Is Infant baptism Okay?
Question: I was baptized as a baby.I have been told that a baptism must be done on your own free will. Do I need to be baptized again? I do not believe it is necessary.
Answer: There are two different views on baptism. The first view comes from the Reformed tradition. In this view, baptism is a sign of God’s covenant, or promise. There is a parallel to circumcision in the Old Testament, whereby a baby was marked, or set apart, for God. Similarly, baptism sets the infant apart for God. It is not a sign of salvation, but a symbol of the promise of God and of the commitment of God’s people to nurture that child so that he or she will come to know God personally when they are old enough to understand.
The other main view of baptism is the Anabaptist view (Anabaptist means “twice baptized”). The Anabaptists believed that infant baptism wasn’t good enough, because baptism was meaningful only if the person being baptized had made a commitment to Jesus already. So the Anabaptists thought that anyone who had been baptized as an infant needed to be baptized again as a believing adult. In this view, baptism is a sign of salvation. It shows identity with Christ.
We think both views are valid, and that if you have been baptized as a baby, you don’t need to be baptized again. Not all churches agree with this, so depending on where you go to church, your baptism may or may not be recognized.
In either case, baptism is not necessary for salvation, and it is not a guarantee of salvation. It is a symbol of God’s love for us and commitment to us, and it’s a symbol of our commitment to Him.
There are so many references to baptism in the Bible. Your question demands a Bible answer. So, what saith the scripture?
Matthew 3:13-16
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Ephesians 4:4-5
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Romans 6:3-5
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
I Peter 3:21
This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you - not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:12
and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
John 3:1-5
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
Acts 2:38-41
And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls
Acts 22:16
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
Galatians 3:26-27
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Mark 16:15-16
And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
Acts 2:38-41
And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls