Baptism -How Many times?

[Evelyn Blacksher]

How often should a person be baptized? i encounter many who were baptized ,when they accepted CHRIST,but walked away from HIM,now they're back and feel the need to redo it. Some say,every few years they like to be redipped. Some say,they did not do it right the 1st time.

[A.W. Bowman]

One additional note:

Concerning Paul not baptizing people. Saul (Paul) was a student of (sat at the feet of) Rabbi Gamaliel. This background of Paul takes on a deeper meaning when Paul says, “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.” 1 Corinthians 1:14-15 [ASV], that is, for Paul to have become "the Rabbi", a new spiritual authority in his own right.

Also, at that time, all teachers cited historical religious authorities when presenting their teaching (doctrine) of Torah. That is, I say this because our sage so-n-so said that. This clarifies the statement, Matthew 7:29 "For he [Jesus] taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes." Matthew 7:29 [KJV], also see Mark 1:22. That is, Jesus did not cite His rabbinical (or religious) "authorities" for His teaching, but taught as one having the same authority as any one of the accepted historical authorities - that would have included even Moses. That would have cause a great point of discussion among the religious leaders!

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Bishop Marshall:

Yes JESUS did say to be baptized. Did HE say with what they should be baptized in? No. HE didn't say to do it in water or in the HOLY GHOST. But we know that HE would mean the baptism of the HOLY GHOST because the Prophet John said so:

"I indeed baptize you with water...but HE shall baptize you with the HOLY GHOST and with fire."

Water baptism is nothing in but a demonstration of what happens spiritually. The baptism of the HOLY GHOST is EVERYTHING! It is necessary for salvation; it is the seal of your salvation, and not water baptism:

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," - Ephesians 1:13


"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. " - Ephesians 4:30

[Superintendent Elijah Marshall]

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost IS essential to salvation because it is the power of God inside the believer to LIVE holy and fulfill the Great Commission of the Savior.. indeed... but what are you going to do about John 3:5 and 1 Peter 3:21? and if water baptism was not a part of salvation and important... why everyone someone repented, they were baptized in water whether before or after the received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost?? Jesus Himself was water baptized because it became to fulfill all righteousness... and we are to pattern ourselves after His example.. So if Christ did it, it aint un-necessary

[A.W. Bowman]

The disciples also baptized folks (Reference John 3:22 - 4:3) under the old covenant - with the approval of Jesus, a practice they continued after Pentecost. What is interesting is that there is NO mention of how, why, or in what name the disciples performed the baptismal rite. However, reference my notes above, we can assume that the disciples baptized in Jesus name (See John 4:1) as they added to the number of disciples (students, Talmidim) of Jesus.

[Superintendent Elijah Marshall]

Amen.. The Bible says WHATEVER we do in WORD or in DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.. that covers baptism I'm sure... because when God says ALL, He means ALL... Amen (Colossians 3:17)

[A.W. Bowman]

Does all of this begain to make some sense?

Notice in Acts when Peter was at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10), the Holy Spirit fell and Perter wanted to know why should they withhold water from these Gentiles. This was a very serious question.

To baptize these Gentiles without going through the religiously approved conversion process (Gentile to Judaism), was to acknowledge God's acceptance of these heathen to be the same as Jews, and accepted by Him to a part of (added to) the house of Israel!

This bit of cultural/religious history adds a little more light on the great controversy explored by the church in Acts 11 in coming to the point of accepting (and integrating) Gentiles into the church. So that you might relate on a more personal level: It was not unlike whites coming to grips with accepting (and integrating) blacks into the church and recognizing their spiritual gifts, calling, and ordained offices in the 1800's America. Does Jesus still weep over this?

Although there was a major controversy over this matter of acceptance by the Jews, thank God the church at Jerusalem was motived by the same Holy Spirit as the Gentile believers, and the church grew!

