The World in the Church: Water Baptism
Water Baptism
There is another tradition, although it is not a tradition. It is an ordinance. The Bible teaches water baptism. And some people have added an extra ordinance, which they call foot washing. I am not going to knock foot washing. I personally do not believe it is an ordinance. I do not believe that we were commanded to wash one another's feet physically as an ordinance. But be that as it may, there are people who insist that if you do not do foot washing you are disobeying the Lord.
Then when it comes to water baptism there comes a conflict as to what formula you are going to use, and what words you are going to speak when you baptize somebody. Well, the denomination that I grew up in believed that since you needed to be baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, that meant that you had to be baptized three times. So they would push you under the water three times.
"In the Name of the Father, in the Name of the Son, in the Name of Spirit."
Of course, all they were doing is baptizing your head three times. By the time they were finished you were coughing and spluttering and losing your breath. You were not even thinking about the Lord. You were gasping for air!
Was that wrong? No, I was baptized that way. I was baptized and made my public declaration in water baptism, of my faith in the Lord, because that is what water baptism is. Then I came to see afterwards that there were other denominations, in fact most of the other ones who baptized a person once, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as they went under.
Then, because God had led me to be in so many different denominations, I also spent a season in a church, which is known as Oneness.
"Oh, the heretics! The Jesus only people?"
Yes, them. They baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, once. Well, I tell you, I felt a far greater anointing in some of their baptisms than I felt in some of the others. But does that mean that their formula was right? I had to face a difficult situation being in different denominations, and when I finally went into ministry I went into ministry with the Assemblies of God, which is not a Oneness denomination. Fortunately they do not believe in baptizing three times. But what formula was I to use? My mind was confused. Who had the right formula?
Well I baptized all ways, and I tell you what, every time I baptized somebody the anointing power of the Holy Spirit has been there, because I baptized them in the Name of Jesus.
"You mean, you used the formula, 'In the Name of ..."
No, I baptized them in the Name of Jesus. What does it mean to do it in the Name of Jesus? It means I stand in His place, and I stand as Jesus, and I baptize them.
"In the Name of Jesus I'm baptizing you, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
There is no difference. You see, I am doing it in His Name, and by His authority and by His power. The Spirit of God came down as people came out of the water. And they were prayed for afterwards and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Lord set His seal on it. It had nothing to do with tradition; with the words; with the methods; with all these things that people argue and fight over. Let's get rid of the tradition. Let's refuse to follow like sheep.
Spiritual Baptism
Baptism is the sign that believers publicly give to the world regarding your personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. All followers of Christ are commanded to be baptized in His Spirit. Your church of choice can more fully explain and administer this act of worship and obedience to you. But remember this is a spiritual act of worship. Not the physical water on your flesh doing anything. Romans 6:3-4; 1st Corinthians 12:12-14; & Acts 19:1-6a
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were [by His Spirit] 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 as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 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. For the body is not one member, but many.”
"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them."
Paul tells us that we no longer know Jesus AFTER the flesh. Jesus Christ came IN THE FLESH to lead us INTO THE SPIRIT. It was paramount to be CIRCUMCISED, KEEP HOLY DAYS, KEEP SABBATH, PAY TITHES, and many PHYSICAL THINGS under the law of Moses.
Jesus came with binding laws of the spirit. In Matt. 5, 6, and 7 Jesus said
"you have heard it said [by the LAW OF MOSES]..." that you are to do this or do that, but Jesus said, "BUT I SAY UNTO YOU..."
And then He gave a different and contradicting law.
Examples:
"Swear" under Moses / DON'T SWEAR AT ALL UNDER CHRIST.
"Hate your enemies" under Moses / LOVE YOUR ENEMIES UNDER CHRIST!
"Don't commit adultery" under Moses / DON'T EVEN LOOK TO LUST AFTER A WOMAN UNDER CHRIST!
Get the point?
