Water baptism is part of born again experience. For born again experience one person needs to hear the gospel first. After hearing the gospel the Holy Spirit brings the conviction of sin in the person’s heart. Then the person should repent from his sinful life. After that only he can be baptized by his own faith. And he can receive the Holy Spirit. So according to the scripture the requirements for a person to go through water baptism are-
For water baptism one needs to be:
- Be Convicted of sins,
- Repent from sinful life,
- Baptize by own faith,
- Fully immersed in water.
(Ref: Acts 2:38 , Mark 16:16, Hebrews 6:1-2)
Water baptism itself is not born-again experience. Born again experience means the person needs to repent for his sins by his own faith then only he can be baptized in water by his own faith and he should receive the Holy Spirit. These completes the born again experience.
There are many wrong ways people are getting baptized in many Christian groups. Wrong ways of water baptism or false water baptism are-
- Infant Baptism
- Baptism under pressure from church leaders
- Baptism just to solemnize marriage
- Baptism for church membership
- Sprinkle Baptism
Why these are false? Because these are not fulfilling the requirements of the scripture for water baptism.
- Infant Baptism is wrong because- An infant cannot repent, so he cannot be baptized.
- Sprinkle Baptism is wrong- Baptism means- To dip into
All water baptisms mentioned in New Testament are fully immersed.
- Baptism under pressure from church leaders-Baptism is by person’s own faith.
(Ref : Mark 16:16, Acts 18:8, Acts 16:30-33, Hebrews 6:1-2)
- Baptism just to solemnize marriage- Water Baptism is essential for one to be born-again. This is wrongly used for membership, in church denominations.
- Baptism is not required for membership of particular denomination. Baptism is the requirements for born again experience not for denominational membership.
If you are baptized in any one of these ways then you can still correct it. You can read the scriptures to understand the right kind of baptism and you can be baptized. The prerequisite for water baptism are- repentance from your sins, and faith towards God.
2 thoughts on “False Water Baptisms”
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