Johnny gets baptized as a baby...?

Question

Then he gets saved when he's above the age of reason gets, baptized, and then doesn't believe any more...T

Then gets saved again many years later, and gets baptized again, and then lives his life for Christ until death.

Which one was the real baptism?

Answer 1

First of all, your scenario provides the backdrop to a couple of contoversial theological issues. For example, infant baptism vs. believer's baptism, and the Arminian view of falling from grace vs. the Calvinistic view of the perseverance of the saints. (Your statement that Johnny got saved after reaching the age of reason tells me that you must not believe in the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, so I will not address that issue.)

Because I am a Reformed Baptist, I hold to the position that believer's baptism is the only valid baptism in the New Testament. I believe that Johnny's real baptism took place after he first believed in Christ upon reaching the "age of reason." I hold to this view because I believe that when a follower of Christ is baptized it pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Additionally, it pictures the death of the believer to sin and his rising to walk in newness of life. This symbolism is not present in infant baptism.

I understand that according to the majority of Calvinists, Johnny's real baptism happened when he was a baby. It's purpose is equivalent to the Old Testament practice of circumcision; it is to inaugurate the person into the New Covenant of salvation in Jesus Christ. My belief is that since there is no record (of which I am aware) of infant baptism in the New Testament, the practice of infant baptism is unbiblical. The submission of a person to baptism is, in my opinion, a believer's act of obedience to the Lord (Please correct me if I am wrong. I am open to examining the opposing position; I have been known to change my views on other biblical issues!)

Concerning the issue of not believing any more, I hold to the Scriptural view that once God regenerates a person, he can never completely "fall from grace." Therefore, I do not believe that Johnny's last baptism was a valid, biblical baptism.

Based upon my reading of your answers to some of the questions regarding infant baptism, I know that you would say that Johnny's first baptism as a baby was the "real" baptism. As I said earlier, I am open to the modification of my views on this issue. I will read any information on this topic that you want to send me via e-mail and we can discuss it.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Answer 2

First what is the meaning of baptism in the first place?
Is it to get to heaven? No. You must be "saved" to get to heaven.
The purpose of baptism is the profession of your faith to others. When you do this, you are acting out your faith to others so that others may believe.

How can you profess your faith to others if you are "sprinkled" as a baby? You can't. And your family can't do it for you. You have to do it.
This is why Paul mocks the "baptism of the dead" in
1st Corinthians.

To be on the "right" side of your baptism, the correct way to do this, is to believe that Jesus is Lord, then profess your faith to others during baptism. This is what baptism is all about. Going by Jesus's example and letting people know you are a follower of Christ.

In your example you mentioned Johnny gets saved twice.
If Johnny was saved the first time and meant it, then baptized, he was still saved when he walked away from God.

Remember, he walked away from God, God did not walk away from him.

The second time, it is more correct to say that he rededicated his life back to Christ the second time.

Answer 3

Parents must have believed that he had to be baptized with water to be saved.As a child he was saved regardless of baptism because children aren`t accountable until they can reason for themselves right and wrong and believing in God.So the Baptisms after he got saved as a grown man were right.He really didn`t have to get baptized again but some people believe that you do your first works again.So that's why the third baptism, but in truth as I see it his first works would be repenting of his sin again and living Right.He didn`t have to get babtized the third time.

Answer 4

There is only one baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of water is only an outward show of your decision to be part of the christian family. A person can make the mistake of thinking he is a christian, when he is really not. Going to church, being baptized, doing good works, working in the church, paying tithes, none of these things will qualify you to be a christian. Jesus said, " you must be born again. " When one is born again, the Holy Spirit comes into ones life and regenerates it, from the inside. This is when the person does good works because he loves Jesus and wants to please Him. This is when the person lives his life for Christ until death.

God be with you,
Evangelist, William M. Butler
Grace Evangelistic Ministry

Answer 5

I have been taught to believe that you are to be baptized after you accept Jesus as your Savior..after the age of reason. Then if you backslide and repent.. there really is no reason to be baptized again.. it is just a personal choice if someone chooses to do so again. God knows our hearts and that is what is most important.. not how many times you are baptized... I hope this helps.. just what I have been taught..

Answer 6

1. heard the Word of God and understood - e.g. what sin is, counting the cost of following Christ, etc.
2. full repentance of sin (not becoming perfect, but a committment to turn away from sin)
3. baptism

until all of these things happened, there was no *true* baptism. so it might have been the teen baptism, but for sure the adult baptism...

Answer 7

it easily relies upon which church you pass to. i grow to be baptized at 13, i be responsive to folk who're christians in the present day, that have been baptized as babies and that i think and actually be responsive to them as saved. Baptism isn't a needful to salvation, yet is symbolic of the grace you will recieve or the grace you have recieved. i wouldnt get so legalistic to declare an toddler baptism as incorrect. The church has completed this because of the fact the initiating. on the comparable time, i do no longer think that a ineffective toddler will pass to hell for no longer recieving baptism in time. Jesus advised us to no longer deny the little ones. He reported that to disclaim one in each and every of those young ones could be like leaping interior the sea with a millstone around your neck. Paul baptized Lydia and her kin. The centurian and his kin grow to be baptized. the story of Philip and the Eunuch has been shown to be an interpolation and has anabaptist beginnings.

Answer 8

2nd and 3rd. It's a public deceleration, not the saving part. Like getting married privately legally, then telling people being the baptism part

Answer 9

The real baptism is when a person gets to choose on their own, babies don't need to get baptised because they don't understand anything yet, God wont send babies to hell, Until they reach the age of accountablity (Which God knows) then they are innocent. but when they gain understanding, then they will have a chance to choose, if they choose to serve God, then they can get baptised, baptism is not be forced, it is a choice. Amen

Answer 10

Baptism is not a magical act that gets you into heaven. It is an act of obedience to symbolize dying to your old self and being born again. It shouldn't be done to an infant because it has to be chosen by a person who is mature enough to understand what they are choosing.