God said he would write His NEW COVENANT (not a revised version of the OLD COVENANT) upon the minds and hearts of His followers.
Circumcision was so very important to every Jewish man. Paul said "Circumcision IS NOTHING"!!!
So drastic was this change brought about by Jesus Christ, that Paul said that a PHYSICAL JEW of the PHYSICAL NATION OF ISRAEL, who is PHYSICALLY CIRCUMCISION in the flesh only, IS NO JEW AT ALL!!! But a GENTILE, not of the nation of Israel, and NOT PHYSICALLY CIRCUMCISED in the flesh, but CIRCUMCISED IN HIS HEART, HE, A GENTILE, IS A JEW!!! (Rom. 2:27-29).
Now then, with that in mind turn to Col.2:19-13:
"And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: In Whom also ye ARE CIRCUMCISED [how?] with the circumcision MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the SINS OF THE FLESH by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: buried with Him in BAPTISM [how? same way! "without hands" or water], wherein also ye ARE RISEN WITH HIM through the faith of the operation of God, Who has raised Him from the dead. And you, being DEAD IN YOUR SINS and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened [made alive] together with Him, having FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES."
According to Paul, "How many baptisms are there?"
"There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as ye are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE BAPTISM, ONE God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:4-6).
Water baptism avails us NOTHING unless we are BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST (Rom. 6:3-7) with a baptism WITHOUT HANDS--not of the letter and the flesh, but of the SPIRIT!
Nothing that we do that starts in the flesh can add one cubic (inch) to our spiritual stature (height, maturity).
So you believe that the PHYSICAL foreskins no longer apply to we Believers of the Nations, but that the PHYSICAL water of baptism most certainly does still apply. They are one and the same. Physically cutting off the foreskin and physically being placed under water are PHYSICAL RITUALS. They accomplish NOTHING with the spirit. Until Christ comes into our lives we SHOULD be physically circumcised, physically baptized, and physically give our tithes of farm produce to the Levites, but when the REALITY [Christ] of all of those types and shadows COMES, we are no longer under a tutor or schoolmaster, but we are by faith to go on to maturity (Gal. 3).
John is not speaking of PHYSICAL water and PHYSICAL blood in 1st John 5:6 & 8. Two things came out of Jesus' PHYSICAL BODY when they pierced Him: PHYSICAL water and PHYSICAL blood (John 19:34). These two things from then on become SYMBOLS of something SPIRITUAL that takes place in us by these two things. Being PHYSICALLY baptizes in PHYSICAL water will not make ANYONE spiritual. Likewise partaking of the Lord's Supper with PHYSICAL wine symbolizing Christ's shed blood will not make ANYONE spiritual. Jesus Christ is the reality of both THE WATER and THE BLOOD.
Throughout the New Testament the apostles teach us concerning the "water and the blood." Here is what the water and the blood symbolize and what they do FOR US:
"...the WASHING [spiritual water] OF REGENERATION, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which He shed [poured out] on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5b-6).
"That He might sanctify and cleanse it [the church, ver. 25] with the washing of water BY THE WORD" (Eph. 5:36).
Can we not see that the water IS THE WORD of God? Do we get SPIRITUAL clean by being baptized in PHYSICAL WATER? What have we just read? "...washing of water BY THE WORD." Here's a second & third witness:
"Wherewithal [HOW] shall a young man cleanse his way? By TAKING HEED thereto according to Thy WORD." (Psalms 119:9).
"Now ye are clean [washed clean] through the WORD which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3).
And since these two words "water and blood" are used symbolically to represent spiritual realities, we can even be washed clean in "the blood":
"...and WASHED us from our sins in His own BLOOD" (Rev. 1:5b).
Remember that Jesus said,
"...the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are life" (John 6:63)
Therefore:
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born OF WATER [what kind of water? physical water?] and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
Is Jesus speaking of PHYSICAL WATER and PHYSICAL BAPTISM? Hardly. Look at the next chapter:
"...and He [Christ] would have given you LIVING WATER" (John 4:10).
