Baptism
Baptism
The Baptism Debate:
- Some believe that baptism is essential to salvation.
- Some believe that baptism is unnecessary to salvation, but is necessary after
salvation.
- Some believe infants should be baptized, some believe it is wrong.
- Some believe in baptizing by sprinkling, others by immersion.
- Some believe you have to be baptized by their denomination or it's no good.
- Some believe that baptism is totally unnecessary at all. It is not needed
in any form.
Definition of Baptism:
- Transliteration of the Greek word “baptizo”, which means “to immerse”.
- In Hebrew, it is referred to as a “Mikveh” - an immersion.
- To dip into water, to sprinkle.
- To cleanse, to purify.
- Basically, it is an immersion into another substance, for the purpose of being saturated by it, such as water.
These Are the Baptisms in the Bible:
- Old Testament baptisms - “Divers washings”.
- John’s baptism with water.
- Baptist of Jesus.
- Baptism of fire.
- Spirit baptism the imparting of spiritual gifts.
- Christ’s death baptism.
- Baptism with water during the Acts period - a carry-over of John’s baptism.
- Baptism of the nations, with doctrine in the millennium.
- Baptism into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
The ONE Baptism:
- According to Ephesians 4, written by Paul after Acts 28:28 when Israel was
set aside, today there is ONLY ONE baptism! Which ONE
is it? Notice the parallels in Ephesians 4 below: Baptism parallels Spirit! Baptism
by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ is the ONE baptism today! Paul never
mentions water baptism in the Epistles he wrote after the end of the Book of Acts.
- Ephesians 4:4-6: there is
- - one body and
- - - - - one Spirit, just as you have been called to
- - - - -- - one glorious hope for the future. There is
- - - - - - - - - - - one Lord,
- - - - - - - one faith,
- - - - - ONE BAPTISM,
- - one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
- The One Baptism united the believer to Christ in His baptisms.
- The One Baptism united the believer in Christ’s quickening
(Ephesians 2:5).
- Ephesians 2:5: that even though we were dead because
of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only
by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
- The One Baptism united the believer to Christ in
His resurrection (Colossians 3:1, 2:12).
- Colossians 2:12: For you were buried with
[in] Christ when you were baptized. And with him
you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power
of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
- Colossians 3:1: Since you have been raised to
new life with [in] Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of
honor at God’s right hand.
- The One Baptism united the believer to Christ in
Glory (Colossians 3:4).
- Colossians 3:4: And when Christ, who is your
life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his
glory.
- The One Baptism accomplished so much for the believer that
he is said to be COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Colossians 2:10).
- Colossians 2:10: So you also are complete through
your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
- The One Baptism is revealed to us in Colossians 2:12
where it is written that the believer of the Church of the One Body is ‘buried
with Him in baptism’. This cannot imply water Baptism of any kind. This
Baptism is so closely identified with Christ in His death that we are to consider
ourselves as having been buried with Him also.
Old Testament Baptisms (“divers washings”):
- Exodus 40:12-13: “Present Aaron and his
sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water.
Dress Aaron with the sacred garments and anoint him, consecrating him
to serve me as a priest.
- Leviticus 1:1,9: The Lord called to Moses from the Tabernacle
and said to him, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel.
When you present an animal as an offering to the Lord, you may
take it from your herd of cattle or your flock of sheep and goats. “If the
animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a
male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you
may be accepted by the Lord. … But the internal organs and the legs
must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire
sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma
to the Lord.
- Leviticus 8:5-9: Moses announced to them, “This
is what the Lord has commanded us to do!” Then he presented Aaron
and his sons and washed them with water. He put the official tunic on
Aaron and tied the sash around his waist. He dressed him in the robe, placed the
ephod on him, and attached the ephod securely with its decorative sash. Then Moses
placed the chestpiece on Aaron and put the Urim and the Thummim inside it. He
placed the turban on Aaron’s head and attached the gold medallion - the
badge of holiness - to the front of the turban, just as the Lord had commanded
him.
