would Paul express such an urgency for them to get baptized? If it wasn’t necessary they could have at least waited for the next day since it was past midnight by this time.
 Paul knew that baptism thru faith would get them to the point of salvation.
Email me if you would like to discuss this more 1:1 webmaster0511@yahoo.com
Thanks for some biblical clarification.
Amongst all the emotion the scriptures, and history of our faith seem to get left behind.
I agree and would like to ad the scripture:
Acts 8:36-39 here we see a reference to water/complete water immersion, and baptism as one of the first acts of OBEDIENCE, not a work. Lets remember Jesus very own words Matt 28 teach them to obey, then baptize.
Also where is the public in this situation(no where to be found). Because it is not meant to be a public declaration, although sometimes it is done in public.
In the book of Romans we see many references to faith, and they all have a place in the believers life not the unbeliever. This book was written on how to live out our faith, to Christian who also had the other books written to the Churches of this time. They where to be sent to all the Churches not just the ones they were written directly to. That being said the already had been baptized into Christ, and are not scriptures pertaining how to come into a saving relationship w/Christ.
As to the questions I take every situation on a one on one basis w/ the Bible, and Holy Spirit as my guide. So my answers are as hypothetical as the questions, and based on the small amount of info given and not on a relationship w/the individuals. I also do not know what they where taught(in the case of the adults)
1. yes
2. no
3. yes
4. no
I agree with Robin Bennett, saying that baptism is a personal inner- and outer- confession of faith, being said from you to your community. The importance of this act is expressed in Mt 3:13-16, where Jesus is baptized by John. This event was the beginning of Jesus ministry. Even being the redeemer Himself, His faith had to be publically confessed for being considered true.
Regarding the situations proposed I defend this view:
1. His first baptism was an error. There was a public act, but not a true inner act of faith. This is when a “second” TRUE baptism is to be considered and acceptable.
2. Sharla was really baptized, at the first time. There was a public confession of faith, her faith was real and so I can believe that the teachings she received were right. SHE was baptized, even thought her pastor went under sin. In Mt 12:33, it was said “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit”. This is how someone should see his own baptism.
3. A baby cannot inner- or outer-confess his faith. How can this baptism change his life? I think he should go and be baptized “again”, but I personally don’t trust a baptism performed on someone unable to change his own life.
4. Going back to the Lord is a demonstration of the Lord care on John’s life. Being baptized several times according to someone’s life circumstances is confessing that you can throw away and regain your faith as many times as you wants. I personally don’t trust this is true. If you really go with faith, you may not go out the way and, if you did so, the Lord will catch you back. You can not go out of the faith and simply say “I have no commitment with God”! I believe that, if John returned to the Lords ways, he is still under his first baptism. He can publically confess again his faith, but the inner work is already done.
As much as i understand, Christianity is a way of life and a pratical leaving like Jesus Christ Himself. I remember very will when Christ came to John for the said baptism, His disciples asked him are you going to be baptized as well. He said to fufil all Righteousness, so understand that statement clearly.
If you like baptize in every decade, if you have not realy drop your oldself you have no salvation period. Remember the prison warder and the entire family (infant inclusive) were all baptized. Please can somebody show me where someone was re-baptized in the bible which is our guide.
How can somebody be happy because she got her salvation through divorce. Did Christ approve divorce?
To my understanding, water baptism takes the place of Jewish circumcision of the old testament, so why re-baptizing yourself? Reaffirmation of faith is entirely different from re-baptism because it b/w you and God not for public consumption. Your way of live will tell the public where you belong that is how we got our name.
Thank you.
I was baptised as a baby and have no recognization of it other than a piece of paper stating so. Later in life as a teenager I received the Lord Jesus into my heart and was baptised again. As a senior, I had the opportunity to tour Israel and along with many others, I was baptised in the Jordon River. Did this make me a better Christian? Of course not. I only did it because I desired to be baptised in the same river that my Lord and Savior Jesus had been baptised.
I feel like we are cheapening baptism when we act like it is not that important. I know some of our brothers have brought baptism into a salvational issue through the years, and when things like that happens we tend to go way too far on the other side to make sure nobody thinks we believe the other side. I think we need to always go back up to the line where they crossed over and camp out there and hold our position. The Bible is where the line is, I feel strongly if a person never got baptized with exception of dying before they could, was never saved in the first place. This doesn’t make baptism into a salvational issue, it makes it into if a person cannot obey God’s first command as a new Christian then he will just pick and choose which ones he will obey and not obey and eventually wander back to where they came from.
