Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Does the Bible give us an example of people being re-baptized?

    Today I will be combing Acts 19-20 with 21-22. Over the weekend we have been dealing with the passing of me father's wife, a dear sweet Christian woman. I will write something personal about this following her funeral, which is tomorrow. But being with her and my father in her final hours is the reason I was unable to write yesterday.

Disciples in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7)

    Paul found these disciples and wanted to know if they had received the Holy Spirit. They said they did not know about the Holy Spirit. Having already determined that they were saved, Paul next asked them about their baptism, and that was what the problem was. They had been baptized unto John's baptism.
    Now first let me say that there was nothing wrong with John's baptism. It was true Christian baptism. But God had given John and John alone the authority to administer that baptism (John 1:6, 33). Then Jesus became the authority for baptism (John 4:1-2), and he having all authority gave the authority to baptize to his church (Matthew 28:18-20).
    John the Baptist never went to Ephesus, so someone else must have baptized them in the Baptism of John. Who could have done this? Remember Apollos from chapter 18. He had been in Ephesus and was witnessing before the way of the Lord had been explained to him more accurately. Perhaps he was the one.
    Regardless of who had baptized them improperly they needed to be properly baptized because they had been baptized by the wrong authority. Pay close attention: they had been saved before their baptism, they had been immersed, and they were being baptized for the sake of obedience and yet their baptism was not acceptable. Why? The answer is improper authority. So not just anyone can go around baptizing folks. They must have authority to do so. John had it, Jesus has it, and he extended it to his church. So there are times that a person must be re-baptized or actually properly baptized because even though they did everything right, the person who baptized them did not have the authority to do so.
    Some would say, "but what about the scripture that says there is one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). It is absolutely true that there is one baptism. One scriptural or true baptism, but the folks in Ephesus did not have it until Paul administered it in the name of Jesus. Paul had authority given to him by the church at Antioch that sent him out to do his mission work.

Paul spends an extended period of time in Ephesus and God gives him great influence (Acts 19:8-41)

Paul's farewell at Ephesus (Acts 20)

Should Paul have gone to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-24, 21:8-14).

I am going to discuss this a bit more tomorrow so keep it in mind.

Using his testimony. (Acts 22:1-21)

    Paul often used his testimony when witnessing and I think it is a great example for us to pick up on and use in our witnessing. Sometimes our witness can seem a bit academic (we are simply stating the facts), but our testimony makes it personal, makes it human.

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