- Leviticus 16:4: He must put on his linen tunic and the
linen undergarments worn next to his body. He must tie the linen sash around his
waist and put the linen turban on his head. These are sacred garments,
so he must bathe himself in water before he puts them on.
- Leviticus 16:23-24: “When Aaron goes back into the Tabernacle,
he must take off the linen garments he was wearing when he entered the Most Holy
Place, and he must leave the garments there. Then he must bathe himself
with water in a sacred place, put on his regular garments, and go out
to sacrifice a burnt offering for himself and a burnt offering for the people.
Through this process, he will purify himself and the people,
making them right with the Lord.
- Exodus 19:10-11: Then the Lord told Moses, “Go
down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today
and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they
are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai
as all the people watch.
- Ezekiel 16:1-3, 8-9: Then another message came to me
from the Lord: “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable
sins. Give her this message from the Sovereign Lord: You are nothing
but a Canaanite! Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. …
I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared
my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the
Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.“Then I bathed you
and washed off your blood, and I rubbed fragrant oils into your skin.
- Leviticus 14:8-9: “The persons being purified must
then wash their clothes, shave off all their hair, and bathe
themselves in water. Then they will be ceremonially clean
and may return to the camp. However, they must remain outside their tents for
seven days. On the seventh day they must again shave all the hair from their heads,
including the hair of the beard and eyebrows. They must also wash their clothes
and bathe themselves in water. Then they will be ceremonially clean.
- 2 Chronicles 4:5-6: The walls of the Sea were about three
inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom.
It could hold about 16,500 gallons of water. He also made ten smaller
basins for washing the utensils for the burnt offerings. He set five
on the south side and five on the north. But the priests washed themselves
in the Sea.
- Greek - “Baptizo” and related words occur 16 times
in 16 verses in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament. The verb “baptizo”
occurs 80 times in the New Testament and the noun forms occur 26 times.
- Dip: Exodus 12:22: Drain the blood into a basin. Then
take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush
the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one
may go out through the door until morning.
- Sprinkle:
- Leviticus 1:5: Then slaughter the young bull in the Lord’s
presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the animal’s
blood by splattering it against all sides of the altar that stands
at the entrance to the Tabernacle.
- Leviticus 14:7: The priest will then sprinkle
the blood of the dead bird seven times on the person being purified of
the skin disease. When the priest has purified the person, he
will release the live bird in the open field to fly away.
- Numbers 8:5-7: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now
set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them
ceremonially clean. Do this by sprinkling them with the water
of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their
clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean.
- Ezekiel 36:24-25: For I will gather you up from all the
nations and bring you home again to your land. “Then I will sprinkle
clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed
away, and you will no longer worship idols.
- Washings:
- Hebrews 6:1-2: So let us stop going over the
basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead
and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to
start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing
our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms,
the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
- Hebrews 9:9-10: This is an illustration pointing to the
present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able
to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old
system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies
- physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be
established.
Mikveh per Wikipedia:
- Mikveh … is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism
to achieve ritual purity. After the destruction of the Temple, the mikveh's
main uses remained as follows:
- by Jewish women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or childbirth
before they and their husbands may resume marital relations;
- by Jewish men to achieve ritual purity after sex;
- as part of the traditional procedure for conversion to Judaism;
- to immerse newly acquired utensils used in serving and eating food;
- to immerse a body as part of the preparation for burial (taharah).
- Most forms of impurity can be nullified through immersion in any natural collection
of water. However, some impurities, such as a zav, require "living
water" such as springs or groundwater wells. Living water has
the further advantage of being able to purify even while flowing, as opposed to
rainwater which must be stationary in order to purify. The mikveh is designed
to simplify this requirement, by providing a bathing facility that remains in
ritual contact with a natural source of water.
- In Orthodox Judaism, these regulations are steadfastly adhered to and, consequently,
the mikveh is central to an Orthodox Jewish community; they formally
hold in Conservative Judaism as well. The existence of a mikveh is considered
so important that a Jewish community is required to construct a mikveh even before
building a synagogue, and must go to the extreme of selling Torah scrolls or even
a synagogue if necessary, to provide funding for its construction.
