Does It Matter Who Baptized You?

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INC International Edition

00:00 – Introduction: Are All Baptisms Valid?

Brother Bob Pellien: There are many kinds of baptisms being performed in various religious organizations, and many involve very young children or even babies. 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: DID YOU RECEIVE THE TRUE BAPTISM?

Brother Bob Pellien: Some may even say it looks like a traumatic experience for those babies. Today we’re asking: Are these baptisms valid? 

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Brother Bob Pellien

San Francisco, California

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Bob Pellien: I’m Bob Pellien. We’ll answer that and much more today on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. And joining us in this important discussion for today is Brother Reuel Del Rosario in San Francisco, California. Thanks for being with us, Brother Ray. 

Brother Bob Pellien: We also have with us from Belfast, Ireland, Brother Laurence Piatti. Brother Laurence, we appreciate you being with us as well. 

Brother Bob Pellien: And from Calgary, Canada specifically, we have Brother Rvy Medicielo. Brothers, thank you for joining in in the discussion. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Brothers, first of all, is it really you know just as many do believe, they believe that anyone can conduct a baptism, and so we ask: Are all these alleged baptisms valid? Let’s go to you first, Brother Ray.

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Brother Reuel Del Rosario

San Francisco, California

Minister of the Gospel

02:10 – Baptism Is More Than Being Put in Water

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: Brother Bob, and dear viewers, there’s a big difference between being soaked and dipped in the water and being baptized.

Brother Bob Pellien: Well, okay. What then makes that action a baptism? Should all our viewers, let’s just say, for example, in the Roman Catholic Church, who were allegedly baptized when they were infants, should they consider themselves baptized? Brothers, is their baptism valid? And if any of our viewers alleged baptism was conducted improperly, is that baptism valid? Let’s go to you, Brother Laurence. Would they need to be baptized again? 

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Brother  Laurence Piatti

Belfast, Ireland

Minister of the Gospel

Brother  Laurence Piatti: The immediate answer is yes, Brother Bob. But that would not be termed as another baptism because they were in the first place. The point here is that if a person has not gone through all of the biblical requirements commanded by God through the Lord Jesus Christ, then they are not qualified to be baptized. And if they have gone through some kind of ritual like pouring or sprinkling of water on someone’s forehead, or even on an infant, and even if there were preachers or priests that called it a baptism. It was not a true baptism.

04:05 – Who Has the Authority to Baptize?

Brother Bob Pellien: You know, Brother Laurence, there may be those who would say, you know, that sounds like a very bold statement. It really matters who baptizes you. But can you please read from the Holy Bible, Brothers, what then, based on what you’re saying, then what then would be the actual prerequisites to receiving a true baptism?

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Brother Rvy Medicielo

Calgary, Canada

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Rvy Medicielo: Well, first of all, Brother Bob, the one who gave the instruction for people to be baptized was none other than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And what was the instruction that He gave, and notably, to whom did he give the instruction? Well, let the Bible answer for us here in the book of Matthew 28:19: 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

[Matthew 28:19 Revised Standard Version]

Brother Rvy Medicielo: So dear friends, beloved viewers, when it came to the instruction about baptism, our Lord Jesus Christ gave His instruction specifically to His apostles. He instructed them to be the ones to go out and baptize people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He gave them the authority, and the result of this was that people became true disciples or true followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. And why? It is because they were taught by the ones authorized or sent by our Lord Jesus Christ to baptize.

06:15 – Hear, Believe and Be Baptized

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: And you know what else, dear viewers? In the book of Mark, the chapter is 16, and the verses are 15 and 16. 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 

[Mark 16:15 and 16 New King James Version]

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: So here again is the gospel according to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And He specifically gave the authority to preach and baptize to the apostles during His time. And so before anyone can receive the true baptism, they must first hear the gospel, believe in that gospel, because if they don’t believe Christ gave the answer, they will be condemned, or in other words, they would lose their right in inheriting salvation on Judgment Day. And so it is so essential to hear the true gospel from those given the authority to preach it. 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: DID YOU RECEIVE THE TRUE BAPTISM?