"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting LIFE" (Ver. 14)
Water of LIFE, LIVING waters:
"He that believes on Me, as the SCRIPTURE has said [Scripture is God's word, and we are washed with water of God's WORD], out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING WATERS" (John 7:38).
After being baptized by water, the disciples of Jesus were still unconverted. Why even Peter was unconverted (Luke 22:32). Physical water did them little good SPIRITUALLY. However, Jesus promised that they would be baptized with something else:
"For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT not many days hence" (Acts 1:5).
Baptism is of the heart and spirit just as circumcision. If we can't comprehend this spiritual truth, then we are missing the whole point of these types and shadows of which Jesus Christ is the only reality.
It is true that Jesus was baptized and told the apostles to baptize. With this I have no questions or problems. However, there are MANY things that many people do not see or comprehend in the Scriptures. Let me give you some insight into one of these mysteries:
"Howbeit [However] when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you INTO ALL TRUTH...AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME" (John 16;13).
Now then: WHAT "truth?" What truth did the apostles NOT HAVE AT THE END OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY. Remember John 16 is at the Passover supper which was His last day on earth in the flesh. What truth didn't the apostles have? What things was the Spirit to: "SHOW you things to come?" What things? Did Jesus LIE? Did Jesus NEVER EVER show them those things and tell them those truths that He promised on His last day with them? There absolutely WERE new truths and things to come, that the apostles came to see and understand LATER IN THEIR MINISTRY. Why LATER in their ministries, why not NOW? Because:
"I have MANY things to say unto you, but ye CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW" (John 16:12),
that's why.
Paul TOO, was baptized and also baptized others. You say Jesus COMMANDS us to baptize today. Maybe you think God has commanded YOU to baptize, but I'll guarantee you something straight from the Scriptures, and you can accept it or not. Jesus Christ didn't commission PAUL TO BAPTIZE!
"FOR CHRIST SENT ME [Paul] NOT TO BAPTIZE, but to preach the gospel..." (I Cor. 1:17).
To US, "There is ONE GOD..." "ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE BAPTISM" (Eph. 4:5). How many baptisms? ONE! Whose baptism is it? CHRIST'S! We are baptized into CHRIST and HIS DEATH. The ONE FAITH, is not our faith, but the faith that God gave to us as a gift (Eph. 2:8). All we have is a gift--
"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the GIFT OF CHRIST" (Eph. 4:7).
Must we partake of our OWN baptism to be saved? Can we not claim the ONE BAPTISM OF CHRIST? Yes, of course we can. We lack NOTHING when we have CHRIST, when we are IN CHRIST, and CHRIST IS IN US:
"And ye [ye means ALL OF YOU--everyone of you] are COMPLETE IN HIM..." (Eph. 2:10).
The question is, DO WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT?
Now then, you are familiar with circumcision, are you not? It is the cutting off of the foreskin of the penis. But we don't have to actually cut off the skin IN THE FLESH IN THE PHYSICAL. That is unless you feel that your "Are NOT complete in Christ" ALONE.
"In whom [Jesus] also ye ARE circumcised with the circumcision made WITHOUT HANDS [without a knife or scissors, without WATER, if you have understanding], in putting off the BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH ['Or are you IGNORANT that whosoever are baptized into... [into water?]...INTO CHRIST JESUS, ARE BAPTIZED [it's not a phony baptism; it's a REAL BAPTISM] into His death? We, then, were entombed together with Him through the BAPTISM INTO DEATH [this baptism is a spiritual baptism into death, not a physical baptism into water], that, even as Christ was roused from among the dead through the glory of the Father, thus we also should be walking in newness of life. For if we have become planted together in the likeness of His death, nevertheless we shall be of the resurrection, knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the BODY OF SIN MAY BE NULLIFIED, FOR US BY NO MEANS TO BE still slaving for sin, FOR ONE WHO DIES HAS BEEN JUSTIFIED FROM SIN [Rom. 6:3-7] ...putting off the body of the SINS OF THE FLESH by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST" (Col. 2:10-11).
