WHAT ABOUT RE-BAPTISM?

BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION Mark 16:15-16; “… Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,,,” Acts 2:38 : “ Repent and be baptized…for the forgiveness of your sins… ”

Acts 22:16; “…be baptized and wash away your sins…” Matt 28:18-20; “…Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION

BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL TO BECOMING DISCIPLES OF CHRIST Gal 3:26-27; “for IN Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized INTO Christ have put on Christ.”

BAPTISM DEFINED BAPTISM IS IMMERSION 1. baptisma, "baptism," consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, "to dip"), is used (a) of John's "baptism," (b) of Christian "baptism," (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

? IS THERE EVER A NEED TO BE RE-BAPTIZED?

A CASE OF RE-BAPTISM Acts 19:1-5; “ And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul…came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples… " And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

A CASE OF RE-BAPTISM Acts 18:24-28; “…Apollos… came to Ephesus… he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John… but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him… they…explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia…When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”

SOME OBSERVATIONS These twelve had been previously baptized (IMMERSED), yet lacking in some way. Their baptism was lacking even though it was “for the remission of sins” Mark 1:4, “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

SOME MORE OBSERVATIONS The baptism they received was NOT by the authority of Jesus, it was by John’s authority. Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ…” Acts 10:48, Peter commanded Cornelius’ household to be “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 19:5, “On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

SOME CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS A baptism by the authority of Christ is a baptism into the name of the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son. Matt 28:18-19, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

WHEN IS RE-BAPTISM APPROPRIATE? FOUR TENETS OF BAPTISM

MUST BE PERFORMED IN PROPER MODE. Rom 6:3-4; “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Col 2:12, “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM MUST HAVE PROPER AUTHORITY. Matt 28:18-19, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:5, “…they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM MUST BE FOR THE PROPER PURPOSE. Acts 22:16, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” Mark 16:15-16, “…Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized… …”Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins…”

SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM MUST INVOLVE THE PROPER SUBJECT. Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized” Proper MODE, AUTHORITY, PURPOSE, and proper SUBJECT.

APPLYING WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED If we were baptized by sprinkling or pouring… If we were baptized by the authority of anyone other than Jesus Christ… If we were baptized for any purpose besides “for forgiveness of sins”… If we were not penitent believers… THEN, we were NOT properly baptized!

AFTER PROPER BAPTISM The blood of Christ continually cleanses us of our sins as long as we REPENT and CONFESS our sins to God in prayer. Acts 8:22, “Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

FRIEND, HOW ABOUT YOU? ARE YOU A PENTENTANT BELIEVER? HAVE YOU BEEN PROPERLY BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS? ARE YOU STILL WALKING IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT? MAY WE ASSIST YOU IN OBEDIENCE?