Baptism

BEFORE leaving the subject it is proper that we consider what is termed re-baptism. This is necessary from the fact that there are not a few persons who, after seeing the relation which the law of God sustains to baptism, become dissatisfied with their baptism. And here we wish to state that the immersion of those who have been sprinkled or poured is not re-baptism, as such persons have not been baptized. The just causes of dissatisfaction with baptism are as follows:-

1. Those who were buried in baptism before they had experienced that conviction for sins which is represented by the apostle as death. Those who have been buried alive, and who are now slain by the law of God should be buried.

2. Those who were baptized by an unworthy administrator. If the candidate, however, moved in the fear of God according to best judgment and felt the approbation of God, the unworthiness of the administrator does not make the baptism a wrong on the part of the candidate. And yet, as baptism, in the words of Peter, is the answer of good conscience, if the sensitive conscience be troubled over the fact that unworthy hands administered the ordinance, that conscience should be fully satisfied by a re-baptism where all the circumstances are right.

3. Those who have turned away from the Lord since they were baptized, and have fallen into sins. The prophet says of such: "When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness; and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned. In his trespass that he trespassed, and in his sins that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." Eze: 18:24.

In coming to the Lord and his church the sinner takes three steps; the first is repentance, the second is faith, the third is baptism. The backslider by his apostasy takes these three steps backward. God remembers these righteons acts in him no more. He is virtually an unbaptized person. Now what shall be done in his case after he shall take the first step over again in true repentance, and the second in faith in the pardoning love of Christ? Shall he go back and patch the old dead baptism on to the living acts of renewed repentance and faith? God forbid! As he is virtually an unbaptized soul let him, now that he is slain by the law under the last message, be buried with his Lord in baptism.

But right here some will start back at the idea of being re-immersed. The question is sometimes asked: "Who ever heard of re-baptism?" Well, dear reader, you shall now hear of it, and that too, on the highest authority. Paul at Ephesus inquires of certain disciples: "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 19:2-5.

Here is re-baptism. These persons had been baptized by John, and now they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The baptism of John was valid and right in its time and re-baptism did not invalidate it; but here was an advance of light and truth demanding a new baptism by those who walked in that light and why may not an advance of truth and light on our part call for re-baptism? We solemnly believe that burial in baptism is in the highest degree proper in those who take the advance position in the last message and who die a death such as they never before experienced. In the case of the disciples their advance was from truth to a greater truth; from light to a greater light; but our advance is from error to truth, from darkness to light. Was re-baptism called for under the circumstances existing eighteen centuries since? Why may not the call for it be more imperative in those who see the relation which the law of God and baptism hold to conversion?

But this is a tender subject, and should not be urged upon any one. Doubtless all who were buried in baptism before they were slain by the law will be re-baptized. Those who have been immersed in all good conscience are admitted to our churches without re-baptism. Such very generally, however, soon feel it to be their duty to receive baptism again. We would here repeat that none should be urged. Those who, receiving a genuine re-conversion, and are led by the Spirit of God, are very soon led into the water. To those who get up an unsanctified feeling of opposition to re-baptism we would say, you show too much evidence of life to be buried. Wait until the truth of God and the Spirit of God works in you that change which may be more properly illustrated by death, than by burial.