Water Baptism
Note: To properly understand the position of the writer please read the author's message "To The Reader".
[10.1]
Sometimes to properly understand a particular doctrine of scripture certain foundational points must be reviewed if we are to peer beyond the veil and see the truth. Because baptism is undeniably linked to salvation and salvation to Christ, we must, for the moment, step back and view the overall ministry of Christ.
[10.2]
It must be clearly understood that Christ had four (4) separate objectives to accomplish in His first advent. His activity and motives can only be fully understood and appreciated when interpreted through the appropriate objective.
[10.3]
These missions were:
1. To fulfill the old covenant law (not as the Pharisees taught it but as God meant it to be understood).Matthew 5:17
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[10.4]
2. To bring forgiveness and reconciliation to all mankind through His sinless life, sacrifice and resurrection.Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[10.5]
3. To reveal the character, nature and love of the Father as His only visible image.John 6:38
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Colossians 1:13-15
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
[10.6]
4.To lay the foundation of the church with He as cornerstone and the apostles as its foundation.Ephesians 2:20
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Note: The need to accept these four central objectives, i.e. missions can’t be expressed too strongly but for the purpose of this discussion, a clear acceptance of objective No. 1 and No. 2 is sufficient.
[10.7]
BAPTISM
Objective No. 1 Fulfilling The Old Covenant Law
Let’s examine the subject of water baptism in the light of objective No. 1. John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament. It took the shedding of Christ’s blood and His resurrection to bring in the new covenant, i.e. the covenant of grace.
[10.8]
John was sent to herald in Christ, the bearer of this new covenant. He came as a voice crying in the wilderness saying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” His life was spent preparing the remnant of Israel to receive their promised Messiah. He was not their means of salvation but, coming in the spirit of Elijah, informed his people to “make straight His paths”, warning them that Christ was coming to sift them, to separate them as wheat from chaff and to consume those carried away as chaff, with fire.
Luke 1:76
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Matthew 3:11-12
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh 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:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
[10.9]
John preached repentance and preparation, i.e. change and preparation. The baptism offered by John was in itself incomplete. He died before Christ’s death and resurrection and we know that without the shedding of Blood, Christ’s blood, there is no remission of sin therefore, John’s baptism could not remove sin but was done to signify repentance in preparation for the salvation that Christ brought.
Hebrews 9:22
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
[10.10]
The baptism of John was not equipped to free mankind from sin; it needed the message and sacrifice of Christ. Only the sinless Lamb of God could bring this to pass but John called for repentance in preparation for the remission of sin brought through Christ, the lamb of God. Remember, John’s mission was to prepare the way for Christ not supplant Him or His gift of salvation. He came to prepare the way for Christ, giving knowledge of salvation to his people, i.e. the work of Christ.
Luke 1:77
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
John 1:29-31
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
[10.11]
John recognized His need to be baptized of Christ.
Matthew 3:14
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
[10.12]
Why? Because he knew there was no need, under the law, for Christ to repent. He realized that indeed he, a sinner, was in need of Christ’s baptism. Why then did Christ insist on being baptized by John? The answer is found in the “first objective”. Christ came to fulfill the law, i.e. the law of righteousness. All Jews were being called by their prophet John to repent and prepare so then, as one called to obey and fulfill the law, Christ also had to be included.
Luke 1:76
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
[10.13]
As a Jew, Jesus had to carry out all that was necessary to satisfy the requirements of the law. He, as the high priest of a new and better covenant, had to first complete the old covenant of law.
Hebrews 5:1-3
5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
[10.14]
Christ was ordained by God to be the high priest over the church of God. Now, as the high priest, He was initiated into His office by washing and anointing and hence was baptized, washed and anointed by the Holy Ghost. He fulfilled the righteous ordinance of His initiation into the office of high priest and thus, was prepared to make an atonement for the sins of mankind.
Colossians 1:18
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[10.15]
The baptism of John was one of repentance and preparation but the water baptism of Christ was one of forgiveness, salvation and reconciliation. Through this baptism, those who by faith believed in Christ, could enter into His death, burial and resurrection.
Romans 6:3
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Colossians 2:12
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.
Romans 6:4
4 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.
