 THE RITE OF WATER BAPTISM

As Christians, one of the first rites I believe every born-again believer should observe, either at the moment of getting saved with the Lord or sometime shortly thereafter, is to be baptized with water. You can either get baptized with water at the moment you are getting saved, or you can get baptized with water at later date if it is not possible to get baptized with water at the place you are getting saved.

As you will see in the verses below, Jesus is definitely telling us that He wants water baptism to be included as a part of the salvation experience with Him. However, I do not believe that water baptism is an actual "essential" for a true salvation experience to occur with the Lord. In other words, it is not an actual requirement for salvation.

If you get saved at a Billy Graham crusade, but do not go through an actual water baptism at the crusade, you will still get to go straight to heaven if you should die on the way home before you could have gone through an actual water baptism at a later date.

As you will see in one of the verses listed below, we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus - not by any type of water baptism. Water baptism is still a rite of "works," and the verse I will give you below will definitely tell us that we are not saved by any type of works, but only by grace through our faith in Jesus.

There are some who believe in what is called "baptismal regeneration." This is a belief that we cannot be saved and regenerated by the Holy Spirit unless we go through an actual water baptism.

However, when you look very closely at the verses I will list below, and exactly what water baptism is really signifying and symbolizing with the Lord, I believe these verses are telling us that water baptism should be included as an actual "part" of the salvation experience with the Lord, but that it is not an actual "essential" or necessary requirement of it.

As you all know, people can get saved anywhere and at anytime. If you can get water baptized at the time you are getting saved, that is great and you should always do that if at all possible. However, there will be other times that there will be no water or any means to actually baptize someone with water when someone is getting saved with the Lord.

If that should happen, then the person who has just been saved should get baptized with water as soon as he reasonably can at a later date. But if by chance he should die before he could get baptized with water, he would still get to go straight to heaven. The fact that he could not get baptized with water will have no bearing or influence on him being able to enter into heaven if he should die before he could get baptized with water.

If we are only saved by grace through our personal faith in Jesus and not by any type of works we can do, which will include any type of water baptism, then why is Jesus telling us that He still wants us to include water baptism as part of the actual salvation experience with Him?

I believe there are five main reasons as to why Jesus wants us to include water baptism as part of our salvation experience with Him.

1. To Symbolize the Washing Away of Our Sins

When you are getting saved through your faith in Jesus, all of your past, present and future sins are now being fully forgiven.
As you will see in the verses below, all of your sins are actually "washed away" by the blood of Jesus. When you are getting fully immersed during the rite of water baptism, you are going through a symbolic act of having all of your personal sins completely washed away by the blood of Jesus.
The rite of water baptism perfectly symbolizes the purification and cleansing that we are receiving from the Lord during the salvation experience with Him.

2. To Identify With the Death and Resurrection of Jesus

As you will see in the verses below, water baptism is also identifying and testifying to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

When we are being fully immersed into the water, we are identifying with Jesus' physical death on the cross and His body going fully into the grave. When the pastor raises us up out of the full immersion, this is identifying with the full resurrection of Jesus from that grave.

The rite of water baptism by way of a full immersion is thus a perfect outward symbol act of both the death and resurrection of Jesus.

3. To Symbolize the Death of Our Old Life and Old Man, the Inward Regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and the Resurrection Into a New Life

The Bible tells us that once we are saved, that we have now become new creations in Christ, that our human spirits have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and that our old life and our old man have now died and been done away with.

Being fully immersed in water symbolizes the death of our old life and old man and the inward regeneration of the Holy Spirit - and the pastor raising us up out of the water represents the resurrecting into a brand new life in the Lord.

4. Signifying Our New Inner Union With the Lord

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we get to immediately receive the Holy Spirit on the inside of our human spirits. As a result of receiving the Holy Spirit on the inside of us, we now have a new direct spiritual union with both God and Jesus on the inside of our beings since the Holy Spirit is the One who divinely connects us to both God and Jesus in heaven.As you will see in one of the verses below, the Bible tells us that we have been "united together" with the Lord when we accept Him as our personal Savior. This uniting together with the Lord now forms an actual spiritual union with Him.
We are now all part of the same one Spirit, and that one Spirit is the Holy Spirit Himself. Being fully immersed into the water during the rite of water baptism perfectly symbolizes our new inner union with the Lord since water is one of the main symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible.

5. Initiation Into the Body of Christ

I believe that going through a proper water baptism is also an actual initiation rite with the Lord. Not only are we being directly joined to the Lord through the Holy Spirit as a result of getting saved, but we now also get to become an actual member of the Body of Christ, which is the Church itself

Definitions

The word "baptism" means "to dip, to immerse." Here are some of the basic definitions from some of the different Bible Dictionaries and Commentaries on what the rite of water baptism is all about and why the Lord wants us to include this as a part our personal salvation experience with Him:

1. To dip, to immerse, to submerge
2. Signifying union with Christ
3. Initiation into the Christian community
4. Ritual commanded by Christ to be practiced in the church
5. Identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ
6. A rite signifying one's cleansing from sin through Christ's sacrifice
7. Outward sign of inward regeneration by the Holy Spirit
8. The immersion or dipping of a believer in water symbolizing the complete renewal and change in the believer's life and testifying to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the way of salvation

Though we do not need the rite of water baptism to actually get saved with the Lord, this rite is still very powerful before the Lord and before the world in general, as we are making a public profession of our faith to the Lord by being willing to be fully submerged in a pool of water. As such, every Christian should make it their top priority to get baptized with water as soon as they can after getting saved with the Lord.

The Scripture Verses

Here are some of the main verses from the Bible having to do with getting baptized with water. Once again, I will break these verses down under 8 different captions so you can see exactly what the Lord is trying to show us with this powerful rite of passage

1. There is Only One Baptism
The first thing you need to know is that there is only one official baptism. However, this one official baptism is not water baptism - it is being baptized direct with the Holy Spirit Himself.

