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FELIX I. GARCIA
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Should I Be Baptized Again?

By Owen Cosgrove

1. Are all baptisms equally acceptable to God? By what authority does one say "all baptisms"? The Bible teaches that there is "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). It is a burial or planting (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-6) in water (Acts 8:36-39; Acts 10:47-48) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38;Acts 22:16), and to put one into Christ (Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

2. Aren't sprinkling and pouring also baptism? Emphatically, no! New Testament baptism requires water (Acts 10:48), much water (John 3:23), going to water, going down into water, being buried or planted in water, and coming up out of water (Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-6).

3. Aren't all baptisms acceptable, just so they are immersion? No, it is important not only that baptism be immersion, but that it be preceded by the right things and that it be for the right purpose. (See #4 and #5 below-FG)

4. What do you mean, preceded by the right things? In the New Testament, baptism is to be preceded by faith (Mark 16:15-16), repentance (Acts 2:38), and confessing one's faith in Christ (Acts 8:36-39; Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33). Obviously, if one did not believe in Christ, or was not willing to repent, or denied the divinity of Christ, immersing him would be of no spiritual value.

5. What do you mean, baptism should be for the right purpose? New Testament baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), or to wash away sins (Acts 22:16). Baptism that is not for the remission of sins or to wash away sins is different from the baptism of the New Testament.

6. Is there any example of people being re-baptized in the New Testament? Yes! In Acts 18:24-28 and Acts 19:1-7, some disciples of John the Baptist had not been baptized in the name of Christ or in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, so they were baptized again!

7. I felt very good about my first baptism. If I am baptized again, won't I be admitting that I was wrong? We must walk by faith rather than by mere feelings. If one's former baptism was not according to the Bible, it was wrong. It is bad enough to be wrong and not to know any better. It is far more serious to know better and not to correct the situation.

8. My first baptism was when I was very young and I have serious doubts about my understanding of what I was doing. What should I do? By all means, be baptized again and remove all doubt.

9. I am a little embarrassed after all of this time. Christ was not too embarrassed to die for us. He wants you to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10).

10. What if I just decide to take my chances? Would you take your chances with a faulty car title or property deed if it could be so easily corrected?

11. I just hate to put others to any trouble over such a minor thing. This is not a minor thing. It is eternally important!

Owen Cosgrove is involved in printed evangelism in many countries and preaches for the Northside church in Waxahachie, Texas, USA.
(Emphasis by FG)

Por Owen Cosgrove

1. �Todos los bautismos son igualmente aceptables para Dios? �Con qué autoridad se dice "todos los bautismos"? La Biblia ense�a que hay "un solo bautismo" (Efesios 4: 5). Es un entierro o plantaci�n (Colosenses 2:12 y Romanos 6: 3-6) en el agua (Hechos 8: 36-39, Hechos 10: 47-48) para la remisi�n de los pecados (Hechos 2: 38, Hechos 22: 16), y poner uno en Cristo (G�latas 3: 26-29; 1 Corintios 12:13).

2. �No est�n rociando y vertiendo también el bautismo? Enf�ticamente, �no! El bautismo del Nuevo Testamento requiere agua (Hechos 10:48), mucha agua (Juan 3:23), ir al agua, bajar al agua, ser enterrado o plantado en agua, y subiendo del agua (Hechos 8: 36-39; Romanos 6: 3-6).

3. �No son todos los bautismos aceptables, s�lo para que sean inmersi�n? No, es importante no s�lo que el bautismo sea inmersi�n, sino que sea precedido por las cosas correctas y que sea para el prop�sito correcto. (Ver # 4 y # 5 abajo-FG)

4. �Qué quiere decir, precedido por las cosas correctas? En el Nuevo Testamento, el bautismo debe ser precedido por la fe (Marcos 16: 15-16), el arrepentimiento (Hechos 2:38), y confesando nuestra fe en Cristo (Hechos 8: 36-39, Romanos 10: 9-10, Mateo 10: 32-33). Obviamente, si uno no cre�a en Cristo, o no estaba dispuesto a arrepentirse, o negado la divinidad de Cristo, sumergirlo no tendr�a ning�n valor espiritual.

5. �Qué quieres decir con que el bautismo debe ser para el prop�sito correcto? El bautismo del Nuevo Testamento es para la remisi�n de los pecados (Hechos 2:38), o para lavar los pecados (Hechos 22:16). El bautismo que no es para la remisi�n de pecados o para lavar los pecados es diferente del bautismo del Nuevo Testamento.

6. �Hay alg�n ejemplo de personas siendo bautizadas en el Nuevo Testamento? �S�! En Hechos 18: 24-28 y Hechos 19: 1-7, algunos disc�pulos de Juan el Bautista no hab�an sido bautizados en el nombre de Cristo o para recibir el don del Esp�ritu Santo, as� que fueron bautizados de nuevo.

7. Me sent� muy bien con mi primer bautismo. Si vuelvo a ser bautizado, �no admito que estaba equivocado? Debemos caminar por fe m�s que por simples sentimientos. Si el bautismo anterior no era conforme a la Biblia, estaba equivocado. Ya es malo estar mal y no saber nada mejor. Es mucho m�s serio saber mejor y no corregir la situaci�n.

8. Mi primer bautismo fue cuando era muy joven y tengo serias dudas sobre mi comprensi�n de lo que estaba haciendo. �Que deber�a hacer? Por todos los medios, ser bautizado de nuevo y eliminar toda duda.

9. Estoy un poco avergonzado después de todo este tiempo. Cristo no estaba demasiado avergonzado de morir por nosotros. Él quiere que ustedes hagan su llamado y elecci�n seguros (2 Pedro 1:10).

10. �Qué pasa si decido tomar mis posibilidades? �Podr�a tomar sus oportunidades con un t�tulo de coche defectuoso o escritura de propiedad si se podr�a corregir tan f�cilmente?

11. S�lo odio poner a los dem�s a cualquier problema sobre una cosa tan peque�a. Esto no es una cosa menor. �Es eternamente importante!

Owen Cosgrove est� involucrado en el evangelismo impreso en muchos pa�ses y predica para la iglesia de Northside en Waxahachie, Texas, Estados Unidos.
(Énfasis de FG)

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."

"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

"And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus." "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." "And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:" "For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples," "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." "And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism." "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." And all the men were about twelve.

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"