- A mikveh must, according to the classical regulations, contain enough water
to cover the entire body of an average-sized person,
- Traditionally, the mikveh was used by both men and women to regain ritual
purity after various events, according to regulations laid down in the Torah and
in classical rabbinical literature:
- After normal emissions of sexual activity.
- After abnormal discharges of body fluids.
- After certain skin condition(s)
- By a Kohen who is being consecrated.
- By the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur, after sending away the
goat to Azazel, and by the man who leads away the goat.
- By the Kohen who performed the Red Heifer ritual.
- After contact with a corpse or grave, in addition to having the ashes of the
Red heifer ritual sprinkled upon them
- After eating meat from an animal that died naturally.
- Converts to Judaism are required to undergo full immersion in water.
- It is customary for Orthodox Jews to immerse before Yom Kippur
(the Day of Atonement).
- Although the Temple Mount is treated by many Orthodox Jewish
authorities as being forbidden territory, a small number of groups permit access,
but require immersion before ascending the Mount as a precaution.
Baptism Unto Moses:
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-4: I don’t want you to forget,
dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All
of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and
all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud
and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses
[baptized unto Moses in the KJV]. All of them ate the same spiritual
food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the
spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
- Dry baptism - baptized unto Moses. Identified with and totally
committed to Moses. NO WATER.
- The Israelites were sent through the sea on dry land as the Lord led them
in the cloud. The Baptism through the sea identified Israel with all that Moses
stood for; redemption from the bondage of Egypt, the ceremonial law, and set apart
from the rest of the world as the chosen people of God. This is the first great
teaching concerning Baptism in the Scriptures. The first occurrence of the word
is in Job. But the first Baptism mentioned in Scripture is Israel passing through
the Red Sea on dry ground. After that, they went through another Baptism by crossing
the river Jordan on dry ground. These Baptisms separated them from the world.
Passing through the Red Sea represents the passing from the bondage of darkness
into the light of the redemption associated with their salvation. The Lord was
with them in the cloud. The Lord led them throughout their journey. Much can be
learned from these Baptisms and their symbolism.
- (Merril F. Unger, The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit): “The
Israelites were baptized into Moses by the cloud and by the sea. In this way theywere
separated from Egypt and Pharaoh, came under the leadership of the deliverer(Moses)
and identified with him in hope and destiny. Likewise the believer, by beingbaptized
into Christ by the Spirit, is cut off from the world of Satan, and identified
withChrist, coming under Christ's influence and control, and made one in hope
and destinywith Him.”
John’s Baptisms with (into) Water - Repentance for Israel:
- John was announcing that the Messiah is coming and they needed
to repent and cleanse themselves of their sins! Israel was in a state of utter
apostasy from God. John was calling them to repent and turn to God.
- God had long promised Israel a Messiah who would deliver them from their oppressors
and reestablish Israel’s glorious kingdom over the entire earth. God said
that they would be a kingdom of priests unto Him on the earth.
Remember, what must a priest do before he could function in that priestly position?
He was washed with water.
- John baptized believing Jews in the Jordan River at the place Israel
crossed when they first went into Canaan under Joshua.
- It was a baptism unto repentance, in view of the near approach of the kingdom
of heaven (Matthew 3:1-2 - see below).
- It was the work of John as the forerunner prophesied of by Isaiah in the 40th
chapter of his prophecy.
- It was concerned only with Israel or with those who joined themselves to Israel,
as the words ‘Comfort ye’ of Isaiah 40 were concerned.
- It was a baptism in water, that spoke of a future baptism with Holy Spirit
and with fire.
- It was specifically designed to present to Israel the One Who was sent to
be their Messiah (John 1:30-34).
- John was the forerunner to prepare Israel for their King. When John baptized
the Israelites, this Baptism was an outward sign of their inward repentance and
a change of heart to God. Those who repented submitted to John’s Baptism
admitting their condition of being a sinful people. In God’s sight, Israel
had gone “away backward”. Isaiah spoke of her condition in his day
and that condition persisted until John the Baptist.