1. Here are two powerful foundational verses showing us that there is only one baptism, and that this one baptism is being baptized with the Holy Spirit. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism ..." (Ephesians 4:4-5)
2. "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:8)

The first verse perfectly lays it out for all of us when it specifically says that there is only "one baptism." The second verse then tells us what this one baptism is going to be.Notice that John the Baptist is saying that he was baptizing people with water, but that when Jesus would come, He would be baptizing people with the Holy Spirit. What is actually being baptized in this one baptism is our human spirits are being baptized with the Holy Spirit, since the Holy Spirit immediately enters in and takes up residence in our human spirits at the moment of our conversions to the Lord.

I believe John the Baptist is letting us know that there is a major difference between being baptized with water like what he was doing before Jesus arrived on the scene, and then being baptized with the Holy Spirit through Jesus. Though water baptism is a powerful rite and symbolic act to make before the Lord - it is not what actually gets us saved and born again before Him. And this will now lead us right into the next section.

2. We Are Saved by Grace Through Faith - Not by Water Baptism
These next five verses will specifically tell us how we are saved in the Lord. Notice the first verse will tell us that we are specifically saved by grace through our faith in Jesus - not by any type of works. And the rite of water baptism is still a form of works, and as a result, cannot be accepted as being an essential or required part of the salvation experience with the Lord.

The second verse will then add some more meat to this revelation when it tells us exactly how we are to get saved - and that is by making a public confession with our mouths that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead by God the Father and that He came down to our earth in the flesh to die on a cross for all of our sins.

In other words, we have to believe in our hearts who Jesus really is, and then be willing to confess out loud with our mouths the basics of our salvation as to who He really is and exactly what He has done for us in His sacrificial death on the cross.

• "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8)
• "... if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." (Romans 10:9)
• "... I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God ... unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:3,5)
• "... having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever ..." (1 Peter 1:23)
• "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having sport or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27)

The third verse is where some people get the mistaken notion that water baptism has to be an essential part of the actual salvation experience. This third verse says that we have to be born of "water" and the Holy Spirit. They believe the word "water" is referring to being baptized with water. But I do not believe that this is the correct interpretation of the word "water" in this verse. I believe the word "water" in this verse means "the Word of God."

I base my reasoning off of the last two verses. The verse from 1 Peter specifically says that we have been "born again ... through the word of God." The Word of God is specifically being tied to us being born again in the Lord. We thus need both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in order to be able to be truly saved and born again in the Lord.

Notice in the last verse from Ephesians that Jesus is looking to clean up His church by the "washing of water by the word." In other words, you have to have the Word and the knowledge of that Word before God can start to clean you up on the inside by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit needs something to work with to begin the sanctification process in your life - and that something is knowledge - and that knowledge can only be received by studying the Word of God.

Notice that it says "the washing of water" by the Word. I believe God is trying to tell us that getting into His Word and soaking into the truths of His Word will "wash" and scrub us clean just like taking a good bath or shower will clean the dirt and grime off of our physical bodies. In other words, the Word of God can "wash you like water." This interpretation fits much better into this born again verse than it referring to the water from a water baptism.

You do not need the water of water baptism to be able to get truly saved with the Lord. You need the Word and the knowledge of the Word. You cannot accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior unless you have some basic information and knowledge as to what eternal salvation in Him is really all about.

This born again verse is telling us that we need two specific things to be able to get saved. We need basic working knowledge from the Word of God on what it means to get saved, and then we need to receive the Holy Spirit into our human spirits at the moment that we are getting saved.

In other words, we are saved through the knowledge that the Word will give us, and through the Holy Spirit who will come to live on the inside of us at the moment of our conversions to the Lord.

3. Jesus Commands That All Believers Be Baptized With Water
Though we are not actually saved by water baptism, Jesus still wants us to include this rite as a part of the salvation experience with Him. As you will see in reading these next set of verses, Jesus is specifically commanding all of us to baptize with water when we are working with others to get them saved.

If Jesus is making sure to include this rite as part of the salvation experience with Him, then we should fully obey Him on this issue and make sure that we either get baptized with water at the moment of our conversions to Him, or make sure that we do it as soon as we can after getting saved.

Here are 9 very good verses showing that water baptism was always a part of the salvation experience in the New Testament.

• "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
• 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 16:15-16)
• "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:15)
• "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." (Acts 2:41)
• "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized." (Acts 8:12)
• Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." (Acts 8:36-38)
• "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." (Acts 10:47-48)
• "Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:8)
• And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized." (Acts 16:30-33)

Notice in verses 6 and 7 the word "water" is being directly connected to the rite of water baptism. This is how you know that water baptism should always be included as a part of anyone's personal salvation experience with the Lord

4. Water Baptism is an Outward Sign of Dying and Resurrecting With Christ
Water baptism is also a perfect symbolic act of our old man and old life dying with Christ and our new life resurrecting with Christ. The first verse I will give you will show you that our "old man" was crucified with Christ. In other words, our old man was fully put to death.

As a result of our old man being fully put to death, the rite of water baptism, especially being willing to be fully immersed in a pool of water, is a perfect outward sign of our old man and old life being fully put to death in the Lord.

In the rite of water baptism our old man, the body of sin, is going fully underneath the water in the same way that Jesus' physical body went fully into the grave after He was crucified. And just as Jesus fully resurrected on the third day from His death, in the same way the pastor raising us up out of the water represents us being fully resurrected into a new and better life in Jesus.

Notice in the first two verses that it specifically says that we have actually been "buried" with Jesus and His death on the cross "through baptism." And just as Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, so too are we raised into a brand new life.

In other words, we have now died with Christ and we have now risen with Christ if we are willing to accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior

The third verse will really hammer home the point that as a result of dying and resurrecting with Jesus, we have now all become "new creations" in Christ. And as a result of becoming new creations in the Lord, all of the "old things" of our past have now fully passed away. And as a result of all of the old things in our lives having passed away, all things have now been become brand new. In other words, we are now being given a brand new life with a brand new fresh start.

The last verse will then put the icing on the cake as it tells us that the reason we are now able to become brand new creations is because we have now "put on Christ" as a result of being baptized into Jesus through the Holy Spirit. This is powerful and profound revelation being given to us by our Lord in these next 4 verses.

1. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
   For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:3-6)
2. "... buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all your trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Colossians 2:12-14)
3. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
4. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27)

Again, going through the rite of water baptism where you are being fully immersed in the water is a perfect symbolic act of dying and resurrecting with our Lord. This is a very beautiful and powerful rite to go through and experience with our Lord.

5. Water Baptism is an Outward Sign of Having Your Sins Washed Away
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, all of our past, present and future sins will be fully forgiven. The Bible tells us that all of our personal sins will be "washed away." And what better way to symbolize the washing away of all of our sins than to be fully submerged in a pool of water during the rite of water baptism.

When you are being fully immersed in the water during the rite of water baptism, this is a perfect symbolic act that all of your sins have now been fully forgiven and fully washed away by the blood that Jesus has personally shed for you on the cross.

Here is a very good verse that will specifically tell us that all of our sins have been fully washed away by Jesus and that it is also directly tying in this divine act to being baptized with water.

"Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:15)

Being willing to be fully submerged in water to symbolize the complete washing away of all of your sins is a very powerful statement to make before the Lord and anyone else who may be witnessing your personal baptism.

6. Sprinkling, Pouring or Full Immersion?
Another area of debate on this issue is whether or not to undergo a full immersion or to just have water sprinkled or poured on you.
I personally believe that God will honor and accept all three ways. However, among the three options, I believe that the full immersion is the much better choice. The reason being is that when you are being fully submerged in water, it is a much better symbolic act of the physical death of Jesus, the death of our old lives and old man, and the complete washing away of all of our personal sins.

When Jesus died on the cross, His body was taken off the cross and his whole body was placed into a grave. Note that his whole body was placed into the grave, not just his head or a part of his body. In the same way, I believe that we should undergo a full body immersion to line up with Jesus' physical body being put fully into the grave. Just as Jesus' physical body was fully placed into the grave, in the same way our physical bodies should undergo a full immersion in this rite.

The second good reason to undergo a full immersion rather than just having water sprinkled or poured on you is that a full immersion is better symbolizing all of our sins being fully washed away at the moment of our conversions to the Lord. Having our bodies being fully submerged underneath the water is a much better symbolic act of all of our sins being fully washed away by the blood of Jesus rather than just having a few drops of water being sprinkled on us.

The third good reason to undergo a full immersion is that this also lines up better with our old man and our old life being fully put to death. Full immersion in the water thus symbolizes and represents a complete and maximum death of our old lives and our old selves.

Being baptized by either sprinkling or pouring does not capture or symbolize the above issues as well as being fully immersed into the water does.

7. At What Age Should People Get Baptized?
Another debate among some of the different denominations is at what age should people go through a water baptism.
Some denominations like the Catholics still like to baptize infants with water shortly after their births. Others will argue that water baptism should only be done when a person is old enough, ready enough, intelligent enough and mature enough to make a public profession of faith to the Lord. In other words, when they are ready to make an eternal commitment to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

With all of the above verses tying in water baptism to getting saved and converted to the Lord, and that someone can only get saved if they have the actual knowledge and intelligence to be able to understand it all - for the most part, we believe that water baptism should be confined to when people are old enough, intelligent enough, mature enough and accountable enough to be able to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

That age will vary depending on how well a child has been brought up in the Lord. Someone who has been brought up very early in the Lord and His Word can get saved at a much younger age than someone else who has had very little upbringing in the knowledge and ways of our Lord.

However, for those denominations that still like to baptize infants shortly after their births - I personally do not see any harm in doing this. I believe that a certain amount of grace may be imparted by the Lord to the infant at that young age, even though the infant obviously has no idea of what is really going on.

However, I do believe that the infant needs to then be personally brought up in the Lord and His Word, and as they grow and mature in the Lord, they should then make a personal commitment to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior once they are old enough, mature enough and intelligent enough to be able to understand what it is all about.

8. Who Should Baptize?
For the most part, I believe that you should go through the proper chain-of-command in the Body and have either the pastor or one of the ordained clergy of your church do the water baptism if you belong to a church.

Since one of the outward signs of water baptism is being initiated into the Body of Christ, which is the Church, I believe you are better off having this rite done in the church, since this would be a perfect symbolic act of becoming an actual member of the Body.

However, in cases where you cannot get to a church for whatever reason, I believe that every believer has the authority from the Lord to be able to baptize, since we all have a royal priesthood from the Lord.

The Church is really the individual body of believers, and when there is no church available or nearby, I believe you can baptize another into the Body of Christ by either fully immersing them in a pool of water if a pool of water is readily available, or by sprinkling or pouring water on them from a nearby water source.

Conclusion

When you put it all together, the rite of water baptism is like the putting the icing on the cake. It really seals the deal with our Lord.
Once again, here are the 5 main things that this powerful rite of passage will signify and symbolize with our Lord

• Initiation into the Body of Christ
• To symbolize the washing away of our sins
• To signify our new inner union with the Lord
• To identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus
• To symbolize the death of our old life and old man, the inward regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and the resurrection into a brand new life with the Lord

Though I believe the above verses do show us that the rite of water baptism is still an actual "work" and we thus cannot actually be saved by it, the fact still remains that the Lord has commanded all of us to include this rite as a part of the Great Commission that He has given to us.
As such, I believe that every born-again believer should fully obey this command from the Lord and go through this rite if they have never done it before. It is never too late to go through a proper water baptism if you have never done so before.

This rite of passage is very beautiful and very powerful - and it is making a bold and powerful statement to the Lord, to yourself and to the rest of the world when you actually go through it

Michael Bradley

 THE BAPTISM

Baptism

The question of baptism has long troubled Christianity in that there are many differing opinions on what the Bible teaches on this important subject. We as students of the Rightly Divided Word of Truth must not be swayed by the traditions and teachings of men but always look to the Scripture as our rule book of faith and practice.

