Fellowship and Baptism
Baptism is fundamentally the pledge of entrance into Christ's saving covenant, intended to be permanent, properly applied, baptism becomes the avenue of induction into the church and should be treated as a joyful and solemn welcome to the family of God.
(source-text:Church Manual 2005).
By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings. (Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12, 13; Acts 16:30-33; 22:16; 2:38; Matt. 28:19, 20.) Check our
(source-text:Fundamental-beliefs N0.15/GCSDA 2005)..
In Acts 19:1-7, Paul mentions rebaptism concerning a group of 12 believers, who had earlier received baptism of repentance given by John. It becomes acceptable for those believers to be rebaptized. Those individuals from other Christian Communions, who have been baptised by immersion , and have embraced the Seventh-day Adventist message, may request such rebaptism. "Individuals who have previously experienced believer baptism should evaluate their new religious experience and determine whether rebaptism may be desirable"
(source-text:Church Manual 2005).
We do not find the question of rebaptism being addressed in scripture, however, rebaptism is recommended when members have fallen away and have lived in such a manner that the faith and principles of the church have been publicly violated. Using biblical teaching and the guidance of Ellen G. White's writings, rebaptism may be requested only in special circumstances and should be relatively rare. Caution should be applied in order that it is not administered "repeatedly, or on an emotional basis", which reduces baptism's meaning and misrepresents the significance which Scripture assigns to it. "A church member whose spiritual experience has become cold needs a spirit of repentance which leads to revival and reformation. This experience will be followed by participation in the ordinance of foot-washing and the Lord's Supper to signify renewed cleansing and fellowship in the body of Christ, in this instance ,therefore, rebaptism is not necessary"
(source-text:Church Manual 2005).
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