Brother Bob Pellien: Again, though, you know, Brother Ray, that’s what may be considered by many as a very strong statement, you know. We know that baptism, true and correct baptism, we know that that’s directly connected to salvation. Yes, but do people just need to hear the gospel? But people not only need to hear the gospel preached, as you’re saying there and reading there, Brother Ray. They need to also believe it before that baptism could be conducted. Is what you’re saying? 

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: Exactly, Brother Bob, and dear viewers, which is why believing in the true gospel after hearing it from one authorized to preach, one sent, or a messenger of our Almighty God is indeed a vital prerequisite to receiving the true baptism.

08:30 – The Preacher Must Be Sent 

Brother Bob Pellien: Okay, but then, Brothers, would it be all right if the person just listened to any preaching, any preacher, and then underwent a baptism? But let’s say maybe that preacher that they were listening to was not authorized to preach, to teach, and to baptize.

Brother  Laurence Piatti: If I may just jump in there, Brother Bob, and just tackle this simple point: the answer directly is no, no, it will not be okay, and no, no, that it would not be a true baptism, and here’s the reason why. According to Apostle Paul here in Romans 10, and the verse is 15. This is what the Bible will teach us: 

And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written. “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” 

[Romans 10:15 Amplified Bible]

Brother  Laurence Piatti: So, the baptism could not be valid or true if the one preaching the gospel, which of course is a requirement, is also not true or not commissioned and sent for that purpose. The gospel that a false preacher would be preaching would be a false gospel.

Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you, Brother Laurence. But what if our viewers were then asking this? Therefore, do I need to be baptized again?

Brother Rvy Medicielo: The direct answer to that, Brother Bob, is an absolute yes. And in fact, the questions that viewers need to ask themselves is: Have they met the prerequisites? Have they met all the requirements based on the Bible to be baptized?

10:35 – Repentance Before Baptism 

Brother Bob Pellien: Well, aside then, concerning those prerequisites, Brother Rvy, aside then from hearing the true gospel and hearing it from a true messenger or one authorized to preach it, what else is needed? Is there more than that?

Brother Rvy Medicielo: Oh yes, there is, Brother Bob. In fact, one of the requirements is that we can actually read from the Holy Scriptures here in the Book of Acts, the chapter is 2 and the verse is 38. 

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

[Acts 2:38 New King James Version]

Brother Rvy Medicielo: So, dear viewers, the Bible clearly teaches us that another requirement before undergoing the true baptism is to repent, which is to truly be sorry and repent for the sins committed before we learn the true gospel taught to us by the ones authorized or sent to do so. 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: DID YOU RECEIVE THE TRUE BAPTISM?

Brother Bob Pellien: So, according to what you have read, Brothers, is that before a person’s baptism could truly be valid, they need to be taught the true gospel. Taught by one authorized or a messenger sent by the Lord to teach it, and then they need also to repent for their sins. Right?

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: That’s correct, Brother Bob. That’s why true baptism cannot be done haphazardly. It can’t be done on anyone by just anyone. People need to realize that baptism is a lot more than what they think it really is. We can’t overlook what we read earlier from the book of Mark, chapter 16, which included the requirement to believe in the true gospel preached by the one authorized to do so, hearing the gospel, understanding it, and repenting from one’s sins that makes a baptism valid. One also has to put into practice all of the teachings of God that they have received in their lives.

13:05 – Testimony: Brother Barry Thompson’s Journey to Baptism

Brother Bob Pellien: So then, beloved viewers, the question is this: Did you meet those requirements given by our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, prior to any alleged baptism that you may have undergone. Should anyone be baptized as a young child, and if a young child or a baby is baptized before he or she could be taught, before he or she could understand the teachings, so as to ultimately believe in them, is that person really baptized at all? These are questions we’ll pick up with when the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition returns. Stay with us.

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Brother Barry Thompson: I found what I’ve been looking for, and the rest is just, you know, just learning, you know, the things about worship service and the persecution and all those things all the way until my baptism. Didn’t miss a day, Bible study or a day of worship service. You’re right. 

Aliw Garcia Pablo: You mentioned that in the past church services you attended, it was chaos. It was loud. Tell me about the very first worship service you experienced in the Church Of Christ. 

