Do I need to be baptized again?
Question:
Greetings!
I have a question about baptism. I’m a baptized believer but have questioned my baptism after reading that some folks hold the position that baptism is invalid if the recipient didn’t understand that its purpose was to have our sins remitted.
I turned to the Lord for the first time in my life while at work. I always believed in God but didn’t know anything about him, so I bought a KJV bible and began to read. God showed me my sinfulness from His Word, and I began to pray and ask the Lord for forgiveness; it was exciting! For the first time in my life, I was talking to God! As I read more, I realized I needed to be baptized, so I did. I didn’t walk away from my reading thinking God wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t understand the purpose of baptism; I realized He commanded it, and I trusted what He did for me on the cross.
However, some people in the church would have me look to my understanding of baptism rather than the blood of Christ. Am I missing something? Why would a repentant believer, who was baptized because Jesus told him to be, need to be rebaptized?
I want to settle the matter because it’s caused me double-mindedness, and I’m struggling with it.
Thank you!
Answer:
People often hear catchphrases and latch onto them without understanding the issues behind them.
A number of denominations claim that baptism is unnecessary with regard to salvation. Some use baptism to join their denomination or church. Some state that it is just an outward expression of what has already taken place.
When Paul met disciples in Ephesus, he soon discovered they had never heard of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-2). When he asked what they had been baptized into, they told him they were baptized into John's baptism (Acts 19:3). Paul explained that John's baptism was no longer valid because it was to prepare people for Jesus, and he has come. Thus, they were baptized again, this time into Jesus (Acts 19:4-5).
No one knows everything when they are first baptized, but they should understand that the Lord commanded it (Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19-20). They should also understand that baptism enters them into a covenant with Christ, where they become a part of God's family (Galatians 3:26-27). They should also realize that they are being baptized because they have sinned, and that through baptism their sins will be removed and they will start a new life (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-7; Ephesians 5:26; I Peter 3:21). The one baptizing you should have made sure you were aware of these things, even if you might not have fully grasped all the significance of what you were doing.
Whether you think you need to be baptized again is up to you. I wasn't there when you were baptized. However, it sounds like you understood that baptism connected you to Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Since that is where salvation from sin flows from, I'm guessing you understood what you were doing.
