Adventism’s Fundamental Belief #15: 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 Savior, 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.)
The method and timing of baptism has been a contentious doctrine in mainstream Christianity for centuries. In view of these conflicts, this Adventist belief statement falls within the range of positions commonly expressed by orthodox Christian groups.
However, this description does go beyond what is specifically stated in Scripture. Looking specifically at the verses cited in support of this statement, none of them teach:
- that baptism is the means by which we “are received as members by His church”;
- that we “become His people” through baptism; on the contrary, Acts 16:31 is clear that it is belief in the Lord Jesus that is the means to salvation and of becoming one of His people;
- that repentance must be “demonstrated and evident”.
Looking at the practices within the Seventh-day Adventist Church and at the explanations of baptism in their book Seventh-day Adventists Believe, however, we find several extra-biblical teachings that are contrary to orthodox Christianity.
Baptism is presented as a work of obedience required in order to be saved. According to Adventist teaching, salvation doesn’t occur until the obedient act of baptism is performed.
“But baptism, like [Noah’s] obedience in entering the ark, is ‘the answer of a good conscience toward God.’ When man by God’s power gives ‘the answer,’ salvation provided ‘by the resurrection of Jesus Christ’ becomes effective.”1
Since Adventism also teaches that a person must demonstrate repentance through a changed life before he can be baptized, the ultimate conclusion for the Seventh-day Adventist is this: salvation cannot be effective until after a person has sufficiently changed his or her life. Multiple works must be performed before the saving blood of Christ can be effective for a person, including the work of being baptized. Salvation may come as a gift from God, but it cannot come until after a person has demonstrated being worthy of receiving it through the evidence of his changed life.
A second unbiblical understanding of baptism within the Adventist church is the practice of performing multiple baptisms on the same individuals when they “have broken their covenant with God through grievous sin or apostasy.”2 This practice is not taught in Scripture and is directly contrary to the ideas of “one baptism” and Christ’s “once for all” sacrifice. It also negates the new birth which is the transfer from spiritual death to life.
Adventist literature justifies this practice based on Acts 19 (along with the writings of Ellen White); however, the rebaptism that occurred in Acts 19 is for those who were never baptized in the name of the Triune God, nor did they have knowledge of, or faith in, Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for their sins. The men baptized in Acts 19 had never been baptized as Christians; therefore, they needed another baptism beyond the baptism for repentance which they had previously received. †
Endnotes
- Jemison, Christian Beliefs, p. 244. As quoted in Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p. 213.
- Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, p. 51, 162; Ellen White, Evangelism, p. 375. As quoted in Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p. 222.
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