Can you not see that it is ONLY the "circumcision OF CHRIST" that counts for anything? It is not OUR OWN PERSONAL PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION which only 'pictures' the putting off of sin, but does not ACTUALLY AND LITERALLY AND SPIRITUALLY PUT OFF SIN that matters. It is only "the circumcision OF CHRIST" that matters. I don't know how I can say it any clearer. Now then, what does this have to do with "baptism?" EVERYTHING.
Let's pick up on the last few words of verse 11 once more and just continue on to the next verse, seeing that even the King James does not put a PERIOD, but a colon: which shows that the next verse IS CONNECTED IN THOUGHT TO THE PREVIOUS VERSE.
"...in the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision OF Christ: buried WITH HIM IN BAPTISM."
Oh, the circumcision is WITHOUT HANDS, but the baptism is WITH WATER, is it? NO, a thousand times, NO. The CIRCUMCISION for those who are complete in Christ is WITHOUT A KNIFE AND WITHOUT HANDS and the baptism for those who are complete in Christ is likewise, WITHOUT WATER AND WITHOUT HANDS!!!
Just like with the whole Law of Moses, it foreshadowed SOMETHING BETTER (Heb. 10:1). Jesus Christ is not a shadow of ANYTHING---Jesus Christ is the REAL THING--THE REALITY of which all physical ceremonies, sacrifices, and rituals were but a SHADOW. Stop looking to the "shadows" as though there were REAL POWER in the shadows. There is not. The only power is in the REALITY and the REALITY is JESUS CHRIST IN US. PERIOD.
There is another tradition, although it is not a tradition. It is an ordinance. The Bible teaches water baptism. And some people have added an extra ordinance, which they call foot washing. I am not going to knock foot washing. I personally do not believe it is an ordinance. I do not believe that we were commanded to wash one another's feet physically as an ordinance. But be that as it may, there are people who insist that if you do not do foot washing you are disobeying the Lord.
Then when it comes to water baptism there comes a conflict as to what formula you are going to use, and what words you are going to speak when you baptize somebody. Well, the denomination that I grew up in believed that since you needed to be baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, that meant that you had to be baptized three times. So they would push you under the water three times.
"In the Name of the Father, in the Name of the Son, in the Name of Spirit."
Of course, all they were doing is baptizing your head three times. By the time they were finished you were coughing and spluttering and losing your breath. You were not even thinking about the Lord. You were gasping for air!
Was that wrong? No, I was baptized that way. I was baptized and made my public declaration in water baptism, of my faith in the Lord, because that is what water baptism is. Then I came to see afterwards that there were other denominations, in fact most of the other ones who baptized a person once, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as they went under.
Then, because God had led me to be in so many different denominations, I also spent a season in a church, which is known as Oneness.
"Oh, the heretics! The Jesus only people?"
Yes, them. They baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, once. Well, I tell you, I felt a far greater anointing in some of their baptisms than I felt in some of the others. But does that mean that their formula was right? I had to face a difficult situation being in different denominations, and when I finally went into ministry I went into ministry with the Assemblies of God, which is not a Oneness denomination. Fortunately they do not believe in baptizing three times. But what formula was I to use? My mind was confused. Who had the right formula?
Well I baptized all ways, and I tell you what, every time I baptized somebody the anointing power of the Holy Spirit has been there, because I baptized them in the Name of Jesus.
"You mean, you used the formula, 'In the Name of ..."
No, I baptized them in the Name of Jesus. What does it mean to do it in the Name of Jesus? It means I stand in His place, and I stand as Jesus, and I baptize them.
"In the Name of Jesus I'm baptizing you, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
There is no difference. You see, I am doing it in His Name, and by His authority and by His power. The Spirit of God came down as people came out of the water. And they were prayed for afterwards and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Lord set His seal on it. It had nothing to do with tradition; with the words; with the methods; with all these things that people argue and fight over. Let's get rid of the tradition. Let's refuse to follow like sheep.
