Baptism

Chapter 4: Baptism

Baptism is defined as the process of immersion, including submersion and emergence; it is derived from the verb ba’pto, meaning “dip.” To those outside the faith and to some inside who do not fully understand it’s meaning, the act of baptism appears insignificant. So let us ask ourselves why baptism is important to us as Christians and what meaning does this act posses? Jesus tells us in John 3:5 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” This teaching casts a heavenly light on the act of baptism. Without mystery Christ tells us the eternal importance of baptism and without it, there can be no life everlasting. In today’s church, baptism has become a cause of segregation in what was meant to be a unified church (body of Christ). Many of the followers of Christ have continued to stress the importance of baptismal rituals and are being distracted from much of the meaning of baptism and remain unaware the divisive effects these teachings have. There are Christians who have come to believe that the rituals of baptism or in other words how and when a baptism is performed, determines the legitimacy of a baptism. For example one must be baptised in running water not in a pool or still water in order for the baptism to be recognized. Or a baptism as an infant is either a neccesity or is not to be performed because the one being baptized is not with understanding. Most of these doctrines of division have no scriptural roots rather are only a creative misinterpretation. Regardless of intention, anything that divides the body of Christ and spawns another denomination, has the sole purpose of leading believers astray by making them feel that they are enlightened to a spiritual understanding that others are not. This false enlightenment is merely the worldly ego that compels believers to seek out division from the rest of the body and to passionately minister the misguided belief of the denomination that was formed around a creative misinterpretation. It reads in Colossians 2:20-23 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— ‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body (body of Christ), but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” Then in Hebrews 13:9 “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods (teachings) which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” And in Matthew 15:8-9 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is farm from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
To fully understand the meanings, responsibilities and commitments that baptism carries, we must start by asking some questions. How did baptism come to be? What does the act of baptism mean?
The coming of the baptism of repentance and the prophet who will perform them was foretold to us. In Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Then we are told of his coming in Luke 1:13-17 “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John, And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” John who is also known as John the Baptist was given a purpose from God to turn His people away from their self entitlement and bring them closer to God by helping them to think eternally. John was also given the task of preparing the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. How did John respond to what must have seemed like a monumental purpose? We learn in Mark 1:4-5 “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” John was preparing the people of Israel by helping God’s people to become aware of their sinful nature and repent their behavior thus making it possible to become a vessel that is able to receive the ministry of Christ. John did this with a baptism of repentance given to him from God. The person being baptized that was truly repentant (verified by God) would offer the sins from their past up to God for forgiveness. The water would bind the believer to an oath to refrain from sin in an effort to have their past sins forgiven them. It is important for us to keep in mind that only God Himself may judge the integrity of the repentance of a believer. Only God can look into one’s heart to know the integrity and the faith of the one being baptized.
John in his preaching gave his followers and those who would listen, an insight to God’s plan in the foretelling of the Messiah’s ministry. It reads in Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” And in John 1:31 “I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” John divulged in his sermons that the coming One is bringing a baptism that is different than the baptism of repentance, one of the Holy Spirit and fire. In simple terms, a baptism for those who seek God, being the baptism of the Holy Spirit and one for those seeking anything else being the baptism of fire. We will explore these baptisms further later in the chapter. We know that John’s ministry was centered on baptism and the coming of the Lord. Now let’s learn of One whose ministry began with the baptism of John.
It says in Matthew 3:13-17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This baptism was different than any other that John had performed. The Christ presented Himself to John sinless; therefore this was not a baptism of repentance. John as we learned previously was born with the Holy Spirit and spent his life seeking God. Therefore the baptism of Christ was symbolic of a change in the system of things. Here we have the last prophet with the Holy Spirit facilitating the change that the Messiah will bring to the world through His ministry. In these holy moments Jesus was expressing His devotion and obedience to His Father through His baptism. In turn God declared His Son to the world with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the expression of His admiration. While reading the verses in Matthew let us try to imagine how awe inspiring this moment was for John and the other witnesses present. How many of us can feel a portion of that joy as we immerse ourselves in the reading of these scriptures. It is in this same moment that began the most powerful teachings and ministry ever known; those of Christ our Lord.