Romans 6:5
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 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:
[10.16]
Those who believed in Christ and repented from the heart were cleansed of sin and given the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
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 10:45
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1 Timothy 4:14
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
2 Timothy 1:6
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
[10.17]
Objective No. 2
This now brings us to the successful completion of the second objective (objective No. 2). This is why those who had been baptized by John, those who had received the baptism of repentance and preparation, had to be baptized again into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
John 3:17
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Acts 19:4-5
4 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.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[10.18]
Others who had already received the baptism of the Spirit, the baptism of power, had to experience the water baptism of Christ also.
Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Note: These believers received the gift of the Spirit, i.e. the indwelling and the power, i.e. the filling of the Spirit at the same time, like those at Pentecost.
[10.19]
If Jesus had received the baptism of repentance by John, shouldn’t He also have received the baptism of salvation? How foolish to even consider such a thing. What Christ did at the cross, in the tomb and by conquering death, was His baptism, it was the baptism of all baptisms; for the gift of the Spirit could not be received until this baptism had been completed. It’s this baptism that we, through water baptism, join Christ in. Through water baptism we are now permitted to enter into His death, burial and resurrection.
Luke 12:50
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
[10.20]
What does baptism portray, signify and allow? It allows us to enter into death. Whose death? It allows us to fall as a seed into the earth, the grave. Whose grave? It allows us to be raised to the newness of life. Whose life?
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
John 5:24
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Romans 6:4
4 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.
[10.21]
We have presented our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). The Lord has no need of a dead, useless sacrifice but a living sacrifice. He doesn’t ask us to die for Him; He did that once for all of us. He asks us now to enter into His death and burial with Him through baptism, and to live for Him. Make no mistake, Christ was baptized with a baptism that went far beyond the baptism of John He was baptized into death and the grave and then resurrected. His was the baptism of all baptisms and He has, through His water baptism, made it possible for us to share in His death, burial and resurrection. By what other means could we have entered into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection but through baptism? Is it any wonder that He ordained its practice and instructed His disciples to carry it forward into all nations (Matthew 28:19)?
Matthew 20:22-23a
22 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.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:
[10.22]
The baptism He spoke of above was not water baptism but the baptism of suffering that He alone would face as the spotless Lamb of God. He spoke also of the cost that His disciples would ultimately be required to pay as His servants.
[10.23]
It’s possible today that many of us who have experienced water baptism have only been baptized with John’s baptism of repentance and not the baptism of Christ. We must be baptized into His death, burial and resurrection if our sins are to be washed away. For it is through the waters of baptism, entered into sincerely with a good conscience, that our sins are washed away after which we receive the Holy Spirit as the gift of God. I speak not of the gifts of the Spirit but His abiding presence.
Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
1 Corinthians 3:16
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Acts 19:4-5
4 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.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 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:
[10.24]
Putting Things In Perspective
While it’s absolutely true that our salvation is free, it’s also true that it’s based on a number of conditions. Some of these conditions are accomplished for us and others we must take responsibility for. If anyone has doubts about there being conditions, I suggest they contemplate the possibility of fellowship with God without first meeting the primary condition, i.e. that of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
[10.25]
The Process
Salvation is an event that begins a process. It begins at conversion and continues to the grave. Baptism is but one of the many important elements in this process. There are many other elements which serve to facilitate the process of salvation however each rests on one central predetermined condition, i.e. the sacrifice made for sin, which Christ fulfilled at the cross. As the spotless, sacrificial, Lamb of God, Jesus, at the behest of His Father, shed His sinless blood for all, who had sinned and come short, of the glory of God (Romans 5:8). Therefore, as a result of God’s grace and sacrifice, the names of all who truly believe in Christ have been entered in the Lamb’s book of life, those cleansed from sin through the blood of Christ and given the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 1:18-19
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
John 1:29
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Matthew 26:28
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Revelation 21:27
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Acts 2:38
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.
[10.26]
The Results
Now, because of God’s great love for us, through the sacrifice of Christ, we have become fellow citizens of God’s holy nation.
Ephesians 2:19
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
1 Peter 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
[10.27]
We are saved by His grace and His mercy.
Ephesians 2:5
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[10.28]
Through the faith which He supplied.
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Galatians 3:26
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[10.29]
When we called upon the name of the Lord.
Acts 2:21
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
[10.30]
We believe that God raised Christ from the dead.
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
[10.31]
Being assured of this through the wisdom of His word.
