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One of the many erroneous doctrines of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) is rebaptism. It implies that rebaptism is "baptizing again" someone who was baptized already in their church.
I am not against baptizing somebody in the true church if such person was baptized in another church with the person officiating the baptism not qualified to baptize in accordance with Biblical standards.
WHO CAN LEGITIMATELY OFFICIATE BAPTISM?
Guided by the Biblical standards that the law is good if used legitimately or lawfully, not everyone can officiate baptism to anyone!
I TIMOTHY 1:8 (King James Version)
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
I TIMOTHY 1:8 (New Revised Standard Version)
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.
The laws of Christ or the laws for Christians took effect when the apostles received them after the ascension of the Lord.
THE ACTS 1:2
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
The laws of Moses ended in Christ on the cross!
COLOSSIANS 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Christians will not be justified by the law of Moses!
THE ACTS 13:39
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
The laws of Moses are carnal ordinances destined to be done away!
HEBREWS 9:10
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
The time of reformation is the effectiveness of the laws of Christ.
HEBREWS 7:12
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
The result is: we have now the Old and the New testaments!
HEBREWS 8:13
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Baptism was not commanded in the Old Testament times!
WHO IS QUALIFIED TO BAPTIZE?
The Lord Jesus commanded the apostles to baptize.
MATTHEW 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The instruction is very clear, "teach all nations, baptizing them……" The persons commanded to baptize were also commanded to teach. And what are they going to teach?
"….all things whatsoever I have commanded you…" Therefore, he who has the capacity to teach all the commandments of Christ is qualified to officiate the true baptism.
Ministers of the SDA are not qualified to officiate true baptism because they do not teach people all the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ! One example is that they have replaced the law of Christ in "giving" by the law of tithing.
II CORINTHIANS 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Maybe you know the reason why they prefer tithing than voluntary giving!
The New Testament or New Covenant is very distinct from all laws in the past. Its focal point is the soul and the spirit – not the flesh only!
II CORINTHIANS 3:6-8
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
II CORINTHIANS 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
While John the Baptist had baptized the Jews who believed, when the law of Christ took effect, all Christians were baptized under the law of Christ!
I CORINTHIANS 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The one "body" wherein both the Jews and Gentiles were "all" baptized is the church!
COLOSSIANS 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Even the Jews were baptized in Christ in the church!
The allegation of Ellen G. White, that some of those who were baptized by John the Baptist were not baptized in Christ, is false!
(Seventh Day Adventist Church Manual 17th Edition p.43)
The following examples suggest that rebaptism may not be required. Evidently the instance of Acts 19 was a special one, for Apollos is reported to have received John's baptism (Acts 18:25), and there is no record that he was rebaptized. Apparently some of the apostles themselves received John's baptism (John 1:35-40), but there is no record of subsequent baptism. (Emphasis ours)
Paul had recorded it but unfortunately was not understood by Ellen G. White, I Corinthians 12:13, "…are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles"
In the body or the true church, under the Christian law, there is only one baptism taught by the apostles to the believers!
EPHESIANS 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism….
Never did the apostles accord another baptism in the same church or jurisdiction. Erring members committing sins that are not worthy of death are being admonished and prayed for, to merit the forgiveness of God, not rebaptized.
GALATIANS 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
JAMES 5:19
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
I JOHN 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
These teachings of Christ and the apostles were ignored by Ellen G. White and commanded her own idea to the members of the SDA to rebaptize an erring member!
(Seventh Day Adventist Church Manual 17th Edition p.43)
Apostasy and Rebaptism—Although apostasy clearly existed in the apostolic church (e.g., Heb. 6:4-6), Scripture does not address the question of rebaptism. Ellen G. White supports rebaptism when members have fallen away in apostasy and have lived in such a manner that the faith and principles of the church have been publicly violated. Then they should, in case of reconversion and application for church membership, enter the church as in the beginning, by baptism. (See pp. 199, 207.)
"The Lord calls for a decided reformation. And when a soul is truly reconverted, let him be rebaptized. Let him renew his covenant with God, and God will renew His covenant with him."—Evangelism, p. 375. Clearly what is referred to here is not a recurring spiritual revival in a believer's experience, but a radical change in life.
These teachings of Ellen G. White are against the Gospel of Christ! There is no pronouncement, even once, by Christ and the apostles to "baptize again" or rebaptize erring members! Poor SDA members! They were given by their prophetess a chance to fall away in apostasy or to err grievously, have a vacation for an indefinite time and then enter again in their church at will, "enter the church as in the beginning, by baptism" according to Ellen G. White.
HEBREWS 6:4-6
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
May God open your minds, poor members of the church that awaits for the seventh day!
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