Among the words written near the time of the beginning of Christianity the new Hebrew believers were exhorted "to leave" not "lay again", laws and ordinances including "the doctrine of baptisms" Heb. 6:2, these being among the elements that were to be left behind as the believer pressed on unto perfection

The N.T. teaching concerning baptism is distributed thus:

1. John the Baptist. This baptism falls under two headings:(a) It was a baptism unto repentance, in view of the near approach of the kingdom of heaven Matt 3:1-2.
(b) It was the work of John as the forerunner prophesied of by Isaiah in the fortieth chapter of his prophecy.
(c) It was concerned only with Israel or with those who joined themselves to Israel, as the words "Comfort ye" of Isaiah 40 were concerned.
(d) It was a baptism in water that spoke of a future baptism with Holy Ghost and with fire.
(e) It was specifically designed to make manifest to Israel the One Who was sent to be their Messiah John 1:30-34

2. The baptism with the Holy Ghost promised by John was fulfilled at Pentecost Acts 1:5.

3. During the Acts, water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit went together Acts 2:38; 10:47

4. During the first ministry of the Apostle Paul, baptism by water was practised I Cor. 1:16, but baptism never held the place in Paul's commission I Cor. 1:17that it did in that of Peter (Acts 2:38 ). Peter could never have said: "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" as Paul did.

Baptism during the early ministry of Paul:
(a) United the believer by burial with the death of Christ Rom. 6-4
(b) united Jew and Gentile making them "all one in Christ and Abraham's seed" Gal. 4 27-29 .
(c) baptizing these believers into one body, with particular reference to the exercise of spiritual gifts 1 Cor. 12:13

5. After Acts 28, and the revelation of the Mystery we enter into a calling where shadows give place to the reality of the fullness of Christ Col. 2:17.

Baptism in the epistles of the Mystery is either that which unites the believer with the death and Resurrection of Christ Col. 2:12 or by which the believer becomes a member of the Church which is His body Eph. 4:5.

Owing to the failure on the part of expositors and teachers to discern the change of dispensation consequent upon the setting aside of Israel at Acts 28, there has been a failure to discern the extreme difference that exists between baptism as taught in the earliest part of the N.T. or even in the earlier epistles of Paul and as it is taught in the epistles of the Mystery.

Galatians 3:19 asks a question: "Wherefore then serveth the law?" and the answer is: "It was superadded" (prostithemi). The Galatians were turning back to the weak and beggarly elements of the ceremonial law. "Now this law was not promulgated in the first instance to the Jewish people, but was a super-addition to the antecedent moral law is a matter of universal notoriety. It is well-known (says Whitby) that all these ancient fathers were of the opinion, that God gave the Jews only the Decalogue, till they made the golden calf, and afterwards He laid the yoke of ceremonies upon them." "The law was superadded in behalf of transgressions being ordained in the hand of a mediator".

The Christian Church has fixed its attention so much upon these superadded carnal ordinances and have modelled their doctrine of baptism so much upon these things which were imposed until the time of reformation that they have given little or no place to the one great baptism, which was not added because of transgressions but was an integral part of the Redemption of the nation, namely the baptism of the whole nation unto Moses at the Red Sea. That is the type that remains for us today; all others are carnal ordinances that have no place in the present economy of pure grace.

The baptism of Colossians two is not likened to anything that was introduced into the Aaronic priesthood or tabernacle service; it is likened to the initiatory rite of circumcision. Now in Colossians two this circumcision is the spiritual equivalent of that practiced by the Jew, it is explicitly said to be "the circumcision made without hands", and repudiates "the body of the flesh" (sin is not in question, the revised text omits the words "of the sins"), and this is accomplished "by the circumcision of Christ". Now until it can be proved that the circumcision here emphasized is the literal carnal ordinance, the consequential burial by baptism will have to be understood of the spiritual equivalent too, and finds its type, not in the many baptisms of the ceremonial law, but in the one baptism of the whole nation at the crossing of the Red Sea. This "one baptism" forms an integral part of the Unity of the Spirit, which those who are blessed under the terms of the Mystery are enjoined to keep. The seven parts of this unity are so disposed, as to throw into correspondence the One Baptism in the One Spirit, thus:

One Lord, One Hope,

One Faith, One Spirit,

One Baptism, One Body,

One God and Father

This sevenfold unity is composed of seven units-and to tamper with the repeated word "one" is to deny inspiration and to destroy the Apostle's insistence. We can no more believe that "one" baptism means two, i.e., "water and spirit" than we can import plurality into the realm of faith, hope or the Lordship of Christ. It is the custom of those companies of Christians who stress baptism in water, to call themselves "baptized believers". It is also, unfortunately the habit of many who see the spiritual nature of baptism in Colossians and Ephesians to allow this claim, but such are wrong. Members of the One Body are "baptized believers" for without this one-baptism membership of the One Body is impossible. To speak otherwise is to magnify the carnal ordinance that pertains to the ceremonial act, above the spiritual reality. The truth is that no company in the N.T. has ever known what true baptism really is, except that Church where baptism in water is absent and unknown.

While much more could be said, we are necessarily limited, but we believe every essential feature has been considered so that the reader can pursue the matter in detail with every hope of attaining unto fuller light.

 BAPTISM of SUFFERING

Mark 10:38-40
For Jesus Christ alone, unequalled SUFFERING. We (true servants of God) also must undergo. If we suffer with Him we also will reign says the Scripture (A Statement of Truth).

BAPTISER: Father God

ELEMENT: Great Agony, Mental and Physical suffering and Pain, ordained for Christ Jesus even before the foundation of the world. All the consequences of SIN and the consquences of SINS of every single soul was laid on Him by the Father. Jesus Christ gladly bore because it was the Father's will to bring many (sons) through Jesus Christ to glory. This is my great FAITH. I glory in Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the cross. Jesus Christ and What He has finshed for me alone (no aduleration) is my TRUST to reach heaven.

BAPTISAND: Jesus Christ in flesh and blood. (GodMan)

 BAPTISM into LAW (Moses)

1Cor. 10

 FATAL BAPTISM

CAUSING TI SIN:
Any one who causes a believer who has placed his total trust on Christ Jesus to sin by misleading or by error is subjected to this kind. (Check what is the punishment for those who kill their parents)

 WHICH BAPTISM FOR YOU

Note the beautiful typology in 1Peter 3:18-22:

1. The Ark. It is clearly implied that the Ark represents relationship in Christ. Noah and seven other persons were IN the Ark, high and dry, so to speak, thru out the entire catastrophe. They were saved thru the flood waters of judgment in the baptism of the Ark. These verses do not teach baptismal regeneration, but rather ceremonial water baptism. Ceremonial baptism was the shadow, real baptism, the substance, is relationship in Christ. In verse 21 the putting away of the filth of the flesh refers to ceremonial water baptism which Peter contrasts with real baptism, the answer of a good conscience toward God. See also Romans 6.