Brother Barry Thompson: Order, just from the Bible studies, right? So the way the lessons were taught, orderly. The way the brethren sat orderly, and I even think I asked a question about why. Eventually, I noticed it. Why are we sitting apart, right? And ask a question, answered, and you know about orderliness. And I go, wow, look at this. You know, and what I felt in the worship services was like Peace, so serene. I’d never felt that any other place that I’ve been to, and it was so real. Even the way they prayed, it was not superficial, you know, everything was just so orderly, and I said, “Wow, never expected that. So all of those things that I was searching for, and even certain things that I didn’t know I was searching for, I found. So you know, by the time I got to my baptism, it was just I couldn’t wait to be baptized. 

Aliw Garcia Pablo: Let’s talk about your baptism day. What was that like? 

Brother Barry Thompson: Yes, I must have bawled. I was probably the only one crying. I don’t know. No, literally, I was probably the only one crying. I bawled because I really felt it. This is my new life. This is my real life because I was so overwhelmed with joy, so it’s like God grabbed me. Okay, searching for me, you found me. See, this is this, this belongs to me. This group of people belongs to me. This is my church. I caused this to exist, and now you’re one of mine, right? You’re searching for a true God. Here I am. That’s the feeling, and it’s a special feeling, right? That you are now a child of God, the realest moment, the realest thing. Everything else is-I’ll call it a big delusion. The rest of life, the way people live, is a big delusion, and we know who’s behind that. The world is blinded by the god of this world, the devil, Satan. And now you’re pulled from that, and then you have light. You know you have answers. You know why things are the way they are. You know why there’s chaos. Why is the world not orderly, right? What happened? You know the history behind it, and why we are the way we are today explains everything in your life, right? Even the things that you did wrong, right, in the past. So that was a very, that was a very special moment for me, my baptism. So everything came together.

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INC International Edition

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Brother Bob Pellien

San Francisco, California

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome back. Thanks for staying with us. So, did you meet the biblical requirements given by our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, prior to any alleged baptism you may have undergone? 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: DID YOU RECEIVE THE TRUE BAPTISM?

16:30 – Should Babies and Young Children Be Baptized?

Brother Bob Pellien: Should anyone be baptized as a baby? And if a young child is baptized before he or she could be taught, and before he or she could understand the teachings, so as then, of course, to ultimately believe in them, should they be baptized? Let’s go to you, Brother Laurence.

Brother  Laurence Piatti: Well, Brother Bob, the best thing that we can do here is look at the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s see what He did when young children were brought to him. Did He instruct an immediate or automatic baptism? Allow us to read here in Matthew 19:13 down to 14: 

Then children were brought to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 

[Matthew 19:13 and 14 Revised Standard Version]

Brother  Laurence Piatti: So we can see here that our Lord Jesus Christ did not baptize those young children that were brought to Him. Instead, He laid His hands upon them, and He prayed for them.

Brother Bob Pellien: But just a moment, Brother. So, but if baptism is a prerequisite to salvation, why then didn’t the Lord Jesus Christ have those young children baptized when they were brought to Him?

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Brother Rvy Medicielo

Calgary, Canada

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Rvy Medicielo: If I could jump in there, Brother Bob, the reason why is because they are babies, and when it comes to babies, babies cannot be taught the gospel. They cannot believe in the gospel. Babies could never understand the gospel, and in fact, there is no need for babies to repent for sin.

19:00 – Are Babies Born With Sin?

Brother Bob Pellien: I could see, Brother Rvy, that a baby, yeah, you’re right, cannot understand the gospel that would be taught to them. I get that. I could also understand that well, even their capacity to believe in the gospel, then it’s not developed yet, right? But here’s the thing: others believe that there is sin that a baby is born with, which leads them to need to be cleansed from the sin, and that’s to be done in baptism. So they baptize the infant because of that.

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Brother Reuel Del Rosario

San Francisco, California

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: But you know what, Brother Bob and dear viewers, there’s no such teaching like that in the Bible, that a baby is born with sin. That’s why we need to find out from the Bible what is sin according to the Bible. How does the Bible define what sin is? Let’s read the answer in First John 3:4. This is what the Bible teaches us: 

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 

[I John 3:4 King James Version]

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: So, dear friends, the Bible is very clear and very simple as to what sin is. Sin is the transgression or a violation of the law of God, that being the case, we need to remember a baby cannot even be taught God’s law, and therefore surely cannot believe in it yet. And because of that, they have not transgressed any of God’s laws and have nothing to repent for. That’s why babies are not qualified. They don’t meet the requirements to be baptized.