Spiritual Baptism
Baptism is the sign that believers publicly give to the world regarding your personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. All followers of Christ are commanded to be baptized in His Spirit. Your church of choice can more fully explain and administer this act of worship and obedience to you. But remember this is a spiritual act of worship. Not the physical water on your flesh doing anything. Romans 6:3-4; 1st Corinthians 12:12-14; & Acts 19:1-6a
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were [by His Spirit] 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 as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 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. For the body is not one member, but many.”
"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them."
Paul tells us that we no longer know Jesus AFTER the flesh. Jesus Christ came IN THE FLESH to lead us INTO THE SPIRIT. It was paramount to be CIRCUMCISED, KEEP HOLY DAYS, KEEP SABBATH, PAY TITHES, and many PHYSICAL THINGS under the law of Moses.
Jesus came with binding laws of the spirit. In Matt. 5, 6, and 7 Jesus said
"you have heard it said [by the LAW OF MOSES]..." that you are to do this or do that, but Jesus said, "BUT I SAY UNTO YOU..."
And then He gave a different and contradicting law.
Examples:
"Swear" under Moses / DON'T SWEAR AT ALL UNDER CHRIST.
"Hate your enemies" under Moses / LOVE YOUR ENEMIES UNDER CHRIST!
"Don't commit adultery" under Moses / DON'T EVEN LOOK TO LUST AFTER A WOMAN UNDER CHRIST!
Get the point?
God said he would write His NEW COVENANT (not a revised version of the OLD COVENANT) upon the minds and hearts of His followers.
Circumcision was so very important to every Jewish man. Paul said "Circumcision IS NOTHING"!!!
So drastic was this change brought about by Jesus Christ, that Paul said that a PHYSICAL JEW of the PHYSICAL NATION OF ISRAEL, who is PHYSICALLY CIRCUMCISION in the flesh only, IS NO JEW AT ALL!!! But a GENTILE, not of the nation of Israel, and NOT PHYSICALLY CIRCUMCISED in the flesh, but CIRCUMCISED IN HIS HEART, HE, A GENTILE, IS A JEW!!! (Rom. 2:27-29).
Now then, with that in mind turn to Col.2:19-13:
"And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: In Whom also ye ARE CIRCUMCISED [how?] with the circumcision MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the SINS OF THE FLESH by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: buried with Him in BAPTISM [how? same way! "without hands" or water], wherein also ye ARE RISEN WITH HIM through the faith of the operation of God, Who has raised Him from the dead. And you, being DEAD IN YOUR SINS and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened [made alive] together with Him, having FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES."
According to Paul, "How many baptisms are there?"
"There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as ye are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE BAPTISM, ONE God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:4-6).
Water baptism avails us NOTHING unless we are BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST (Rom. 6:3-7) with a baptism WITHOUT HANDS--not of the letter and the flesh, but of the SPIRIT!
Nothing that we do that starts in the flesh can add one cubic (inch) to our spiritual stature (height, maturity).
So you believe that the PHYSICAL foreskins no longer apply to we Believers of the Nations, but that the PHYSICAL water of baptism most certainly does still apply. They are one and the same. Physically cutting off the foreskin and physically being placed under water are PHYSICAL RITUALS. They accomplish NOTHING with the spirit. Until Christ comes into our lives we SHOULD be physically circumcised, physically baptized, and physically give our tithes of farm produce to the Levites, but when the REALITY [Christ] of all of those types and shadows COMES, we are no longer under a tutor or schoolmaster, but we are by faith to go on to maturity (Gal. 3).
