Why Lutherans Don’t Re-Baptize
A while back, I was asked this question:
After being away from the church and Christian faith for a long time, can I be re-baptized a sign of my new commitment to Christ?
The answer is a firm no. Here's why:
Lutheran Christians believe that baptism is more than a simple act of obedience. It is not merely an "ordinance," or a new law which Christ has given us to obey. Instead, we believe, teach, and confess that Holy Baptism is a "sacrament" and a "means of grace." It is "water enclosed in God's command and connected with God's word." (Luther's Small Catechism)
Therefore, while getting baptized is a choice that an adult convert to Christianity needs to make, the important part of baptism is not the act of the believer's obedience. Instead, we should understand that God works upon us through Holy Baptism. In particular:
- God forgives sins in Holy Baptism:
- Acts 22:16 — (Ananias said to Paul:) “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
- God rescues us from death and the devil in Holy Baptism:
- Romans 6:3-5 — Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptize into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.
- Colossians 1:13-14 — He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- Colossians 2:11-12 — In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
- God gives eternal salvation in Holy Baptism:
- 1 Peter 3:21 — Baptism, which corresponds to this (Noah’s flood), now saves you not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- God adopts us into his family in Holy Baptism:
- Galatians 3:27, 29 — For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ… And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 — For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Notice who is the subject of each of these sentences: God! God is the one who acts upon us in Holy Baptism, not the other way around.
Holy Baptism is about God working his gracious promise in our lives. That's something that he will accomplish for us in our first - and only - baptism.
Since in baptism we receive God's gracious Spirit, there is nothing lacking in baptism that a second Baptism would improve upon. God does all of the work in baptism, and every baptism that is properly done conveys all of God's promises and benefits. Being baptized a second time would add nothing to that.
This is also why we confess with St. Paul that:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
So when we stray from God and fall away from faith — and then later we return to him — we need only to confess our faithlessness before God and receive His forgiveness. Our sin does not and cannot undo the promises of God.
Even when we are unfaithful, God is faithful to us — and that's very good news!
A (much thinner) Pastor Ted with Jennifer and Pastor John Sorenson at the baptism of their oldest daughter, Anneliese.
