Is in that location always a justification for being "re-baptized"? I have questioned my baptism. I was very young and really did not comprehend the seriousness of what I was doing. I have considered existence baptized again, but some say that it would non be correct to exist baptized a second fourth dimension.

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

For example, 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 newspaper issued by the briefing declared that Methodists who were baptized as infants should never be baptized over again. The document explicitly stated:

"Whether a baptized infant grows up 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 Being Immersed a 2d Time

While on his third missionary campaign, the campaigner Paul came to the city of Ephesus. At that place, he encountered twelve men who formerly had been baptized with the blazon of baptism administered past John the Baptizer.

One might be inclined to conclude, therefore, that the apostle would accept accepted these men as they were and just organized them into a church.

But such was not the case. Subsequently questioning them equally to the nature of their earlier baptism and determining that their pre-baptism instruction on the previous occasion had been lacking in essential details, Paul immersed these men into Christ (run across Acts 19:1-five). A simple understanding of the text reveals that their first baptism was deficient in some way.

And here is an extremely important implication of this example of re-baptism. The example conspicuously demonstrates that in gild for one's baptism to be valid, accurate pedagogy and understanding must precede the rite. Otherwise, the act of baptism is a meaningless practice and not based on religion (Rom. ten:17).

True Baptism — A 1-fourth dimension Act

Genuine baptism is needed merely i time in a person's life. Once a person has been baptized co-ordinate to the total complement of scriptural instructions, he or she never has the need to echo this new-birth process (cf. Jn. 3:3-5).

After a person has entered the family unit of Christ through baptism (1 Cor. 12:xiii; cf. Gal. three:26-27), he is a part of the church, the household (family) of God (one Tim. 3:15; cf. Eph. 2:19-22). The new Christian has access to all of the spiritual benefits of the in-Christ human relationship (Eph. i:3).

Every bit a son or girl of God inside that sacred environment, the Christian prays to the heavenly Male parent for his or her personal needs by means of prayer (come across Acts viii:22, 24; cf. Jas. 5:sixteen) — including forgiveness for sins as we fail to live perfectly earlier God (cf. 1 Jn. 1:8; 2:ane).

Qualifications for Baptism

Unfortunately, at that place are many in today'southward globe of Christendom that exercise a grade of what they call "baptism."

When we compare what is skilful and taught by many with what the Bible teaches, we tin can encounter that a diversity of doctrinal errors accept developed that are non establish in God'southward word. Those corruptions invalidate a baptism and brand it of none effect.

Therefore, many who have been administered what was called "baptism" just, in fact is not true biblical baptism, need to be baptized again — this time with a more accurate understanding that precedes the result, just like the instance in Acts 19:1-5.

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

Baptism without faith or agreement

If i was "baptized" as an baby, thus was lacking personal religion (Mk. sixteen:sixteen; Acts xi:21), he should repudiate the meaningless earlier rite in which he had no decision-making power, even though his parents were sincere in subjecting him to the process.

In genuine religion, he should submit to the control in the proper way. Infants accept neither the need nor the ability to respond to the gospel of Christ.

The same would be true for young children likewise immature or young to understand their accountability to the plan of salvation.

It is a tender thing to observe young children who desire 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 as an infant or as a sincere but immature child, we would encourage them to be immersed in faith and obedience. Thus, they can be assured of the forgiveness of their sins. Their decision will bring peace of mind and confidence past knowing they are obeying God from the heart with full understanding.

Baptism without immersion

If one was "baptized" in some manner other than past immersion, then he needs to be baptized with the proper grade. The word "baptism" literally translated means immersion, not sprinkling or pouring.

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

Truthful baptism validates and proclaims one's organized religion in the death and resurrection events. Being sprinkled with water or having h2o poured upon the head is no baptism at all. Such substitutes are without sanction in the New Attestation. They are post-apostolic innovations.

Baptism without repentance

Baptism without true repentance is besides ineffectual. I once heard about a man who emerged from the baptismal pool, turned to his wife, and said: "I hope you're satisfied!"

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

Baptism without religion

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

One might experience, for example, that Jesus was a good man, peradventure fifty-fifty a "perfect man" — as the "Jehovah's Witnesses" allege. Equally sincere equally these may be, they deny that Christ is the Son of God (i.e., deity).

And withal, for various other reasons, they might desire to be baptized. But baptism grounded on fake faith cannot be deemed as 18-carat.

Baptism without purpose

If 1 has yielded to baptism for some purpose other than that which is supplied by God's 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:sixteen), to put the candidate "into Christ" (Rom. 6:three-4; Gal. 3:26-27), or into his "trunk" (i Cor. 12:13). At this point, he is "saved" (Mk. sixteen:16; i Pet. 3:21).

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

Your soul is too valuable, the plan is too uncomplicated and the remedy also easy to access to gamble — hoping that a sometime "baptism" will be alright in spite of the deficiencies associated therewith.

If you have any question nearly a previous baptism, I would encourage you to exist safe and arrange for your baptism according to your informed knowledge.

If nosotros may assist you in this regard, feel complimentary to contact us for counsel.