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

True Christ did it, but HE didn't do it to His own Apostles! Also, the Book of Acts was the beginning of the Christian faith. Almost all that you have seen was the infant stages of the Church. You are basing your doctrine on the infant stages of the Church, which is an error. Not all the thingsa that they did, though sincerely done, were correct. You claim Acts 2, but during the days of Acts 2, they didn't even accept Gentiles! The Holy Ghost was BRAND NEW! They didn't yet even understand the new covenant as of yet. They still had O.T. practices in mind. Just look at how they selected Apostle Matthias: it was an OT practice.

As for these scriptures:

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." You have to continue on to see that HE was speaking of human birth! Angels that sinned cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD. JESUS went on to say "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."


1st Peter 3:21 "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" Again, the words "water baptism" did not appear, just "baptism". The baptism of water does not save a person. Take into consideration these words that Apostle Paul said:

Acts 19:2- "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."

John's baptism was that of the WATER; JESUS' was that of the HOLY SPIRIT. Water baptism was prophetic. It speaks of the death burial and resurrection that we experience.

[Superintendent Elijah Marshall]

First of all, you wont find NOWHERE in Acts 2, where they REFUSED Gentiles... there were Jews dwelling there from every nation under Heaven.. there probably werent Gentiles there, because they didnt celebrate Pentecost.. because it's a Jewish holiday. But you wont find it in the Bible where they refused Gentiles in Acts 2.. Now later in Acts they were shocked and amazed because God gave the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles and they baptized them like the rest.. but they didnt refuse them! Secondly, you said I am basing my doctrine on the infant stages of the Church and that's error.. NO SIR.. What the apostles of the Lord Jesus did in Acts was not simply INFANT STAGES.. it was the foundation and doctrine of the Lord, established in His Church.. The bible says that WE ARE BUILT upon the FOUNDATION of the APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.. (Ephesians 2:20).. And as a matter of fact, Galatians 1:8-9.. declares that if we preach ANY OTHER GOSPEL accept what was delivered to us from the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, after it was delivered to them... we're cursed!! That's the Book.. Everywhere salvation took place, no matter where it was at in Acts... Repentance always came first, then baptism took place whether it was in the Holy Ghost, or water baptism, but all three were included... now you aint go get around that.. All three are important... both the water baptism and the Spirit baptism work together as ONE BAPTISM...because you are not complete one without the other...

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Doctrinal scripture hold the foundation of the Church. Historical scriptures tell the events in Church history. Our beloved Church's doctrine is told in the epistles, not necessarily in the historical Book of Acts. The foundation is built on the Apostle's Doctrine, not the Apostle's History. You know this very well.

True, the Gentiles wouldn't have been there for Pentecost. However the scriptures do say this:
"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 10:45

This was the FIRST time a Gentile received it! Do we know how much time passed since Acts 2 to here? Yes we do: Stephen was stoned 8 years after Christ ascended, and this was after the stoning of Stephen.

Oh, and by saying that water baptism works with the Spiritual, are you indicating that we have a repentance of "works" and not of faith? Careful with the words, because people may confuse it. Thats like Roman Catholic Doctrine saying the sacraments of the Church are what save you.

[Superintendent Elijah Marshall]

Water baptism identifies with the burial of Christ, and likewise symbolizes to us the burying of the old man and his deeds... So yes water baptism is necessary to be saved, because you cant be saved without the old man being crucified and buried... and THE NEW MAN being resurrected which is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost... Now, you mentioned earlier about being founded on the apostles' doctrine.. now what was their doctrine.. repentance, water baptism by immersion only in the name of the Lord, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost that was evidenced by speaking in other tongues and prophesying or simply just speaking in tongues; then they were admonished to live a holy, quiet and peacable life in this present world, give to the poor, operate in the gifts of the Spirit and in the fruit of the Spirit, etc... but the salvation issue and the pattern thereof is the same all throughout Acts and thereon after.. the foundation is laid, no man should bother it.

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Their doctrine on Baptism was shown in their epistles.

I agree that water baptism identifies with the death burial and resurrection of JESUS Christ, but so does the Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT.

[Superintendent Elijah Marshall]

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit identifies with the resurrection of Christ .. whereas we rise to the newness of life through His power indwelling in us.. So yes its important.. but you cant have a resurrection without a burial..