John 5:34
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
2 Timothy 3:15
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[10.32]
Which we now hold in our memory for salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:2
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[10.33]
So as not to be moved away from the gospel.
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[10.34]
But rather endure the trials and temptations of this life to the end.
Matthew 10:22
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
[10.35]
Through baptism, we enter into Christ’s death.
Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Note: There is obviously no need for the unbeliever to be baptized so baptism is not mentioned for the damned.
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:27
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 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:
[10.36]
Not only do believers enter into His death but His burial and His resurrection also.
Romans 6:3-7
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 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.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Colossians 2:12
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.
[10.37]
True believers enter baptism repenting of their sin with godly sorrow.
2 Corinthians 7:10
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
[10.38]
Once we are baptized, we should endeavor always to hold fast to the hope within us.
Romans 8:24
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
[10.39]
Firmly in possession of this blessed hope, we now eagerly and patiently await His return.
Hebrews 9:28
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
[10.40]
We’re saved when we:
[10.41]
We’re saved if we:
[10.42]
Then we:
[10.43]
Traditions And Observances
There are a number of church ordinances and traditions mentioned as necessary kingdom (church) observances and as citizens of God’s nation, we are called to observe them. There are many nations in the world and each has its own peculiar customs and observances.
[10.44]
Each custom and/or observance has its root in some historical or social event that precipitated its commemoration. For example, the people of Mexico celebrate May fifth as their independence day just as the Jews observe Passover. Brazil celebrates Mardi Gras and Germany, Oktoberfest, etc.
[10.45]
It has occurred to me that, in one very unique way, the United States reflects God’s plan for His kingdom. America is peculiar because it’s a nation drawn from the oppressed people of other lands, yet it too has given birth to its own traditions and observances. These occasions include July fourth, Thanksgiving and Labor Day among others. Having said this, I would like to make clear that there has never been a nation like the holy nation of God and never will. It stands alone, not only because its citizens are gathered from all nations but also because it’s a spiritual community of souls.
[10.46]
God’s Holy Nation
God’s nation is a spiritual kingdom not of this world, though part of it now exists within it. It is not bound or packaged in, or by, the flesh. Unlike its physical counterpart, it carries no fleshly traits especially those that cause recognition and comparison of physical differences or mental limitations between its citizens.
[10.47]
In God’s kingdom there are no Africans, Asians or Europeans. There are no Protestants or Catholics; there are only those committed believers of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are no citizens who are deaf, cripple, diseased or blind. There are none too tall or too short, too fat or too thin, too rich or too poor, attractive or ugly, unknown or famous.
[10.48]
Members of God’s kingdom are known and identified by the spirit within rather than the package (the flesh) without. Though the kingdom of God is born in the adversity of the world and struggles to survive its hostile environment, it waits patiently to thrive in the age to come. Unlike this world, the customs of God’s kingdom prepare us for future events, events taking place in the coming age.
[10.49]
All nations have their own traditions and observances and the kingdom of God is no exception. Each observance is designed to send God a message from those engaged in the observance. Because the message is sent in divine sign language, it carries a communication of vital importance, it is critically imperative that its divine meaning not be compromised. Each God inspired observance, i.e. baptism, communion, feet washing, headship or holy greeting, must be fully understood and carried out as described in God’s word. The correct meaning of each observance must accurately relay what the observer desires to convey to God and must come from the heart. To follow any kingdom observance without understanding it, while at the same time submitting to it, would be legalistic hypocrisy and thus, would render the observance meaningless. If any part of the observance is expanded, changed or eliminated, the communication sent might not reflect the intended message or, at a minimum, alter its meaning.
[10.50]
Water Baptism
Few today realize the importance of water baptism. Water baptism is the spiritual door that leads from death to life. It is the door of witness to our belief in Christ. Those on one side of this door live in the natural world trapped in ignorance and sin. Those who pass through this door put to death their worldly nature, bury it in the past and begin to walk the difficult, narrow path that Christ trod, the path that leads through persecution to God's kingdom (2 Timothy 3:12). Remember, “faith without works is dead”. Through Christ, we are given a new life where old things have passed away and all things become new. (See Chapter 16, “Covenant Security”, paragraph [8.26] through [8.32], “The Two-Fold Work of the Cross”).
John 10:9
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
[10.51]
The message sent to God through water baptism, His prescribed sign language, does not require many witnesses as some suggest (Acts 8:36, 37) but does require an understanding of the message being sent. It also requires that the one sending it do so sincerely with all their heart.