- The King was upon the earth, the Kingdom was at Hand; all that was needed
was for Israel to turn to their Messiah. With their repentance, the long awaited
millennial reign would usher in upon the earth and Israel would finally be a Kingdom
of Priests and holy nation. But, the majority of Israel did not accept Christ
as their King or Savior, even after given a second chance to repent during the
period covered by the book of Acts.
- Matthew 3:1-3, 7, 11: In those days John the Baptist
came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent
of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice
shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s
coming! Clear the road for him!’” … But when he saw
many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You
brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming
wrath? … “I baptize with [into] water those
who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon
who is greater than I am - so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be
his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and with fire [in the Holy Spirit and in fire].
- Matthew 21:25-26: “Did John’s authority
to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked
it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us
why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we’ll
be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”
- Mark 1:4-5: This messenger was John the Baptist.
He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to
show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear
John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan
River.
- Mark 11:29-33: “I’ll tell you by
what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus
replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven,
or was it merely human? Answer me!” They talked it over among themselves.
“If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John.
But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the
people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. So they finally
replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I
won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”
- Luke 3:7, 16: When the crowds came to John for baptism,
he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?
… John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with
[in] water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than
I am - so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie
the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with [in]
the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- Luke 20:4, 8: “Did John’s authority
to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” … And
Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority
I do these things.”
- John 1:24-26: Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked
him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what
right do you have to baptize?” John told them, “I
baptize with [in] water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do
not recognize.
- Did you notice that they didn’t ask what he was doing, just by what
authority. Notice that they believe that Messiah, Elijah and the Prophet have
the right to baptize.
- John 1:29-34: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward
him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me
who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not
recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so
that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John testified, “I
saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I
didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water,
he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the
one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to
Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.
- Here’'s the reason John was baptizing - to reveal Jesus as Messiah
to Israel and to identify Him with Repentant Israel!
- Acts 19:1-7: While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled
through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he
found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard
that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism did you experience?”
he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.”
Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin.
But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning
Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the
Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.
There were about twelve men in all.
Jesus’ Baptism into Water by John the Baptist:
- By being baptized, they were admitting that they and their nation were in
an apostate, backslidden condition and in need of repentance.
- Christ was actually baptized under the Old Testament economy and according
to the Old Testament system of ordinances imposed under Moses' law. Hebrews
9:9-10: This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For
the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences
of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food
and drink and various cleansing ceremonies - physical regulations that
were in effect only until a better system could be established.
• “Cleansing ceremonies” (Divers washings
in the KJV) is the exact same word translated "baptisms" in
Hebrews 6:2.
- Was Jesus was baptized as an example for people to follow?
- The Bible never says this. Peter didn’t preach that on Pentecost in
Acts 2.
- John the Baptist’s baptisms were not conducted as a first step of obedience
after salvation.
- Instead, John preached to Jews and the Jewish nation the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.
- If people were following Christ’s example in baptism, that would mean that
Christ was also baptized for the remission of sins. That would make Him
a sinner like everybody else. He was sinless!
- Matthew 3:13-16: Then Jesus went from Galilee to the
Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I
am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so
why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for
we must carry out all that God requires [for we
must fulfill all righteousness].” So John
agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the
water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This
is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
- Mark 1:9: One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John
baptized him in the Jordan River.
- Luke 3:21-22: One day when the crowds were being
baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens
opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him
like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved
Son, and you bring me great joy.”
- Compare this baptism or washing with the baptism or washing of the high priest
prior to being presented to God for approval in Leviticus 8 & 16 above .
Why Was Jesus Baptized?
- Jesus doesn’t come repenting and confessing sins like the rest of Israel.
Jesus said the purpose was to fulfill all righteousness.
- Where was the righteousness of God revealed at this time? It was revealed
in the law of Moses.
