Why Do They
REBAPTIZE?
Lesson Text: Acts 19:1-7.
Devotional Reading-Subject: Scriptural Baptism, Acts 8:35-39.
AIM: To answer the question of why Baptist insist on the right authority for baptism.
HOME READING
Jesus Baptized, Matt. 3:13-17.
Believe Only, Matt. 3:5-12.
Much Water, John3:22, 23.
After Salvation, Acts 10:44-48.
The Command, Matt. 28:19, 20.
The Symbolism, Romans 6:1-14.
1. Because Only True Churches Have the Authority to Baptize.
Many people presume all churches and preachers have the right to administer baptism. Such is not the case. John the Baptist had Heaven’s authority to baptize (John 1:6, 33; Matt.23:25). Christ certainly had Heaven’s authority to baptize, but He chose to do it through His church (John 4:1, 2). When Christ left the earth, He gave authority to the servants of His house (Mark 13:34). Since there is no doubt what His house is, one can easily conclude such authority was left with His churches (1 Tim. 3:15).
Before Christ left, He commissioned or commanded His churches to continue the practice of Baptist (Matt. 28:29, 20). He emphasized He was giving His churches authority (Matt. 28:18). Three things were specified – making disciples, baptizing disciples, and teaching disciples. Now every true church – descending from the Jerusalem Church, teaching the same truth as the Jerusalem Church, and practicing the same truth as the Jerusalem Church – has not that authority.A false church – having a dubious origin, teaching false doctrine, and practicing false teachings – does not have any heavenly authority to administer baptism. That is why Missionary Baptist re-baptize people who come from such churches.
2. Because Some Were not Believers When They Were Immersed.
Because of erroneous teachings about baptism and because some become believers after they are immersed, there is a genuine need to re-baptize of baptize scripturally. To be scriptural, the baptismal candidate must be a believer in Christ. John 4:1 states “Jesus made” disciples before they received baptism. Matthew’s account of the commission indicates salvation must precede baptism in order for it o fit the divine order (Matt. 28:19). That same order prevails consistently in the Scriptures. In fact, Mark’s account of the commission declares this point clearly.“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15, 16).
Acts 18:8 presents the divine order, too. ”And Cripus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believers. Then they were baptized.
Moreover, true Baptist re-baptize or baptize scripturally anyone who received baptism when they were not believers.
3. Because Some Were Never Immersed.
Some churches do not immerse at all. They sprinkle or pour and call it baptism. However, the term “Baptism” always refers to total immersion. Terms which refer to sprinkling or pouring are never used in the Bible to refer to baptism; consequently it is erroneous to refer to them as baptism. Sprinkling and pouring are human ordinances contrived by human institutions to promote religions of convenience.The Bible declares baptism pictures a burial and a planting.
“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 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 death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6:3-5).
That this emphasizes the doctrine of total immersion is self-evident. Total immersion pictures all three points of the gospel. There is a death, a burial, and a resurrection. No other method presents such a picture.
Does 1 Corinthians 10:2 support immersion, or does it allow for sprinkling or pouring?
What about John 3:23? Does it justify immersion, or does it allow sprinkling and pouring?
4. Because Some Have Received Infant Baptism.
Some who hold to the practice of infant baptism still practice immersion. They maintain immersion is the only form of baptism. However, almost all who practice infant baptism use sprinkling or pouring. In either case, there is the serious error of the infant baptism, because the Bible doesn’t give the slightest hint of such a practice.
The Bible promotes believer’s baptism, as indicated in part two of this lesson. Believer’s baptism means two things in connection with this part. First, a person must be old enough to be a believer in Christ. Second, a person must actually be a believer in Christ. That is the Bible way. That was the practice of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:14, 15, 30-33. An infant cannot qualify for believer’s baptism.Those baptized on the day of Pentecost “gladly received” the Word (Acts 2:41). Are mere babies capable of that?
John the Baptist didn’t baptize infants, because he insisted on repentance and confession of sin (Matt. 3:2, 6, 8). Infants are not capable of that.
Infant baptism is a product of human reasoning It stems from a lack of spiritual enlightens. Consequently anyone should receive scriptural baptism.
5. Because Some Were Baptized for Salvation.
Many people need to be re-baptized or
scripturally baptized, because they originally thought baptism would save hem. These false doctrines engulf much of the religious world claiming to be Christian. They prefer to major on such passages as Mark 16:16, which teaches the condemning sin is unbelief. Also, they rely on Acts 2:38, which teaches all should repent and all should receive the Holy Spirit, but only those who repent should receive baptism. Further, they like to misquote 1 Peter 2:21, which teaches the resurrection of Christ is vital to salvation and baptism is a figure of salvation.
The baptismal salvation idea reduces salvation to a work of man. God’s Word declares salvation is “not of works, lest any man should boast” Eph. 2:9).
Baptismal salvation places the preacher or whoever administers baptism in the position of mediator between God and men. Paul said only Christ qualifies as Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
Baptism cannot save a soul. It has no such power. Water cannot wash away sin. Baptism is an outward act. Salvation is an inward act (Rom. 8:9-11; Eph. 1:13).
For Discussion. What did Philip require for baptism (Acts 8:36, 37)?
