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I do not count infant baptism, as it is not Biblical.
But I am totally against adults getting baptized over and over. It becomes a salvation issue, not a symbol of identifying with the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus was only resurrected once and so we should only be baptized once. For that matter, Jesus was only baptized once, and we should be following his example.
The reason I am so against getting rebaptized in a believer's baptism, is because it becomes a "feeling" substitute for faith, and a relationship with Christ. I have met several people who have been given believer's baptism 5 or 6 or even 10 times. They are trusting their feeling, not the finished work of Christ on the cross.
We do have to repent and confess our sins if we fall as believers. But God never lets go of us, so why on earth would we have to go back to being born again, again? Because baptism is also a witness to the work of faith and being justified by God. That only happens once.
I think the OP needs to think and learn about sanctification. I am concerned this pattern is going to continue, sooner or later. Look to Jesus, not the "work" of getting re-baptized as a believer.
PS. You are not going to be judged for your "third" baptism. You did what you thought was right and necessary at the time, even though it was not. And I am glad you have come seeking to learn! That is a sign that the Holy Spirit is really working in your life, and you do not need to get baptized a fourth or fifth time, ok?
But I am totally against adults getting baptized over and over. It becomes a salvation issue, not a symbol of identifying with the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus was only resurrected once and so we should only be baptized once. For that matter, Jesus was only baptized once, and we should be following his example.
The reason I am so against getting rebaptized in a believer's baptism, is because it becomes a "feeling" substitute for faith, and a relationship with Christ. I have met several people who have been given believer's baptism 5 or 6 or even 10 times. They are trusting their feeling, not the finished work of Christ on the cross.
We do have to repent and confess our sins if we fall as believers. But God never lets go of us, so why on earth would we have to go back to being born again, again? Because baptism is also a witness to the work of faith and being justified by God. That only happens once.
I think the OP needs to think and learn about sanctification. I am concerned this pattern is going to continue, sooner or later. Look to Jesus, not the "work" of getting re-baptized as a believer.
PS. You are not going to be judged for your "third" baptism. You did what you thought was right and necessary at the time, even though it was not. And I am glad you have come seeking to learn! That is a sign that the Holy Spirit is really working in your life, and you do not need to get baptized a fourth or fifth time, ok?
Baptism is all about letting go of the past and making a public commitment to walk rightly before G-d. This s why being Baptized was done often with the first followers of Jesus. Whenever a milestone was passed a change was happening and baptism was a sign that you were going to grab hold of the new and not live in what was or could have been.
My post is clear on my meaning. Baptism is a Jewish understanding that was practiced by the first Christians. When Christians turned from the root of their faith Baptism practices were changed. I have read some of your post in the past and I am not going to argue the point. I put this here only for the author of this thread. G-d Bless and keep you
K
I'd like to add that you did nothing wrong by getting baptized the second time.
About the third time? Please do not worry!
I have to say that I agree with the marriage vow analogy given by Kaycie.
I also agree with the advice given by KennethC & some others.
There are some awesome people on this forum.
About the third time? Please do not worry!
I have to say that I agree with the marriage vow analogy given by Kaycie.
I also agree with the advice given by KennethC & some others.
There are some awesome people on this forum.
Thank you but give all the thanks and glory to God !!!
Yes there is nothing wrong with getting baptized again and it does not become a salvation issue if you do, as baptism symbolizes also the dedication one gives to the Lord to be a following disciple of His.
If you feel in your heart that you have fallen away at any point and need to rededicate your life to the Lord then their is nothing wrong with doing this. Even Hebrews shows that these can be done again if God permits, so if you feel in your heart that God is pulling you to do this, do it !!!
Nobody is to tell you any different if God is leading you to !!!
Its weird all the different things we can feel condemned by.
I wouldn't think being baptised twice as an adult would be one of them.
Can we have seconds? I suppose it would be embarrasing if you are told no. But what if you aren't told no? Who wouldn't want a second helping of what they have received from the Lord?
Just trying to put this into simple perspective. It reminds me of that play Oliver a little bit. 'Please, sir, can I have some more?' 'YOU WANT MORE???'
It would be funny if it wasn't a little bit sad...
I wouldn't think being baptised twice as an adult would be one of them.
