What does the Bible say?
http://biblehub.com/ephesians/4-5.htm
…4There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.…
Well, any Baptist will say you get baptized AFTER you believe, not before. Anything done without belief is just a bath.
The baptism which saves you and unites you to Christ is the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” - 1 Cor 12
There is a reason why Jesus never baptized anyone with water. HIS baptism is different:
11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Matt 3
Jesus WILL baptize all - unbelievers with the fire of judgment, and believers in the Spirit. “ This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”
Water baptism without faith - life changing faith - is just water. The trinitarian formula is then just some words. The new life follows the new birth:
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” - John 3
No one believes for you. If that worked, a person could believe for everyone in the world. Until you repent and believe, there is no meaning to water poured on you (or that you are dunked under).
Water baptism justifies no one. Water baptism does NOT unite you to Christ. Only the baptism of Jesus - immersion in the Holy Spirit and giving the Holy Spirit control - saves us. Water baptism is the outward declaration of what God has done inside.
It depends on whether you want to follow the Apostles and the consistent teaching of the Church for close to 2,000 years or not.
Actually, it does not. You have been baptized already. There is only one baptism.
If you attempt to try and be “rebaptized” , it is not baptism so it doesn’t matter what you do.
This thread shows the result of religious confusion the devil has spread in the Christian world.......do what you want......do it if it will make you feel better.....pray about it........blah blah blah.
I was saved by my baptism as an infant.
I would regard a “rebaptism” as a sacrilege.
Hey brother,
Welcome to the family.
In true freeper fashion, I haven’t read any previous posts so I’m probably repeating.
Being baptized as an infant, as I also was has no basis in scripture and has no effect on your salvation.
Biblical baptism is a public affirmation of your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
As such, since your childhood baptism was of no effect to your faith, as the Ethiopian Eunuch asked Phillip, “What hinders me from being baptized?” Absolutely nothing.
BELIEVE
REPENT
BE BAPTIZED
AWAIT THE SPIRIT
Three of the four require a conscious awareness and decision by YOU personally. If the conscious decision was not there as a child, how then can it be valid?
If it is in your heart to do it, do it. And while you are at it, do it right - Full submersion in running water.
Totally unnecessary if the first Baptism was valid...it would have no official church meaning whatsoever...that’s what the Sacrament of reconciliation is for, followed by the Eucharist of course.
Baptism is a witness to others that shows them you have become a born again Christian...Baptism is a witness to God that you have trusted in his Son to be your Savior...
And Baptism is a witness to yourself...When Satan comes along, and he will, to try to convince you that you never accepted Jesus, all you have to do is point to your baptism and say, 'yes I did...And I got baptized to prove it'...
In times of doubt you can ask Jesus to save you again...It won't change anything since you have already been saved but it will ease your mind in those times of doubt...
Go ahead and get baptized again...It certainly won't hurt anything...
in the eyes of the Lord, one only needs baptized once.
One lesson talked about stuff, and in there was a line about something like “and many came to believe and were Baptized”.
And then in another section there was a verse that went something like “and he was Baptized, and the Holy Spirit came upon him.” (I think it might have been the Centurion?)
Anyway - I know that Baptism is an important thing to God. Heck - even Jesus got Baptized! And God even spoke!! (Talk about putting on a show!)
I think your Baptism would be a great affirmation of God - and worshipping God. Give your “testimony” before hand. And - perhaps it could be a “reaffirmation”. I'm guessing that we “know” about .001% of what God wants Baptism to mean. Celebrate your renewed faith with friends and family and the sacrament of baptism.
Any advise would be appreciated . . .
Yeah, that's what you're going to get, any advice of all kinds, most of it useless from a Biblical point of view. The Free Republic forum does have a broad spectrum from "authorities" to mere suggesters, but this is not the place to find the advice you need. Take time to study for yourself what the Bible has to say about it.
But here is a link to the particular baptismal rite you seem to be inquiring about:
VI. BAPTISM OF DISCIPLES OR WATER BAPTISM
This discusses the sixth of seven kinds of baptism treated by the Bible (actually eight, if one includes ritual mikvah purification).
The article is rather lengthy, but quite precise. It is written by a Biblical scholar who has translated the entire New Testament from the Greek, so his knowledge is more than just intimacy with the Greek. If this is of sincere and great concern for you, I suggest you read the article through. In it, the author employs a precise translation that is a supplement to better understanding of the King James Version.
Briefly, water baptism of the believer is a public profession of the faith of the Christ whom he has determined to follow and obey in complete trust. It is not a means of obtaining everlasting life, which is an inner permanent changing of one's mind to trust in the Christ of the Bible, now alive in Heaven, a response prior to the external public profession of that change of mind.
It, of course, does not involve infants; and its proper and only Scripturally-authorized conduct is by complete immersion of the one being baptized, after publicly testifying of his/her full commitment.
If you have been made spiritually alive in Christ, transformed from death to Life, and are complete in Christ, what more could mere water on the flesh do for you? Seek those things which are above!
