Baptism. Do I need to be baptized again.

[Josephine2006]

Hi everyone,
So I was Christened when I was 8 years old by my request.
I have read that you should be aware of the commitment you are making to God, for the christening it to be valid.
I knew that it was to do with the church and God but no more than that. It was for me more about having a party afterwards! lol
So do I need to be baptized again?
Thank you guys.

 

[Hekuran]

There's a range of views on this subject, with people going to polar opposites.

I'm guessing from the way you say 'christening' that you may have been raised in the Anglican church. If so, one option is adult confirmation of baptismal vows.

My opinion is that your christening is valid: even if you didn't fully understand the vows you made at the time, you understand them now, and are following them. My advice is to talk to your church leader and seek their guidance.

 

[Josephine2006]

There's a range of views on this subject, with people going to polar opposites.

I'm guessing from the way you say 'christening' that you may have been raised in the Anglican church. If so, one option is adult confirmation of baptismal vows.

My opinion is that your christening is valid: even if you didn't fully understand the vows you made at the time, you understand them now, and are following them. My advice is to talk to your church leader and seek their guidance.

Thank you Hekuran, I did think that that would be the case from the research I've done online. Just wanted to check with you guys because you all seem to know what you're talking about and giving great advice.
I'm yet to go back to the church I went to years ago but will be going this Sunday and see how that pans out.
Thank you for your view, it clarified what I had found thus far on the subject.
Stay safe.

 

[Hekuran]

Thank you Hekuran, I did think that that would be the case from the research I've done online. Just wanted to check with you guys because you all seem to know what you're talking about and giving great advice.
I'm yet to go back to the church I went to years ago but will be going this Sunday and see how that pans out.
Thank you for your view, it clarified what I had found thus far on the subject.
Stay safe.

Great. I doubt if there's a church service running due to the lockdown, though. Check the website, most churches are doing some kind of online meeting.

 

[Josephine2006]

Great. I doubt if there's a church service running due to the lockdown, though. Check the website, most churches are doing some kind of online meeting.

Thank you Hekuran.. I would've been on my way to church without thinking about the situation so you saved me the journey!lol
My head is just sooooo rapped up with all that's going on for me with my faith; It feels very urgent that I find out as much as I can as soon as I can. I've been having sleepless nights (I usually get a break between nights thank goodness!)
I can't believe I forgot about all that's going on around us, even though I was only discussing it with my friends last night. Brain like a sieve!
Thank you again. Stay safe.

 

[Josephine2006]

Thank you Hekuran.. I would've been on my way to church without thinking about the situation so you saved me the journey!lol
My head is just sooooo rapped up with all that's going on for me with my faith; It feels very urgent that I find out as much as I can as soon as I can. I've been having sleepless nights (I usually get a break between nights thank goodness!)
I can't believe I forgot about all that's going on around us, even though I was only discussing it with my friends last night. Brain like a sieve!
Thank you again. Stay safe.

*A couple of sleepless nights. With a rest in between.

 

[Samson2020]

Hi everyone,
So I was Christened when I was 8 years old by my request.
I have read that you should be aware of the commitment you are making to God, for the christening it to be valid.
I knew that it was to do with the church and God but no more than that. It was for me more about having a party afterwards! lol
So do I need to be baptized again?
Thank you guys.

If you have been baptized in the Holy Ghost, then that's the only baptism that counts, but doesn't hurt to be water baptized again, though you have already been sealed with the promise. This would be an event that you would never forget, so if you don't know, it probably hasn't happened yet. If it has then great! Do you, or have you ever heard his voice? Have you ever done anything at the Lords direction?
Just trying to see where your at.

 

[Josephine2006]

If you have been baptized in the Holy Ghost, then that's the only baptism that counts, but doesn't hurt to be water baptized again, though you have already been sealed with the promise. This would be an event that you would never forget, so if you don't know, it probably hasn't happened yet. If it has then great! Do you, or have you ever heard his voice? Have you ever done anything at the Lords direction?
Just trying to see where your at.

Thank you for your reply again Samson,
I'm thinking about being Baptized but with all that's going on right now it's not likely to happen any time soon so will think it over.
Yes the experience of the Holy Spirit entering my being was very profound, a stream of what I can only describe as an electric current through my spine and into my heart, and my body soaking it up (I could be mistaken though). It lasted for around 10-20 seconds.
No I haven't heard his voice, it's an inner thing. He doesn't always have definitive answers to what I should do, he has said on a couple of occasions it's up to you what you would like to do and slow down there's no rush! It feels urgent to me though!lol
I have said in the past and again for the past year or so now, I say 'Your Will is my Will, and that I trust him with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding and have given him free reign with my life, that have brought many challenges.
My life has been should I say colourful to say the least.lol

 

[Samson2020]

No I haven't heard his voice, it's an inner thing

True. I didn't necessarily mean with your physical ear but that can happen. If you will look up Jeremiah 33:3 and do it, things just might change for the better. Have a clock at bedside and when your stirred in the night listen for the word that is spoken, then look at the time, then go read whatever it references. Sometimes we are too loud within to hear that still small voice so while we sleep and are quiet we will hear something. Our daily bread?
I went through this for awhile myself and the teaching was quite intense, sometimes 2-3 times a night. And once when I was really tired and didn't want to get up again
he used my wifes vocal cords to say "your not doing what I told you to do", she was asleep as it was this very verse that caused the scolding, and it was 3:33 in the morning
and the word was Jeremiah. There is no Jeremiah 3:33, so 33:3 and there it was. And what a ride ever since.