2. The Flood Waters. As touched upon above, these represent judgment. The flood was necessary to destroy a humanity corrupted by intermarriage with fallen angelic beings, the spirits in prison mentioned in verses 19 and 20. So it can not refer to human souls in some place of conscious torment like purgatory or hell, as some teach.

The Flood Waters can be applied typically to the judgment which took place at Calvary. Christ at Calvary was baptized into the wrath of God. All the waves and billows of that wrath passed over Him. Psalms 42:7 and Jonah 2:3. The believer does not fear the wrath of God which is to come. He is in Christ, the Ark.

He is saved by the death baptism and resurrection of Christ.

3. The Eight Souls. This was the number of the persons in the Ark, and it is significant. Such numbers as 6, the number of man, and 7, the number of perfection, are examples known to most Bible students. The number 8 is the number of resurrection, the resurrection of Christ in which all believers will share. It is the hope of the believer, and it will make fully known and manifest the truth of God as it is in Christ.

The unbelieving naturally cling to the ceremonial baptism. It ministers to the flesh. But no one shall experience resurrection and see God without the experience of the real baptism in this life.
Which baptism is for you?

The One Baptism that we as believers in this administration of the Mystery have is our spiritual identification with our Lord Christ Jesus.

We are complete in Him. (Colossians 2:10) The word complete in the Greek means fulfill or filled to the full. We have the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as ours, as well as being raised with Him and seated with Him in the far above heavens (Ephesians 2:6), a place where no sin or sinner has ever been or will be. We also find our citizenship papers are from this same place. (Philippians 3:20) Furthermore, since we have been raised with Him by the operation of God (Colossians 2:12), death and sin need no longer have dominion over us. We are to walk worthy of our calling, putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). We have obtained all of this by faith, and not of ourselves.

Paul writes and warns the Colossians in 2:2, that it is only through the "...acknowledgment of the Mystery of God and of the Father, and of Christ, in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ", that they could find the wherewithal to walk in this world--not through the traditions, philosophies or the vain deceits of man. Behind all of these entrapments is religion, the mother of which is Babylon. No matter what form religion may take, idolatry is the foundation of its worship. The flesh is easily deceived into believing that the observation of rituals, holy days, doctrines, abstinences, and commandments of men will gain for the flesh, and hence the person a closer walk with God. This was the point of the attack being experienced by the believers at Colossae from the Gnostics and Judaizers.

Paul emphasizes to the believers that their completeness in Christ alone is sufficient. Religion would entrap the believer into holding onto something other than the Headship of Christ, which in this Dispensation of the Mystery provides our total life source.

Today the members of the Church of the One Body are also, as were the Colossians, subject to these attacks by spiritual wickedness. Our only Source for wisdom, knowledge, and power come from Christ who is our Life (Colossians 3:4), not from anything (including religion) of, or in the world. We can know Him by His Word. We can receive further wisdom and revelation about Him in His Word, and discover how completely we are identified with Him, and how by the One Baptism His finished perfect work was graciously implanted in us. Search the scriptures and see this identification for yourself.

The history books reveal that the question of baptism has been the cause of much bitterness, strife, and division. And the basis for these disputes has risen out of the failure to discern the dispensational differences that distinguish the ministries of the N.T. These can be divided up into three periods. Beginning with John Baptist it was water only with the promise of spirit baptism. Secondly, during the Acts period, it was both water and Spirit. The third period, the period that we live in today, followed Acts 28:28. The Pentecostal dispensation which began at Acts 2 came to an end because of Israel's unbelief. The only baptism that God honors for today is Spirit baptism.

Not long ago we heard a preacher give a commentary on Ephesians 4:4-6 where we find the seven unities to be kept by the Church. He had no problem giving a spiritual content to six of them, but the "one baptism" proved a problem, needless to say. One baptism means one, not two. What is it, water or spirit? It can't be both! The preacher saw the problem. He "solved" it by consulting at least 15 commentaries. All of them said it was water baptism! Consequently, each of us are faced with the responsibility of this decision: what will we believe, the Word of God or the commentaries?

The unities of Ephesians 4:4-6 are not to be made, but to be kept! They contain the only formula available to prevent divisions. If the churches kept these unities they would not be so powerless, and would not be the object of so much scorn and derision.
In ICorinthians 1:17, the Apostle Paul seems to have made a positive statement, For Christ sent me not to baptize, But to preach the gospel." Yet Paul had listed the names of three individuals he had already baptized. He also included the household of one of these he had baptized, so we don't know exactly how many Paul had baptized.

In the account of Paul, Silas, and Timothy preaching in the house of Justus in Corinth, (Acts 18:7,8) we are told that many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized. Undoubtedly it was at that time that Paul had baptized those he named in the first Corinthian letter.

However, we are left with the question, "If Christ had sent Paul not to baptize, why had he baptized any of them?" In order to answer this question, and resolve the problem created, we must get a better understanding of the place of baptism. When John the Baptist began his ministry to Israel, he preached baptism for the repentance of sins.

Peter at Pentecost followed the same preaching as had John the Baptist, when Peter answered those who asked him, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37) Peter's reply was, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) Notice that Peter said that remission of sins was through Jesus Christ and the result of their baptism unto Him. Peter did not tell them, "Christ died for our sins" as Paul did in 1Corinthians 15:3.

If we will look at the context of the Scripture quoted first, 1Corinthians 1:17, we see that Paul contrasts baptism with the preaching of the cross. This then is the answer to Paul's statement, 'Christ sent me not to baptize...lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. " (made void)

Paul was sent to preach the cross-the death of the Lord Jesus Christ-for the remission of sins, not the baptism as John the Baptist and Peter had preached. Paul is stating, "Christ sent me not to baptize for the remission of sins, but to preach the cross for the remission of sins. " Paul bad been given a further understanding of the place of baptism in the purpose of God.

