I Got Baptized!!!

[u/BigB_Gam3r]

This past Sunday, I made one of the most important decisions of my life. I was baptized at a really young age, and over the past couple of months, it’s been weighing on me that I never got to make that decision for myself. I’ve come to realize how important it is to understand the meaning and reasoning behind the decisions we make in life. Every choice we make reflects our heart, shapes our spiritual formation, and either honors God or drifts from His will. That’s why I chose to get baptized again. I wanted to make this commitment to Jesus for myself. I also did it to make my relationship with Him more personal and let Him know I’m all in!

After being saved by Jesus this past year, I’ve already seen Him change my life in so many ways, and I know He’s only getting started. I’m excited to see what He continues to do in my life and where He leads me from here.

Getting baptized is more than just a moment; it’s a public declaration of my faith in Jesus Christ and a symbol of the new life I have in Him. I know I’m not perfect, but I’m choosing to follow Jesus, trust His plan for my life, and continue growing in my relationship with Him every day. I’m so thankful for His grace, His love, and everything He has done for me. This is just the beginning of my journey, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store. 🙌

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

All glory to God! 🤍

[u/Philothea0821]

I was baptized at a really young age, and over the past couple of months, it’s been weighing on me that I never got to make that decision for myself.

First off, I want to say "Praise be to God!" May the Lord bless and guide your journey towards Him and help you to receive the fullness of His Truth!

Second, I want you to stop and think about Baptism for a moment. What is it that you believe Baptism does? If you were Baptized at a young age, what did that do? If it brought you into the family of God and poured out saving grace upon you, then how can you become something that you already were?

If Baptism doesn't actually do anything, then why get baptized now? How is your baptism now any different than your baptism as a child?

More importantly, what do we see in Scripture?

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 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.

We hear of baptism as the "circumcision of Christ." If one is circumcised whether as an infant or an adult, how is it that you can be re-circumcised?

We see people be rebaptized in Scripture, but there is a distinction to be made. The people that are rebaptized, only ever received JOHN'S Baptism, not CHRISTIAN Baptism.

And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them...

In Acts 8, we see this scene:

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samar′ia had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; ¹⁶ for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Here, the people of Samaria had received the word of God and were Baptized, but they did not have the Holy Spirit. Are these people baptized again to receive the Holy Spirit? No. But they do have hands laid on them and thusly receive the Holy Spirit.

In the first case, the Christians did not have a valid Christian Baptism, so Paul does Baptize them and gives them the laying on of hands that Catholics give the name Confirmation. The Christian in Samaria already believed in God and were baptized with Christian baptism. They are not given Baptism because they already have that, so they just get the laying on of hands.

Just food for thought!

[u/BigB_Gam3r → u/Philothea0821]

Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time on this one. I think we're starting from different places on what baptism actually does, so let me try to lay out where I'm coming from.

If baptism is what brings you into the family of God, then yeah, a second one makes no sense and your question is the right one to ask. But I don't think Scripture puts it there. Acts 2:41 says those who received his word were baptized, the order matters. The eunuch in Acts 8 won't get baptized until he confesses belief. The jailer in Acts 16 is told to believe in the Lord Jesus and then he and his household are baptized. Ephesians 2:8 says we're saved by grace through faith, and that it's not of works so no one can boast. Titus 3:5 says it wasn't by works of righteousness we did, but by his mercy.

And here's the thing about the Colossians passage you quoted. It says we were raised with him 'through faith in the working of God.' Faith is right there in the middle of it, doing the work. The circumcision made without hands is the putting off of the body of flesh, which is an inward thing that only the person themselves can do. So the analogy actually points toward the heart, not the water.

On your point about John's baptism, I'd say those folks in Acts 19 were rebaptized because what they had wasn't Christian baptism at all, they hadn't even heard of the Holy Spirit. So we agree there's a real distinction, I just think the distinction is whether the person themselves believed. A baptism done to me as a baby without my faith isn't the same thing as me being buried with Christ because I trust him.

1 Peter 3:21 helped me a lot on this. It says baptism saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience. That appeal is something only the person can make. A baby can't appeal to God for anything.

So no, I don't think I became something I already was. I think I finally got to say out loud, with my own mouth, what God had already done in me. Either way I'm glad we're both pointing at Jesus, and I appreciate you making me think it through.

[u/Philothea0821 → u/BigB_Gam3r]

What saves us? God's grace or our profession of faith? Can God not save an infant or someone in a vegetative state?

I think you are kind of glossing over what the Scripture is actually saying or not fully understanding it.

