Are you confused by the different baptism ceremonies or belief in churches? It would be useful to understand what Baptism entails, regardless of how it is carried out in different places.
Most importantly, my friend, never doubt that your baptism is void or in vain because it is Jesus Christ who baptises you, and witnessed by all of heaven and earth.
Baptism is first and foremost a celebration!
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.
Luke 15:24
Baptism is a celebration because God wants to celebrate a reunion between Himself and you! It is witnessed by God in Heaven to declare that we are God’s children.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matt 3:16-17
We are like the lost son in the parable, happy and thankful to be reunited with his father. It is a celebration where God declares to all in heaven and earth that you are His child, and you declare that you are His child. A restoration of our identity in the House of God.
Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit
I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matt 3:11
The water used in Baptism signifies our repentance, and washing away of sins. However John the Baptist also spoke about the coming of a new covenant where God Himself gives us the Holy Spirit, baptising His children with the Holy Spirit.
Your baptism is personally witnessed by God, and Jesus is the one who baptises you with the Holy Spirit. And we can be very certain about this.
For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
1 John 5:6-8
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:38-39
The Holy Spirit is the promise from God – a gift to everyone who responds to Jesus Christ.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
When the Holy Spirit is given to us, He truly lives in us as our companion, and causes us to be alive to His fruit bearing work in us.
However, if for any reason you are required by a church to go through baptism more than once, I hope you can find peace by knowing that baptism is a celebration of your new life in Jesus Christ. And since it is a celebration, it does you no harm – just like how we celebrate birthdays multiple times, or where couples hold a celebration in renewal of their pledge on their special 25th or 50th year anniversaries. Enjoy it!
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
I hope these help to clear your doubts; and may the Spirit of peace fill the depths of your heart!