[10.52]
The Sign Of The Covenant
Under the old law, the children of Israel were circumcised as a sign, of the covenant God had made with them. This sign set them apart as God’s chosen people. Under the new covenant, the Lord has set aside, as His holy nation, a royal priesthood and given them, as their covenant sign, water baptism. Water baptism is the preparation ceremony necessary to set apart all new covenant believers and ordain them as God’s chosen priests.
Acts 7:8
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
Colossians 2:8-13
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
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.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
1 Peter 2:5
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
[10.53]
Qualifications
To qualify for priesthood, each believer in Christ must, upon their profession of faith, enter into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ made possible by Christ through the observance of water baptism.
[10.54]
Two Elements, One Baptism
Baptism contains two essential elements. First, that of being prepared and set aside for priestly service and second, that of being anointed as a priest and empowered to carry out God’s will, i.e. His spiritual service on earth. Both elements are necessary to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. All believers are called to priestly service. To fulfill this calling, we must be set aside (sanctified), prepared, anointed and empowered (1 Peter 2:9).
[10.55]
It is important for us to understand that while baptism has two critical parts, it is one observance. There is but one God, one faith and one baptism and it contains both the elements of preparation through sanctification and that of empowerment through His anointing though, these may not occur at the same time. Nevertheless, they are two parts of the same baptism. This is not the only observance practiced by the church that has two parts, we also commemorate communion. This also has two parts, two essential elements, i.e. the body of Christ (the bread) and the new covenant in Christ’s blood (the cup).
Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
[10.56]
Anointing
Like the anointing of Aaron, Saul or Elisha, baptism, i.e. the anointing of God, endows all of God’s people with power, for every true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ has been baptized, by the Holy Spirit, into one body and has been made to drink into one Spirit.
Exodus 29:7-Aaron
7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.
1 Kings 19:16-Elisha
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
1 Samuel 10:1-Saul
10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
1 Corinthians 12:13
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.
[10.57]
Gifts Of The Spirit
The gifts of the Spirit are those supernatural or special abilities given to true believers. These gifts are distributed according to the will of the Holy Spirit. They are given to equip us with the tools (special spiritual abilities) necessary to build and expand the church, i.e. the kingdom of God. They are also given to edify the body of Christ by supplying to each member whatever is lacking.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 Corinthians 12:11
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:25-26
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Ephesians 4:16
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
[10.58]
Two Different Things
The gift of the Spirit and the gift(s) of the Spirit are two very different things. Jesus petitioned His Father, on our behalf, to send us the Comforter, i.e. the Holy Spirit. He came to us as a gift from God just as Jesus did. The body of every believer is a temple for the Holy Spirit and He abides in that temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Romans 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
[10.59]
Change
When the Holy Spirit takes up residence within, He begins to clean house by making all things new. The old sinful ways are destroyed by His ever increasing influence in our lives. Our will to resist decreases as we replace the rotting weeds of sin with the fruit of the Spirit, fruit leading to repentance and God approved righteousness.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[10.60]
Through the inner working of the Holy Spirit, we begin to mature, growing into the image of Christ, becoming fit for God’s service.
Romans 8:29
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
[10.61]
More Differences
The gift of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Spirit are also different. The disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit days before being baptized by the Spirit, i.e. anointed with power. By this it’s clear that the gift of the Spirit and the baptism of the Spirit are two different things.
John 20:22
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Acts 1:5
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
[10.62]
The disciples received the gift of the Spirit before Christ’s ascension but did not receive the baptism of the Spirit until the day of Pentecost.
[10.63]
New Life
The Holy Spirit imparts new life to all who truly believe. He brings this new life to them by means of a second birth, not a natural birth but a spiritual birth. This spiritual birth, this salvation process, began when we entered into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. A seed, not planted, bears no fruit. Our new life in Christ came only when we, as seeds, fell into the earth planted with Christ. How can we die when Christ calls us to be a living sacrifice? How can we be buried yet live? How can we be born again? Christ devised the means for us to accomplish this, not in the flesh, but spiritually through the observance of water baptism. Through this door, we can follow Christ into death, burial and resurrection to new life.
[10.64]
One Time Only (Fire And Tongues)
There are few events recorded in the New Testament that stand alone. I’m speaking of things, though mentioned, that were not meant to be repeated, things given as a sign of a significant event like the fulfillment of a major prophesy.