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TODAY’S TOPIC: DID YOU RECEIVE THE TRUE BAPTISM?

Brother  Laurence Piatti: And that’s the very reason why we here inside the Church Of Christ do not baptize infants. Parents must wait until their children are old enough to be taught and understand the true gospel, believe in the true gospel, repent for all their sins, and ensure their baptism is genuine.

21:40 – What Happens After True Baptism?

Brother Bob Pellien: Brothers. Then, what happens to a person after he or she undergoes learning the true gospel that’s taught to them by one authorized to teach it, they believe in that true gospel, they repent for their sins, they undergo, therefore, a true baptism. What happens to them? What happens next?

Brother Rvy Medicielo: That is a very, very important question, Brother Bob, because something truly profound takes place. And in fact, the apostle Paul clearly stated it here in First Corinthians 12:13: 

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 

[I Corinthians 12:13 New King James Version]

Brother Rvy Medicielo: So Apostle Paul taught that once someone undergoes the true baptism, they become part of only one body. No matter where, whether they are Jews or Greeks, slave or free, in short, absolutely anyone who undergoes the true baptism is baptized into only one body.

23:30 – Identifying the One Body

Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you for that, Brother Rvy. But you know, did the apostles identify though that one single body into which people are baptized?

Brother Rvy Medicielo: Yes, he did, Brother Bob. In fact, we can continue to read that in First Corinthians 12:12 and 27: 

For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ. As for you, you are the body of Christ, and individually you are members of it. 

[I Corinthians 12:12 and 27 Weymouth New Testament]

Brother Rvy Medicielo: So, beloved viewers, dear friends, all people who wish to be saved, all those who are seeking salvation, must be baptized into only one Church. They are all individually members of the Church Of Christ. 

25:10 – The Church Purchased by Christ’s Blood 

Brother Laurence Piatti: And if I can just add, the Church Of Christ is the one true church that has been cleansed or redeemed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we can read this here in Acts 20:28 in the Lamsa translation: 

Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ, which he has purchased with his blood.

[Acts 20:28 George M. Lamsa’s Translation]

Brother Reuel Del Rosario: Thank you very much, Brother Laurence, for reading that for us. That brings a lot more clarity into where one should be baptized in order to be saved. It is in the true Church Of Christ, which our Lord Jesus Christ purchased with His own blood.

27:00 – Testimonies: Why Their Baptisms Were Different

Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you very much, Brother Ray. Dear friends, before we come to a close, let’s take a moment together and listen to the testimony of those that have undergone this process. They’ve learned the true gospel taught by the ones authorized to preach it, because they’ve been sent by the Lord, they’ve repented for their sins, and they underwent true baptism into the one body of Christ, the true Church Of Christ. Let’s find out together what makes these baptisms in the Church Of Christ different. Have a look.

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VO: When it comes to baptism, everyone seems to do it their own way. Maybe you’ve seen it. A priest sprinkling water on a baby, someone getting quickly dunked, or water being poured over their head. For a lot of churches, it’s just a nice tradition, a way to show you believe. But is there a greater purpose for baptism? Here in the Church Of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo, there is. See, we believe baptism isn’t just for show. Jesus Himself commanded it as the path to salvation. When you’re baptized here, you go all the way under the water, and you come up new, changed. That’s what Rashad Christmas found out. Like many people who started attending Bible studies in the Church Of Christ, he’d been baptized before, but in his studies, he learned that his previous baptism didn’t follow what the Bible taught.

Rashad Christmas: I’ve been baptized twice before in my previous churches that I went to, and each moment was just like going to that water. You’re like, all right, this is me letting everybody know. At first, I thought baptism was just like I’m letting everybody know I’m with God now.

VO: See, in the Church Of Christ, we know that baptism and salvation go hand in hand. It’s not just another church tradition. It’s about accepting God’s teachings and finally being on the path to salvation.