- Christ is beginning His public ministry to Israel which would end with His
sacrifice for sin on the cross. Christ would be the complete fulfillment
of all the Old Testament sacrifices. Hebrews 9 & 10.
- What did the law require that Israel do to the sacrifices before they offered
them? They had to wash them in water. Leviticus 1:1-3, 9 and
2 Chronicles 4:5-6 (See above).
- When Jesus submitted to the washing of baptism, He was submitting to the righteousness
of the law.
- When Jesus refers to "all righteousness," He is referring
to the Old Testament law that He came to fulfill. Matthew 5:17-18.
- In effect, John was washing the offering before it was taken and the blood
shed.
- When Jesus was baptized, He was identifying Himself with believing Israel,
those who responded in faith to John's call to prepare for the kingdom.
- John was baptizing in order that Jesus should be revealed as Messiah to Israel:
- John 1:29-31: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward
him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is
coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’
I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with
water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
- In Exodus 40:12-13 (see above), the priests had to be washed in water
and then anointed. At His baptism, Jesus was washed by water and anointed
by the Holy Spirit and consequently accepted by God.
- Jesus was baptized with water and then later baptized into suffering and death
(Mark 10:38-39).
Since Jesus Was Baptized, Should Christians Follow Him in Baptism?:
- The Lord Jesus Christ was circumcised; does that mean that every believer
today should follow Him as an example in this respect?
- The Lord Jesus Christ attended the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath day. Is
every professing Christian to do this too?
- The Lord kept the feasts of Leviticus. He kept the Passover. Do we have to
do that because He did it?
Baptisms by Jesus’ Disciples:
- John 3:22-23: Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem
and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them
there, baptizing people. At this time John the Baptist was baptizing
at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept
coming to him for baptism.
- John 4:1-2: Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he
was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus
himself didn’t baptize them - his disciples did).
Baptism of / with the Holy Spirit:
- Promised before Pentecost (Acts 1:5).
Fulfilled at Pentecost (see Acts 1:5 and Acts 2).
Result: Believers joined into one body (1.Cor.12:13).
Conclusion: Spirit baptism brings into the assembly, the body of Christ
- It was the powerful equipment of spiritual gifts for the twelve to make known
to Israel the proclamation that the long-awaited Kingdom was at hand.
- Matthew 3:11: “I baptize with water those who repent
of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than
I am - so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry
his sandals. He will baptize you with [in]
the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- Mark 1:8: I baptize you with water, but he will
baptize you with [in] the Holy Spirit!”
- Luke 3:16: John answered their questions by saying, “I
baptize you with [in] water; but someone is coming soon who is greater
than I am - so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and
untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with [in]
the Holy Spirit and with [in] fire.
- Acts 1:4-5: Once when he was eating with them, he commanded
them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised,
as I told you before. John baptized with [in] water, but in just
a few days you will be baptized with [in] the
Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 2: On the day of Pentecost all the believers
were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven
like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where
they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire
appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled
with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit
gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from
every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone
came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being
spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can
this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and
yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we
are - Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia,
Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya
around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism),
Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages
about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed.
“What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd
ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd,
“Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make
no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming.
Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see
was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:‘In the last days,’ God
says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters
will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.In
those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants - men and women
alike - and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders
in the heavens above and signs on the earth below - blood and fire and
clouds of smoke.The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood
red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ “People
of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful
miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God
knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when
Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross
and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised
him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David
said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not
be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue
shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul
among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown
me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’
“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David
wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is
still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an
oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne.
David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection.
He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to
rot in the grave. “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all
witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in
heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had
promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see
and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven,
yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the
place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool
under your feet.”’ “So let everyone in Israel know for certain
that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and
Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said
to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter
replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God,
and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to
you, to your children, and to those far away - all who have been called by the
Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly
urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that
day - about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s
Supper, and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the
apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers
met together in one place and shared everything they had. They
sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They
worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s
Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the
while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the
Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
- Acts 11:16: Then I thought of the Lord’s words
when he said, ‘John baptized with [in]
water, but you will be baptized with [in]
the Holy Spirit.’