[10.65]
We see two such events recorded in the book of Acts. One event marked the first time the baptism of the Holy Spirit took place (Acts 2:2-4) when cloven tongues of fire were seen on each person baptized and they heard a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind.
[10.66]
This event had been prophesied by Joel and was fulfilled for the first time on the day of Pentecost as it was recalled by the apostle Peter
Acts 2:16-21
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
[10.67]
The sound of wind and the cloven tongues of fire were never repeated, they only served to mark the first occasion when the prophecy of Joel had come to pass. Though there were many occasions when others were baptized by the Spirit, these signs were never mentioned as happening again (Acts 4:31, 8:17, 10:44-46, 11:15, 19:6).
[10.68]
The New Testament records the words of the last Old Testament prophet one, known to most, as John the Baptist. John said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh 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 3:11).
[10.69]
This statement had a double implication. John’s statement had been made to the Pharisees and Sadducees who’s works were evil and this statement served to warn them of a coming day when their works would be tried by fire just as the evil works of mankind had once been purged by water in the days of Noah.
1 Corinthians 3:13
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
2 Peter 3:5-7
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Matthew 3:11-12
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh 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:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
[10.70]
John’s message also signified that fire would mark the time when Jesus would begin to baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit. Can fire appear today? Yes, if God so desires.
[10.71]
The Other Occasions
When the gentiles were first baptized with the Holy Spirit, another peculiar thing took place to mark this very special occasion. The first gentiles were baptized and given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit prior to being baptized in water though water baptism followed immediately. This unorthodox event also served as a sign of the prophetic fulfillment of a prophecy given by the prophet Amos (Amos 9:11, 12) and reiterated by the apostle James.
Acts 15:16-17
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
[10.72]
Through many of the gentiles which followed were baptized with the Holy Spirit, none are recorded as being baptized with the Spirit prior to their baptism in water. Can gentiles receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit before water baptism? Yes, if God so desires.
[10.73]
Closing
God’s children are believers in Jesus who have, in great sorrow, sought forgiveness as they repented from sin. They have entered into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection through water baptism. They have been prepared for service by His holy word, anointed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit which has empowered them to serve their High Priest as one, united, holy nation dedicated to the building of His kingdom.
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
[10.74]
COMMUNION
“For I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you.”
The apostle Paul doesn’t say he was taught this observance by Peter or another of the apostles. Instead, he tells us that he’s passing on to us the same observance he received from the Lord.
[10.75]
The Bread
“That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread:”
Paul explains that this observance began the very night Jesus was betrayed; it began the last time He had supper with His disciples, before shedding His blood at the cross. It began with the taking and breaking of bread just after He had given thanks.
[14,76]
“And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
Why was bread chosen to represent the body of Christ? Jesus had been the rock that followed Israel in the wilderness; why bread, why not a rock (1 Corinthians 10:4)? Perhaps because it was bread (manna) given them from heaven that sustained them, bread that gave life (John 6:31-35).
[10.77]
In the synagogue in Capernaum, many of His disciples left Jesus because He taught them that He was the bread of life, that He, like manna, had come down from heaven to give life, only this bread, His flesh, gave eternal life, life everlasting.
John 6:47-51
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
[10.78]
The bread given, as the body of Christ, speaks, not only of the cost but also of the thing purchased. His body was broken on the cross to bring His church into communion with Him as one united body and by taking our part from one loaf, i.e. His body, we become one with Him as He is one with the Father.
1 Corinthians 10:16b-17
16b The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
John 17:20-22
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
[10.79]
When we partake of this bread, we do so as one body united in Christ. We celebrate our fellowship and love as one spiritual family and we remember the cost, the broken body of Christ.
These symbols are a language; they mean something, what are these symbols saying?
[10.80]
There was only one body broken on the cross, i.e. one bread, just as there is only one church, i.e. one body of Christ of which He is the head.
Colossians 1:18
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[10.81]
In the institutional churches of today, communion no longer resembles the observance Christ began in the upper room and because of this, it no longer carries the same message. What message does it send; what are we saying?
[10.82]
In many, if not most, of today’s churches, the bread taken to commemorate the last supper looks very different. First, it is often raised bread containing yeast then broken into pieces from a number of loaves. Frequently, it comes in the form of individual wafers made from a previously prepared composition and stamped out paper thin for distribution; other times, it comes in the form of individually baked crackers. So, what message are we sending? What difference does it make?
