Buried and Forgotten by God

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1. Is it ever proper to be baptized more than once?

Answer:

Yes, Acts 19:1-5 shows that the Bible endorses rebaptism in certain cases.

2. Should infants be baptized?

Answer:

No! No one should be baptized unless he  (1) knows the truth of God,  (2) believes it,  (3) has repented,  (4) has experienced conversion. No baby could possibly qualify here. No one has a right to baptize a baby.

In fact, to do so completely disregards God's direct commands regarding baptism. Misguided men in the church years ago decreed that unbaptized babies are lost, but this is scripturally untrue. It defames God as an unjust tyrant who would destroy innocent infants who died, simply because unworthy parents failed to have baptism administered. Such a teaching is tragic beyond words. It is bad enough to sprinkle babies and call it baptism. It is infinitely worse to hold to the unscriptural concept that babies are lost eternally because careless parents failed to do their duty.

3. Isn't baptism just a matter of personal opinion?

Answer:

Yes, but not your opinion or mine. It is Christ's opinion that matters. Christ says baptism is important to Him. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."John 3:5. To refuse baptism is to refuse the direct counsel of God (Luke 7:29-30).

4. How old should one be to qualify for baptism?

Answer:

Old enough to understand the difference between wrongdoing and right doing and to make an intelligent decision to surrender to Christ and follow Him. Many children are ready for baptism at 9 or 10 years of age, some at 7 or 8. And some are not ready at 12 or 13. No age level is specified in the Bible, because children have different levels of experience and understanding. Some are ready for baptism earlier than others.

5. Can baptism in and of itself save you?

Answer:

No! But refusing baptism can cause one to be lost, because it means disobedience. Salvation is for "all them that obey Him." Hebrews 5:9.

6. Isn't baptism of the Holy Spirit all that is necessary?

Answer:

No! The Bible shows in Acts 10:44-48 that water baptism is necessary, even when the baptism of the Holy Spirit has preceded it.

7. There is one sin I do not wish to surrender. Should I be baptized?

Answer:

No! Obviously you are not ready to be buried in the baptismal waters, because the old life of sin is not dead. It would be a criminal act for a funeral director to bury someone who is not dead and equally serious for a minister to baptize one whose old sinful life is not dead.

8. Can you explain

Galatians 3:27?

Answer:

Here God compares baptism to marriage. The person who is baptized thus publicly acknowledges that he has taken Christ's name (Christian), just as a bride publicly announces the taking of her husband's name at the time of the wedding. In baptism, as with marriage, several rules always apply:

A. It should never be entered into unless true love rules supreme.

B. It should never be entered into unless the candidate has determined to be faithful through thick and thin.

C. It should be approached with full understanding.

D. It should not be unduly delayed.

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