There are others who have gone through this same experience. They had been baptized when they were young and unsaved, and after their conversion to Christ they felt they should be baptized as a believer. To answer your question, we need to discuss consider THREE main beliefs regarding baptism: 1) Infant baptism for salvation; 2) household baptism so the parents can disciple their children; and 3) believer’s baptism to publicly confess your faith in Christ and your desire to follow Jesus.

1) Those who believe in infant baptism for salvation believe in “baptismal regeneration.” In other words, they believe their infant child is “born again” by being baptized. This is a “false teaching,” for the Bible clearly teaches us that “baptism does not save.” The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, less the cross of Christ should be made of no effect” (NKJV). Paul knew that one is not saved or regenerated (born again) through a ritual like baptism, but through “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). An infant is not old enough to REPENT or BELIEVE the gospel, so this belief is unscriptural. See John 1:12-13 with John 3:1-8, 14-16.

2) Those who believe and practice “household baptism” do have scriptural support (although some would question this). Though Paul did not baptize people for salvation, we read in 1 Corinthians 1:17, “Yes, I also BAPTIZED THE HOUSEHOLD OF STEPHANAS.” We also read of two other cases of household baptism in Acts chapter 16. In verses 14-15 we read of a woman named Lydia who was saved and then “she and her household were baptized.” In verses 25-31 we read of the salvation of a jailor and then we read in verse 33, “he and all his family were baptized.” In these cases, Stephanus, Lydia, and the jailor had their family baptized. Why? Not because they had necessarily been saved, but because as their parents they would now be able to “DISCIPLE their children.” In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus said, “Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, BAPTIZING THEM in then name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING THEM to observe all things that I have commanded you.” As Christian parents, we are to “bring them (our children) up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:5) and we surely don’t wait for them to be saved to train them in the ways of the Lord. Baptism is the first step in making disciples and then teaching follows. Those who believe in household baptism are following this order. They also teach their children that their baptism did NOT save them and that they must trust in Christ to be saved.

3) Those who believe in “believer’s baptism” hold that ONE MUST BE SAVED FIRST AND THEN BAPTIZED.” They surely have scriptures that show new believers in Christ being baptized (see Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:43-48). New believers are willing to become disciples and in their baptism, they are telling the world they confess Jesus as their Lord and want to follow Him and His teachings (as we saw in Matthew 28:19-20). In the early church we see “household baptism” and “believer’s baptism” being practiced.

I hope your parents didn’t have you baptized thinking it would save your soul. I would like to think they believed in “household baptism” where they had you baptized in view of “bringing you up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” all the while informing you that your baptism did NOT save you. Those that I know who practice household baptism are earnest believers who reject “infant baptism for salvation” but believe parents have the privilege of discipling their children, which begins with baptism. If the children are truly taught these things, and are then saved later, they will see that their baptism did indeed MAKE THEM DISCIPLES and it does not need to be repeated. It sounds like you were NOT taught this by your parents, so I can see why you felt convicted to be baptized again. I don’t believe you needed to be, but there is no harm done by being rebaptized (as long as you see it deals with DISCIPLESHIP and NOT SALVATION).  (DO)  (713.3)