Rebaptism
When the Former Baptism Does Not Satisfy—There are many
at the present day who have unwittingly violated one of the precepts
of God’s law. When the understanding is enlightened, and the claims
of the fourth commandment are urged upon the conscience, they see
themselves sinners in the sight of God. “Sin is the transgression of the
law” and “he that shall offend on one point is guilty of all.”
The honest seeker after truth will not plead ignorance of the law as
an excuse for transgression. Light was within his reach. God’s Word
is plain, and Christ has bidden him search the Scriptures. He reveres
God’s law as holy, just, and good, and he repents of his transgression.
By faith he pleads the atoning blood of Christ, and grasps the promise
of pardon. His former baptism does not satisfy him now. He has seen
himself a sinner, condemned by the law of God. He has experienced
anew a death to sin, and he desires again to be buried with Christ by
baptism, that he may rise to walk in newness of life. Such a course is
in harmony with the example of Paul in baptizing the Jewish converts.
That incident was recorded by the Holy Spirit as an instructive lesson
for the church.—
Sketches from the Life of Paul, 133
(1883).
Not to Be Made a Testing Question for New Believers—The
subject of rebaptism should be handled with the greatest care. After
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the truth is presented upon the Sabbath question and other important
points of our faith, and souls manifest the moral courage to take their
position upon the truth, they will see this question in the Bible light
if they are fully converted. But by some these questions have been
handled unwisely, and God has sent reproof many times on this point.
Those who place the subject of rebaptism in the front, making it of
as much importance as the Sabbath question, are not leaving the right
impression upon the minds and correctly representing the subject.
It requires great discrimination to bring in kindred truths with the
Sabbath, rightly dividing the Word, giving to each his portion of meat
in due season.
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