Rashad Christmas: But it’s a process to come into this Church, you know, and this baptism-it was like wow, all that I went through. You know, everything, this journey.

VO: While other churches simply require you to express your interest in being baptized and believe. Baptism in the Church Of Christ comes after a person is taught the fundamental teachings of the Bible, then shows that he or she understands and accepts, or in other words, proves their faith in those teachings. So much is at stake when you are baptized, which is why great care is put in to help ensure you are ready to make that lifelong commitment to God.

Craig Kennard: You know, after I got baptized, I just-it’s the cleanest I’ve ever felt in my life, you know. Just pure, and pure is not a word that I would have described myself when I was in the Navy or back then, you know. But just so clean and pure and fresh. It’s just like everything is new, and you’re ready to make a change in your life.

Kevin Johnson: The day of my baptism was one of the moments I remember. Me and my wife got baptized on the same day, right? And when we got baptized, it was so, so spiritual because every moment leading up to that I’m praying and I’m crying because I was gonna be saved, you know.

VO: For Rashad, this baptism wasn’t just his third try; it was finally getting on the path to his final destination.

Rashad Christmas: And now you have this path to the holy city that you can truly walk. And I’m like, I have this chance now, and you have a choice to take the temptation or to remember your baptism and remember that now you are on a different journey.

VO: So here’s the question: Have you been baptized before? Maybe as a child, or during your current search for truth. Wouldn’t you want to know for sure that your baptism was more than just a tradition celebrated on Sundays, but a reflection of your desire and willingness to follow exactly what Christ commanded-to be truly free from your past and know you’re on the right path? This is about finding your place in Christ’s true body, surrounded by people who believe exactly what the Bible teaches. 

Rashad Christmas: And if you keep straddling the fence, you’re gonna have these same results. So coming off that fence and hopping on the side of Christ, the Church Of Christ, and then planting my feet there, and then putting that support system around you and accepting that, and then you know that’s where you kind of just go.

VO: Want to learn more? It starts with a simple Bible study. No pressure, just truth straight from the Scriptures.

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31:15 – An Invitation to Examine Your Own Baptism

Brother Bob Pellien: You know, dear friends, I personally can really relate to our Brothers there in that video who really experienced such a life-altering moment in the time of their baptism and into the Church Of Christ, because that happened to me too. I didn’t grow up in the Church Of Christ. I was baptized into the Church Of Christ much later in life, and you know, that’s for you too. It’s not just for me. It’s not just for our Brothers on those videos, this is also for you, which is why you know we always extend our earnest invitations to you to come, learn more here inside the Church Of Christ. Ask questions, and find out what the true teachings are here inside the Church Of Christ, and you know, as the world continues to crumble around us with its wars and its diseases and violence and all of the other troubles that life brings in our time, don’t be left behind. Jesus is coming soon to get His people. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Well, that does it for us today here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. We’d like to thank Brother Reuel Del Rosario in San Francisco, Brother Laurence Piatti in Belfast, Ireland, as well as Brother Rvy Medicielo in Calgary, Canada. Brothers, we thank you for giving to us Bible-based answers, so that, as the Apostle Peter said, 

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have….

[I Peter 3:15 New International Version]

Brother Bob Pellien:  Dear friends, please join us for a short closing prayer.

Brother Rvy Medicielo: Our Almighty and Loving Father in heaven, we praise and we worship Your most holy name. Thank You so much for allowing us to be able to share this program to our friends and to our loved ones. May this program be instrumental, especially for those who are seeking the truth. May they be able to find the truth written in the Bible, so that they too may know the true way to receive salvation. May you please bless all of our dear friends, all of our loved ones who joined us, especially our Brothers and Sisters who invited them, so that we will continue in our true worship of you. May you always bless above us the Church Administration, always guiding, protecting our Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo. May you also bless our Deputy Executive Minister, Brother Angelo Eraño V. Manalo so that we will continue to be led in the proper and true way of serving and worshiping you, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You are the mediator. You are the head of this Holy Church. May you once again intercede for us with our Lord God, so that we will receive all of our prayers. Lord God Almighty, as we direct our prayers to You, we thank You so much for everything You have blessed all those who have listened, Father, for everything we pray for in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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