The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-16, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  Copyright John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

If you have been baptized in another church, whether by immersion or sprinkling, is that acceptable for membership at Grace Church?

Answer

Well, the answer to that is, "yes," in the broadest sense and I'll tell you why.  Certainly, if you have been immersed anywhere, since you have become a Christian--since you have become a Christian.  That is what we would believe is a valid baptism, and we don't expect people to be rebaptized in our church, as if you needed a baptism for every church you might attend--you only need one baptism in your life, after you become a Christian.  

But with regard to sprinkling the question gets a little more difficult.  I don't believe the Bible teaches baptism by sprinkling.  I don't think that you can support that mode of baptism exegetically, or out of the text of Scripture, but if a person, in good faith, was raised in that environment, or converted in an environment where sprinkling was the mode of baptism, and in good faith they made their public testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ, and were instructed that this is the manner in which you do that--their conscience was clear and they were obedient to that which was taught to them--we would acknowledge that.  At the same time, we would hope and trust, that over a period of time they might come to a better understanding of the mode of baptism.  We wouldn't want to eliminate their membership because of the mode, but we would want them to come to an understanding of the true biblical means of baptism, and at some point ask for that immersion to be done.

Now, if a person were to come and say, "I want to be a member of Grace Church, but I have never been baptized in any way"--we would ask that they be immersed prior to completing or immediately after completing that membership process.  

You say, "Well, why is baptism an issue?"  It's an issue because the Bible commands it--right?  It's a matter of obedience.  If you have any questions about that, get the tape.  I did a tape a couple of years ago called, "Understanding Baptism" which summarizes all of it and I know that you can get it in the Tape Room and probably in the Book Store.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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