Are Backsliders Required to be Re-baptized?

[chosenbyone]

This was the first time that I have had a chance to log on today. First of all, I want to thank Rhoni, Sister Falla and others for their heartfelt posts that they took the time to write here. I have felt truly blessed to have such wonderful people that have taken time to pray with and for me regarding this subject. Rhoni, do you think that next week, Saturday, would work for you and Brother S. to meet with me? Just drop me a line or call me tomorrow evening. I wanted to thank you for being such a dear friend. I listened to your CD last night and I can't wait for you to hear the songs. I wanted to share with you and Sis. Falla what happened last night, so look for my email.

Brother Jones, I have always admired you though we have never met and I appreciated seeing that you wrote your comments on this thread. One day, I hope that we would have a chance to meet for coffee and talk about our wonderful Lord and Savior.

StMatthew, I would never want to do violence to the Word of God. The Word has guided me through many years and many situations. It has always been precious to me and Jesus has always used His Word to direct me in all areas of my life. I have enjoyed reading your posts here on AFF and have always been impressed with your knowledge and class. Would you do me a favor? Would you give me scriptural references to establish your statement that if I were to be re-baptized that I would do violence to the Word? I would greatly appreciate your time and effort in doing that for me.

There were many incidents written in the Word where the Lord instructed people to do things that were "out of the norm" and they faced the onslaught of the skeptics in their day. If those that received their healing and deliverances had listened to the naysayers, we would not have had so many wonderful stories that we read in the Bible that have brought faith to so many of us.

My life and my will is in the hands of the Lord and not in the opinions, though appreciated, of those that haven't heard from God regarding my particular circumstance.

May the Lord bless you fully and may health and happiness overflow in your life.

chosen

[Sherri]

Follow your heart, CO. We will all be praying for you!

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Follow your heart, CO. We will all be praying for you!

Thank you so very much, Sherri. I told someone yesterday how gracious you were and I have enjoyed your sweet personality that you have brought to this forum.

I pray that the presence of Jesus surrounds you everyday of your life.

Bless you...

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Follow your heart, CO. We will all be praying for you!

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?


Do not follow your heart. Follow the bible.

[jwharv]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

The Sacraments of the Lords Supper and foot washing is what a believer would act upon in order to find a fresh cleansing from the journey.

Water Baptism is a one time experience. As PhilJones has stated, you can never be unborn, so to attempted rebirth would do violence to the Word of God.There remaineth no more sacrifice. It is already accomplished. The fact is that faith needs to be put in the initial work of God. If you can't put faith in the initial work, I seriously doubt that a "second" baptism will do any good.

Again, the crossing of the red sea (baptism unto Moses) was not something that was done multiple times. The earth was only baptized one time (in the flood), with God promising not to do it again with water. Fire was the next baptism the earth would be promised.

So you believe when I was rebaptised I "did violence to the Word of God"?

Where do you get this idea from? I know God lead me to get rebaptised I do not doubt that at all. I know my expereince and can only speak for me. I don't see how my rebaptism at an age when I finaly got the meaning and seriousness of what baptism meant did any harm to God's word.

If you truely believe it doesn't matter if the person being baptized understands what they are doing or not, then how can you not agree with infant baptism? I think it truely matters that the person being baptised knows the seriousness of what it is about.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by chosenbyone

StMatthew, I would never want to do violence to the Word of God. The Word has guided me through many years and many situations. It has always been precious to me and Jesus has always used His Word to direct me in all areas of my life. I have enjoyed reading your posts here on AFF and have always been impressed with your knowledge and class. Would you do me a favor? Would you give me scriptural references to establish your statement that if I were to be re-baptized that I would do violence to the Word? I would greatly appreciate your time and effort in doing that for me.

chosen

First, I want to make sure to say that my post was not meant to be offensive. Maybe the Term "Violence to the Word" is too harsh of a saying.

Let me try to answer you on this. For our faith to be valid and grow, it MUST find its basis in the written Word of God. Only by the Word of God can faith find life. When a doctrine or belief is embraced that is not within the Word of God, or is contrary to the standard doctrine that is outlined within the Word of God, there comes a conflict between ones faith, and God's Word.


