Question:
 
Is rebaptism lawful for someone already baptized in Jesus name?
 
Answer:
  • If someone already has been baptized in Jesus name, sins committed afterward do not negate the baptism
    • Ex: Paul & Peter
      • Paul and Barnabas had so much contention they had to part (Acts 15:39) but Prov. 13:10 says, “Only by pride cometh contention” – Paul had to deal with that pride issue
      • Peter committed almost all of his sins after John 4 when he was baptized
        • He kept messing up but was not rebaptized
  • What does baptism do?
    • When Jesus was on the cross, He reached forward into time, got our sins, and brought them back to the cross
    • When we get baptized, we reach backward into time, buried with Him in baptism, crucified with Him – getting the blood that He shed for the remission and redemption (paying the price for our sins)
      • That baptism applies to ALL of our sins – every one He carried to the cross before there was an us
  • What happens if you do wrong after being baptized in Jesus Name?
    • 1 John 2:1-2 – “1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.”
    • When Simon the sorcerer messed up really bad and thought the Holy Ghost power could be purchased with money, Peter told him your money perish with you and he told him to REPENT
    • Once a person has been baptized in Jesus name, they don’t have to get rebaptized but they do need to repent and acknowledge the sin they’ve committed, and God will forgive them for that sin
  • See Born of Water, Ch. 35 for more about rebaptism
    • If after you explain this to them, and their conscience still wants to be rebaptized, you can do it but teach on what water baptism is about and how Peter with cutting off a man’s ear, denying Jesus 3 times, lying, etc. did not need to be rebaptized