I was baptized unbiblically.
Do I need to be rebaptized?
The Bible is very clear about baptism. There
are two points we all need to understand. (1) Baptism is to take place after a
person has received Jesus Christ as Savior, trusting in Him alone for
salvation. (2) Baptism is to be by immersion. The word baptize literally means
to "immerse / submerge in water." Baptism by immersion is the only
method of baptism that adequately illustrates what baptism symbolizes—believers
dying, being buried with Christ, and being raised to newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
With those two key points in mind, what
about those who were baptized unbiblically? For the sake of clarification,
let’s divide this into two categories as well. First, in the instance of
someone who was baptized before he/she became a Christian. Common examples of
this are those who were baptized as infants, or those who were baptized later
in life, but did not truly know Jesus as Savior when they were baptized. In
these instances, yes, such a person definitely needs to be rebaptized. Again,
the Bible states that baptism is post-salvation. The symbolism of baptism is
lost if a person has not truly experienced salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.
Second, in the instance of those who
were baptized after faith in Christ, but in a method other than immersion. This
issue is a little more difficult. It would seem to come down to the fact that
such a person did not truly receive baptism. If the method was sprinkling or
pouring, it does not fit the definition of baptism. Again, the word baptize
means "to submerge in water." However, the Bible nowhere specifically
addresses those who have been baptized but not immersed. This issue, then, is a
matter of a believer’s personal relationship with God. A believer who has been
baptized unbiblically should ask the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5).
If the believer’s conscience is unsure, it would be best to go ahead and be
rebaptized biblically to put the conscience at ease (Romans 14:23).
GotQuestions.org
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