John is not speaking of PHYSICAL water and PHYSICAL blood in 1st John 5:6 & 8. Two things came out of Jesus' PHYSICAL BODY when they pierced Him: PHYSICAL water and PHYSICAL blood (John 19:34). These two things from then on become SYMBOLS of something SPIRITUAL that takes place in us by these two things. Being PHYSICALLY baptizes in PHYSICAL water will not make ANYONE spiritual. Likewise partaking of the Lord's Supper with PHYSICAL wine symbolizing Christ's shed blood will not make ANYONE spiritual. Jesus Christ is the reality of both THE WATER and THE BLOOD.
Throughout the New Testament the apostles teach us concerning the "water and the blood." Here is what the water and the blood symbolize and what they do FOR US:
"...the WASHING [spiritual water] OF REGENERATION, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which He shed [poured out] on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5b-6).
"That He might sanctify and cleanse it [the church, ver. 25] with the washing of water BY THE WORD" (Eph. 5:36).
Can we not see that the water IS THE WORD of God? Do we get SPIRITUAL clean by being baptized in PHYSICAL WATER? What have we just read? "...washing of water BY THE WORD." Here's a second & third witness:
"Wherewithal [HOW] shall a young man cleanse his way? By TAKING HEED thereto according to Thy WORD." (Psalms 119:9).
"Now ye are clean [washed clean] through the WORD which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3).
And since these two words "water and blood" are used symbolically to represent spiritual realities, we can even be washed clean in "the blood":
"...and WASHED us from our sins in His own BLOOD" (Rev. 1:5b).
Remember that Jesus said,
"...the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are life" (John 6:63)
Therefore:
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born OF WATER [what kind of water? physical water?] and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
Is Jesus speaking of PHYSICAL WATER and PHYSICAL BAPTISM? Hardly. Look at the next chapter:
"...and He [Christ] would have given you LIVING WATER" (John 4:10).
"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting LIFE" (Ver. 14)
Water of LIFE, LIVING waters:
"He that believes on Me, as the SCRIPTURE has said [Scripture is God's word, and we are washed with water of God's WORD], out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING WATERS" (John 7:38).
After being baptized by water, the disciples of Jesus were still unconverted. Why even Peter was unconverted (Luke 22:32). Physical water did them little good SPIRITUALLY. However, Jesus promised that they would be baptized with something else:
"For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT not many days hence" (Acts 1:5).
Baptism is of the heart and spirit just as circumcision. If we can't comprehend this spiritual truth, then we are missing the whole point of these types and shadows of which Jesus Christ is the only reality.
It is true that Jesus was baptized and told the apostles to baptize. With this I have no questions or problems. However, there are MANY things that many people do not see or comprehend in the Scriptures. Let me give you some insight into one of these mysteries:
"Howbeit [However] when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you INTO ALL TRUTH...AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME" (John 16;13).
Now then: WHAT "truth?" What truth did the apostles NOT HAVE AT THE END OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY. Remember John 16 is at the Passover supper which was His last day on earth in the flesh. What truth didn't the apostles have? What things was the Spirit to: "SHOW you things to come?" What things? Did Jesus LIE? Did Jesus NEVER EVER show them those things and tell them those truths that He promised on His last day with them? There absolutely WERE new truths and things to come, that the apostles came to see and understand LATER IN THEIR MINISTRY. Why LATER in their ministries, why not NOW? Because:
"I have MANY things to say unto you, but ye CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW" (John 16:12),
that's why.
Paul TOO, was baptized and also baptized others. You say Jesus COMMANDS us to baptize today. Maybe you think God has commanded YOU to baptize, but I'll guarantee you something straight from the Scriptures, and you can accept it or not. Jesus Christ didn't commission PAUL TO BAPTIZE!
"FOR CHRIST SENT ME [Paul] NOT TO BAPTIZE, but to preach the gospel..." (I Cor. 1:17).
To US, "There is ONE GOD..." "ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE BAPTISM" (Eph. 4:5). How many baptisms? ONE! Whose baptism is it? CHRIST'S! We are baptized into CHRIST and HIS DEATH. The ONE FAITH, is not our faith, but the faith that God gave to us as a gift (Eph. 2:8). All we have is a gift--
"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the GIFT OF CHRIST" (Eph. 4:7).