The events that followed the baptism of Jesus showed us a change to the system of things. First was the transition from the preaching of John to the ministry of Jesus. Both these men knew this was going to happen and both provide us an example of humility. We have an example from John in John 3:26 “And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, whom you have testified— behold He is baptizing and all are coming to Him!” And then John told his disciples in John 3:30 “He must increase but I must decrease.” Then we receive an example from Jesus in Luke 7:28-30 “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” Along with the examples of humility our Father is telling us that baptism is necessary for our spiritual rebirth and is a form of anitiation that is necessary for our entry into the kingdom of God. To reject the meaningful act of baptism is to reject God’s will. This scripture also highlights that all of us are sinners and God has called every one of us to a penitent, devotional and obedient baptism. This calling transcends gender, race, economic class and worldly responsibilities. In these verses we see many of those considered to be the sinners and unsavory people humble themselves and answer God’s call to a repentant baptism. While those considered the wise men of God were ensnared by their own self entitlement and rejected the will of God.
We are provided a summary of the scriptures we have studied thus far in Acts 10:36-38 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” John the Baptist had fulfilled God’s purposes by preaching a baptism of repentance, performing the baptism of our Savior that brought forth His ministry and prepared many people of Israel for the Messiah’s coming. Now like the people of that time we shift focus to the ministry of Jesus Christ and His disciples.
It reads in John 4:1-3 “Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.” In this scripture we learn that the ministry of Jesus is attracting many followers and the disciples are performing the baptisms. It is believed by some that the disciples did the baptisms because Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire in accordance to the judgment of God and not a baptism of repentance with water, like John did.
Christ as a lot of us know was crucified and on the third day was raised from the dead. Many of us know that there was a period of 40 days between the time Jesus rose from the dead and His ascension into heaven. In this 40 day time period He appeared to His disciples and some of His followers, ministering to them and giving them instructions on how to proceed with His teachings. It reads in Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of age.’ Amen.” We started with the baptism of John, which is a true water baptism through repentance, that expresses our devotion and obedience to God’s will. Through this baptism we were are made ready to receive the teachings and ministry of Christ. Now through the disciples of Jesus, further baptismal instructions were given that sent them to all nations and told them how to baptize others into the faith. Let us ask ourselves; has the purpose of baptism changed since the baptism of John? After the ascension of Christ has the meaning of baptism changed?
We are told in 1 Peter 3:21-22 “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” Also in Colossians 2:11 “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working God, who raised Him from the dead.” In the verses from Peter the good news is announced in regards to the meaning of baptism, now that Jesus sacrificed Himself to cover the sins of the world. Peter tells us we are now saved by the antitype that is baptism. Baptism has become not only a baptism of repentance, but a confirmation of our hearts belief that Christ sacrificed Himself for our sins and those of the world. We express the belief that Jesus did this so that through Him, we could be presented sinless to the Father and enter His kingdom. In the times that Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians there was spreading throughout the church a ritual belief that the imposition of physical circumcision was necessary for Gentile believers to be accepted into the church and was a source of debate among the apostles. The Jewish faith called for every Jewish male to be circumcised according to the promise God gave Abraham; where before Christ the Gentiles did not have this promise. Many apostles did not feel it necessary to make circumcision a requirement for Gentile believers because many believed that circumcision was of the heart and not the physical body. This scripture from Paul also confirms his thoughts in that a baptism into Christ has nothing to do with a physical circumcision, in fact a spiritual circumcision was taking place to make us more Christ-like in spirit.