[10.83]
Several loaves of table bread broken into pieces and given to the church sends the message that the loaf from which each piece is taken contains sin (yeast, i.e. leaven). How can this be when the loaf is a symbol of the sinless body of Christ? If only the one body of Christ provides life, how can we break and distribute several loaves to the same body of believers? Is there more than one Christ with the power of eternal life?
1 Corinthians 5:6-7
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Leviticus 2:11
11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.
[10.84]
If we pass out wafers, are we not producing a man-made mass produced and segregated imitation of bread to be consumed at mass for the masses? Do we want to receive an imitation of Christ’s body (another Christ) made especially for our individual consumption by the clever devices of men?
Isaiah 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Galatians 1:6-8
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
[10.85]
Think about it, individual crackers like individual loaves, each person gets his own; gets his own what? His own individual body of Christ?
[10.86]
The body of Christ also represents the church. What is a church? An assembly where two, three or more believers gather in Christ’s name. If this is so, how can one individual be or become a church, the house of God, the body of Christ, the pillar and ground of the truth?
Matthew 18:20
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
1 Timothy 3:15
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
[10.87]
When we break the one loaf, we remember the broken body of Christ. When we share it, we become one with Him and when we become one with Him, we become joined to each other.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
12 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.
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 12:25-27
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
[10.88]
The Cup
The same is true for the cup.
“After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
[10.89]
Paul continues his teaching by telling us that Jesus took the cup (containing the fruit of the vine) in the same way that He took the bread thus, He gave thanks and passed His cup so that each of His disciples could drink from the same cup. Each disciple who sat at the table had a cup, so why not simply pour wine into each cup and let all drink together? Why drink from just one cup? Because, in the same way, that we become one with Christ through the bread, we also share His cup of blessing, i.e. the new covenant in His blood. After giving thanks, we pass His cup as we share communion with Him and each other, receiving the wine as His blood. The cup of Christ carries the message of God’s forgiveness made possible through Jesus. His blood is the seal of the new covenant. The cup is the symbol of this new and better covenant purchased for us by the spotless Lamb of God, the cup that contains the blood that set us free from the curse of the law.
[10.90]
With the bread we celebrate our unity and remember the broken body of Christ that brings us together. With the cup we celebrate and remember that we received a new and better covenant. This new covenant holds the promise of God’s forgiveness made possible, through the shed blood of Christ, blood now represented by the wine held in the communion cup of blessing.
[10.91]
One loaf, one Lord, many members, many broken pieces of the same loaf, now combined with Christ in His body, the church.
[10.92]
One cup, one new covenant, purchased by the blood of Christ, now shared as a remembrance of our salvation.
1 Corinthians 10:16
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
Ephesians 1:7
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
[10.93]
In Remembrance Of Me
We could find ourselves living in a land that has rejected the word of God. We could face a famine, not of food but of spiritual enlightenment and long for the bread of God’s word. Persecution might threaten us and oppressors prevail but as long as we have food and drink, we need not forget the salvation of Christ and if we don’t have food or drink, we’ll soon be beyond the reach of our oppressors. If we forget so great a salvation, how shall we escape destruction? We must always remember.
Hebrews 2:3
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
[10.94]
The Lord has given us this observance so that we will always remember His sacrifice, not having believed in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:2
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,
[10.95]
The love of the Lord is beyond measure! Both water baptism and communion are among the observances common to God’s kingdom, the church. They are the only two observances that affect salvation. Baptism is a key element in this process and communion is given as a means of remembering that salvation and who it was that purchased it. Through communion, we are kept from forgetting this thus from believing in vain.
[10.96]
We never fail to remember the blood that Christ shed for our sins but we often forget the new covenant it bought. The covenant containing our redemption was so valuable that it could only purchased with the sinless blood of God’s only begotten Son. If the blood that paid for our redemption was precious, consider the value of the covenant it purchased.
[10.97]
The next time we put the Lord’s cup to our lips, remember the covenant it represents and the price that God paid for that covenant. Jesus said, “This cup is the New Testament, the new covenant in my blood.”
[10.98]
Though there are more observances, common to the New Testament church, these two stand apart as the only two which touch our very salvation.