Can you be baptized twice?

Question

I was baptized when I was younger and was wanting to know if I could be baptized again. The reason I want to know is because when I was younger, it was something my mom had set up. Now that I am older, I want to be the one who has the say so. Is this common in young adults? Thanks and God Bless

Answer 1

Study your Bible to be certain that you understand the meaning and reason for baptism first. Christian baptism requires an understanding of God’s Word and an intelligent decision to present oneself to do the revealed will of God. At Pentecost, 33 C.E., the Jews and proselytes there assembled, who already had a knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, heard Peter speak about Jesus the Messiah, with the result that 3,000 “embraced his word heartily” and “were baptized.” (Acts 2:41; 3:19–4:4; 10:34-38) Those in Samaria first believed Philip’s preaching of the good news, and then they were baptized. (Acts 8:12) The Ethiopian eunuch, a devout Jewish proselyte who, as such, also had knowledge of Jehovah and the Hebrew Scriptures, heard first the explanation of the fulfillment of these scriptures in Christ, accepted it, and then wanted to be baptized. (Acts 8:34-36) Peter explained to Cornelius that “the man that fears [God] and works righteousness is acceptable” (Acts 10:35) and that everyone putting faith in Jesus Christ gets forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43; 11:18) All of this is in harmony with Jesus’ command to “make disciples . . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” Those who accept the teaching and who become disciples properly get baptized.—Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8.Christian baptism would have a vital effect on their standing before God. After referring to Noah’s constructing of the ark in which he and his family were preserved through the Flood, the apostle Peter wrote: “That which corresponds to this is also now saving you, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 3:20, 21) The ark was tangible evidence that Noah had dedicated himself to do God’s will and had then faithfully done the work assigned by God. This led to his preservation. In a corresponding way, those who would dedicate themselves to Jehovah on the basis of faith in the resurrected Christ, get baptized in symbol of that, and do God’s will for his servants would be saved from the present wicked world. (Galatians 1:3, 4) No longer would they be headed for destruction with the rest of the world. They would be saved from this and would be granted a good conscience by God.

Answer 2

Your first baptism was valid, so no need to get rebaptized. But yes, this is common for young adults when they've been talked into a believer's baptism.

Although there was no specific mention of infants being baptized in the "entire households" of the New Testament, they key here in these baptisms is not whether everyone was of an age of reason or not. Nowhere in the Bible does it refer to an age of reason regarding baptism, it is only implied by those wishing to imply it. But if you think about the culture of the times, and in some parts of the world where this culture exists today, the head of the house sets the standard for the conduct of his household. And, in the New Testament, when the master of the house decided to conduct things in a Christian manner, the wife obeyed, the servants obeyed, and the baby got baptized too, otherwise they would probably be completely disowned -- or worse.

The same principle exists today, with promises that were made by your parent(s) and the congregation observing your baptism, in a covenant relationship with God (which makes it God's rite, not man's), which means any future baptisms are completely irrelevant.

Obviously you're not going to get the same viewpoint from the Arminians on R & S who seem to dominate this section. If you see this as man's act toward God, then go for it. But if you see this as God's act for man, then once was enough.

Answer 3

Have you gone away from the Lord and come back? You can be baptized all you want. Just realize your salvation is not in the baptism. It is in Jesu Christ and what he did at the Cross. Usually, a church sets up a baptism for a teenager I was 12 and it's a church thing. True baptism comes when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord. Some believe in immersion, some sprinkling Some believe you won't be able to get into Heaven unless you are baptized in water. My answer to that is the thief next to Jesus on the Cross He wasn't baptized and Jesus told him Today you will be with me in paradise when he asked Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom Luke 23 42 and 43. Anyway if you are coming back to the Lord come in the right spirit and be baptized.

Answer 4

In Acts 19:1-5 there are some who were baptized according to the wrong authority. They were baptized according to John the baptizer's baptism instead of in the name of Christ. "In the name of Christ" means according to His authority or according to His instructions.

These were taught better, then they were baptized again, this time in the name of Christ.

Jesus taught, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16)

The apostles who Jesus sent out taught that baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), puts you "into Christ" (Romans 6:3, Gal. 3:27), puts you into comtact with His death where the saving blood was shed (Romans 6:4, Col. 2:12), and washes away sins (Acts 22:16). The apostle Peter simply says that baptism "saves" (1 Peter 3:20-21).

If you have not been baptized according to these instructions, then you now need to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

This baptism is an immersion in water (Acts 8:38-39) comes after belief (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:36, Acts 8:36-37) and repentance (Acts 2:38).

Answer 5

The short answer to your question is that you can get baptized again. Your question implies that you were baptized by immersion when you were younger, as a matter of custom or tradition. (It should be noted here for information that some churches even baptize infants.) This type of baptism is more of a ritual than a profession of faith. The word baptism means to immerse. There are two formulas for baptism:

Book of Matthew: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Baptist, others)
Book of Acts Name of Jesus (United Pentecostal Church)

Answer 6

Yes you can. I was baptized as an infant (actually twice - my one set of grandparents could not make the ceremony, so my parents repeated it a couple weeks later with them). I was later baptized as an adult when I had made my own committment to Christ.

As baptism is a symbol of a desire to serve God and walk in a "new resurrected life", it can be done as often as you feel the need to help encourage and support that commitment.

Answer 7

If you are a Catholic, then you were baptized as a baby. That's to ensure your safe ticket to heaven. Now that you're older, there are many things that you have probably done in your life that are not too pleasant or we call them sins. Catholics have this privilege of confessing these sins and to be absolved from these sins immediately which you are probably not taking advantage of. You see, every-time we confess our sins, our souls are cleaned up completely. Did you know that? Cleaning up your soul is just like taking a bath every day. I have seen some souls in my lifetime, believe me, they were not pleasant. Some were all muddy, all you can see are two eyeballs, some are spotted like jaguars and some have even changed from human beings to animals and creatures on a high horse. This is so true.

Baptizing again, to me would only mean to clean up your soul completely and giving the rest of your life to serving only Jesus. It's a complete change of your life. Reading the bible more, listening to religious music, going to Mass more often than once a week, serving and participating in the Church and definitely saving souls for Christ. You do all this , you're on your way already to a 2nd baptism.

Unless you're trying to change your religion, then that's a different story.
They are baptized when they are old enough to decide which religion or faith they want to be in.

Answer 8

I'm going to assume that since your mother set up your first "baptism", you had no idea what you were doing, or what you were doing it for. Now that you're an adult, and you have learned something about baptism, you want to put Christ on in water baptism, right?

Do you know what the reason is for baptism? Baptism is for the remission of sins. There are several examples of baptisms in the Book of Acts, one being the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39, another being the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:1-20.

After reading those verses I've mentioned, if you have any other questions, you can IM me.

Answer 9

Did john the baptizer, baptize Jesus when he was an infant? Did the bible record ANY of Jesus followers baptize children, infants or babies? No? To get baptized is a public declaration of you following Christ.

The first time you were baptized it had no meaning since you can’t understand the meaning or maybe even your heart may have not wanted to follow in Jesus footsteps. Now you can…make that decision for yourself.

Answer 10

No, you can be baptized only once. But you can be baptized in some other ways: becoming a new person, regreting for your sins, living according to God's willing. This is the opportunity that God gives us to be baptized again.