 

[PloughBoy]

Hi everyone,
So I was Christened when I was 8 years old by my request.
I have read that you should be aware of the commitment you are making to God, for the christening it to be valid.
I knew that it was to do with the church and God but no more than that. It was for me more about having a party afterwards! lol
So do I need to be baptized again?
Thank you guys.

That is your call, whether you are a wet Christian or a dry one in this time of your life. If you think you must do this to put it behind you and be done with it! Go, for it!

(Hebrews 6).
1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to [a]perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this https://biblehub.com/nkjv/hebrews/6.htm#footnoteswe will do if God permits.

 

[Josephine2006]

True. I didn't necessarily mean with your physical ear but that can happen. If you will look up Jeremiah 33:3 and do it, things just might change for the better. Have a clock at bedside and when your stirred in the night listen for the word that is spoken, then look at the time, then go read whatever it references. Sometimes we are too loud within to hear that still small voice so while we sleep and are quiet we will hear something. Our daily bread?
I went through this for awhile myself and the teaching was quite intense, sometimes 2-3 times a night. And once when I was really tired and didn't want to get up again
he used my wifes vocal cords to say "your not doing what I told you to do", she was asleep as it was this very verse that caused the scolding, and it was 3:33 in the morning
and the word was Jeremiah. There is no Jeremiah 3:33, so 33:3 and there it was. And what a ride ever since.

Thank you Samon, I'll read that now.

 

[Sue D.]

Josephine 2006 -- Another something to think about. Baptism by immersion is an outward testimony to others as to the inner decision / belief that has already been made in your heart. With the heart a person believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His death, burial and bodily resurrection / the blood He shed on the cross is all that's needed to take care of your sins / everyone's sins. Confession is made unto your inner belief thanking God for His gift of your salvation. The Holy Spirit will have immediately come to indwell the person / you. And That is what is being shown to other people in baptism by immersion. And that baptism can be done in a church's baptistry or where ever the pastor would have that body of believers get together. And that is something you'd need to talk with your pastor about. It's a very important decision in your life. Your personal salvation being the most important decision.

 

[Josephine2006]

True. I didn't necessarily mean with your physical ear but that can happen. If you will look up Jeremiah 33:3 and do it, things just might change for the better. Have a clock at bedside and when your stirred in the night listen for the word that is spoken, then look at the time, then go read whatever it references. Sometimes we are too loud within to hear that still small voice so while we sleep and are quiet we will hear something. Our daily bread?
I went through this for awhile myself and the teaching was quite intense, sometimes 2-3 times a night. And once when I was really tired and didn't want to get up again
he used my wifes vocal cords to say "your not doing what I told you to do", she was asleep as it was this very verse that caused the scolding, and it was 3:33 in the morning
and the word was Jeremiah. There is no Jeremiah 3:33, so 33:3 and there it was. And what a ride ever since.

Samson2020. How did you know that it was 'Jeremiah' 33:3 (not a different person, say Luke 33:3?)

 

[Alan McDougall]

Hi everyone,
So I was Christened when I was 8 years old by my request.
I have read that you should be aware of the commitment you are making to God, for the christening it to be valid.
I knew that it was to do with the church and God but no more than that. It was for me more about having a party afterwards! lol
So do I need to be baptized again?
Thank you guys.

Baptism does not save you/? You must first repent of all your sins in Jesus's Holy Name and let the Lord Jesus become Lord of your life and follow him. Then as a step of obedience get baptized. Being Christened as a child is meaningless! Only adult baptism when you know that you are committing your life to God forever is a step of obedience that one must do. If you have repented given over your life to Jesus, then yes you must be baptized. God ignores baby baptism because a small child has not reached the age of understanding. Thus saying "must I be baptized again" is meaningless because you were never baptised in the first place.

 

[Sue D.]

Regarding #13 - Jeremiah 33:3 " Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

The idea that God literally spoke through his wife while she was asleep -- well -- only he knows -- we weren't there, and God uses his own methods to get a person's attention.

 

[Sue D.]

It needs to be the Holy Spirit guiding you to your need For baptism. No one should be telling to do so. But it Is the outward showing of what has already taken place inwardly.

A child / Anyone / has to be able to tell right from wrong. They need to be able to understand enough Scripture to be able To accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. A child is eager to please adults / other people. So -- a wise older person will explain salvation but wait until the child asks questions on his own. And then explain only what the child is asking -- everyone needs to understand / learn at their own rate of learning.

