Rebaptism

[richardetyler]

I was baptized as a child in a Southern Baptist Church. Over the years I questioned my theology, and slid away into United Pentecostalism at the age of 33 or so and I was rebaptized in that church. I had a lot of problems with the concepts of oneness doctrine (obviously) and after years of deep prayer and study I slowly came around to my reformed baptist roots. I am back in the Southern Baptist Church, now, and for the first time in my life I feel as if my theology is on the right track. (For many years I felt as a ship in the wind trying to understand doctrine).
My question is; should I be rebaptized because I had a baptism at a Oneness church, or do you all think that my first baptism was enough?

 

[Greektim]

I was baptized as a child in a Southern Baptist Church. Over the years I questioned my theology, and slid away into United Pentecostalism at the age of 33 or so and I was rebaptized in that church. I had a lot of problems with the concepts of oneness doctrine (obviously) and after years of deep prayer and study I slowly came around to my reformed baptist roots. I am back in the Southern Baptist Church, now, and for the first time in my life I feel as if my theology is on the right track. (For many years I felt as a ship in the wind trying to understand doctrine).
My question is; should I be rebaptized because I had a baptism at a Oneness church, or do you all think that my first baptism was enough?

When were you converted and changed by the gospel? That was the question for me. Baptism is not something you do based on your theology UNLESS it leads you to realize that your previous "baptisms" were while you were not regenerate. That happened to me. I was baptized at 5, but God didn't grant me repentance until 19 or 20. As my theology developed, I realized that and so after pastoring 4 years I was baptized again to declare my covenant relationship with Jesus into the new community of believers.

So I would ask you, when were you converted? Before your initial baptism w/ an SBC church? Or was it after you came out of the Oneness mess? If the latter, then get baptized.

My advice anyways. God bless, brother!

 

[12strings]

Excellent advice already given...Just adding a 2nd!

 

[preachinjesus]

What GreekTim said, rebaptism isn't necessary.

 

[USN2Pulpit]

Could I just say rebaptism isn't neccessary - but it's also not forbidden. Would it be meaningful to you and others?

Before someone flames me, I know that it doesn't say "as oft as ye do this" about baptism. My point is that we are not told that a person can only be baptized once.

 

[Yeshua1]

I was baptized as a child in a Southern Baptist Church. Over the years I questioned my theology, and slid away into United Pentecostalism at the age of 33 or so and I was rebaptized in that church. I had a lot of problems with the concepts of oneness doctrine (obviously) and after years of deep prayer and study I slowly came around to my reformed baptist roots. I am back in the Southern Baptist Church, now, and for the first time in my life I feel as if my theology is on the right track. (For many years I felt as a ship in the wind trying to understand doctrine).
My question is; should I be rebaptized because I had a baptism at a Oneness church, or do you all think that my first baptism was enough?

Do you see yourself as being saved while baptised in SBC ?
it seems that you feel convicted by the Lord, so would do it again to make sure!

 

[12strings]

Do you see yourself as being saved while baptised in SBC ?
it seems that you feel convicted by the Lord, so would do it again to make sure!

I would be careful with the "Do it again to be sure" line...because some who use it have this in mind: "do it again to be sure that you are really saved."

Since Baptism is not salvific, the question becomes, Have you obeyed God in Baptism since becoming a Christian? If yes, no need to repeat, if no, because you were baptized before conversion, the yes, it would be good to be baptized for real.

 

[Oldtimer]

I would be careful with the "Do it again to be sure" line...because some who use it have this in mind: "do it again to be sure that you are really saved."

Since Baptism is not salvific, the question becomes, Have you obeyed God in Baptism since becoming a Christian? If yes, no need to repeat, if no, because you were baptized before conversion, the yes, it would be good to be baptized for real.

Agree with you and USN2Pulpit

Could I just say rebaptism isn't neccessary - but it's also not forbidden. Would it be meaningful to you and others?

Before someone flames me, I know that it doesn't say "as oft as ye do this" about baptism. My point is that we are not told that a person can only be baptized once.

Here's why....

When I was saved as a teenager, I was baptised by sprinking, as I was attending a church in another denomination. After being away from the church for many years, returned to a Baptist church. One that would accept letter of transfer from another church without requiring baptism by immersion.

However, I felt led to be baptised by immersion as a testimony of my return to walking with my Saviour. I was baptised a short time later.

While my circumstances and those of the OP are different, I can't imagine myself wanting to be baptised, yet again. When being baptised by immersion, what matters most is what is already in our hearts, not who lowers us into the water.

In my case, I felt that the first "baptism" was incomplete. That I hadn't fully followed the scriptures in my witness to our Lord. That's not the case now.

Just 2-cents for whatever they may be worth.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Do you see yourself as being saved while baptised in SBC ?
it seems that you feel convicted by the Lord, so would do it again to make sure!

Make sure of what ....that your saved? If you have the Grace & the Faith & you believe on Him, your saved. I would go thru it again as an obedience & love for the Savior but I would also hold tight & be confident that I am a "Saved/Regenerated' person thru Christ.

 

[Yeshua1]

I would be careful with the "Do it again to be sure" line...because some who use it have this in mind: "do it again to be sure that you are really saved."

Since Baptism is not salvific, the question becomes, Have you obeyed God in Baptism since becoming a Christian? If yes, no need to repeat, if no, because you were baptized before conversion, the yes, it would be good to be baptized for real.

Understand!

just saying that while water baptism is NOT part of salvation, is to be administered to one holding a saving faith, and it sounded that the OP brother was felling convicted that for his "assurnace" that he was taking it while really saved!

 

[Aaron]

...do you all think that my first baptism was enough?

If the message preached under which you were first baptized was the Gospel, then yes, your baptism was legit, and there is no reason to repeat it, regardless of any doubt you may have concerning your state of mind at the time.

 

[Tom Butler]

Here's a quick checklist to determine valid baptism:
1. Proper subject---a believer
2. Proper method--immersion
3. Proper design--to picture the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus; to picture the gospel; to identify oneself with the Lord Jesus.
4. Proper administrator--one authorized by a New Testament Church (Baptist).

Any baptism that fails any one of these things is not valid.

 

[Yeshua1]

Here's a quick checklist to determine valid baptism:
1. Proper subject---a believer
2. Proper method--immersion
3. Proper design--to picture the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus; to picture the gospel; to identify oneself with the Lord Jesus.
4. Proper administrator--one authorized by a New Testament Church (Baptist).

Any baptism that fails any one of these things is not valid.

Agree on 1-3, quibble on #4, as we hold that baptism is valid IF done in points 1-3, as my Assemblies of God water baptism honored by my church!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Here's a quick checklist to determine valid baptism:
1. Proper subject---a believer
2. Proper method--immersion
3. Proper design--to picture the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus; to picture the gospel; to identify oneself with the Lord Jesus.
4. Proper administrator--one authorized by a New Testament Church (Baptist).

Any baptism that fails any one of these things is not valid.

you gotta be baptized by a Baptist? Nothing else is authentic / Kosher ?!? :laugh:

 

[Tom Butler]

you gotta be baptized by a Baptist? Nothing else is authentic / Kosher ?!? :laugh:

To be more precise, our Baptist church will accept the baptism of someone from a church of like faith and order, even if they do not wear the name Baptist.

Before I'll vote to accept a non-Baptist baptism, I'll want to see that church's doctrinal statement.

I recognize that a lot of people, even Baptists, might quibble with my view on the proper administrator. My view springs from the fact that I hold that baptism is a CHURCH ordinance not a CHRISTIAN ordinance. And sadly, there are a bunch of churches out there that simply do not qualify as New Testament churches. But that's another thread.