Question for you all who advocate re-baptism - Is baptism a man made ordinance or a God made ordinance. Or in other words, is Baptism OUR profession of faith, or GOD's seal upon US. Is not Baptism GOD's sign and seal upon us after our confession of faith? If that is the case, then why would you want to be re-baptized. Re-baptism is like saying that God's promise, seal, and sign is of no effect because "we didn't mean it the first time." GOD meant it it the first time. Or do you view baptism as just some empty rite that is equal to something symbolizing "I believe"? That's what the Apostles Creed is for...or I guess today it has been replaced by t-shirts with writing on them...
Again, my own father, now a 30+ year pastor and missionary, was re baptized. But he realized only a few years later that it was not the way to go. And he could easy repent for that second baptism saying "Father, forgive me for not trusting your promise in my first baptism!" Again, Baptism is Christ's sign, seal, and promise, and, in a sense, confession on you.
Let me give this illustration. Let's say a man is married after barely getting to know a girl. He is excited about being married, but being a young and unwise, as well as sinful, and he soon falls into sin. He has an affair and is always lusting after other women. And then a few years later he has a complete change in heart - the Lord moves in him, and he comes to his wife and he asks her to forgive him for "not being a real husband." He reforms his ways, and is completely faithful to his wife from that point on. Question: should he be re-married? (he had a ring on the whole time - a sign, like baptism, of his marriage). Can we not say that in a sense, the day he repented was the first day he was a "true husband"? Sure. But was he not a husband before? Does he consider his marriage void, and go to the pastor and say, "We need to get married!" What would the pastor say? - "you're already married." But the man responds, "But now it's for real!" and the pastor would say, "Good - you're finally being a husband, but re-marrying you would be to desecrate, to call worthless, what was done in the sight of God those years ago. I can't. You're already married."
Do not have the seal of God put on you twice, as if to say, "God, sorry, first one didn't work/didn't count - now I'M ready."
So I ask you again - why would you call worthless what God did in Baptism the first time? Another way to view Baptism would be to call it a naming Ceremony. Just as a wife takes on a husbands name, so you, baptized Christian, the bride of Christ, take on the name of Christ in baptism.
Blessings to you as you think through these issues.
-Daniel