Baptism was to be for the identification of the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:3,4) Therefore, Paul was not hypocritical in saying one thing and seemingly doing another. By baptism he was identifying those believers with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Two Kinds of Baptism

No.: 1 Literal

Element: Water

Baptisand:Whole population exceprt that 8

Baptizer: God Himself

No:2 Symbolic & Spiritual

Element: The Ark (Reperesent either Christ Body or the Church. The eight were dipped/placed into that God prepared vessel)

Baptisand: Noah (preacher of righteouness - represent Christ indirectly, and those who belong to him)

Baptizer: God Himself, put them into ARK and shul the door from out.

 GREATER BAPTISM or COMPARATIVE BAPTISM

Acts 1:4-5

And while being in their company and eating with them, He (Jesus Christ) commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with (placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.

The reason why I call this as "greater baptism" is because our Lord and Saviour Himself has compared here "John's baptism of repentance" and the "His baptism in the Holy Spirit"

John's Baptism

Baptizer: John the Baptist

Element: Literal Water

Baptisand: Repented (penitent) sinner [forgiveness of sin is on the basis of repentance only not dipping into water]

Holy Spirit Baptism

Baptizer: Jesus Christ

Element: Third Person of Triune God, Holy Spirit

Baptisand: Convicted, Repented, Forgiven, people ready for mission

Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:30-33; John 16; Luke 24:47-49

.....will grow

 BAPTISM OF FIRE

In the Old Testament, Dan. Cha. 3 we find this in the book of Daniel.

The BAPTIZER is king Nebuchadnezzar

The ELEMENT if literal fire (hell) 7 times increased than normal

The BAPTISSAND are the Jewish believers who committed their lives in the hands of their GOD (YWH) the only true God.

Note.: The Devil has no right upon the truly committed children of God. Hell Fire will not threaten us. Even the fire looses it's power in the presence of God. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has already, positionaly rescued us from the hell eternal fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels.

.... may grow

 DOCTRINE of BAPTISM

1. Usage of word "baptism" prior to the Koine (common) Greek (pre. 350 BC).

a) The English word "baptism" is a transliteration of the Greek verb BAPTIZO meaning to identify. This word was used by Greek poets, dramatists and historians to portray identification of one object with a second so that the nature or characteristic of the first object is changed.

b) For example Xenphon (fourth century BC) tells of Spartan soldiers dipping their spears into pigs' blood before going into battle. By identifying the spears with blood, the nature of the spears was supposed to have been changed from a hunting to a warrior spear.

c) Euripedes (fifth century BC) used the word to describe a sinking ship. As it sinks, the character or nature of the ship is changed. It is so identified or "baptised" with the water that it no longer floats - it becomes a wreck.

2. Meanings of the Koine Greek:

a) Verb - BAPTO - to dip (John 13:26, Luke 16:24), to dye (Revelation 19:13).

b) Verb - BAPTIZO - to dip, to immerse, to cleanse by washing.

c) Noun - BAPTISMOS - washing of dishes (Mark 7:4), doctrine of baptisms (Hebrews 6:2).

d) Noun - BAPTISMA - ritual baptism (Matthew 3:7, 21:25), spiritual baptism (Romans 6:4), figure of martyrdom (Mark 10:38, Luke 12:50).

e) Noun - BAPTISTES - one who baptises like John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1, 11:11, Mark 6:25).

3. Real baptisms: an actual identification - a person identified with something real. These are dry baptisms, and do not involve water. There are four real baptisms:

a) Baptism of Moses - a double identification of the children of Israel at Red Sea (1Corinthians 10:2).

i) With Moses - the people were identified with Moses in his faith, leadership and deliverance. They had victory "in Moses".

ii) With cloud - the people were indentified with God (the cloud) as He delivered them through the dry seabed and destroyed their enemies behind them. They had victory "in God".

b) Baptism of Fire - unbelievers are identified with judgment (Matthew 3:11, 13:24-30, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

c) Baptism of the Cup - identifies the Church Age believer with the victory of Christ after the cross - Christ identified himself with our sins (Matthew 26:39, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

d) Baptism of the Holy Spirit - enters Church Age believers into the Body of Christ, and therefore identifies them with everything that Christ is (1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6, Ephesians 1:3)

4. Ritual Baptisms: involve literal water, which represents something else:

a) Baptism of Jesus - unique (Matthew 3:13-17). Water represented Father's Plan. Christ identified himself with the Father's will in going to the cross.

b) Baptism of John (Matthew 3:1-11, John 1:25-33, Acts 18:25). Water represented the kingdom. Identification of John's converts with Jesus and His Kingdom.

c) Believer's (Christian) baptism (Acts 2:38,41, 8:36-38, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:33).

i) Water represents the work of Christ.

ii) Identification of Church Age believer, with Christ in his death (going into the water), burial (under the water) and resurrection to "newness of life" (coming up out of the water).

iii) Water baptism is a testimony to personal faith in Christ.

d) Two ordinances for the Church:

i) Water baptism - once; represents salvation.

ii) Communion - repeated; represents fellowship.

 THREE POST-RESURRECTION PRIVATE APPEARENCES of JESUS CHRIST

Mark 16:9-21 (Amplified Bible)
09 Now Jesus, having risen [from death] early on the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.
10 She went and reported it to those who had been with Him, as they grieved and wept.
11 And when they heard that He was alive and that she had seen Him, they did not believe it.

12 After this, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking [along the way] into the country.
13 And they returned [to Jerusalem] and told the others, but they did not believe them either.
14 Afterward He appeared to the Eleven [apostles themselves] as they reclined at table; and He reproved and reproached them for their unbelief (their lack of faith) and their hardness of heart, because they had refused to believe those who had seen Him and looked at Him attentively after He had risen [from death].
15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].
16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied [it]. Amen (so be it).

We will see below about the passage above. First , this is the great commission of our resurrected Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. We need to see the passage in the whole context and as to what is utmost essential to carry the "message of deleverance".