- Acts 8:5-8, 12-17: Philip, for example, went to the
city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.
Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message
and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits
were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had
been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in
that city. … But now the people believed Philip’s
message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then
Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he
went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. When
the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had
accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they
arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their
hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:13: Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles,
some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into
one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Baptism with Fire:
- John the Baptist spoke of it:
- Matthew 3:11: “I baptize with water those who repent
of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than
I am - so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry
his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- The Lord will carry it out - yet future:
- Matthew 3:12: He is ready to separate the chaff from
the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering
the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
- It would bring judgement: 'burning the chaff with never-ending
fire'
Baptism into Suffering and Death:
- Matthew 20:22-23 (KJV): But Jesus answered and said,
Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of,
and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed
of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:
but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall
be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
- Mark 10:38-39: But Jesus said to them, “You don’t
know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of
suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with
the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” “Oh yes,”
they replied, “we are able!”Then Jesus told them, “You will
indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering.
- Romans 6:3-8 : Or have you forgotten that when we
were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?
For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we
also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death,
we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were
crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our
lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ
we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ,
we know we will also live with him.
- Galatians 2:20: My old self has been crucified
with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I
live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me.
- Galatians 3:27: And all who have been united
with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.
- Ephesians 4:4-6: For there is one body and one Spirit,
just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who
is over all, in all, and living through all.
- Colossians 2:8-23: Don’t let anyone capture you
with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking
and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ
lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through
your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. When
you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical
procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision - the cutting away
of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized.
And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted
the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead
because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then
God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled
the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them
publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So don’t let anyone
condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days
or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only
shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that
reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial
or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their
sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head
of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments,
and it grows as God nourishes it. You have died with Christ, and he has
set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why
do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t
handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere
human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules
may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe
bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil
desires.
- Purpose: To identify Christ with sin and sinners on the cross.
His death was ours. We were buried with Him in baptism.
Baptism with Water after Jesus’ Resurrection and in the Acts Period in Luke’s
“Acts of the Apostles”:
- Mark 16:14-18: Still later he appeared to the eleven
disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief
because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised
from the dead. And then he told them, “Go into all the world and
preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is
baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will
be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who
believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they
will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle
snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it
won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the
sick, and they will be healed.”
- Notice that you cannot separate baptism here from miraculous signs! You can’t
have it both ways!
- https://www.compellingtruth.org/baptism-Mark-16-16.html:
“ A close look at Mark 16:16 reveals that it is not connecting baptism with
salvation. Rather, the verse distinguishes between belief and salvation, and lack
of belief and condemnation. The first half of the verse emphasizes belief as the
means of salvation. The public expression of that belief is baptism. The second
half of the verse clearly notes "whoever does not believe will be condemned."
The contrast is clearly between belief and lack of belief, not between baptism
and condemnation. Further, the prior verse, teaches, "Go into all the world
and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." It does not teach to go into
all the world and baptize the whole creation. The emphasis in the surrounding
context is on preaching the gospel so others will believe in Jesus and receive
salvation. … In addition, the remainder of the New Testament clearly teaches
salvation is based on grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works,
so that no one may boast." John 1:12 adds, "But to all who
did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children
of God." These and other passages clearly note only faith in
the resurrected Jesus as Lord is required for salvation. Another proof
is the story of the thief on the cross. When he turned to Jesus in faith, Jesus
answered, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise"
(Luke 23:43). This man did not have an opportunity to be baptized, yet
Jesus promised he would be in paradise (heaven) that day.”
- Acts 1:5: John baptized with [in] water,
but in just a few days you will be baptized with [in]
the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 1:22: from the time he was baptized by John
until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness
of Jesus’ resurrection.”
- Above are John’s baptisms in water unto repentance.
- Acts 2:38, 41: Peter replied, “Each of you must
repent of your sins and turn to God, and be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. …
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the
church that day - about 3,000 in all.
