Baptism question

[Sea Brushes]

Hey all,
I was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant. When I became an adult, I tried out Mormonism, was baptized, and discovered it wasn’t for me and went back to Catholicism. However, my husband and I are now attending a non-denominational Christian church. Do I need to get baptized again? Thanks so much! God bless.

 

[crossnote]

Hey all,
I was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant. When I became an adult, I tried out Mormonism, was baptized, and discovered it wasn’t for me and went back to Catholicism. However, my husband and I are now attending a non-denominational Christian church. Do I need to get baptized again? Thanks so much! God bless.

My wife had the same excursion. Actually, if it was a Mormon baptism, I would get baptized again.

 

[Tigger45]

I would say your first baptism was authentic and Mormon baptisms never are although most non-denominational churches would say you would need to be baptized again as a believer in an authentic Christian Church.

 

[PloverWing]

It depends on the nondenominational church. Most churches of most denominations recognize baptism in any Christian church as valid. If you joined my church, for instance, your Catholic baptism would be fully recognized as Christian baptism. However, some churches require believer's baptism by immersion. If that is the kind of church you want to join, they may ask you to be baptized by immersion before joining. Do you know your church's policy?

 

[samwise gamgee]

Believers are commanded to be baptized. This command is directed to the believer, which means it is something he must choose to do. Being baptized as an infant is something that your parents chose to do to you. Mormons are heretics so their baptism doesn't count. You don't need to be rebaptized. You simply need to be baptized to show that you are now a follower of Christ.

 

[Sketcher]

Hey all,
I was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant. When I became an adult, I tried out Mormonism, was baptized, and discovered it wasn’t for me and went back to Catholicism. However, my husband and I are now attending a non-denominational Christian church. Do I need to get baptized again? Thanks so much! God bless.

The Mormon baptism won't be recognized.
The Catholic one may or may not be. The churches I've been part of recognize believer's baptism, which means you get baptized after you come to faith.

 

[Kris Jordan]

Hey all,
I was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant. When I became an adult, I tried out Mormonism, was baptized, and discovered it wasn’t for me and went back to Catholicism. However, my husband and I are now attending a non-denominational Christian church. Do I need to get baptized again? Thanks so much! God bless.

Hi Sea Brushes,

Water baptism is an intentional act of obedience on the part of the born-again Christian that should take place after having received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is an outward, visible sign which symbolizes the inward, invisible change that has already taken place in the life of a believer who has received the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, the act of baptism serves as a public witness and testimony of a believer’s new life in Christ. (Please keep in mind that there is no saving power in baptism. The act of baptism itself does not cleanse or redeem anyone from their sin, nor is it required for salvation to “take effect.” Salvation from one’s sin comes by grace and is imparted through faith in Jesus Christ, not by external acts, works, behaviors, feats or actions of any kind, including baptism. Therefore, if someone desires to be baptized, yet has not been born-again, their baptism will be of no effect and will accomplish nothing of value.)

If you have been born-again but have not been water baptized since becoming born-again, you should be baptized as a public testimony of your new life in Christ to your family and friends. If you're not sure what being "born again" means, or if you're not sure if you are saved, please let us know so we can help you understand the difference between being "Catholic" and being saved. As a former Catholic myself, I understand it can be confusing as to what the difference really is.

 

[carp614]

What Kris said...

 

[Cat77]

Hi Sea Brushes,

If you're not sure what being "born again" means, or if you're not sure if you are saved, please let us know so we can help you understand the difference between being "Catholic" and being saved. As a former Catholic myself, I understand it can be confusing as to what the difference really is.

Kris, what is the difference?

 

[Kris Jordan]

Kris, what is the difference?

Hi Cat77,

As a Catholic in my younger years, I never understood the gospel that saves because (in the Roman Catholic churches I grew up in), it was never taught to me, nor was I ever encouraged or instructed to read God's Word for myself. Instead, what was taught to me was a lot of rule-following, works and "religion," which never saves anyone.

In answering your question, I will focus on what actually saves someone and anything else outside of that (whether taught by the Catholic Church or any other group) will be self evident:

In order for a person to be saved from their sin (born-again) and brought into right standing before God, they must:

• Understand they are a sinner before God who is separated from Him because of it;
• Understand their sin brings them eternal consequences in hell;
• Understand they can do nothing to save themselves or bring themselves into right standing before God apart from placing their faith in Jesus for what He did for them on the cross (which paid their sin debt in full);
• Turn away from their lifestyle of sin and turn to Jesus by trusting Him solely for their salvation and forgiveness (which is a gift from God to them by faith).

 

[ViaCrucis]

Hey all,
I was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant. When I became an adult, I tried out Mormonism, was baptized, and discovered it wasn’t for me and went back to Catholicism. However, my husband and I are now attending a non-denominational Christian church. Do I need to get baptized again? Thanks so much! God bless.

They may want you to get rebaptized. I would say don't, indeed I would hope and pray you do not.

As a baptized Christian there is never a need to be rebaptized. Baptism isn't something we do for God, it's not a work of righteousness we do in order to gain God's favor. It is God's own gracious work on our own lives, by which He has promised us new birth (John 3:5, Titus 3:5), union with Christ, His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-12, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:12). We are the property of Jesus Christ our Lord by the gracious working of God in our lives, which He accomplishes through Word and Sacrament. Since you have been baptized, you are baptized.

Being baptized isn't simply a religious ritual, it is your identity in Jesus. You can boldly confess "I am baptized!" and by this know that you belong to God, that Christ is yours, that you are forgiven, and that you are a Christian. You don't need to look to this or that work, but can confidently trust in Jesus, your Lord and Savior, trusting in Him and Him alone.

Instead of being baptized a second time as though your Holy Baptism you received as an infant doesn't count, instead remember your baptism. For here God cleaved to you with Jesus Christ, adopted you as His child, and made you a member of His family. Come before the throne of grace, as a child of the Father, with the Holy Spirit in you confessing, "Abba! Father!" (Galatians 4:6).

Remember your baptism, trust in Jesus, believe His word. You are the beloved of God in Christ who gave His life for you.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[PROPHECYKID]

Hey all,
I was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant. When I became an adult, I tried out Mormonism, was baptized, and discovered it wasn’t for me and went back to Catholicism. However, my husband and I are now attending a non-denominational Christian church. Do I need to get baptized again? Thanks so much! God bless.

When you look at the bible we find instances of people being baptized more than once when they come to know and understand greater truth (Acts 19:3 - 5). So the short answer is yes. Going a bit deeper though, there are some here who have talked about if the baptism would be recognized as valid or not but the question is by who? Is the baptism of an infant recognized by God?? I don't think so, because it is simply not biblical. Baptism should be a decision one makes after hearing the gospel and making a decision to repent and accept Jesus Christ and an infant cannot do that. As for Mormonism, they do not even really accept Jesus Christ as the savior so that also does not count.

What I would ask about your non denominational church is, what doctrines are you being taught?