BAPTISM
TEACHING on the New Testament concept of "washings"
Let me first, clearly state my own belief concerning this subject....
I believe that water baptism, or washing, is expected of every believer. This act is a public declaration of the believer's oneness with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and an indication of his clear conscious towards God.
I believe that every believer is baptized, immersed, covered, in-dwelled by the Holy Spirit; and that this is a free gift. God's Holy Spirit speaks to the believer's spirit, teaching and revealing God's Word and empowering the believer.
I believe that we are cleansed by Holy fire, purified, sanctified, by Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. Baptized, washed, removing every remnant of sin, presenting us as Holy and Sanctified, before God, our heavenly father.
Teaching...
First lets look at the words, the language... There are four Greek words that are read as some form of baptize;
These all derive from one root word; "bapto" which means to "to cover wholly with a fluid;" In four places these words are translated "wash" In three they are translated "dip"
In all other cases we find some form of the word "baptize". This is a word made up by Religious scholars, by simply spelling the Greek word for English speakers... this is called "transliteration" NOT translation!
What this means is that the men who WROTE the New Testament had no special word, like "Baptism" for the event they were describing.. they simply said "wash."
For instance in Matthew 3:11 the writer actually wrote; "... he shall wash you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"
In Mark 1:8; "I indeed have washed you with water: but he shall wash you with the Holy Ghost."
In Matthew 28:19; "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, washing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
NO Greek scholar can contradict the above translation.
BUT - is it talking about WATER baptism?
John-the-baptizer clearly got people wet! He often stood in the Jordan river, preaching and calling sinners to be baptized/washed for repentance, because the Messiah was coming soon!
Jesus followers were also Baptized/washed, in a similar manner to John's as there were repeated comparison to John's ministry of Baptism/washing.
In Acts chapter ten, the preacher Phillip , while teaching the word to a foreigner, is asked... Here is water, why can't I be baptized/washed? The man clearly understood from Phillip's teaching that he needed to be baptized/washed in water. Phillip, of course, baptized/washed the man. Later in the same chapter, Peter clearly states that water is necessary to baptize/wash those in attendance
Are we commanded to continue this practice?
Examine a scripture often called "the Great Commission"
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"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, washing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" |
Thru the records of the early church, found in the book of Acts, water was clearly used. This indicates that those who HEARD this order, understood that Jesus meant water Baptism/washing.
Peter's first letter mentions Baptism (chapter 3); first comparing it to the great Flood, then making a point that it not be confused with taking a bath to wash ones body, indicating that there was a similarity. Clearly referring to WATER in both cases.
What of Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
John-the-baptizer prophesied that Jesus would wash people with the Holy Ghost and Fire! Jesus himself, in John 14 promised that the Holy Spirit would take His place in ministry to the believers. Before his final departure into heaven, in Acts 1, Jesus told His followers to wait until they were Baptized/washed with the Holy Spirit
The first Church, the Church in Jerusalem, was established on the Jewish holiday called Pentecost, as the Twelve preached, after receiving the Holy Spirit. They went on to perform various miracle of healing and deliverance.
Is any Baptism required for salvation?
A believer's salvation is based on belief in Jesus, in His sacrifice, His victory over sin and death, and his resurrection from the dead, to sit at the right hand of God. Water baptism is for the believer as it was for Jesus, an act of obedience. The Holy Spirit is a Gift from God, freely given to all believers
What of Infant Baptism?
Baptism requires a salvation decision. Without salvation Baptism just gets you wet. And an infant or young child cannot make that decision. Were you ceremoniously Baptized/washed as a child? The decision to be 'again' Baptized/washed is a decision you must make just as any other believer must. (personally, I fail to see the problem with doing it, just to be sure!
All Relevant New Testament mention of Baptism
| Matthew 3:14-15 | But John forbid him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and come thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. |
| Matthew 3:11 | "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" |
| Matthew 20:22-23 | "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 said 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." |
| Matthew 28:19 | "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" |
| Mark 1:8 | "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." |
| Mark 10:38-39 | "But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:" |
| Mark 16:16 | "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned." |
| Luke 12:50 | "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" |
| John 3:22 | "After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized." |
| John 3:26 | "And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptize, and all men come to him." |
| John 4:1-2 | "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)" |
| John 14:16-17 | "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you." |
| Acts 1:4-5 | "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." |
| Acts 1:8 | But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. |
| Acts 2:2-4 | And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. |
| Acts 2:38 | "Then Peter said unto them, 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 Ghost." |
| Acts 2:41 | "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." |
| Acts 8:12-13,16 | "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done ... (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)" |
| Acts 8:36-38 | "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believe with all thine heart, thou may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." |
| Acts 9:18 | "And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." |
| Acts 10:47-48 | "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." |
| Acts 11:16 | "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." |
| Acts 16:15 | "And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." |
| Acts 16:33 | "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." |
| Acts 18:8 | "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." |
| Acts 19:5 | "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." |
| Acts 22:16 | "And now why tarry thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." |
| Romans 6:3-5 | "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" |
| 1Corinthians 6:11 | ...but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. |
| 1Corinthians 11:13-17 | "Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." |
| 1 Corinthians 10:2 | "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;" |
| 1 Corinthians 12:13 | "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." |
| 1 Corinthians 15:29 | "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" |
| Galations 3:27 | "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." |
| Ephesians 4:5 | "One Lord, one faith, one baptism," |
| Colossians 1:20-22 | And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: |
| Colossians 2:12 | "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." |
| Hebrews 6:2 | "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." |
| 1 Peter 3:19-21 | "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" |
| Translated as the word "wash" |
| Mark 7:4,8 | "And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do." |
| Luke 11:37-38 | "And as he spoke, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner." |
| Hebrews 9:10 | "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." |
| Luke 16:24 | "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." |
| John 13:26 | "Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon." |
| Rev 19:13 | "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." |
References to John-the-Baptizer and his Baptism
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| This page Created and Maintained by Pastor Mark |
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