Being Baptized Again as an Adult

Is there always a justification for being "re-baptized"? I accept questioned my baptism. I was very young and actually did non embrace the seriousness of what I was doing. I have considered being baptized again, merely some say that it would not exist right to be baptized a second time.

Your question is a very legitimate one. There are some people, even among religious leaders, who oppose any grade of re-baptism.

For instance, in 1996, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church at a convention conducted in Denver, Colorado debated the matter of re-baptism. A position paper issued by the conference declared that Methodists who were baptized equally infants should never be baptized once again. The document explicitly stated:

"Whether a baptized baby grows upward to exist a professing Christian or not, that baptism stands valid."

This position is flawed in many particulars, having no scriptural support whatsoever.

New Testament Precedent for Beingness Immersed a Second Time

While on his third missionary entrada, the apostle Paul came to the urban center of Ephesus. In that location, he encountered twelve men who formerly had been baptized with the type of baptism administered by John the Baptizer.

One might be inclined to conclude, therefore, that the apostle would have accepted these men every bit they were and merely organized them into a church.

Only such was not the case. Subsequently questioning them as to the nature of their before baptism and determining that their pre-baptism teaching on the previous occasion had been defective in essential details, Paul immersed these men into Christ (see Acts 19:1-5). A simple agreement of the text reveals that their first baptism was scarce in some style.

And here is an extremely important implication of this example of re-baptism. The case clearly demonstrates that in social club for one'due south baptism to exist valid, accurate teaching and understanding must precede the rite. Otherwise, the act of baptism is a meaningless practice and not based on faith (Rom. x:17).

True Baptism — A Quondam Act

18-carat baptism is needed simply i fourth dimension in a person'south life. Once a person has been baptized co-ordinate to the full complement of scriptural instructions, he or she never has the need to repeat this new-birth process (cf. Jn. 3:three-5).

After a person has entered the family of Christ through baptism (i Cor. 12:13; cf. Gal. three:26-27), he is a part of the church, the household (family) of God (1 Tim. 3:15; cf. Eph. ii:19-22). The new Christian has access to all of the spiritual benefits of the in-Christ relationship (Eph. 1:iii).

As a son or girl of God within that sacred surround, the Christian prays to the heavenly Father for his or her personal needs past ways of prayer (meet Acts viii:22, 24; cf. Jas. 5:16) — including forgiveness for sins equally we fail to live perfectly before God (cf. 1 Jn. ane:8; two:1).

Qualifications for Baptism

Unfortunately, there are many in today's globe of Christendom that do a form of what they call "baptism."

When nosotros compare what is practiced and taught by many with what the Bible teaches, we can encounter that a variety of doctrinal errors have developed that are not found in God's word. Those corruptions invalidate a baptism and go far of none event.

Therefore, many who have been administered what was called "baptism" just, in fact is not true biblical baptism, demand to be baptized again — this fourth dimension with a more accurate understanding that precedes the event, just like the case in Acts nineteen:i-5.

Here are some situations in which re-baptism would be warranted.

Baptism without faith or understanding

If ane was "baptized" equally an infant, thus was lacking personal faith (Mk. 16:16; Acts 11:21), he should repudiate the meaningless earlier rite in which he had no decision-making power, fifty-fifty though his parents were sincere in subjecting him to the procedure.

In genuine faith, he should submit to the command in the proper way. Infants have neither the need nor the ability to respond to the gospel of Christ.

The same would be true for young children too immature or immature to sympathise their accountability to the program of salvation.

It is a tender matter to observe immature children who want to please God. Just many times, their desire precedes their understanding and accountability for personal sin.

If an adult concludes that they need to be re-baptized considering they were baptized equally an baby or as a sincere just young child, we would encourage them to be immersed in faith and obedience. Thus, they tin can be assured of the forgiveness of their sins. Their decision will bring peace of mind and confidence by knowing they are obeying God from the eye with full understanding.

Baptism without immersion

If one was "baptized" in some fashion other than by immersion, and so he needs to be baptized with the proper form. The word "baptism" literally translated means immersion, not sprinkling or pouring.

True baptism pictures the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sinner is cached in water and raised from this symbolic grave (cf. Rom. 6:3-four; Col. 2:12) just every bit the Lord was buried and then raised from the dead.

True baptism validates and proclaims one's organized religion in the decease and resurrection events. Being sprinkled with water or having water poured upon the head is no baptism at all. Such substitutes are without sanction in the New Testament. They are post-apostolic innovations.

Baptism without repentance

Baptism without truthful repentance is also ineffectual. I once heard about a homo who emerged from the baptismal puddle, turned to his wife, and said: "I promise y'all're satisfied!"

No who is baptized without proper motive (and other prerequisites) can take validity in the divine scheme of things. Even John warned those who came to exist baptized for a show without repentance. Only God's wrath awaited those who were baptized with such faux pretenses (Mt. 3:7).

Baptism without faith

If one is "baptized" without a sound faith, the ritual would be of no avail.

One might feel, for instance, that Jesus was a good man, perhaps even a "perfect man" — equally the "Jehovah's Witnesses" allege. Equally sincere as these may be, they deny that Christ is the Son of God (i.eastward., deity).

And yet, for diverse other reasons, they might desire to be baptized. But baptism grounded on imitation faith cannot be deemed as genuine.

Baptism without purpose

If one has yielded to baptism for some purpose other than that which is supplied by God'south word, he has not obeyed the Lord.

Baptism is never defined as "an outward sign of an inward grace." It is not a mere representation of redemption for those who have already received forgiveness.

The purpose of baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), to have sins "washed away" (Acts 22:16), to put the candidate "into Christ" (Rom. 6:iii-four; Gal. 3:26-27), or into his "body" (1 Cor. 12:13). At this point, he is "saved" (Mk. 16:sixteen; i Pet. iii:21).

The mutual resistance to the biblical proposition that baptism comes before salvation constitutes a bold rejection of the plain testimony of Scripture. One cannot exist immersed "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), if he believes his sins have been remitted already.

Your soul is as well valuable, the programme is too simple and the remedy as well piece of cake to admission to hazard — hoping that a former "baptism" will be alright in spite of the deficiencies associated therewith.

If you have any question about a previous baptism, I would encourage you lot to be safe and arrange for your baptism according to your informed cognition.

If we may assist y'all in this regard, feel complimentary to contact the states for counsel.

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Source: https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/656-do-i-need-to-be-re-baptized