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It is written:
Acts 10:48-And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Several years ago, I was blessed to enter into a series of Bible studies with a gentleman whom we shall call Joe. He had come through some very turbulent spiritual encounters throughout his life.
Joe had been born into a religious family, part of a prominent and established group especially in his younger years. As he grew, he realized that there were things wrong with this denomination from a Bible point of view, and he left and began to attend a local “community church.” While there, he made the decision to repent of his sins and be baptized (immersed in water) as a believer in Jesus Christ. However, after some things began to happen at that church, he realized that he was once again not where he needed to be, and so he left there.
He eventually began dating a woman that he eventually married who was a member of the churches of Christ. At his first meeting with the local brethren, he was amazed! Here was a group of people who were doing everything in their power to follow the Bible as their only source of teaching and unity. They had discarded all man-made names, creeds, and traditions and were instead doing their best to follow God’s Word. He was particularly impressed how they were calling denominational believers to leave man-made churches and join the cause of restoring New Testament Christianity. Joe approached the men of that congregation and told them with eagerness and enthusiasm that he wanted to work to help that congregation grow. Their response to his eager offer to volunteer was very troubling.
“You can’t help us here unless you are rebaptized, because you were just getting wet the first time that you were baptized.”
The reason why they claimed that Joe was just getting wet?
“You did not understand that baptism was for the remission of sins.”
Joe refused to be rebaptized and so was not accepted by that particular congregation.
I asked Joe, “My friend, why were you baptized?”
He looked at me and said, “Mark, I did not understand when I was baptized that it was for the remission of sins. I was baptized because God said to do it and I wanted to obey Him and follow the Example of Jesus.”
Hmmm.
This, of course, raises some very important issues.
What are the requirements for valid baptism?
How much must a person know in order to be baptized?
If a person misunderstands some aspect of baptism, does this necessarily make that baptism null and void?
Let’s study.
The first thing to notice is the fact that the Bible is very clear that baptism comes before salvation, and is part of God’s plan to redeem mankind. This is shown in many ways, but especially in observing that every passage in the New Testament which mentions “baptism” and “salvation” places baptism before salvation.
For example:
Matthew 28:19-Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:15-16-And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:5-Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 2:38-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.
Acts 22:16-And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
Romans 6:3-4-Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
1 Corinthians 12:13-For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3:26-27-For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Ephesians 5:26-that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Colossians 2:12-buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Titus 3:4-7-But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Hebrews 10:22-let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 Peter 3:21-There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
We have carefully examined all of these passages elsewhere, so we will not rehash all that here. I will simply mention that the New Testament clearly teaches that baptism precedes salvation.
Second, we need to investigate whether or not there is only “one purpose” for baptism provided in God’s Word. This is something often proclaimed, but is not accurate. In truth, there are numerous blessings attached to baptism in Christ which may serve as motivators for baptism.
In the New Testament, baptism:
1. Is following the Example of Jesus (Matthew 3:15-16);
2. Is the moment where a person enters into full fellowship with the Trinity (Matthew 28:19);
3. Is the moment when a person is purchased by the blood of Jesus (Matthew 28:19);
4. Precedes salvation (Mark 16:15-16);
5. Makes one a member of God’s kingdom (John 3:5);
6. Is part of the new birth (John 3:5);
7. Is the act by which a person receives the remission of sins (Acts 2:38);
8. Brings the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38);
9. Adds one into the church of Christ (Acts 2:41, 47);
10. Is a Divine commandment (Acts 10:47-48);
11. Is where sins are washed away (Acts 22:16);
12. Is the moment where one calls upon the Lord for salvation (Acts 22:16);
13. Brings the believer into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-4);
14. Leads the believer into newness of life (Romans 6:3-4);
15. Is the result of the Spirit leading a believer to salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13);
16. Makes one a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13);
17. Is where a person is saved so that he may be with his dead loved ones in Christ after this life (1 Corinthians 15:29);
18. Puts the believer into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27);
19. Is where the believer “puts on” Christ (Galatians 3:26-27);
20. Is when a believer becomes a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27);
21. Makes one a part of spiritual Israel (Galatians 3:26-29);
22. Is where we are granted spiritual authority as Christ’s people (Ephesians 2:6);
23. Is a testament to our unity in Christ (Ephesians 4:4-7);
24. Is where we are made part of the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:26);
25. Is when our sins are cut off by the circumcision of Christ (Colossians 2:12);
26. Is where we are raised with Christ to new life (Colossians 2:12-13);
27. Assures us of our freedom from the condemnation of the Law (Colossians 2:14);
28. Breaks the enslaving power of sin and of demonic strongholds (Colossians 2:12-15);
29. Brings about the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5);
30. Brings about the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5);
31. Is when our bodies are washed with pure water as we are saved (Hebrews 10:22);
32. Is where we are saved by water like the Noahs were (1 Peter 3:20-21);
33. Is when we answer God’s call with a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21);
34. Is when we pledge ourselves in covenant with God (1 Peter 3:21);
35. Is where we pray to God for His promised salvation (1 Peter 3:21);
36. Is where we find assurance in our union with Jesus in His baptism (1 John 5:4-8);
37. Is where we undergo the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5-6);
38. Is where we are made part of the kingdom of Christ (Revelation 20:5-6);
39. Is where we are made priests of God (Revelation 20:5-6);
40. Is what delivers us from the second death (Revelation 20:5-6)
Right here are forty references to the blessings attached with baptism in the New Testament. Surely we can see from this that there are many blessings and motivators associated with baptism in the New Testament! To single out only one (i.e., “for the remission of sins” from Acts 2:38) to the exclusion of the others seems to be irresponsible handling of the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15).