Now if I apply that to baptism, I find no place where faith could possibly rest upon the Word of God in a "second" baptism. What scripture will you rest upon for this event? Baptism is burial with Christ. Will you crucify him and put him in the grave a second time?

As I posted, the examples of Baptism do not show, ever, a second baptism taking place. The children of Israel only crossed in the Red Sea once. The flood only covered the earth once. The Apostles never baptized someone a second time. But when Jesus prepared to wash feet, and Peter balked at the idea, Jesus let him know that "He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit".


Let me leave you with this. You have obeyed the Lord by repenting of your sins, being baptized in Jesus Name for the remission of sins, and have received the Holy Ghost. You are his child. The new birth took place. John was very plain when he stated my favorite verse in the bible.....

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by jwharv

So you believe when I was rebaptised I "did violence to the Word of God"?

Where do you get this idea from? I know God lead me to get rebaptised I do not doubt that at all. I know my expereince and can only speak for me. I don't see how my rebaptism at an age when I finaly got the meaning and seriousness of what baptism meant did any harm to God's word.

If you truely believe it doesn't matter if the person being baptized understands what they are doing or not, then how can you not agree with infant baptism? I think it truely matters that the person being baptised knows the seriousness of what it is about.

Bro,
I just posted and explained that I may have used too harsh of words.


What scripture do you use to support being re-baptized? I am not saying that someone will go to hell for being re-baptized. But I do not see scriptural support, which is the only place faith should be resting, for this being done. I think it actually shows a lack of understanding of water baptism. Its like asking Christ to die a second time for ones sins, and being buried again, as you are BURIED WITH HIM in baptism? Maybe a better wording for me to use is that it does violence to Christ?

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by jwharv

If you truely believe it doesn't matter if the person being baptized understands what they are doing or not, then how can you not agree with infant baptism? I think it truely matters that the person being baptised knows the seriousness of what it is about.

I believe that one should be of an age that they make their own decision to be baptized. The age will be different for each child. An infant cannot make its own decision. But I in no way believe that you have to have full understanding on the doctrine of baptism for it to be effective. You just simply have to be able to make a choice to obey the Word of God.

[jwharv]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I believe that one should be of an age that they make their own decision to be baptized. The age will be different for each child. An infant cannot make its own decision. But I in no way believe that you have to have full understanding on the doctrine of baptism for it to be effective. You just simply have to be able to make a choice to obey the Word of God.

This has been my point all along in my case. I never actually made the decesion to be baptized the first time. I was around 4 or 5 and the sunday school teacher basicly told us he was going to ask our parents if it was okay for us to be baptised. We went along because most of us just thought of it as getting to play in the water of the baptismal tank. We did not know any better. I did not understand what being baptised was about and I truely feel the choice was made for me instead of by me.

This is the reason when I got the Holy Ghost I felt I needed to be rebaptized. I had multiple people tell me it was not neccesary and I prayed and truely agonized over the decesion before asking my pastor at the time. I truely feel it is what God lead me to do and I can truely say there was a huge diffrence when I came out of the water the second time then when I did the first time. But as I said I can opnly speak for my expereince.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by jwharv

This has been my point all along in my case. I never actually made the decesion to be baptized the first time. I was around 4 or 5 and the sunday school teacher basicly told us he was going to ask our parents if it was okay for us to be baptised. We went along because most of us just thought of it as getting to play in the water of the baptismal tank. We did not know any better. I did not understand what being baptised was about and I truely feel the choice was made for me instead of by me.

This is the reason when I got the Holy Ghost I felt I needed to be rebaptized. I had multiple people tell me it was not neccesary and I prayed and truely agonized over the decesion before asking my pastor at the time. I truely feel it is what God lead me to do and I can truely say there was a huge diffrence when I came out of the water the second time then when I did the first time. But as I said I can opnly speak for my expereince.

If you were not old enough to make a decision, or the decision was made for you, then I could see the need, because you really were never baptized according to faith. Baptism must be an act of obedient faith.

My concern is someone who would be re-baptized after having known the Lord.