Some take only "verse 16" and affirm that according to this verse, anyone who is not subjected to immersion water baptism is not saved. Using this verse, they rather curse and condemn others. Even this one verse is given excusively for (FAITH) belief, not for baptism [believing comes TWICE and baptism comes ONCE]. This verse is mainly directed to the apostles (the special messenger of Christ Jesus - It is not that Thomas alone did not believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ, even the other Apostles believed not the eye witnesses [verse 14 above] about the resurrection of Jesus Christ) who did not believe His resurrection. These are the Apostles together with Jesus were baptising JOHN 4:1. Jesus Himself was not baptising. What baptism has to do with their unbelieving heart. Accoding to the truth, everyone is saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The goodnews is this, our SAVIOUR ever lives to see that we are saved to the end. That glorious truth has been blocked by the so called servants of God. In the Acts of Apostles (the work of Holy Spirit in them) often testifies to this proclamation.

Verse 16 can be like this: if one fully and whole heartedly believes in the total, finished work of Jesus Christ including His resurrection, and are convinced that He is alive and is all all sufficient to forgive one's sin; having believed so outwardly express your faith in baptism (for they have already disbelieved with their heart-heartedness) then such shall be saved. Otherwise even if you take baptism it is vain. The later portion of the verse does not say if you are not bapised, but if you do not trust/believe (believe what not the baptism but the resurrection) you shall be condemned. However no one can deny the right place for baptism here too.

Because believing is to do with heart.

Romans 10:9-12

And God sees the HEART unlike man

Baptism has nothing to do with heart

............... will grow

 MIS-APPROPRIATION OF BAPTISM

These days baptism is misappropriated invariably by many. This is because, such were deceived in the first place as the scripture says in 2Timothy 3:13 "But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves." They stand deceived (mislead by someone) and continue to do the same to others.

Often times people from mainline Churches are becoming victims of this sort. They will simply be instructed that the sprinkling baptism is not the right one, one must be immersed into water. This is the right baptism (ofcourse that is the right meaning). But one must not construe that "THIS IS THE SALVATION". The right mode is to dip but no way it should be related to the salvation (forgiveness of sin). As generaly some express, we must not follow the tradition. If this is true, we too should not follow which is coustomary.

Nowadays what I have observed personally is that it is traditional elsewhere to sprinkle, but in other places it has become customary to dip having no change at all in the inner man (no conviction, no repentence from their sin and sins and the past life etc.). When they come to the age they simply dip them into the water. We call this as wetting a sinner.

Let us RIGHTLY observe the ordinances in the Scriptural perspective.

Giving baptism for marriage sake has no meaning at all.

Taking or administering immersion baptism under the notion that I might have failed in my examinations (students) because I did not subject to right mode of baptism is also wrong. May be one may pass. But this kind cannot be considered as baptism in the truest sense.

We should not give or take baptism for company sake. My friend is taking, let me also take baptism; is wrong altogether.

People are dipped for the sake of worldly profits and blessing.

One should not be hard pressed for this. In such case people will submit to the rite, but their later end will become worse than the former. Without any conviction by the Word and the Holy Spirit, simple dipping is causing a spiritual suicide.

Other religions are following several of this kinds: Taking bath in rivers annually, there are special annual dipping in some countries to get rid of their sins of commissions and ommissions, in other area several kind of ablution (cleaning with water) is observed. All these cannot cleanse our conscience.

A QUEST The baptizer did not baptize the subject (bapissand) until he expressed his whole hearted faith in Jesus Christ having preached to him Christ Jesus. What does hinder me to me baptized? was the question.

Here is a man (BELIEVED and BAPTIZED), upon seeing the miracles performed in Jesus' name wants to take baptism (not right attitude), he too want to perform supernatural feats (no conversion from his past attachments and no repentence). Secondly, he devoted himself to Philip and amazed about the signs and wonders.

Believers must be encouraged to devote themselves to their LORD and SAVIOUR Jesus Christ, to Him they belong because He only paid a great PRICE for the soul. Acts 14:23; Acts 11:23-24;

Many, even without preaching Christ Jesus, simply give a call for baptism, some even threaten the souls with rival attitude. What is important is that one MUST preach Christ instead of a sacrament to draw the souls unto CHRIST JESUS Acts 11:20-21; Acts 8:34-35.

Some are convinced and are preaching that immersion baptism is the "VISA TO HEAVEN". This is going to extent of ridiculing the Lord and destroying the salvation glory that belongs ONLY to CHRIST JESUS Rev. 7:10; Rev 5:9-10; Rev 5:12-14. These kind of people will know their folly only when they stand before the throne of Christ. May the LORD forgive such people and open their spiritual eyes to behold the truth in proper perspective.

........ This may grow

 GLOBAL BAPTISM

In the "Global Baptism"

1. BAPTISER is God himself
2. ELEMENT is the Person (God-Man) Jesus Christ
3. BAPTISAND is the Mankind from Adam to the last soul yet to be born

This is unseen, yet very much true in the spiritual relm, for genuine Christians do not walk or live by sight but by FAITH. What God has done in Christ Jesus for the entire humanity collectively and individually for every single soul that comes into this world is true, none can deny this 1Corinthians 1:29-30 so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

BAPTIZER, the Father God placed the BAPTISSAND, the entire Mankind (a race, we all have come from one man Adam ) into ELEMENT, the Person “CHRIST JESUS” - GodMan, second and last Adam from heaven (flesh and blood). OR Otherwise when Christ put on the humanity "flesh and blood" He personally identified with the whole human race Hebrew 2:14-16 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.

Let us understand Baptism giving due place for the water baptism the place given to it can neither be altered nor denied – It can not be misappropriated too. This truth is not affecting anybody when it is administered wrongly

What is personal Christmas?