Must we partake of our OWN baptism to be saved? Can we not claim the ONE BAPTISM OF CHRIST? Yes, of course we can. We lack NOTHING when we have CHRIST, when we are IN CHRIST, and CHRIST IS IN US:
"And ye [ye means ALL OF YOU--everyone of you] are COMPLETE IN HIM..." (Eph. 2:10).
The question is, DO WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT?
Now then, you are familiar with circumcision, are you not? It is the cutting off of the foreskin of the penis. But we don't have to actually cut off the skin IN THE FLESH IN THE PHYSICAL. That is unless you feel that your "Are NOT complete in Christ" ALONE.
"In whom [Jesus] also ye ARE circumcised with the circumcision made WITHOUT HANDS [without a knife or scissors, without WATER, if you have understanding], in putting off the BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH ['Or are you IGNORANT that whosoever are baptized into... [into water?]...INTO CHRIST JESUS, ARE BAPTIZED [it's not a phony baptism; it's a REAL BAPTISM] into His death? We, then, were entombed together with Him through the BAPTISM INTO DEATH [this baptism is a spiritual baptism into death, not a physical baptism into water], that, even as Christ was roused from among the dead through the glory of the Father, thus we also should be walking in newness of life. For if we have become planted together in the likeness of His death, nevertheless we shall be of the resurrection, knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the BODY OF SIN MAY BE NULLIFIED, FOR US BY NO MEANS TO BE still slaving for sin, FOR ONE WHO DIES HAS BEEN JUSTIFIED FROM SIN [Rom. 6:3-7] ...putting off the body of the SINS OF THE FLESH by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST" (Col. 2:10-11).
Can you not see that it is ONLY the "circumcision OF CHRIST" that counts for anything? It is not OUR OWN PERSONAL PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION which only 'pictures' the putting off of sin, but does not ACTUALLY AND LITERALLY AND SPIRITUALLY PUT OFF SIN that matters. It is only "the circumcision OF CHRIST" that matters. I don't know how I can say it any clearer. Now then, what does this have to do with "baptism?" EVERYTHING.
Let's pick up on the last few words of verse 11 once more and just continue on to the next verse, seeing that even the King James does not put a PERIOD, but a colon: which shows that the next verse IS CONNECTED IN THOUGHT TO THE PREVIOUS VERSE.
"...in the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision OF Christ: buried WITH HIM IN BAPTISM."
Oh, the circumcision is WITHOUT HANDS, but the baptism is WITH WATER, is it? NO, a thousand times, NO. The CIRCUMCISION for those who are complete in Christ is WITHOUT A KNIFE AND WITHOUT HANDS and the baptism for those who are complete in Christ is likewise, WITHOUT WATER AND WITHOUT HANDS!!!
Just like with the whole Law of Moses, it foreshadowed SOMETHING BETTER (Heb. 10:1). Jesus Christ is not a shadow of ANYTHING---Jesus Christ is the REAL THING--THE REALITY of which all physical ceremonies, sacrifices, and rituals were but a SHADOW. Stop looking to the "shadows" as though there were REAL POWER in the shadows. There is not. The only power is in the REALITY and the REALITY is JESUS CHRIST IN US. PERIOD.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Della Morton on
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@Fred Guess what? I got news for you!GOD SAVES FAGGOTS CATHOLICS JEWS AND SWEDEN PEOPLE TOO! Before you go condemning Everyone to Hell Why Won't you give them A chance to be Saved! Jesus Would!
Romans 5:8 (King James Version)
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Why? Becuase He wants us to Obey Him at his word and follow him!
Lest you be without sin and are holier than everybody!
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Permalink Reply by N'ZI Amani Germain on
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WATER BAPTISM...
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-water-baptism-the-holy
Bro. Germain
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