HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD A PERSON BE IMMERSED IN BAPTISM?

Many people have come to know the truth that the mode of Christian baptism in the Bible is immersion. But there remains another thing which people are confused about; that is the number of times a person must be immersed in the water during the act of baptism. 

There are several schools of thought, some think that during baptism, one is supposed to be immersed in the water three times taking Matt. 28: 19 to back up their stand. Some too, say seven times because the number seven represents perfection. Again some say just once. Which of these is the correct one since all cannot be true? God has given us all things that pertain to life (2Peter 1: 3), and if any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God (2Peter 4:11).

Let us now dig deep into the Bible and see for ourselves the right thing to be done. If we understand the meaning of baptism and the doctrine of the trinity then understanding the number of times one is supposed to be immersed in water during baptism will be easier.

The Bible tells us that those who received the one true baptism were buried (Col. 2: 12); they are not just buried but buried with Christ Jesus and resurrected with Him through baptism.

(Rom 6:3-5) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Jesus Christ rose to life 

Here, the apostle Paul reminded the Roman church that those who received the Christian baptism were planted in the likeness of the death of Christ Jesus and they were also raised from the water to the newness of life just as Christ Jesus did.

I think there is no need to further explain the text above, it is clear and loud! Jesus Christ died, was buried and resurrected on the third day according to the scriptures. That is He died once, was buried once and resurrected to life once by the glory of God. 

Baptism needs to be done in the manner in which Jesus Christ was buried and resurrected according to the scriptures just as the apostle Paul reminded the brethren at Roman. Our baptism is in resemblance, design, and purpose of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the number of times that a person must be immersed during baptism is just once as seen in the scriptures. So if a person is immersed more than once, it means he has been buried multiple times and secondly it is not in resemblance to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But there is another objection to this conclusion, this can be found in Matt. 28: 19.

(Mat 28:19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Many people are practicing or are been immersed in the water three times during baptism because of the text above. This text has to do with the Trinity; many people are perplexed because of this doctrine. To many, it is illogical to say that three personalities be one, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The following scriptures prove that Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equally God (John 1:1-3; Philippians 2: 5-8; Colossians 1:19; 2Corithians 3:17; John 16:14-15).

The Bible tells us that the three are one.

(1Jn 5:7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.



Conclusion

It is very clear that the number of times a person must be baptized during the act of baptism is just once as we have seen from the scriptures. If the Bible says that we should be baptized in the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit does not provide the ground for us to immerse or to be immersed three times because the Bible tells us that these three are one. Immersion seven times and any other number of times is a misunderstanding of some parts of the scriptures which must be corrected. 

Our baptism must be in the resemblance, design and the purpose of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you have not been immersed yet, you have the choice to do it now for the forgiveness of sins. If also you received a baptism contrary to what the Bible says as we have discussed so far, you can make the choice now. The teachings of Christ the Savior and the teachings of men which one would you obey?

For assistance or further studies, contact the Church of Christ nearest you.