As a pastor of a church with the word “Baptist” in the name, baptism is important. And as I talk with people about baptism, here is a common scenario that arises:
Me: “Hey Frank, have you been baptized before?”
Frank: “I have!”
Me: “Awesome! Where at?”
Frank: “I was baptized as a baby at ________ Church.”
And from their perspective, they are set. But there is a problem with this way of thinking. Here at Island Pond Baptist Church, we see the only valid mode of baptism as one that happens AFTER you have put your faith in Jesus Christ. This is called, “believer’s baptism.”
So for all the Franks out there, this blog is for you. And in this blog, I hope you will see that you SHOULD get baptized “again” because your first baptism wasn’t actually a biblical baptism.
Let me explain why:
What Baptism Is… And Isn’t
Baptism is a big deal. Not because it saves you (because it doesn’t), but because it’s a way of publicly saying, “I’m with Jesus.”
Think of it like a wedding ring. Wearing a ring doesn’t make you married. Instead, it tells the world that you are. In the Bible, baptism is always connected to someone choosing to follow Jesus. It’s something you do after you’ve put your faith in Him.
The key word here is “after.” Baptism always comes after believing.
Believer’s Baptism
In the Bible, people got baptized once they believed. Over and over, you’ll see this order:
– They heard the message of Jesus.
– They believed it.
– Then they got baptized.
That’s the pattern, plain and simple. There’s no story in Scripture where a baby gets baptized.* And that’s not because the early church forgot to include it—it just wasn’t something they practiced.
So when Southern Baptists talk about believer’s baptism, this is what we mean: you believe, then you get baptized. It’s your personal step of obedience and faith.
What About Infant Baptism?
Now, if you were baptized as a baby, that probably meant a lot to your family. It was a special moment, and there’s no need to be disrespectful about that. But here’s the thing: You didn’t choose it. You didn’t understand the gospel yet. You hadn’t put your trust in Jesus. And baptism is meant to come after these things.
Infant baptism is a tradition that some churches follow, but it’s not found in the Bible. And if the goal is to follow Jesus and the Bible as closely as possible, we’ve got to go with what Scripture actually says.
But Wouldn’t That Be Getting Baptized Twice?
Is getting baptized later on, after an infant baptism, getting baptized twice? No. From a biblical standpoint, it’s actually your first baptism. That’s because your infant baptism wasn’t based on your own faith, it was someone else’s decision for you.
This new baptism wouldn’t be a “re-do.” It would be your first step of obedience after you decided to follow Christ. And that’s exactly what baptism is meant to be.
Sometimes people hesitate because they don’t want to offend their parents or the church they grew up in. That’s understandable.
But at the end of the day, this is about your relationship with Jesus, not what anyone else thinks. Baptism is a personal step of obedience, and Jesus calls all of His followers to take it.
If You’re on the Fence…
If you’ve trusted in Jesus but haven’t been baptized since that decision, then yeah, it’s time. You’re not alone. Tons of people come to this same place and decide to take the step.
It’s not about being perfect or having all the answers. It’s about saying, “I’m following Jesus now, and I want to obey Him.”
And trust me, when you finally do it, it’s such a meaningful, joy-filled moment!
Final Thoughts
So let’s wrap it up: If you were baptized as a baby, but you’ve come to faith in Jesus as an adult or teen, then yes, you should be baptized again. This is your chance to take a real, personal step of obedience and proudly say to your church family, “I belong to Jesus now!”
*Check out my previous blog on “Why we do not baptize infants” for a deeper look at infant baptism.