- Pentecost in Jerusalem. Associated with speaking in tongues.
- Acts 8:12, 14-17: But now the people believed Philip’s
message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
As a result, many men and women were baptized. …
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria
had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they
arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their
hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 8:35-38: So beginning with this same Scripture,
Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some
water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why
can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and
they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
- Baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch.
- Acts 9:18: Instantly something like scales fell from
Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up
and was baptized.
- Acts 10:37: You know what happened throughout Judea,
beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism.
- Acts 10:47-48: “Can anyone object to their being baptized,
now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
- Baptism of Cornelius, the first Christian Gentile.
- Acts 16:15: She and her household were baptized,
and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer
in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she
urged us until we agreed.
- Baptism in Philippi in Macedonia of Lydia from Thyatira,
a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God.
- Acts 16:31: They replied, “Believe in the
Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
- Baptism of the Philippian jailor and his household.
- Acts 18:8: Crispus, the leader of the synagogue,
and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth
also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.
- Acts 19:2-7: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when
you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we
haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what
baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The
baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism
called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe
in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul
laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they
spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve
men in all.
- Acts 22:16: What are you waiting for? Get up and be
baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the
name of the Lord.’
- Paul giving his testimony to the crowd in Jerusalem.
Baptism in the Acts Period Epistles:
- Romans 6:3-4: Or have you forgotten that when we were
joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in
his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.
And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father,
now we also may live new lives.
- 1 Corinthians 1:13-17: Has Christ been divided into factions?
Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of
Paul? Of course not! I thank God that I did not baptize any of
you except Crispus and Gaius, for now no one can say they were baptized
in my name. (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t
remember baptizing anyone else.) For Christ didn’t send me to baptize,
but to preach the Good News - and not with clever speech, for fear that
the cross of Christ would lose its power.
- 1 Corinthians 15:29: If the dead will not be raised,
what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead?
Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
- Galatians 3:27: And all who have been united
with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.
- 1 Peter 3:18-21: Christ suffered for our sins once for
all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to
God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he
went and preached to the spirits in prison - those who disobeyed
God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat.
Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you,
not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience.
It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- The eight were saved from death by water, kept safe in a
boat.
Baptism of the Nations:
- Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus came and told his disciples,
“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new
disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- This is a baptism of the nations to take place in the millennium; baptizing
the nations in the new doctrine and new governmental experience. Similar to 1
Corinthians 10:1-2 (unto Moses). Identifies the nations with God and Israel. This
is not the same as baptism in Mark 16:16 which was for individuals not nations.
Baptism in the Prison Epistles (after Acts 28:28 and the Rejection of Israel):
- After Acts 28, and the revelation of the Mystery, we enter into a calling
where shadows give place to the reality of the fulness of Christ (Colossians
2:16-17: So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or
drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come.
And Christ himself is that reality.).
- Ephesians 4:4-6: For there is one body and one Spirit,
just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who
is over all, in all, and living through all.
Why Do Christians Give Reasons for Getting Baptized:
- To be saved.
- To demonstrate that I have been saved.
- As a public means of identifying one’s life as a follower of Jesus.
- So that God can use me in His service because He doesn’t use unbaptized
Christians.
- Because Jesus was baptized, I must follow Him in baptism.
- A seal of believers.
- A sign to unbelievers.
- It takes the place of circumcision.
- It is a confession of Christ.
- Iit is the initiatory ordinance of Christianity.
- It is the putting on of the uniform of a Christian.
- It is a means of grace.
- It brings the believer under God’s covenanted mercy.
- The church requires it for membership.
- “Just in case.”
- Michael Heiser: “Baptism is not what produces salvation.
It “saves” us in that it first involves or reflects a heart decision:
a pledge of loyalty to the risen Savior. In effect, baptism
in New Testament theology is a loyalty oath, a public avowal of who is on the
Lord’s side in the cosmic war between good and evil.”
References - Source material for this study has been gleaned from many different sources. If you want further study, I have attempted to acknowledge these sources at:
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