The religious wrongly divide the Word, attempting to apply ceremonies and introduce traditions that have no place in the Body of Christ. Rightly divide God’s Word, and stick to His Truth. There is only One Baptism - a spiritual one in this Age. It is done exclusively by God and not by man. Being dunked or sprinkled will not make you any more righteous, and in fact, may introduce doubt into your life, and that is the real danger. I suffered from uncertainty for years over this before I found Peace and Truth in God’s Word. It is our FAITH that pleases God, not water activities. And faith comes from hearing His Word. (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:1 & 6)
Believers are COMPLETE IN CHRIST. They are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. A Believer is part of the Body of Christ, with Jesus as the ONLY Head. A Believer is a child of God, joint heir with Jesus, and Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings. Rejoice in this reality and let nobody, religious or otherwise, steal your confidence in Christ or your Joy. We have reached the point where what Jesus promised the woman at the well is fully realized. - John 4:23-24 (AMP) - 23 A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.
24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).
We have God’s Truth and the Holy Spirit inside. We are made in His image and can fellowship with Him as reborn, spiritually alive children.
Note Paul’s clear Revelation as to what you were before, what you are NOW, and who is responsible for this transformation and why it was done. Note also what part you played. It amazes me religious folks miss this.
Ephesians 2:4-10 (AMP)
4 But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
In Colossians 2, Paul puts the hammer down. Believers are COMPLETE IN CHRIST. He writes of a spiritual circumcision, a Spiritual baptism through faith, in contrast with all the rudiments of the world - all the religious rituals and ordinances that lead to bondage. These were a “shadow of things to come.” Believers died with Christ from ceremonialism - whether Jewish in origin, or simply paganized Christianity, it matters not. There is no glory in the flesh, only in the Lord. All the ceremonies and rituals do in this age is divide the Body. Note the silly squabbles over infant baptism, immersion versus sprinkling, etc. A proper understanding of the spiritual new birth ends ALL works of the flesh, and all religious bondage. You could perform religious ceremonies all day and every day, and still be a spiritual baby. You need continual fellowship with the Holy Spirit and a steady diet of God’s Word, storing it in your heart, while renewing your mind with His Truth.
This is strong meat, but it will transform your life. We are identified with Christ in death. And raised with Him to new life. THIS Baptism is NOT MADE WITH HANDS.
Colossians 2:10-14 (AMP)
10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].
11 In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts).
12 [Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead.
13 And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,
14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
Can you see it! Hallelujah!! How could any religious ceremony top that?
And then Paul makes it even more clear. Believers are done with the outward show, the religious trappings that have a form of godliness but deny the power. (2 Timothy 3:5) Prayerfully read this last passage with regard to the topic at hand.
Colossians 2:16-23 (AMP)
16 Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.
17 Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.
18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
19 And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?—such as]
21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],
22 Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines.
23 Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]
Believers are spiritually minded, they have the mind of Christ.
Colossians 3:1-4 (AMP)
1 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
Final thought - Paul states that there is ONE Body, ONE Spirit, and ONE Baptism. If there is only ONE Baptism, there cannot be two. You must either agree with God’s Word, or with religion. Oh, and there is only ONE HEAD of the Body, religion has messed that up as well.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (AMP)
4 [There is] one body and one Spirit—just as there is also one hope [that belongs] to the calling you received—
5 [There is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of [us] all, Who is above all [Sovereign over all], pervading all and [living] in [us] all.
Baptizing newborns is not biblical and therefore, unnecessary. Water baptism is a public affirmation of faith in Jesus Christ. There are several verses admonishing people to repent and be baptized, also pray to receive the Holy Spirit. Baptism is only for confessing Christians.
Well the Bible is quite clear of the promises that God makes to you in Baptism.
Cleanses you from iniquity, gives you a heart of flesh rather that of stone. Ezekiel 36:25-33
Makes you a disciple of Jesus. Matthew 28:19 (with teaching)
Forgives your sins. Acts 2:38 (With repentance)
Gives you the Holy Spirit. John 3:5, Acts 2:38.
Joins you with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Romans 6:2-5, Colossians 2:12.
Washes the Church and makes her holy. Ephesians 5:25-26
Clothes you in Christ. Galatians 3:27.
Regenerates you. Titus 3:5.
Saves you. 1 Peter 3:21.
And of course, there’s only one baptism. Ephesians 4. Something which the Church has always confessed. “...and I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins...”
So the question is then, if someone wants to be baptized a second time, is it that they believe God isn’t faithful on his promises, or is it because God somehow didn’t make them in their baptism, perhaps due to age? I do note that there is no age requirement in any of those verses...
Based on the foregoing, I would say that any “second baptism” is nothing more than getting wet, and could demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s promises.
But, if you believe it’s nothing more than a symbol or a pledge or something (for the reasons stated, I do not), then what’s the harm, since under that belief system, it doesn’t actually DO anything...
I think it’s fine
We had rededications when I was young in my SBC a butch
It’s Good News actually in the old vernacular