Third, it is insightful that the New Testament itself provides us with the two conditions the believer must meet in order to be baptized.
Acts 8:36-38-Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then 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.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
The “good confession” of the eunuch here shows both his faith and repentance from sin. He affirms that Jesus is the Son of God (faith), and acknowledges Him as the Christ (showing that he acknowledged Jesus’ Divine authority).
Fourth, consider that the majority of New Testament passages about baptism are written to Christians who have been baptized into Christ, but who either have need to be further educated about their past baptism, or to correct misunderstandings about the rite.
Let me say that again: almost every passage in the Epistles listed above about baptism is either educating the baptized believers or correcting their misunderstandings!
The Romans and the Colossians had not made the connection with baptism and sinful living (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 3:1-12); the Corinthians and the Ephesians had not grasped how their baptisms were a demonstration of their unity in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4-7); the Galatians had somehow “missed” that baptism made both Jews and Gentiles part of Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:28-29); the recipients of Peter’s First Epistle had not comprehended how their suffering and baptism were connected with Noah’s work in the world and with Christ’s Descent into Hades (1 Peter 3:18-21).
Many other examples could be cited.
Here is the point: even though these Christians had not been fully educated about baptism prior to their immersion, and even though these Christians had held to some very erroneous ideas about baptism, they were still acknowledged as Christians! There is no hint in any of the Epistles that there was a requirement for rebaptism of these disciples so long as they had believed in Jesus and repented of their sins when they were immersed (cf. Acts 8:37).
Instead, they were to now learn these truths and live them out.
2 Peter 3:18-but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
It is true that there is one example of rebaptism in the Book of Acts.
Acts 19:1-5-And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples. 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a 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.
Even a general perusal of this passage shows that these “disciples” had not yet heard of Jesus Christ when Paul found them. They are identified as “disciples,” yet the context here makes it clear that they had been disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:3). They had not even heard about Jesus and the Holy Spirit, which is why Paul needed to teach them and then rebaptized them (Acts 19:5).
This is not an example of believers in Jesus being rebaptized because they had misunderstood something about baptism: it is an example of people who had not even heard about Jesus being baptized and saved when they were finally taught the Word of God!
Now, all of this is not to say that if a person desires to be rebaptized, he should be denied. Quite often, when studying with friends from denominational churches, several express a desire to be rebaptized when they learn more about the plan of salvation in contrast to the incorrect man-made teachings that they were taught.
However, this is quite a different situation from when a person who goes to a congregation and is told that they “must be” reimmersed before they can be recognized as part of God’s church.”
Someone may ask, “Why would anyone not want to be rebaptized if they learned they had misunderstood baptism?”
We could also ask, “Why didn’t Paul command rebaptism of Christians to whom he wrote and who had similarly misunderstood baptism?”
Very simple: because God didn’t command it.
Years ago, I studied the Bible with a young man who had been raised in the Baptist church. He had been baptized and taught that he had been saved before his baptism. As we studied and he learned that in the New Testament baptism precedes salvation, I asked him if he would like to be rebaptized.
He told me, “Mark, if I do that, I will be doubting Jesus.”
I said, “How do you mean?”
He responded, “I believe that Jesus kept His promise to forgive me of my sins and save me even if I didn’t know when He would do it. He kept His Word and forgave me when I was baptized, even if I didn’t know that’s when He would do it. I believe that He is faithful.”
Wow.
Let us be careful not to demand of others what Jesus Himself doesn’t.
Especially when we are so inconsistent in demanding of others what we ourselves aren’t willing to do.
Think about it.
Are we rebaptized every time we learn something new about baptism?
Are we rebaptized every time we learn something about baptism and the Christian life that we had misunderstood before our baptism?
To ask is to answer.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.