Manifestation of Christ in flesh & blood to stand together with me a sinner to save ME is my Personal Christmas. Sum total of all what HE has done (HIS work) is for our salvation, hence the true salvation is the work of Jesus Christ not ours. On this behalf Holy Spirit has been sent. Jesus Christ Himself is Heavenly GIFT. The salvation granted to us is also a FREE GIFT. Salvation is totally FREE no price tag can be attached to it because it is PRICELESS. At the same time salvation is of WORK, not of yours but of CHRIST JESUS. WE NEED A SAVIOUR TO SAVE US FROM THE MIRY CLAY OF SIN. No other means can save us. Outside the TRUE Christendom many ways are there but within, only one WAY that is the FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST alone.

Now, True Christmas is otherwise called
“GLOBAL BAPTISM”.
When the 2nd Person (The Word/Christ) of Godhead was sent into this world or when HE came/manifested in FLESH & BLOOD (JESUS) what exactly happened was this. God (TRIUNE) identified Himself in the 2nd Person CHRIST with the entire mankind, which is a race. From Adam to the last one, which is yet to be born, was placed or identified into this one PERSON “JESUS CHRIST.
OR otherwise
The entire mankind was “BAPTISED” into this one person “JESUS CHRIST”. Now He STANDS together with mankind to fulfill the divine requirements from God’s side. God gave oppurtunity to mankind to prove if he can save himself, in the entire past; also He has been looking for a man who can stand in the gap. HE found none but
His own beloved Son “Y’Shua
the Messiah - GodMan”
Who entered this cursed earth on everyone’s stead. He finishesd (accomplished) a brief work between heaven and earth on the cross for the entire mankind so that as many as or everyone who CALL on HIM shall be saved.
“It is a DESPERATE heart CRY unto HIM”. “HOSANNA”
We are living IN THE era of “THIS SALVATION DISPENSATION”
Joel 2:32;
Isaiah 45:22-23;
Acts 2:21;
Romans 10:13;
freely proclaim the gospel.

*Divine prerogative must take precedence in our entire life. No one can ever change the place and value bestowed on truth. People blindly may change the value of one and hold it more precious unto them thinking that they have known the entire truth. The most *glorious, *valuable & *important ones are either rejected, not understood, or suppressed.

N.B: No religious formalities can be a substitute to THESE SPIRITUAL REALITIES. SOME INSTIGATE others wit different motives and intention saying some are standing against baptism. May our good LORD forgive such. May the name of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST be magnified and exalted in every area.
for Paul says.

.........may grow

 CONSIDER THREE THINGS IN BAPTISM

THREE IMPORTANT THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED

In the literal baptism in water we have three things

1) The BAPTISER: One who dip the person (Repentant/Believer in Christ Jesus) into water

2) The BAPTISAND: The Person who has Repented of his sin and sins and cofesssed his faith on Christ Jesus

3) The ELEMENT: The Element in the literal baptism is water mostly, but not all the time

We must relate this to every passage in the Scripture appropriately. In the Bible we find "BAPTISM" as noun and the same is used as verb also "BAPTISED", "BE BAPTISED" and "BAPTISING" them in the name of etc.

 BAPTISM A BURIAL SERVICE

Mostly, in this area many have a wrong understanding about baptism. When one hold it wrongly will only be an "ISM", will have no spiritual sense of meaning. I have come accross many who have lead, are leading and will lead the people willfully into wrong conviction. Such people make their "EXPERIENCE" a foundation rather than "SCRIPTURE". In truth the SCRIPTURE must be the foundation for all our experience.

Secondly, and invariably most of those who dip people and those who are being dipped into water think that such are dying when they go under the water. Whereas the Scriptural truth is not that. If they deem so then the baptism service become murderous one. I am not a spiritual police man to accuse or to find fault, rather the Scripture is given to us for correction. A right Christian, even if he is observing something in a wrong way should have a willing heart to change as the Scripture reveals/exposes his error. Otherwise his right beginning is doubtful.

If baptism is a funeral of the subject being dipped; then he/she should have died. There are several question we need to ask.

1) How does he/she die?

2) To what one should to die?

To answer the first question, one dies by his FAITH by the conviction brought about by the Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit) through the Word of God. These are the two agents cause one to die. Now let us consider one of the "statement of truth (SOT)" among many that appear in the Scripture. Turn to 2Cor. 5:14-15 "ONE DIED FOR ALL , AND THEREFORE ALL DIED" is the SOT. -For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.

Please read this passage also what Caiaphas as the high priest of that year prophesied in John 11:49-52

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, declared, You know nothing at all! Nor do you understand or reason out that it is expedient and better for your own welfare that one man should die on behalf of the people than that the whole nation should perish (be destroyed, ruined). Now he did not say this simply of his own accord [he was not self-moved]; but being the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation, And not only for the nation but also for the purpose of uniting into one body the children of God who have been scattered far and wide.

From the above passage we can understand that ONE is dying to his old nature by his personal believing in CHRIST JESUS finished work for him. ie. accepting Jesus Christ substitutionary work of death in his place (when Jesus died he too died) and His reurrection (when Jesus rose again, he too positionaly rose again to live for Christ Jesus); accoring to the FAITH that come to that person by the conviction of the HOLY SPIRIT in the light of the WORD OF GOD Rom.

....... may grow

 BAPTISM - DEFINITION

The immersion in water of ONE who truts JESUS CHRIST as his LORD and SAVIOUR. This imersion in the name of JESUS CHRIST (Acts 2:38) or of the TRINITY (Matt 28:19) neither saves nor contributes to SALVATION in any way. Whereas only FAITH is essential for SALVATION (John 3:36).
Christ Jesus commanded that those who become His disciples should be babtized (Matt 28:19), making baptism essential to obedience. This witness to Salvation is testimony of the believer's obedience to the command of Jesus Christ.This witness to Salvation is testimony of the believer's obedience to the command of Jesus Christ.
ONLY IMMERSION FULFILLS THE SYMBOLISM:
1) Pointing back in history to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus;
2) Emphasizing the present in showing the believer's death to sin and resurrection to union with and new life in Christ Jesus; and
3) Looking to the resurrection of the body when Jesus Christ comes again (cf. Rom. 6:3-5) - don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection

The term is also used in reference to the coming of the HOLY SPIRIT into the life of a believer at the point of Regeneration (1Cor. 12:13) - For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit.

Baptism is not a direct command. It is an idirect command.

Baptism A Burial Service