There Have been times when a young person has accepted Christ as personal Savior maybe through VBS or neighborhood Bible clubs -- the parent won't allow baptism because it's not what the family religion teaches. that Did happen years ago -- the daughter was told that she had been sprinkled as an infant and that was good enough. If she still wanted to be baptized when she became an adult - that would be her choice. Until then, she lived in their home under their rules. And they also moved to be away from the Baptist influence of the Grandparents. It was attempted to explain that it was Bible and not Baptist, but they didn't want to hear that.

 

[PloughBoy]

Baptism does not save you/? You must first repent of all your sins in Jesus's Holy Name and let the Lord Jesus become Lord of your life and follow him. Then as a step of obedience get baptized. Being Christened as a child is meaningless! Only adult baptism when you know that you are committing your life to God forever is a step of obedience that one must do. If you have repented given over your life to Jesus, then yes you must be baptized. God ignores baby baptism because a small child has not reached the age of understanding. Thus saying "must I be baptized again" is meaningless because you were never baptised in the first place.

I agree with you on that,

 

[Born Again 2004]

Jesus said: "You must be born again". You are born first a physical birth via your Mother. To enter God's kingdom, you must be born again , the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or Spiritual Birth. You must receive God's free gift of faith. This happens only once and for good inside or outside of water!

 

[Samson2020]

Samson2020. How did you know that it was 'Jeremiah' 33:3 (not a different person, say Luke 33:3?)

He spoke, internally, the word Jeremiah and it was 3:33 A.M. it was a few minutes after that the scolding, to the external ear, took place as I didn't want to get up and read it til the morning.

As another example: This one took place very early in the walk ,if you will, I had been studying the Rapture issue and wasn't really getting anywhere and one night I got woke up at 2:40 and heard the word Matthew, well there is no 2:40 in Matthew so I looked at the entire 24th chapter and sure enough verses 29-31 answer the question.
As vs 29 Starts off with "Immediately after the tribulation of those days........" 31- "they shall gather together his elect...." I was with the pre tirbbers until that night, and was
sick for about a week as I then knew that if this thing were to happen in my life time it just might require my own sacrifice as a sheep led to the slaughter. But that only seemed to drive home a need for more understanding and more faith. Thus studying the timelines for where we are now and asking for more faith and understanding. Revelation seals number 5 and 6. Compare to Matthew 24:29-31.
There have been many martyrs of the Lords throughout time but to think you just may have been marked out to become one, initially is a scary thought.
But well worth the price.

The idea that God literally spoke through his wife while she was asleep -- well -- only he knows -- we weren't there, and God uses his own methods to get a person's attention.

Even Balaams donkey was used to speak to Balaam. Numbers 22:28-31. So yes your right he can do as he pleases through whomever he chooses to deliver the message.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Josephine 2006 -- Another something to think about. Baptism by immersion is an outward testimony to others as to the inner decision / belief that has already been made in your heart. With the heart a person believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His death, burial and bodily resurrection / the blood He shed on the cross is all that's needed to take care of your sins / everyone's sins. Confession is made unto your inner belief thanking God for His gift of your salvation. The Holy Spirit will have immediately come to indwell the person / you. And That is what is being shown to other people in baptism by immersion. And that baptism can be done in a church's baptistry or where ever the pastor would have that body of believers get together. And that is something you'd need to talk with your pastor about. It's a very important decision in your life. Your personal salvation being the most important decision.

Well put @Sue D. the only thing I would add is that any believer can baptise another person, it doesn't have to be a pastor...

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Great. I doubt if there's a church service running due to the lockdown, though. Check the website, most churches are doing some kind of online meeting.

So true my friend... at this time as places of worship are closed to protect flock we can clearly see, as scripture points out. The church building is not the church, it is a meeting place for worship and prayer. The Church our Lord talks of, the Body of Christ, His Bride, consists of Born Again believers, worldwide, male or female, young and old, no matter what language we speak or country we live. The True Church is the born again believers, the saved souls, and they can meet anywhere, in a place built for worship, in the home, in the street, in a car, on a plane, even on here. Anywhere where two or three, or more, saved souls, come together in Jesus Name.

Thank you Hekuran.. I would've been on my way to church without thinking about the situation so you saved me the journey! lol
My head is just sooooo rapped up with all that's going on for me with my faith; It feels very urgent that I find out as much as I can as soon as I can. I've been having sleepless nights (I usually get a break between nights thank goodness!)
I can't believe I forgot about all that's going on around us, even though I was only discussing it with my friends last night. Brain like a sieve!
Thank you again. Stay safe.

Dear Josephine, you don't have a brain like a sieve, our daily routines have changed so much, it can be hard to adjust at times.

You have had some excellent advice on here, take things slowly, a day at a time, pray always, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't rush into thinks, lay your heartfelt thoughts out to the Lord in prayer, pray the Holy Spirit will guide you sister, He will.

There are a lot of churches turning to the Internet and YouTube, there were already a lot on YouTube, if you choose to view them be careful, you may get wrong teaching and that is the last thing you want. You could however check online for the place of worship you have been to previously, see what activities, studies, fellowship etc they do now. (Did until Covid-19 came along) That way you could see if they are doing any website updates of there services or bible studies.

We pray the Lord will Bless you, Guide you and Protect you sister.

Peace be with you.