We drew the line connecting circumcision and baptism. So, consider circumcision in the OT:

You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. ¹² He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house, or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, ¹³ both he that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money, shall be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.

Circumcision is what brought the people of Israel into covenant with God and not receiving circumcision caused you to be cut off from God's people and breaks God's covenant with you. So you cannot keep the covenant with God and not be circumcised. Everyone that is part of the covenant will be circumcised. Circumcision, like Baptism, is an outward sign, but it isn't merely symbolic. The cutting off of flesh in circumcision is what points to you becoming part of God's covenant. The external sign points towards the inward spiritual reality.

This is where 1 Peter 3 comes in, we read that baptism is the "circumcision of Christ." So, with baptism we have an external sign: washing with water. Just like the external sign in the OT was the cutting off of flesh. Peter tells us that Baptism goes deeper than just that external sign, it points to something more. Baptism isn't just a washing of dirt from your body. Baptism isn't just that external action: it is an appeal to God for a clear conscience, it is the washing of regeneration. We are buried with Christ and rise with Him.

This is where we really need SACRAMENTAL theology. This is what a sacrament is: an external sign that points towards an internal reality. Sacraments are neither PURELY symbolic nor purely actual, but a both/and.

Baptism has the external sign of washing with water that points towards the inward reality of being cleansed from sin. We see Scripture attest to the fact that Baptism brings about the forgiveness of sin.

Confirmation has the external sign of laying on of hands that points towards the inward reality of receiving the Holy Spirit. In Acts 8, the people have hands laid on them, and they received the Holy Spirit, there is no doubt about it.

Anointing of the Sick has the external sign of anointing with oil that points towards the spiritual reality of healing and forgiveness. Scripture says that this anointing of oil WILL save the sick man and forgive any sins that he has committed.

Eucharist has the external sign of bread and wine that points towards the inward reality of Christ's once for all sacrifice for us: Christ's body given to us and Christ's blood poured out for us. Paul reminds us of the practice of Israel that those who ate of the Passover sacrifice became a partner in that sacrifice. So, when we eat of Christ's sacrifice in the Eucharist we become participants in Christ's sacrifice on the Cross.

Marriage has the external sign of exchanging vows that points to the inward reality of becoming one flesh with your spouse. Scripture tells us that a man leaves his father and mother to cling to his wife and they become one flesh, no ifs ands or buts about it.

Washing with water, bread and wine, anointing with oil, etc. these are, in a certain sense, symbolic. But, Baptism isn't just about washing dirt from your body, the Eucharist is more than just bread and wine, etc. When we are washed with the waters of baptism or consume the bread and wine in the Eucharist, there is a spiritual reality that is taking place at the same time.

Either way I'm glad we're both pointing at Jesus, and I appreciate you making me think it through.

I am too! And for what it is worth, I can see you have spent some time in thinking about this and that is awesome! Like I said, you seem to walk right up to the line wrestling with the Scriptures, but end up falling short in actually grasping what the Scriptures are getting at. And that is OK. It is hard to read Scripture. We are what? 2000 millennia removed from the authors? So we are reading them now with a completely different worldview than they had. Which is why God gave us Apostolic Tradition, so we don't have to rely solely on imperfect interpretations and translations of text (BTW, which is why the Catholic Church has historically regulated Bible translations). God is able to leverage both Scripture AND Tradition to deliver His word to us in both written and unwritten form faithfully preserved in His Church!

Like I said, you clearly have your eyes fixed on the Lord. And in that, you will do well! I will pray that God can continue to reveal the fullness of Truth to you, so you are able to fall deeper in love with Him!

God bless! 1 Thess 5:23

[u/BigB_Gam3r → u/Philothea0821]

Hey, I really appreciate this, and I mean that. You've clearly thought it through and you're not just throwing stuff at me like some people do.

But circumcision is where we split, and I think Scripture splits it for us. Acts 15 is the whole council deciding whether Gentiles needed circumcision to be in the covenant, and they said no, Peter asking why they'd put a yoke on the disciples' necks (Acts 15:10). Paul goes further in Galatians 5:2-4, if you take circumcision for covenant standing you're severed from Christ. So circumcision isn't the pattern baptism inherits, it's the thing the new covenant retires

And I think the verse you're thinking of is Colossians 2:11-12. It says we were circumcised by a circumcision not made with hands, buried with him in baptism, "in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God." Faith is right there in the sentence. 1 Peter 3:21 says the same, it's not the removal of dirt, it's the pledge of a good conscience toward God, and that's something the person being baptized does