Grace was another one when Martin Luther revealed we were saved by grace not by works, in the years following we cheapened that grace by going to far on the other side.
rod
I was baptised once as unto John’s baptism:- Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
I was then re-baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ.It is a requirement for christians,a public declaration of one’s faith and commitment to God, and a symbol of washing away of sins. This is a decision one has to make so as to confirm their walk with God. The Church started on the day of Pentacost, and the re-baptism that Paul did was to show that all have to be baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,and we shall receive the gift ofthe Holy Spirit.This is a promise. Confirmation/baptism at birth is just a requirement for christening a child. I f one is not baptised in the proper manner,then they have to do so, it is a must. Acts2:38, that is where the church started and the commission was handed down to the disciples for them to carry on by Jesus Christ Himself.
Baptism has to be done the correct way.
I wish I had seen this thread earlier! Here are the answers and the reasons.
1. yes
2. no
3. yes
4. no
Baptism is your acceptance of God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation. Similar to your signature on a contract being the formal acceptance of that contract. Baptism is essential to salvation under the new covenant. Jack Cottrell has written an excellent book that gives all the scriptural references to prove this quite convincingly. It’s a shame more people don’t take an hour or two to really study this out. The writtings of the early christians (Tertulian)also confirm this conclusion.
In the first case, it’s not clear whether he understood or even wanted to accept God’s offer. In the second, baptism is between God and the person being baptized. The sin of the baptizer does not invalidate her acceptance of God’s offer. In the third, babies can’t sign contracts! In the fourth, he has the opportunity to repent and be restored to good standing with God, no need to re-sign the contract. God’s offer can only be accepted by someone who is old enough to know what they are agreeing to and are doing so willingly and deliberately.
This is a very good question you have asked, and clearly some good Christian brothers and sisters have shared some honest valid insights. However, as you are called to your ministry, I am called to mine. Unfortunately…..it makes me very unpopular. Praise God. Remember this, once your name is written in the Book of Life, it’s written. This is a slippery slope to walk on if you aren’t sure or arein doubt. Remember, Lucifer…that’s right I said his name..he doesn’t scare me, wants to deceive you in any way he can and he has more ways to trick us than we can even imagine. Was Christ baptized twice? Were the disciples? Apostles? NO Why not? Because it’s about doing it once and for all time. If you were pure of heart and sincere when you were saved, you don’t need to do it again. How great is your faith in God? Greater than a mustard seed? Stand on it like a rock, and pray in the name of Jesus Christ that He pick you up, dust you off, and allow you to redeem yourself, and he will give the opportunity to do so. I was baptized and born again in 1983 at the hands of a man that not one year later, like in you examples, was arrested for molesting kids. Pray against the entity, save the man! I’ve seen Angels,demons, and everything in between, I have been miraculously healed and prophesied events years in advance. When I was in the water looking up, I didn’t see that man, I saw Christ. Do you think He needs to lay hands on you twice? I say this to you purely out of Love for my brothers and sisters. Jesus was only baptized one time. We are to be Christ-like anddo like Christ. Also, to help clarify the passage from Acts 19:1-7 Paul baptized those men again because they had been hoowinked. They thought they had been baptized in the name of John not Jesus. Lucifer is all that is evil, doubt is one of his favorites because it is so easy, we are ALL vulnerable. Understand that and find the wisdom in it. God Bless you Brother, May Jesus be with you always.
baptism is for the remission of sins. once one is baptised that’s it, one cannot be baptised again. Baptism symbolises the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ(read Rom 6:3-6). Jesus only died once, buried once and then rose from the dead never to die again so if one has been baptised for the right reasons there is no more need for re-baptism. Babies do not need to be baptised since they cannot understand the scriptures, only matured accountable people can be baptised…see acts 2:38…BABIES COULD NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY PETER..as for baptism as a statement of faith ,,this is a false doctrine..read the book of acts and you will note that people were even baptised at night whether multitudes were present or not…example the philipian jailer..saul of tarsus and many others…all baptised to be included in the kingdom of God. one cannot be a christian baptised for the remission of sins