Posted on 10/06/2015 10:35:57 AM PDT by envisio
I have read a little and did some research on baptism and if there is a need to get baptized as an adult after being baptized as a child.
I looked for the Church’s standing on it and I looked for scripture written about it. My research left me with the half-baked conclusion, in the eyes of the Lord, one only needs baptized once.
I was baptized as a small child without any realization of what was happening. In the 40 years to follow there were plenty of times I was lost, sinning, doing the devils deeds with the liquor and the drugs and the whores and on all fours in the parkinglot puking only to repeat it again the next day for years in my 20s. I never got into any real trouble; no felonies or violence, just drunken antics of a stupid 20something year old. Of course, as we get older, we settle down and put away our childish behavior to be adults. In no way will my wild youth define my legacy since then.
Recent events have tested my faith and questioned a merciful God. Ultimately those events brought me closer to God, and it was my wife’s wish that I completely give my life to Christ. She did and I am quite sure she is sitting by His side right now, praying that I do the same.
I am a sinner. I have confessed my sins and asked for forgiveness. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I want to complete it with water. I want to get baptized again, but I don’t want it to be vain. I don’t want to do it for myself as a vain show that’s not necessary just to make me feel better. I want to do it because God wants me to do it.
So, since you folks are far more learned on the teachings of the bible, and FReepdom is unmatched in advice dealing with church and God, my question is… Even if the original baptism was done at a time when I did not know what was happening… Is a second baptism common? Is it vain? Will it make me complete in my transition to being born again? Is it necessary?
If you want to do it because God wants your to do it, then you need to ask God, not other people. Get your Bible, find a quiet place, read your Bible and pray. You will get your answer. This is a good way to start your walk with Jesus. Since you believe in Him as your Savior, you now have direct access to Abba Father YHWH in Jesus’ name. YHWH has a plan for your life that fits into His plan for the world. If you you follow His plan for your life, you will find that there is less wear and tear on you. Ask for direction, and watch for the signs. It really works!
Baptism is not a requirement to enter into Heaven.
Case in point - The criminal on the right of Jesus on Calvary, he acknowledged Jesus as Christ and Jesus replied, on this day I will see you in Paradise.
That criminal wasn’t baptized
Baptize yourself as many times as you feel you need to. Seriously.
I am generally reluctant to urge a second baptism. However, there is a Biblical precedent. In Acts chapter 19 (see verses 1-5), Apollos was baptized again. He apparently was not aware of the nature of Christian baptism when he was first baptized.
I would say that if one is aware of the implications of Peter’s command in Acts chapter two, verse 38, that rebaptism isn’t necessary.
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 shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
That would seem to involve being old enough to understand that you are a sinner, to repent of your sins, and to be immersed into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
For what it is worth, Catholics are traditionally baptized very young (one of our Sacraments). Then, at about age 12 or 13, we go through Confirmation (another Sacrament). This is the reaffirmation of our Baptism. But we are never “re-baptized). As others have said, Baptism welcomes us into God’s family (on his terms) and we are God’s people from that point forth.
Actually it is a public deceleration of your faith so yes, something is gained from a 2nd Baptism. It a public statement “I have strayed but now I am home”. It is not necessary to God but it does no harm either.
If the church only practices believer’s baptism, you should get baptized again if you were baptized as an infant.
If you were baptized in a non-Trinitarian church like Jehovahs Witnesses, you should get baptized again.
This depends heavily on your understanding of baptism and church doctrine. If you subscribe to the Apostle’s Creed or the more definitive Nicene Creed then a second baptism is a no no. If you believe baptism is a sacrament with permanent spiritual consequences then attempting to repeat it is sacrilegious. If you adhere, or wish to adhere to the practice of the early Church, second baptisms are not admissible unless the first was in some way defective or invalid (i.e. non-Trinitarian language or baptized by those clearly outside the Faith).
However if you believe baptism is merely an external ceremony of purely symbolic importance, then you can do it every day if you like.
To me baptism is purification by Spirit, submergence in Spirit. Spirit of course being God. From what you have stated by your change to a more spiritual thinking and hence lifestyle; I would say you are living your baptism daily. But, if you feel the need to have the ritual of a physical baptism repeated, then by all means do so. It that procedure will lift your heart and renew your spirit, I send my prayer that you will find the right pastor to help you. Sometimes we need the physical concessions to help affirm the spiritual. God bless.
Baptism is done only once. It would make more sense to do it when one is an adult, since as a baby one has no awareness of it.
I’m tend to agree with the anabaptists that someone should at least have a basic understanding of Christianity so they can enter into baptism willingly, but I don’t think there is any need for rebaptizing someone just because they were baptized as an infant.
I was baptized as an infant in the Catholic church, and I considered getting rebaptized when I came of age and became a believer, but I really don’t feel like it is necessary. I feel God has already called me out and saved me, so a rebaptism could only be an outward symbol at this point.
“That criminal wasn’t baptized”
How do you know he wasn’t baptized by John the Baptist?
Thanks. I think you explained it well.
I guess I was asking , what if the first baptism doesn’t “take”, in this case, being too young to know.
Your advice is greatly appreciated.
My previous was intended as a reply to the OP #1.
Seems to always get lost in the baptism discussions. Jesus wants you to follow Him, not a rule.
Second baptisms are fine, as are first.
Those people were baptized in John’s Baptism, which is different from Christian baptism. They had not been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Notice the Apostle does not ask “do you understand the significance of John’s baptism,” but only which baptism they had. Since the answer was “John’s,” they were baptized into the Christian church.
Big ol' +1 on that!
True, but that was an extraordinary circumstance, because the thief had no opportunity to get baptized.
You’ve got to be careful not to make rules covering everyday situations based on such extraordinary circumstances. It could well be that God forgives a requirement for those who can’t fulfill it, but holds the rest of us to it.
There is no "taking." The Holy Spirit does not work according to time or place, but when He wants to. Jews who were circumcised as babies didn't need to know the religion they were being inducted into. Those who belonged to God had a "second" circumcision--- that of the heart, which the physical circumcision was only a sign of. That conversion is not tied to the moment the physical act is completed. That conversion happens when the Holy Spirit moves on you, and that can be 50 years later.
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:15-16). You can only be saved once and therefore should only be baptized once.
By being re-baptized, you would imply that what the Holy Spirit did in your first baptism was not sufficient.
If you were marked out as a child of God at your first baptism, then when you were “genuinely saved” you were brought back to God as a prodigal, not as an outsider.
Therefore you don’t need a second marking, because you were already God’s. And if you think about it, you were not only marked out for the Lord, but predestined, seen by God before you even knew it, and this makes your first baptism something that really shows the wonder and majesty of God in your life. I’d say keep your first baptism as a valid one, and tell of what God has done through it.
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