Bible Question:
A lady I work with says that if you were baptized as an infant that does not count because you must be baptized as an adult. There have been previous questions about the need to be baptized in order to be saved. But I do not see anything on infant baptism versus adult baptism. She strongly believes that you must be baptized as an adult in order to be saved. I am tired of debating with her on this subject. I have told her that I have been baptized and that it does not make a difference in my salvation.
Bible Answer:
Baptism is something that a person does after he or she becomes a Christian. Baptism does not make a person a Christian. Baptism is our first act of obedience to God since it is something that He has asked us to do in order to show others that we are serious about Jesus Christ.
Meaning of Baptism
We know that God hears our prayers and that He knows our thoughts. Baptism is a symbolic act that says, “I am sorry for my sins and I turn away from them. I die to myself and to my sins. I am now a follower of Jesus.” That is the meaning of the following passage. John the Baptist called people to believe in Jesus Christ and to repent. Those who did believe were baptized as a symbol of their changed belief and heart.
And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” (NASB) Acts 19:4
The Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost, told people to be baptized because they finally believed or realized that Jesus was the Messiah. Baptism came after they believed.
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ . . . (NASB) Acts 2:37-38
Being splashed with or being dipped in water does not change the destiny of our souls. Baptism does not save a person. It is only symbolic.
Infant or Adult?
God never puts an age limit on who can be saved. Therefore, there is no age limit about baptism. If we are to be baptized after we believe, and if God does not limit the age at which one can be saved, then there is not an age limit for baptism. God never limits the age for salvation or baptism.
Conclusion:
I was baptized again as an adult after I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I was baptized as a child, but I did not really believe in Jesus. So when I finally believed in Jesus, I was baptized as an act of obedience. Christians are supposed to be baptized as an evidence or as a symbol of a changed heart. As long as the mind and heart are true, it does not matter how old or how young the person is.