Do I need baptism?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Mar 18, 2023
5
3
3
#1
I’m a new Christian ( although I used to hang out on Christian Chat ad LM a lot around 2006-7). I was wondering the other day whether I should be baptised as an adult. I was christened as a baby. What do you guys think?
 

GRACE_ambassador

Well-known member
Feb 22, 2021
3,242
1,642
113
Midwest
#2
I’m a new Christian ( although I used to hang out on Christian Chat ad LM a lot around 2006-7). I was wondering the other day whether I should be baptised as an adult. I was christened as a baby. What do you guys think?
Precious friend, for your prayerful and careful study:

ONE Baptism!

Amen.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,436
3,685
113
#3
I’m a new Christian ( although I used to hang out on Christian Chat ad LM a lot around 2006-7). I was wondering the other day whether I should be baptised as an adult. I was christened as a baby. What do you guys think?
Do you find anything in the New Testament that suggests christening of infants was a general practice in God's church? I'd say get water baptized by full immersion; but don't take it from me. Read God's word and pray and see what conclusion you reach.
 
Dec 29, 2023
1,327
238
63
#4
I’m a new Christian ( although I used to hang out on Christian Chat ad LM a lot around 2006-7). I was wondering the other day whether I should be baptised as an adult. I was christened as a baby. What do you guys think?
Being splashed with water as a baby just got you wet. That was not biblical baptism.

One only gets baptised AFTER they have become a born again Christian which can only be done by an adult that knows the difference between wrong and right who believes God's Word.

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:37.38
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

1 Peter 3:21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Colossians 2:11-13
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


I'm not saying one does not first repent, believe, and confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is of course the first thing one does for initial salvation. Without doing this, one can get dunked in the water all they want and that does not make them saved.

After initial salvation, the Lord instructs us to be baptized which is a public demonstration and public acknowledgement before others that we are dead with Him and are raised up together unto new life.... it is making a covenant with the Lord when we are baptized, making a commitment, making a promise to turn from our old life unto living for Him.

This process is the starting point for us to start walking in newness of life, having a clean conscience toward God which is what actually saves us. Being dunked in water itself is not the moment one becomes born again as we should already be born again before getting baptized.

As mentioned in 1 Peter 3:21, having a clean conscience toward God having accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, having confessed out sins before the Lord is what saves us.

Now... as we see the thief on the Cross next to Jesus acknowledge the Lord as His Savior (Luke 23:39-43)... and Jesus told this man that he was going to paradise, if one finds themselves in a situation where it's not possible to get water baptized, then they will still be saved if they have truly been born again.

Apart from this, we are required to be baptized because God's tells us to be water baptized in His Word.

Those having opportunity to be baptized and choose to disobey God's Word are disobeying the Gospel and the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience (knowingly disobeying the Lord is an evil desire, see Colossians 3:5,6).

Through the faith of the operation of God (Colossians 2:12) through water baptism are we raised up in newness of life (Romans 6:4) to have a clean conscience towards the Lord to walk with Him and we will be saved IF we endure until the end of our life abiding IN Christ.

In conclusion, if one has opportunity to be baptized and chooses to ignore and disobey Mark 16:16, Acts 2:37.38, 1 Peter 3:21, Colossians 2:11-13, and Romans 6:4...then the after life is not going to be as they think.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,441
3,222
113
#5
I’m a new Christian ( although I used to hang out on Christian Chat ad LM a lot around 2006-7). I was wondering the other day whether I should be baptised as an adult. I was christened as a baby. What do you guys think?
Sure. I was also sprinkled as a baby. I learned that baptism was for an adult believer, by immersion, a few months after I was saved. It is also an opportunity to witness to unsaved friends and family. Ask them to come along!
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,159
30,309
113
#6
I was christened as a baby. What do you guys think?
The "formula" is generally accepted to be: 1) Repent; 2) Believe; 3) Baptism

Babies have nothing to repent of, and are incapable of belief. You said you were
Christened. Was that a naming ceremony? Nothing wrong with infant dedication.
But it should not be conflated with the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.
 
Dec 29, 2023
1,327
238
63
#7
I was also sprinkled as a baby.
That was meaningless according to what God's Word teaches.



It is also an opportunity to witness to unsaved friends and family. Ask them to come along!
Now you're talking!

Tell them you love them and don't want to see them burn in hell for all eternity and the fire gonna be hot.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,606
4,535
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#8
I’m a new Christian ( although I used to hang out on Christian Chat ad LM a lot around 2006-7). I was wondering the other day whether I should be baptised as an adult. I was christened as a baby. What do you guys think?
Please read from 28 to the last verse.
Acts 8:28...

The Ethiopian asked that same question.
here's the details of what Philip explained.
What Must I Do to Be Saved?

Let me know whether or not that makes sense. Have a good weekend.
 
Dec 29, 2023
1,327
238
63
#9
Babies have nothing to repent of
That's not what the calvinists say!

They claim those babies are all filthy sinners that deserve to
go to hell and only "elect" babies go to Heaven if they die early.