The purpose of this section is not to condemn those
who have not been baptized correctly, for the responsibility here lies with the one who
baptizes more than the one who is baptized. Much rather it is to
point the way forward to spiritual unity in the body of Christ, by setting out the scriptural reasons for
re-baptism. Before we do this, let us define our
terms. Those who think that they have been baptized because they have been sprinkled, or had water poured upon them, need to
be baptized by the correct
method of full immersion. This is a baptism for believers only, baby baptism is not scriptural. Those who have been
baptized by the correct method of
immersion, but not "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ", have not been baptized correctly according to the teaching given in this study (See #2.13
Note 6,7). Re-baptism is then in order for all those who have not been correctly baptized.
Another case is when a Christian has backslidden into seeking the things of
the world. Jesus commanded such people to "Repent and do the first
works:" (Revelation 2:5), and we will show in this bible study that
one of the first works referred to was water baptism.
ACTS 19:1-7
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples,
2 He said to them, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there is any Holy Spirit.
3 And he said to them, Into what then were you baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on him who would come after him, that is,
on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
Note 1: Re-baptism is scriptural
Here we have twelve men (v7), who were disciples (v1), and who had been baptized by John the Baptist (v3), with a baptism of repentance (v4). Paul delayed nothing
to re-baptize them "in (Gr. eij) the name of the Lord Jesus." (v5) (See #2.12 Note 4;
#2.13 Note 5; #2.22). Why did he do this? There is no evidence that the process of baptism used by John
the Baptist was any different to that used by Jesus or his disciples, but certainly here Paul did not think John's baptism to be sufficient in any
way, otherwise he would not have re-baptized them. Two differences that can be noted are:
(1) What the believers understood about baptism when it was performed, and
(2) The words which were actually said during the process.
As far as the first point is concerned, certainly few (if any) fully understand the significance of baptism when they undertake it. It is usually done very early in the Christian life, as one of the first acts of obedience, and as an expression of the individual's faith, long before the spiritual understanding that comes with maturity has been obtained. As far as the second point is concerned, there is no evidence that John the Baptist used the name of Jesus when he baptized, or any other name for that matter, so these converts had to be re-baptized using the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note 2: The words spoken are important
Are the words said during the process of water baptism that important? Does it really matter whether we say "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ",
or "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:"? Well, if we meditate upon the following scriptures, we can see how important words are:
(Proverbs 18:7) "A fool's mouth is his destruction,"
(Proverbs 18:21) "Death and life are in the power of the tongue:"
(Matthew 4:4) "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
(Matthew 12:36) "every idle word that men shall speak, they will give account of in the day of judgement."
(Matthew 12:37) "by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Life, death, destruction, justification, and condemnation, will all come to us through the words that we speak. Jesus said that the words he spoke were "spirit and life" (John 14:6), and God attaches so much importance to his words that it is written;
(Psalm 12:6) "The words of the LORD are pure words: as
silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
(Psalm 119:140) "Your word is very pure:"
(Psalm 119:160) "Your word is true from the beginning:"
(Proverbs 8:8) "All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them."
(Proverbs 30:5) "Every word of God is pure,"
(John 17:17) "your word is truth."
In fact God is so particular about every word that he has said, "I will not alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." (Psalm 89:34). He has told us not to add to his words (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6), or suffer the end time plagues (Revelation 22:18), nor diminish from them (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32), or lose our salvation (Revelation 22:19; 20:15). Yes, it is important what words are spoken when we are baptized, and one day our work of baptism will be tried by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13), which is the word of God (Jeremiah 23:29). If it is not done right, it will be burned, and we will suffer loss (1 Corinthians 3:15).
Note 3: Exact obedience is important to God
There are some who may ask, "Is God really so serious about us obeying what he says? will he really judge us if we do not do it exactly as he has
said?" Perhaps if we could ask a few people who have disobeyed God in the past we might find the answers:
(1) Adam and Eve were forbidden one simple thing by God, "of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it:" (Genesis 2:17), and they disobeyed (Genesis 3:6). Just eating one piece of forbidden fruit each, brought an unimaginable catastrophe of sin, death, and suffering on all mankind (Romans 5:12). Yes, God will judge us if we disobey.
(2) When Lot and his family escaped from Sodom, they were told, "do not look behind you," (Genesis 19:17), but when Lot's wife looked back, she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Yes, God will judge us if we ignore his instructions.
(3) Nadab an Abihu "offered strange fire before the LORD, which he did not commanded them. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Leviticus 10:1-2). Yes, God will judge us if we do things that he has not commanded us.
(4) Miriam spoke against Moses (Numbers 12:1), made God angry (Numbers 12:9), and became leprous for her sin (Numbers 12:10). Yes, God will judge us when we speak against those who are doing God's will.
(5) God forbade any work to be done on the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:10), and when a man was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath, he was put to death by stoning (Numbers 15:32-36). Yes, God will judge us if we disobey his commandments.
(6) Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, spoke against Moses (Numbers 16:1-3), which led to the earth opening up and taking them and all their belongings to "sheol" (Numbers 16:27-33), after which fire consumed another 250 men who offered incense before the Lord (Numbers 16:35). Yes, God will judge us if we speak against those who do his will properly.
(7) When the children of Israel spoke against Moses and Aaron in the desert of Zin, asking for water (Numbers 20:1-5), God commanded Moses, "speak to the rock" (Numbers 20:8), and Moses "smote the rock twice:" (Numbers 20:11). As a punishment for this disobedience, God deprived both Moses and Aaron entrance into the promised land (Numbers 20:12; 20:22-29; Deuteronomy 32:48-52; 34:1-6). Yes, God will judge us if we do not obey his instructions properly.
(8) God instructed Saul to destroy Amalek, all their people, and all their livestock (1 Samuel 15:2-3), but Saul feared the people (1 Samuel 15:24), spared the king, and permitted them to save the best of the livestock to sacrifice unto God (1 Samuel 15:8-9, 15, 21). For this disobedience Saul was rejected from being king (1 Samuel 15:23, 28). Yes, God will judge us when we do not carry out his instructions properly.
(9) When God gave instructions for transporting the ark of the testimony, he instructed it to be carried by the priests (Joshua 3:6; 1 Chronicles 15:2) with staves through the golden rings on the ark (Exodus 25:12-15), and also said, "they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die." (Numbers 4:15). However, when David transported the ark back to Jerusalem, the wrong way, on an ox cart (2 Samuel 6:1-9; 1 Chronicles 13:1-12), Uzzah touched the ark to prevent it from falling, and died for his error (2 Samuel 6:6-7; 1 Chronicles 13:9-10). Yes, God will judge us if we do not do things the way that he has told us to do them.
(10) Ananias and Saphira sold a possession, kept back part of the price, and lied
about how much they had sold it for (Acts 5:1-11). They both died instantly. Yes, God will judge us if we try to deceive him or his people.
The God that we serve today is the same God that dispensed all these judgements upon disobedient people, and he has not changed. He is "the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning." (James 1:17), and he has said, "I am the
LORD, I do not change;" (Malachi 3:6). So what judgement will he now dispense upon those who carry out his instructions improperly? upon those who prefer
their established tradition more than the truth of his word, and unity in the body of Christ? The real point is that anyone who knows how to do something
right for God, and deliberately does it differently, has a wrong heart and a wrong spirit. Obedience to God will be a pleasure to his true people, "For
this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1.John 5:3).
Note 4: How can we find the true church of God?
This is specifically for those who baptize using "the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:" (Matthew 28:19), or "the name
of Jesus' only, or even "the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38), during water baptism, and who believe themselves to be either the true church of God, or part of it.
Jesus has many "sheep" who are hearing his voice (John 10:27) through his word, and who are looking for the "one fold" (John 10:16), which some may
interpret as the true church of God. They are looking for a people who are obedient to the word of God, described as "those who keep the commandments
of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12). There may be some "new born babes in Christ" out there in the world, wandering through the
denominational maze of churches, looking for the true church of God, who know only one truth from God's word: that they must be baptized using "the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ". How then will they ever find the true church if the true church is not baptizing right? The true church of God owes it to the
"other sheep" to signal them in the right direction, by showing obedience to God's word where it can be seen.
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed a prayer to his Father:
(John 17:20-23) "Neither pray I for these (the apostles) alone, but for them also who will believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as you Father are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: ...
... that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one:"
In this he describes a spiritual unity which is perfect. Those who baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" can
never be at perfect unity with those who are baptized "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ", because this doctrine has separated churches. Some of
the latter sadly regard the former as unsaved, and destined for hell fire. It must be obvious that a wrong baptism, which causes this kind of division in
the body of Christ, is not from God. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), nor is he the author of things contrary to the prayer that Jesus
prayed, but we should all know who is. Which of us are prepared to stand before Jesus on judgement day and defend a baptism which has caused division
in the church, and delayed the answer to his prayer?
Brothers and sisters in Christ, do you see the truth of all this? If so then please act on it, for the apostle James not only said, "faith without works
is dead" (James 2:17; 2:20; 2:26), but he also had this to say to those who teach error, and lead God's people into disunity:
(Proverbs 6:16-19) "These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination to him; ... he who sows discord among brethren."
All false teachings sow discord.
(Luke 12:47) "And that servant who knew his lord's will, and did not prepared himself,
nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."
(James 3:1) "My brethren, do not be many teachers,
knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."
REVELATION 2:5 (Jesus to the Church at Ephesus)
4 Nevertheless I have something against you, because you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove
your lamp stand out of its place, except you repent.
Note: This church at Ephesus had one very serious accusation laid against them by Jesus: "You have left your first love." (v4). Jesus was once asked what was the greatest commandment in the law, and his reply was:
(Matthew 22:39) "You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind."
God should be the first love of every Christian, and when we go back and set our heart on worldly things then we have left off loving God.
(1 John 2:15) "Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Our love for God is expressed by obedience to God's commandments (John 14:15, 14:21-24, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John 6), so it appears that these Ephesian brethren had ceased to be obedient to the commandments of God, and were backslidden. Jesus said, "Repent and do the first works", but when Peter preached after being filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, he said, "Repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38), indicating that baptism is one of the first works that someone does when they become believers. If we look in the New Testament it seems that water baptism was invariably the first thing that believers did after they became believers.
(Acts 8:12-13) "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ,
they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."
(Acts 8:35-39) "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached Jesus to him.
And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what hinders me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
(Acts 10:44-48) "While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we did?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to remain some days."
(Acts 16:14-15) "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard
us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken of by Paul.
And when she was baptised, and her household, she entreated us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house,
and abide there. And she constrained us."
(Acts 16:30-33) "And (the Philippian jailer) brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.
And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all who were in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptised, he and all his, immediately.
In each of the five cases above, quoted from the book of Acts, water baptism was considered to be an urgent work after someone became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. These scriptures are convincing proof that water baptism was one of the first works that Jesus was referring to when he spoke to the church at Ephesus and told them to do the "first works". Therefore, re-baptism is scriptural for someone who has backslidden.
See also RP 108 #1. SCRIPTURAL CHRISTIAN WATER BAPTISM BY FULL IMMERSION
See also RP 108 #2. WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
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