It says in Galatians 3:26-29 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” And in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “For as the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” In these two scriptures the old prejudices, boundaries and religious differences have been removed from worship and with a baptism into Christ. It is declared that God no longer has one chosen group of people, now all are chosen through Christ. Paul references Abraham’s seed which in the days before Christ were all of those who could trace their lineage back to Abraham. Those who could do that were recipients of God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants. Now because of the love of Jesus, He gave us through His sacrifice a share in the promise to Abraham, if we choose to receive it. In this choice, which includes our baptism into Christ, we are choosing to be sons of God and acknowledge the need to put on Christ (which means to accept His teachings and follow in His example) and placing our lives in the service of His body; the church.
It reads in Romans 6:3-4 “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.” Paul here describes our baptism in conjunction with the death of Christ and His resurrection to life. When we are baptized we are acknowledging the death of Jesus as a sacrifice and an act of love to render the sins of the world obsolete. When we are baptized into His death we are accepting that Jesus died the death, that as sinners we should have died. Therefore our flesh and the sins that accompany it died with Christ and our baptism confirms our belief of this. The walk in the newness of life is symbolic of our acceptance of the new covenant through Christ and our commitment to remain obedient to the teachings of Jesus and to model our life after His. All of this needs to happen so that through the resurrected Christ, we can be presented to our heavenly Father sinless and enter His kingdom.
We are told in Acts 2:1-4 “When the Day of Pentecost had full come; they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.” And in Acts 9:17-18 “And Ananias went his way and entered the house of Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.” Here we learn of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. On the miraculous Day of Pentecost when the disciples of Jesus and many of His followers received the Holy Spirit. Then the day when a stubborn, murderous, persecutor of Christ, who officially renounced his erroneous ways and beliefs, to receive the Holy Spirit and baptism into the church of Christ. This man Saul who later became known as Paul preached Christianity beyond the borders of the Jewish faith so the church of Christ was no longer allegorical.
From what we have learned the Holy Spirit has come at great moments of necessity and to those who have been made vessels to receive it. The men that the Spirit has fallen upon have fulfilled great purposes in serving the will of God. We have John the Baptist who brought to the world the baptism of repentance and prepared the children of God for the coming of the Christ. Then we have Jesus Christ whose ministry and sacrifice made possible the forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Next were the disciples and followers of Jesus, along with Saul who preached the church of Christ to all who would listen and believe. These men empowered by the Holy Spirit brought the ministry of Christ out of Israel to the rest of the world and most were martyred for gospel of Christ. These sons of God understood that at their baptisms their flesh had died in the death of Christ and there was nothing more that the world could do to them when they lived in spirit.
It reads in Acts 10:44-48 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘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. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” Then in Acts 11:15-17 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God.” And in Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Here in these scriptures Paul’s declarations in his letters were already confirmed and that there is no longer a select group of people that are the chosen of God, but rather all people of all nations are children of God. The Holy Spirit has been given to the Jews and Gentiles alike. Let us now ask ourselves; what was the need that brought the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and how was it in the service of the will of God? One reason is we were given a commandment from Jesus in Mark 16:16 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” And in Luke 10:2 “Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” So what we can take from the Holy Spirit falling on the Gentiles is the need to minister the gospel to the world. Many are needed to accomplish this overwhelming service to the will of God. So who is willing to be baptized into the church of Christ and commit themselves to a life of service and spread the gospel of Jesus to those in need of salvation? Who is willing to make themselves a vessel so the Holy Spirit can fall upon us in a time of need to fulfill a great purpose in the will of God?
In conclusion I hope you have learned as I have that the integrity of a baptism is within the heart of the one being baptized. The intent of the heart of the one being baptized can only be known by God. The sincerity, repentance, faith and obedience of heart being baptized cannot be determnined by us and the age the person being baptized, the location in which the baptism is performed, and the rituals used during baptism have no bearing on the legitimacy of the baptism. Only God and the heart of the one being baptized can establish a legitimate baptism recognized by God. Let us read and believe the words in Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one spirit, just as you were 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.”

Let us join together and celebrate the true meaning of baptism and not our ceremonial differences as we are told in Mark 9:38-41 “Now John answered Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” Amen.