Can we have seconds? I suppose it would be embarrasing if you are told no. But what if you aren't told no? Who wouldn't want a second helping of what they have received from the Lord?
Just trying to put this into simple perspective. It reminds me of that play Oliver a little bit. 'Please, sir, can I have some more?' 'YOU WANT MORE???'
It would be funny if it wasn't a little bit sad...
T
I'm Lutheran and I believe in only having one baptism. Growing up in a Lutheran home, I was baptised as a baby (some children, teenagers and adults get baptised too). That said, I don't believe it's wrong or evil to rededicate your life to Christ. And being baptised again could just be a public way to show the Church that you take your walk with Him seriously.
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Although this is besides the topic of this thread, I'll try to answer your question.
=>There is no one without sin.
=> Sin makes us fall short of the glory of God
=> One sin (be it lying or sexual sin)is enough to separate us from God (same spiritual consequence)
=> Every sin has to be repented of
=> God shows no favoritism (or God is not a respecter of persons, as some understand this)
This puts all sins on an equal platform,
since every sin, irrespective of the type or quantity, has the same spiritual consequence.
So, whether a sin is big or small, what difference does it make to us spiritually? No difference.
However, the emotional or physical consequence of one sin may vary to a great extent as compared to another.
Does our sin make any difference to God?
Neither our sin nor our righteousness defines God. [Job 35:6-8]
However, he is an emotional God, and gets hurt.
So, our sin affects our relationship with Him.
The quoted passage can be best studied within its context.
The context:
Jesus is telling Pilate that the sin of Judas was greater than that of Pilate himself.
What was Pilate's sin? He did not find Jesus guilty,
but he gave into the people's demand to crucify Jesus.
By doing so, he passively participated in condemning Jesus.
Judas Iscariot, on the other hand, was actively involved in planning the arrest of Jesus.
He was a schemer and deceiver.
He set Jesus up to be arrested for personal benefit.
He exchanged his relationship with Jesus for money.
So, although both sinned against Jesus, I'm sure Jesus was hurt more by Judas.
I say this because I believe that Jesus sincerely loved Judas
as he sat and walked and ate with him, although he knew that he was the betrayer.
So I conclude that it was just an expression, and not a declaration that one sin is greater than another.
If sin really has a degree, it would have been mentioned in another verse somewhere else.
The Old Covenant was works based, so that probably made sin look great of small.
The New Covenant is based on faith. Faith has a degree, but sin does not.
If you find any New Testament verse that says that sin has a degree, please let me know.
=>There is no one without sin.
=> Sin makes us fall short of the glory of God
=> One sin (be it lying or sexual sin)is enough to separate us from God (same spiritual consequence)
=> Every sin has to be repented of
=> God shows no favoritism (or God is not a respecter of persons, as some understand this)
This puts all sins on an equal platform,
since every sin, irrespective of the type or quantity, has the same spiritual consequence.
So, whether a sin is big or small, what difference does it make to us spiritually? No difference.
However, the emotional or physical consequence of one sin may vary to a great extent as compared to another.
Does our sin make any difference to God?
Neither our sin nor our righteousness defines God. [Job 35:6-8]
However, he is an emotional God, and gets hurt.
So, our sin affects our relationship with Him.
The quoted passage can be best studied within its context.
The context:
Jesus is telling Pilate that the sin of Judas was greater than that of Pilate himself.
What was Pilate's sin? He did not find Jesus guilty,
but he gave into the people's demand to crucify Jesus.
By doing so, he passively participated in condemning Jesus.
Judas Iscariot, on the other hand, was actively involved in planning the arrest of Jesus.
He was a schemer and deceiver.
He set Jesus up to be arrested for personal benefit.
He exchanged his relationship with Jesus for money.
So, although both sinned against Jesus, I'm sure Jesus was hurt more by Judas.
I say this because I believe that Jesus sincerely loved Judas
as he sat and walked and ate with him, although he knew that he was the betrayer.
So I conclude that it was just an expression, and not a declaration that one sin is greater than another.
If sin really has a degree, it would have been mentioned in another verse somewhere else.
The Old Covenant was works based, so that probably made sin look great of small.
The New Covenant is based on faith. Faith has a degree, but sin does not.
If you find any New Testament verse that says that sin has a degree, please let me know.