Christians: Question about baptism?

Question

I was baptized as a baby, but I wasn't raised in a Christian home and never went to church as a child. A few years ago I accepted Christ as my Savior and became a Christian.

Is it necessary to be baptized again, or was it sufficient even though I (as an infant) certainly wasn't aware of its symbolism or purpose?

Answer 1

In the Bible, we see parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them. But he did not baptize them, and he did not tell anyone else to baptize them.

So if baptism signifies salvation (as the Bible teaches), only people who have intentionally received salvation should experience baptism. Thus, the Bible would indicate that baptism is for people who have made a decision to follow Christ.

If you have not experienced a believer’s baptism, even though you have experienced baptism as an infant, the full meaning and significance of baptism has yet to take place in your life.

Adult baptism doesn’t belittle your childhood baptism; it is a fulfillment of your parents’ hopes when they had you baptized.

Answer 2

The Bible is very clear about baptism. There are two points we all need to understand. (1) Baptism is to take place after a person has received Jesus Christ as Savior, trusting in Him alone for salvation. (2) Baptism is to be by immersion. The word baptize literally means to "immerse / submerge in water." Baptism by immersion is the only method of baptism that adequately illustrates what baptism symbolizes - believers dying, being buried with Christ, and being raised to newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).

With those two key points in mind, what about those who were baptized unbiblically? For the sake of clarification, let's divide this into two categories as well. First, in the instance of someone who was baptized before he/she became a Christian. Common examples of this are those who were baptized as infants, or those who were baptized later in life, but did not truly know Jesus as Savior when they were baptized. In these instances, yes, such a person definitely needs to be rebaptized. Again, the Bible states that baptism is post-salvation. The symbolism of baptism is lost if a person has not truly experienced salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

Baptism is supposed to be "in the name of Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). "In the name of Christ" means according to his authority or instructions.

Notice that Jesus taught "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16) Any baptism doctrine that teaches one is saved before or without baptism, therefore, is not according to Christ's authority (instructions). Such would be according to the doctrine (teaching, authority) of men and not "in the name of Christ".

Secondly, notice there are many baptisms taught in different churches. They differ in method and purpose. The Bible, however, says there is "one baptism", just like there is one God and one Lord. (Ephesians 4:3-6)

If we look into the Bible and see what the method and purpose of baptism that was taught and practiced by the early church, then we can know what this "one baptism" is.

First the method. We see this baptism was in water. (Acts 8:36, Acts 10:47) But was it sprinkling, pouring, or immersion? Notice Acts 8:38, it involved going down into and coming up out of the water. In Romans 6:3-4 and Colossians 2:12 it is described as a burial. John the Baptist chose the location he used for baptism "because there was much water there" (John 3:23). Only immersion fits all of these descriptions, so we see the "one baptism" is immersion in water.

Now for the reason. We have noticed it is "for the remission of sins". 1 Peter 3:21 says that it saves. Romans 3:3-4 says at baptism we enter "into Christ" (we can't be saved outside of Christ), and it says we are "baptized into His death". At the death of Christ, we contact His saving blood, because that is where the blood was shed. Finally Romans 3 teaches that at baptism we "rise to walk in newness of life". We cannot be saved if we are not born into this new life, or "born again". Also baptism washes away sins (Acts 22:16).

So according to the bible, baptism is by a burial (immersion) in water to become saved. This action must be coupled with faith, confession and repentance.

The great comission baptism (water baptism) is the one that existed when Ephesians 4 declaired there was "one baptism".

Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved". Some will tell you that one believes, is saved, then he shall be baptized. This is not what Jesus said. It is not in the same order.

Likewise some say a person is baptized as an infant, later believes, and is saved. This also is not the same order as what Jesus instructed.

What would Jesus have said if he had meant "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved"? I believe he said what he meant and meant what he said. I believe Jesus! He that does not believe Jesus, "shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16)

Read carefully the verses I have cited. Believe what the Bible says!

Answer 4

Hello in the great commission in Matt.28:19-20 Jesus Christ the second member of The Godhead commands those to be saved be baptized and that must be a choice and clearly a baby can not make that choice, in Mark 16:16 He that BE-LIVES and is baptized shall be saved, in John 3:5 "Except a man [mankind] be born of the water and the spirit he can not enter into The Kingdom of God, Eph,4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism Acts.2:38 one must repent and be baptized, and a baby can not do that, find out more free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org email me also [e-mail] God bless

Answer 5

Baptism is an act of obedience, to show the world that your old self has died to the world and that you are a new person in Christ As an infant, you can hardly make the decision to turn to Christ and, therefore, cannot be obedient in being baptized That is why it is important that you now be baptized since you are now saved

Answer 6

That's right, you would not have been aware of the purpose of baptism at such an early age. The sad thing is, neither were your parents.

If you feel that baptism is a profession of your faith, then I'm happy for you. If you're wondering whether your baptism as an infant was valid, yes it was. There is far more evidence for paedobaptism than you might think.

Feel free to e-mail me if you like, I'd be happy to discuss it with you. But I'm not really interested in debate...

Answer 7

I'd say that it isn't in fact necessary. Maybe someone could point out to me where belief is NECESSARY for a baptism. Also, remember that Jesus is the New Covenant as based upon the Old Covenant. In the Old Covenant children were circumcised after 8 days (Gen 17:12, Lev 12:3), and in Col 2:11-12 baptism is established as the new circumcision (sp) for those in the New Covenant, and since those in the Old Covenant were circumcised as infants then should baptism be any different if you are just putting it in circumcision's old place?

Answer 8

The baptism the Bible speaks of is in response to a person coming to faith in Christ - what we call "believer's baptism". I also was baptizes as a baby. But when I came to faith in Christ I received believer's baptism.

Answer 9

I believe Baptism is the first thing you do AFTER you are born again, like you say you are. God bless you for that. I am pleased to hear you have accepted Jesus Christ as you Savior. Just go ahead and get Baptised and join a Church. Like the Nike slogan...Just Do It. It is a good thing.

Answer 10

Baptism as a baby is not founded in the bible. Baptism follows accepting Christ as your Saviour. It is an outward expression of what God has done in your heart. As a child, you have no choice, it is something that your parents did. You should be baptised again as an adult now that you have accepted Christ.