Do I need to be baptized twice?

Question

I had left the catholic church to join a good christian church. I was baptized by the catholic church a long time ago. However, the new christian church tell me I need to be baptized again in order to be accepted in Christ. Why? I thought I was saved a long time ago but need to be saved again. My faith in the Lord is very strong so I am a bit confused about being baptized again. Can you help?

Answer 1

I guess it has to do with being baptized not only to follow the example of Christ, but to also join a particular denomination. Some religions do not consider it to be baptism if it happened when you were under the age of accountability. Some do baptism by immersion, others just sprinkle water.

Answer 2

When you were baptized the first time did you understand why you were baptized? If you understand the meaning of it then go ahead and do it again just as Jesus was baptized. It is to make a public statement of your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.Also a public announcement of your commitment to follow and obey God, through Christ.But if you received Jesus into your heart and should die before baptism, you will still go to heaven. The Bible says that if you believe it in your heart and speak with your mouth that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins ,that He is Lord, you will be saved. It is faith not baptism that saves you. If this church insists you must be baptized to get into heaven, then I would check it out on the Internet and see what information you might find. There are a few new age Christian churches that may have some cult practices that are a bit off from the Scriptures.

Answer 3

If the "new Christian Church" has told you to be baptized again, then there should be some sort of a discussion with the pastor as to exactly what his thoughts are concerning this rite. Roman Catholic beliefs are that baptism removes original sin, and apparently the Protestant Church you are joining, denies this. It also sounds like the church in question adheres to a "believer's baptism", or credo baptism in theological terms, that insists that one must make a decision for Christ first, which will automatically invalidate infant baptism of any sort.

This will boil down to what you believe that baptism means. Most churches will have their own proofs as to its meaning, and it's going to be up to you to decide what you believe is right. Good luck, apologetics can be extremely difficult to wade through if each side has its own scholars giving you undeniable evidence. And if you're interested, there is a third viewpoint of "covenant theology" in baptism that denies both the removal of original sin, and the necessity for acceptance of Christ before baptism is conferred.

As for salvation, Catholics believe that they are saved through the merits of Christ as dispensed by the Catholic Church; hence all devout Catholics are saved. The Protestant Church you are joining has a different view of this, where salvation involves consciously accepting Christ as your personal savior, along with a public declaration of that choice through baptism. And in a third view, Calvinism, God must be the one to choose you since you have a sin nature and therefore do not have the ability to decide for Christ on your own (free will only in the sense of rejecting God).

I probably confused you more than answered your question, but those are the differences as I see them.

Answer 4

I was raised as a Baptist and am now a member of a non denominational church. I know a lot of churches believe different things about baptism, but this is what I know to be true: Baptism itself is merely a public profession of your faith. Jesus was baptized and therefore set the example for us as an act that was pleasing to God. However, I don't think you have to be baptized to be saved. ( I know there are many churches who would disagree w/ this.) Only you, know in your heart where you stand before God in your salvation. If you believe you have been saved because you accept that Jesus died on the cross to cover your sins and then rose from the grave to conquer death and offer everlasting life to those that believe that He is the Way, the Truth and the LIfe and no one comes to the Father, except throught Him, then I believe you are 'saved'. And personally I don't believe a person can 'fall from grace' and therefore need to be 'rebaptized'. I would be careful of any church that says a person needs to be 'saved' again just because that person wasn't baptized in their church. You say your faith is strong but yet you are confused. I say your faith is strong and you really aren't that confused at all. Sounds like the Holy Spirit is leading you in the way you should go. LIsten to yourself. It is good to question things. God wants us to be smart about our faith and convictions.

Answer 5

Hi Bobbi,
Notice what is said about baptism in the Bible:
Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
We are told that a person must believe to be baptized, yet a number of people in the Catholic Church were baptized as young children who were too young to do so. That was possible in your case too.
We are told the Eunuch was taken down into the water in Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Christ told the Apostles in the Great Commission that we are to go out and ... Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. These are not all examples, just a select few. For illustrative purposes only. I hope that this makes some sense. The church that you are attending should speak with you about it and explain further. They should NEVER force baptism without explaining why you need to do so. Have a great evening.
Eds

Answer 6

First off Baptism is a symbol of your faith to God. There is nowhere in the Bible that says that you MUST be baptized to be saved. Baptism is just a public act to show the putting to death the old man and the ressurection of the new man. being baptized under the catholic religion means absolutely nothing so disregard that completely. Ephesians 2:8 says that "For by Grace you have been saved through FAITH, and this is NOT of YOURSELVES, it is the Gift of God to which no man can boast." You are saved by your Faith in God, not by your works, deeds or actions.

Answer 7

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 correctly, 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 now 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).

If you have not been baptized according to the instructions of the Bible, then you need to be "baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins". (Acts 2:38)

Answer 8

You joined a Protestant Church. They are not Catholics. They will make you get saved all over again. You are saved in the Catholic Church, but not in your new Protestant Church. There is a reason that they have trouble getting along with each other.

Answer 9

I think they are totally wrong on this one. There is nothing in the bible about "age of accountability" and all this other malarky that the churches throw around. I think infant baptism is important because the Bible says you need to be born again of the water. It doesn't say "wait until you are 12 or an adult."
Just my opinion, but if you believe in what this church teaches, then I guess you should do it. Personally I don't subscribe to this theory though.

Answer 10

Baptism is a public statement of your personal belief in following Christ. The Catholic church generally sprinkles infants who have not developed a personal belief. If that is your case, you really should consider making that public statement.