Should we be baptized as babies or as adults?

Question

What is the correct way to baptize someone? Should we be baptized as babies or as adults? Is there a case for rebaptism?

Answer

There is only one type of water baptism mentioned in the Bible, and that is baptism by immersion, where the whole body is put under the water. But then there is also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is even more essential for us to have.

John 3:5   Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

The Bible says that you have to repent, believe and be baptized, which means that you have to be an adult who can make decisions for yourself, to be baptized. The baptism of babies and children is not taught in the Bible. And Biblical baptism is not sprinkling or pouring, but complete submersion in water.

The Greek word baptidzo, which we translate as baptize, means to submerge, dunk under. It does not mean to sprinkle or pour. Whenever it talks about baptism in the Bible, this is the word that is used. Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death of sin and self (going down into the water), and the creation of the “new man”, rising to new life in Christ (coming up out of the water).

Mark 16:16   “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Acts 22:16      And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Matthew 28     ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Acts 2     ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 8     ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Romans 6      ¹ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ³ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2     ¹¹ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

Galatians 3     ²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

As you can see, baptism is a public witness to all, that you have decided to give yourself completely to God, and from that point on, you promise to walk with Him in the Christian life. It has to be done by choice, repenting and believing that Jesus died for your sins, and that He is able to transform your life into His image.

Finally, the Holy Spirit can come into your life at any time you allow Him to, with or without water baptism. Here are some examples, first of people who received the Holy Spirit after baptism, and then people who first received the Holy Spirit, and then were baptized.

Acts 8     ¹⁴ Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, ¹⁵ who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10     ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Now let’s look at the case for rebaptism.

Acts 19     And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples ² he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

⁴ Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Here we have the story of some people who had been baptized, but did not really know the whole story. They therefore did not receive the Holy Spirit. When the apostle Paul gave them the full picture, they chose to get baptized again, and this time they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Rebaptism is not necessary for everyone, but there are people who want to be rebaptized, because they are not the same as they were at the first baptism, and want to experience it fully. It is also a witness to your friends and family, that you have changed your ways, and are embarking on a new journey, with Jesus your Saviour!

Finally, if one was “baptized” as a baby or toddler, which could mean sprinkling or pouring as well, then it was not really baptism as defined by the Bible, and such a person should be baptized by immersion when they have made the decision to follow Jesus.