Recently, the Baptist denomination was challenged in the World Council of Churches to accept the infant baptism of the churches as the valid baptism and to abandon re-baptism. The chairman remained steadfast and declared, “For us it is not a re-baptism, but the actual baptism of the believers who have made their decision for Christ.”

During the time of the Reformation, the so-called “Anabaptists” were persecuted, cursed, and killed. The church of Rome and later the Protestant state churches, which had emerged from the Reformation, referred to Eph. 4:5 and declared that there could be no second baptism because it is written, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism …” The Anabaptists, on the other hand, realised that they could not accept the teaching of the sacrament of baptism, namely that the infant was re-born through the ritual of sprinkling it with water, for it was only a church tradition whereby no one received the eternal salvation of God. Therefore, they rejected the infant baptism and administered the baptism according to the Word in Mk. 16:16: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved …” The Bible had been made available to everyone, and each individual could read therein and decide for oneself whether to accept the only biblical baptism or remain in the church tradition of infant baptism, which goes back to the time when people were forced to accept the Christian religion and is not a true baptism in the eyes of God. During that revival, they began to baptise by single immersion again, and the person to be baptised and the one administering the baptism both went into the water as they did in early Christendom: “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:38).

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:16-17).

Now those who re-baptise in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as they did in the early church, are once again being rejected and persecuted. Before passing judgement, everyone can read for himself how baptism was administered in Jerusalem (Acts 2), in Samaria (Acts 8), in Cesarea (Acts 10), in Ephesus (Acts 19), and in Rome (Rom. 6). Without exception, all of the apostles and evangelists correctly understood the great commission and baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has revealed Himself as Father in heaven, in His Son on earth, and in His Church through the Holy Spirit. According to the words of our Lord in Mt. 28:19, the command with regard to baptism is to administer it in the Name — not in the titles. The concern is the covenant name “Yahschua-Jesus = Yahweh-Saviour” of the New Testament. “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” (Jn. 17:11b). The Holy Scripture does not mention a sacrament of baptism or any teaching of being born-again when it is administered. Although not all of the churches and denominations accept all of the Catholic doctrines, they still remain in their traditions when it comes to baptism. Now, before the Return of Jesus Christ, every teaching and every practice in His Church must be brought into full agreement with God and God’s Word so that she can be restored to her original state.

Recently, the Baptist denomination was challenged in the World Council of Churches to accept the infant baptism of the churches as the valid baptism and to abandon re-baptism. The chairman remained steadfast and declared, “For us it is not a re-baptism, but the actual baptism of the believers who have made their decision for Christ.”

During the time of the Reformation, the so-called “Anabaptists” were persecuted, cursed, and killed. The church of Rome and later the Protestant state churches, which had emerged from the Reformation, referred to Eph. 4:5 and declared that there could be no second baptism because it is written, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism …” The Anabaptists, on the other hand, realised that they could not accept the teaching of the sacrament of baptism, namely that the infant was re-born through the ritual of sprinkling it with water, for it was only a church tradition whereby no one received the eternal salvation of God. Therefore, they rejected the infant baptism and administered the baptism according to the Word in Mk. 16:16: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved …” The Bible had been made available to everyone, and each individual could read therein and decide for oneself whether to accept the only biblical baptism or remain in the church tradition of infant baptism, which goes back to the time when people were forced to accept the Christian religion and is not a true baptism in the eyes of God. During that revival, they began to baptise by single immersion again, and the person to be baptised and the one administering the baptism both went into the water as they did in early Christendom: “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:38).

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:16-17).

 Now those who re-baptise in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as they did in the early church, are once again being rejected and persecuted. Before passing judgement, everyone can read for himself how baptism was administered in Jerusalem (Acts 2), in Samaria (Acts 8), in Cesarea (Acts 10), in Ephesus (Acts 19), and in Rome (Rom. 6). Without exception, all of the apostles and evangelists correctly understood the great commission and baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has revealed Himself as Father in heaven, in His Son on earth, and in His Church through the Holy Spirit. According to the words of our Lord in Mt. 28:19, the command with regard to baptism is to administer it in the Name — not in the titles. The concern is the covenant name “Yahschua-Jesus = Yahweh-Saviour” of the New Testament. “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” (Jn. 17:11b). The Holy Scripture does not mention a sacrament of baptism or any teaching of being born-again when it is administered. Although not all of the churches and denominations accept all of the Catholic doctrines, they still remain in their traditions when it comes to baptism. Now, before the Return of Jesus Christ, every teaching and every practice in His Church must be brought into full agreement with God and God’s Word so that she can be restored to her original state.