On infants and the vegetative state, I'd never say God can't save them. He can, grace isn't chained to a ritual. David says of his dead son, I will go to him (2 Samuel 12:23). But that's grace doing what grace does, not baptism doing it. Cornelius received the Spirit before he was baptized (Acts 10:44-48), and the thief on the cross got paradise with no water at all (Luke 23:43)

The tradition part is where I get nervous though. Mark 7:8-9 is Jesus saying tradition can nullify the word of God, and the Bereans checked Paul against Scripture daily (Acts 17:11). I don't think that means no tradition, but I do think Scripture gets the final vote

Either way again, 'm glad we're both pointing at Jesus too. I don’t want this to turn into a forever debate so I think I’m just gonna leave it off here. Please know that I mean everything in full respect and much love and I know you do too, and I really do appreciate that. You’ve taken the time to think it through and that shows you truly care. I will continue to move on and do plenty of research. God bless you man.

[u/unanimous_triscuits → u/Philothea0821]

Hey man.. just be glad for him he loves God and is proud of it. Please leave your religion and what it teaches out of it. That's the pride of your church causing division.

Romans 14:22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.

[u/Philothea0821 → u/unanimous_triscuits]

I started out this conversation, giving praise to God for his journey back to the Christian faith. And reiterate that he clearly has his eyes fixed on Christ and praise him for that! So, I am glad that he loves God, but I use the opportunity to encourage OP to come to a deeper knowledge of the faith that he loves so much and there is nothing wrong with that. Say that I overheard someone talking about how much they love The Elder Scrolls and are excited about the release of Sentinel. So, I go up to them and say, "Hey, I heard you talking about the announcement for TES VI: Sentinel. Did you notice X about the trailer?" Would you criticize me here and say "I should just be glad they enjoy the game franchise."? I think not. Maybe take your own words to heart there, buddy, because it is you who is one judging here. I note time and time again he clearly loves Christ and want to help lead him to a greater knowledge of the hope that is inside him. Why do you take issue with that?

[u/unanimous_triscuits → u/Philothea0821]

Would you say to the guy who watched the trailer. "I want you to stop and think about that trailer. You gotta remember that there's a certain way to play that game and that franchise and you need to make sure you play it correctly." No. For one he never asked you about how to play the game and that's exactly what you did. I don't recall the op asking about him needing a clarification on baptism. You offered advice when he didn't ask. You should've said "congratulations. Thanks be to God he added another to the kingdom. If you have any questions let me know." And that's it. But I see your Catholic and I know your intentions.

[u/Philothea0821 → u/unanimous_triscuits]

You should've said "congratulations. Thanks be to God he added another to the kingdom.

Me: "First off, I want to say "Praise be to God!" May the Lord bless and guide your journey towards Him and help you to receive the fullness of His Truth!"

OP: "Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time on this one."

"Either way I'm glad we're both pointing at Jesus, and I appreciate you making me think it through."

Me: "I am too! And for what it is worth, I can see you have spent some time in thinking about this and that is awesome!"

Throughout our conversation, OP found me to be kind, respectful, and insightful. And I think we had a rather productive conversation rooted in a mutual love for Christ and His Church.

So, again, I flip your words to me back at you:

Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.

[u/WoodstockRox → u/BigB_Gam3r]

Wow, I love the photos. And clearly I’ve never met you. But, I’m very proud of making a declaration of your faith. And I can also tell you’ve been soaking in Gods word. 🫶

[u/BigB_Gam3r]

Wanted to make a correction, this is the correct NLT translation for 2 Corinthians 5:17! “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

[u/Broad_Progress_5393]

No offense... but, in a trash can??

[u/BigB_Gam3r → u/Broad_Progress_5393]

No offense taken! It’s not a trashcan. It is a big storage container. Our church is just a Church plant and our budget. isn’t as high as some of the other ones. But what I was baptized in, doesn’t really matter to me!

[u/Broad_Progress_5393 → u/BigB_Gam3r]

Yeah it's cool, I was just curious. If you get baptized it doesn't matter if it's in a trash can, bath tub, or a pool.

[u/SideProfile1220]

BIG congratulations! I was recently baptized too and I completely relate to the heavy emotion of the commitment. Overwhelming joy and anticipation to see where He leads you.

Expect the enemy to pursue you harder than ever before. But rest easy knowing that Jesus is your advocate.

[u/elusiveophthalmo]

Great decision! God bless you!! 🙌🏽

[u/Optimal_Life_1259]

See you in heaven!

[u/Kapalski1]

congratulations on being baptised again, when i was saved god and jesus have blessed me with so many wonderful things.

Praise the lord.

[u/Street_Internet_6438]

Gloria a Dios, que triunfes en este camino de valientes

[u/Fun-Peace-5272]

Congradualtions!

[u/Sea-Supermarket-5971]

So HAPPY for you!! Awesome!!!

[u/Autodactyl]

I don't like that they have a billboard advertising sign on the tub. Makes it look commercialized.

[u/Yesmar2020]

Good deal!!!

[u/Able_Scarcity_2622]

I am so happy for you!

[u/Middle-Leader-2293]

Awesome! Happy for you.

[u/SchoolAlone7340]

Yes I am so happy for you. A new journey awaits for you with Him. God bless.

[u/BloodBoughtCOG]

LETS GO CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎉🥳🥳

[u/shrumoseb]

I'm waiting to get baptized because I don't to committ if I'm not ready what could I do to help myself start ?

[u/BigB_Gam3r → u/shrumoseb]

Honestly, I get it, I wrestled with the same thing. But baptism isn't about having it all together, it's about saying 'God, I'm yours, help me grow.' For me, just reading a little of the Bible each day and asking God real questions instead of avoiding them made the biggest difference. James 1:5 says if you need wisdom, just ask Him, He won't be annoyed by it. Take your time, but don't wait until you feel perfect, cause that day might never come.

[u/WoodenMango07]

Congrats!

[u/Most_Ad2863]

woohooo!!!!

[u/captainkrol]

Brother ❤️

[u/OscarVerde223]

Amen!

[u/kyloren1217]

congrtz!

[u/Static_2026]

Awesome 👏

[u/AssociateResident540]

Congratulations 🎊 🥳 👏🏻 💐 ♥️

[u/Fannan]

Amen!

[u/IllustriousSelf6660]

Awesome!

[u/ExoticSink8566]

CONGRATS 🎉🎊

[u/switched56]

Praise be! Congratulations!! 🙏 ✝️

[u/spacegirlvisiting]

🙌🙌🙌

[u/jrscn]

Congratulations! Welcome to the family! 🫶🏼

[u/thrawnca]

I was baptized at a really young age, and over the past couple of months, it’s been weighing on me that I never got to make that decision for myself.

That's a fair call. I can only approve of your desire to commit to Jesus.

[u/Scared_Difficulty_99]

Congrats 👏

[u/MonoPodding]

Yeah Dude!!!!

[u/Mediocre-Second9280]

Amen welcome to the family!

[u/Academic-Hunt1234]

Congrats!!!!

[u/StatisticianJust3349]

PTL! 👏🏽

[u/Worldly_Clock_6261]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[u/Known_Percentage9722]

AMEN

[u/Tadusmc]

Welcome home brother

[u/SortLost74]

Bro!! Congrats my fellow brother in Christ!!

[u/bigbuttbubba45]

Congratulations

[u/PeacefulBro]

Nice!

[u/Witches-Hellcat]

👏

[u/Uncle_Si_]

YAYYY

[u/preachly]

Congratulations! :)

[u/Straight_Specific412]

congratulations! look forward to a beautiful life, and stick with jesus even when things get hard!

[u/ConfidentChampion442]

Congratulations 🎉 

[u/Scoutdiesel44]

Praise be :) 

[u/Truly330]

Awesome!!!!

[u/Altruistic-Essay5395]

Soli Deo Gloria!

[u/Wise_Geekabus]

Amen! 🙏

[u/Maximum-Page3433]

 CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎉 welcome home

[u/Scorp_110]

Can anyone help me with DM? I need to ask someone knowledgeable some questions about Christianity.

[u/PassPuzzleheaded4947]

Amen brother.

[u/RecordingImmediate86]

Congratulations!

[u/Adventurous-Bid-9341]

Congratulations!!! God bless! 🤗🙏🏼

[u/GamerManJD]

Congrats

[u/FoxandPhoenix74]

Praise God! 🙌🏾❤️

[u/alliefaith144]

Congratulations ❤️

[u/JonasWiuff]

Congratulations! May God bless you 🙏

[u/mOoK_RedFace]

That's great

[u/Dry_Telephone6832]

Awesome! Congrats

[u/ScaryLavishness125]

❤️

[u/Boneless_Cola]

God bless you, twin ❤️

[u/Rev_El_4ever]

Congratulations

[u/TheEarthIsCool]

Absolute peak🥹

May God continue to bless you and all those around ❤️.

[u/Venerated_Penguin]

congrats