Published: 08/08/2023
A Sincere Request: Before proceeding, please review my previous articles, listed in order, for context. If you've already read them, please continue.
Breaking Free from Ancestral Sins:
Through our mother's womb, we inherit the sin of our ancestors, separating us from God. The 'Baptism of Water' reunites humans with God, making us His adopted children. By this vow, we renounce the wide and winding path of falsehood our ancestors followed, embracing the path of truth and life, Jesus Christ. Therefore, Baptism by Water should be received only once in a lifetime, as Jesus says: 'Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean….' (John 13:10, NIV)
Rebaptism forbidden:
Those who have already received the ‘Baptism of Water’ once, irrespective of the church, do not require it anymore. The proliferation and fragmentation of churches worldwide, stemming from human misunderstandings and divisions, does not justify rebaptism. Jesus' words forbid rebaptism, emphasizing unity with God through the ‘Baptism of Water’. Churches must acknowledge and respect this union, ensuring individuals remain connected to God through frequent sacraments of repentance and confession, the ‘Baptism of Repentance’. For this, a person gets associated with a church, where they were baptized, to remain united with God. Since Satan can easily lure humanity onto the path of impurities, Jesus empowers churches to wash sinful feet through the ‘Baptism of Repentance’, as stated in John 13:10 (NIV): 'Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.'
Sacrament of Repentance and Confession Makes a Difference:
Embracing the sacrament of repentance and confession, the 'Baptism of Repentance,' is reflected in John the Baptist's water baptism. When a baptized individual leaves one church to join another, they should not be rebaptized. Instead, arrangements should be made for them to undergo the sacrament of repentance and confession, the 'Baptism of Repentance,' to keep them united with God.
Let us remember that even Judas, united with Jesus, became disassociated, Peter denied Him, and many disciples left Him. Therefore, churches must strive to keep people united with Jesus, rather than uniting them with themselves, as written in Holy Scripture: Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' (John 14:6, NIV)
To Remain United with Jesus for Eternal Life:
Therefore, it is necessary to associate with a church to unite with Jesus Christ and attain eternal life. For those who administer and receive the ‘Baptism of Water’, seeking a heartfelt answer is essential: Are we striving to be united with Jesus Christ, or are we wasting valuable time and others’ by being associated with the church without being united with Jesus, merely increasing its population?
The scripture reminds us: "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned." (John 15:5-6, NIV)
Regardless of our church affiliation, let us strive to unite with Jesus. Conversely, the church must ensure frequent sacraments of repentance and confession, the ‘Baptism of Repentance’, to unite members with Jesus, as human feet tend to slip onto the path of falsehood, preventing church fragmentation.
To be Continued…..
==> Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll uncover how 'Baptism: Binding Humanity with Love' that transforms our faith journey.
Amen!
Praise be to God, Thanks be to God.
Not being Unrighteous is Religion!!
India! Peace be upon you!!
Peace to the whole world!!