On Baptism and the New Birth

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“Conversion to Christ, the new birth of Baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ received as food have made us ‘holy and without blemish,’ just as the Church herself, the Bride of Christ, is ‘holy and without blemish.’ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1426

The Catholic Church teaches that, when Jesus said, “You must be born again”, He was speaking of baptism.  When questioned on it, He replied, “You must be born of water and the Spirit”. One action, not two. We are born with what the Church calls Original Sin, what Wesley called “a bent towards sinning. And even an infant needs deliverance from that sinful nature.

Now, some argue that the Apostles said, “Repent and be baptized”. That is true.  The answer was given in response to adults asking how to be saved. But consider the case of the Philippian jailor. Paul said, “Repent and be baptized, you and your entire family”. There’s nothing to indicate that Paul had any knowledge as to whether there were children in the jailor’s family.  And he didn’t say, “you and your entire family, except, of course, the children, who are too young to repent”.  No. Paul’s instructions implied that children should also be baptized. 

And, just like physical birth, baptism, as the New Birth, cannot be repeated.

Does that mean that adults who may have been baptized as children, or perhaps even as adults, cannot be baptized again?  I think not.  That baptism wouldn’t have the effect of New Birth, but it is a public declaration of faith – and that’s a good thing.  

Of course, Catholics don’t need a public declaration in that sense. There is the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.

And, what Protestants call “being born again”? Of course, we all need to decide to follow Christ, we all need to confess our sinfulness and seek forgiveness.

Immigration to a new nation is a good analogy.  When one is born in a nation, by virtue of birth, they are citizens.  But they have to learn the responsibilities of that citizenship.  But, when one immigrates, they have to make a decision to be a citizen before taking the oath of citizenship.  In the same way, Baptism is the conferring of citizenship in the Kingdom of God.  Someone baptized as a child doesn’t have the ability to decide to be a citizen of the Kingdom, but they must learn what it means.

The important thing, when you come down to it, is that one is baptized – that they are Born Again according to scripture – and that they choose to live as Christian – that they are Born Again according to Protestant theology. Even though the words are used differently, and the Catholic understanding of Baptism differs somewhat, both are necessary.