I absolutely love receiving emails from people with Biblical questions. As it exposes me to questions that I may not have otherwise known exist within the church. That being said if you have any questions regarding faith please feel free to send them to [email protected]. Recently I received an email from someone who wanted to know if they should be re-baptized in Jesus name. Their primary concern was if re-baptism in Jesus name is biblical. A question that at one point I myself even asked and I am sure many others are asking as well.
Most professing Christians today have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. A phrasing that is steeped in tradition and does find some basis in the pages of scriptures. As it is taken from the iconic statement and call given by Jesus before He ascended into Heaven. The issue is that many miss the true meaning that Jesus intended for His statement to have.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Notice that Jesus did not say in the names plural but the name singular. Indicating that there is a single name believers should be baptized in. That name of course being the matchless name of Jesus Christ. The only name by which men must be saved. Jesus was not calling the church to baptize in three different names but the single name that shows the fullness of the Godhead. As scripture declares all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ.
Acts 4:12 (ESV)
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Colossians 2:9 (ESV)
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
This message was well understood by the first church as they proceeded to baptize all new converts to the faith in Jesus name for the remission of sins. Following the plan of salvation laid out by the Apostle Peter. The very man whom Jesus said had been given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. If anyone knew how believers were meant to be baptized it was Peter and the Apostles who had spent years living with Jesus.
Acts 8:16 (ESV)
16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 10:48 (ESV)
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Acts 2:37–39 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Matthew 16:18–19 (ESV)
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Many argue that they will take the word of Jesus before the words of others. But that thought process is completely invalid. As the accounts recorded in scripture of Baptism in which the name of Jesus is used are just as much God’s word as the statement made by Jesus. Because every word of scripture is God-breathed and no word of prophecy comes from man.
2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Peter 1:21 (ESV)
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
All that being said it comes down to the central question of this article. If you have been baptized already should you be re-baptized in the name of Jesus? The simple answer is yes you should. As Christians, our goal should be to live out God’s word to the best of our abilities. That means doing as it teaches to the letter and not substituting tradition or our own thoughts in place of God’s word. You can see clearly that scripture teaches Jesus name baptism. So even if you have been previously baptized there is nothing better you can do than be obedient to God’s word. Which in this case means being baptized again.
But you may be wondering if it is biblical to be baptized more than once. Thankfully God in His divine mercy and forethought has given an example of re-baptism in His word. The Apostle Paul encountered some of the disciples of John one day and the subject of baptism came up. They said they had received John’s baptism. To many that may seem as though it was enough. But Paul explained their need for re-baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins.
Acts 19:3–5 (ESV)
3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The truth is the need for re-baptism may not seem to make sense to you. It may seem unnecessary or even silly to be baptized again since you already were. You may feel as though it is just semantics and doesn’t matter. But it mattered enough to the Apostle Paul to be sure the disciples of John were baptized in Jesus name. Also, note they didn’t argue but were immediately re-baptized. It also was important enough that we do not see baptism taking place in any other way throughout the whole of scripture. Instead, we read that every person who was baptized did so in Jesus name.
Re-baptism is biblical and necessary if you haven’t been baptized in Jesus’ name. It is not a point worth arguing or trying to avoid. Instead, it is better to submit to the truth you can see within the pages of scripture. It is true that we only need to be baptized once. But that statement only stands true when you have been baptized in the way prescribed in God’s word. Which is clearly in the name of Jesus Christ. If you are still struggling with this issue I recommend you do two things. Pray and study the scripture about the issue of re-baptism. As scripture says those who seek will find.
Matthew 7:7 (ESV)
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
God will always reveal the truth to those who seek it. I am sure if you seek God regarding this issue you will soon see your need for re-baptism. The need to follow the biblical plan of salvation and not the traditions of men. Which means being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. Re-baptism may seem odd on the surface but there is nothing greater you can do than fully live out God’s word. Don’t hesitate but follow the righteous example of John’s disciples and accept re-baptism in Jesus name.
Visit Justin’s personal website Here. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall.