Water Baptism
Baptism is one of
two spiritual/physical means Christ instituted in which we become one with our
Savior and have our sins forgiven. The other is the Lord’s Supper and will be discussed
next. In Baptism we come, spiritual action, and believe our Lord’s words of
institution, spiritual faith, which are said over water, a physical element,
and then we are washed by the water, a physical action. These
spiritual/physical interactions spiritually unite us with Jesus, and through a
repentant heart our sins are forgiven. The water does nothing without the
words, and the words do not baptize us without the water. But by our Lord’s
words, by our faith in the words, by washing with water, baptism’s
spiritual/physical relationship is turned into a spiritual blessing. The New Covenant allows us to become
spiritually one with our Savior, to know Him, to come to Him, to be part of
Him. Jesus died for our atonement and arose from the dead, Jesus can forgive
our sins, our salvation is complete.
Water
Baptism –
Water baptism is
becoming one with our Heavenly Father, with Jesus Christ our Savior, and with
the Holy Spirit; through God’s Word, through a faith and desire to come to our
Lord, and by being washed with water. Baptism makes us one with Christ by
giving us the Holy Spirit, brings us into the family of God, is a constant
reminder that we have been made one with our Lord, forgives our sins, and
starts us on our way to salvation. We have no right to any of these gifts, nor
can we earn or ever deserve them. They are free gifts from God, who brings and
offers them to us. Baptism alone does not save anyone,
we are saved by a continuous faith and love of our Lord. We are not condemned if we are not baptized
due to special circumstances, but all who love their Lord will gladly follow
His command and be baptized.
All believers should be baptized: Men, women, and children.
Only one baptism is needed. The only rebaptism in the Scriptures was
to those who only had John’ baptism, were not baptized into Christ.
When to baptize: One’s beliefs, convictions should
determine how they and their children are baptized, how they baptize others.
But it is much easier to accept Jesus as a baby or young child when one’s mind
is receptive to our Lord. It becomes harder as one grows older to overcome
their worldly mind, become childlike in faith once more in order to accept the
Spirit. Peter baptized the jailer’s children, and offered baptism to children.
But we do not know the age of the children.
*Infants, little
children – While still in the womb those known by God have a spirit
mature enough to know their Lord, know right from wrong, and react to Jesus.
Some baptize infants for they can spiritually praise their God, trust in Him,
and are receptive to the Spirit. Jesus wants us to bring little children to
Him, for the
*Young children –
Others believe one must be old enough to mentally as well as spiritually accept
their Lord. Young children can express their belief in Jesus by verbally
accepting Him and repenting of their sins. Infants and little children should
be kept in the Lord by a believing parent teaching them about their Savior.
Even after baptism Christians, especially their parents, should continue to
teach the children about the Lord.
*When they have
been taught – When one is grown up they should be instructed in the Word about
Jesus before they are baptized. But one does not need a complete educational
course to be baptized. All one needs to know is who God is, the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit. That Jesus is their Savior, that
He died to forgive our sins. That one needs to be sorry for their sins, wanting
to start a new life in Jesus Christ. That the Bible is the only true Word of
God, it tells us about the love of Jesus and how He would have us live. The
time will vary as to when one is ready to accept Jesus, some will need more
teaching, others less, but when one believes in Jesus with all of their heart
they should be baptized. We should get the Spirit working the hearts of those
desiring to come to Jesus as soon as possible. Then make sure we pray for,
nurture, and help the new believers as they grow in their Lord. Peter talked,
and in one day 3,000 were baptized. The Ethiopian merely traveled the road with
Phillip and he was baptized the same day. Paul baptized the jailer and all of
his family the same evening. Baptism should not be withheld from anyone
sincerely wanting to meet Jesus, let the Spirit come to all. For it is the
Spirit alone that brings one to meet Christ, holds one in Christ, not the
congregation, nor it’s leaders, nor any individual.
Christ’s words of institution for Baptism:
Their name, I
baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
How to baptize with the water: There are three ways one can be baptized.
1. By pouring out
water on one’s head while saying these words.
2. By immersing
one in water after saying these words.
3. By sprinkling water on one’s head while saying these words.
The most important
part is not how we are washed, but that we are washed through Christ’s holy
words of baptism, our desire to come to Christ, and physically with water. We
are under the New Covenant of spiritual grace where we can come directly to our
Savior, where the intent in our hearts is more important than laws and rules.
Each should use their own conscience on which way to be baptized. Those with
medical conditions, who are old, or are infants, should have water poured out
or sprinkled on their heads only.
Biblically the word baptize has the
following meanings:
1. Washing - “The
washing (Greek word baptizo) of cups and pots, brazen
vessels, and tables or eating couches”. When washing (baptize) a cup it can be
immersed under the water, when washing (baptize) a table or couch water is
poured out or sprinkled out to clean it. Mark 7:4
A baptism was a
ceremonial washing. John 3:25
2. Pour out. - Ac
1:5, and 2:33 uses pour out and baptize interchangeably. We are baptized with the Spirit (Not the same
as being baptized with water) – Matt 3:11, Mk 1:8, Lk
3:16, Jn 1:33, Ac 1:5. The Spirit is Poured out on us – Isa
44:3, Ezk 39:29, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-17,33,
10:45, 1Ti 1:14, Tit 3:6.
3. United with the
Lord. Colossians 2:12
4. Consecrated
into a ministry, service, or special work for the Lord. Luke 12:50
There is no definitive action or situation which clears up how to baptize with water.
*The beginning of
Christian baptism:
John was announced
as the forerunner to Christ before and was six months older than Jesus. John
was the prophet, like Elijah, who came to announce the coming of Christ and
prepare the nation for the Messiah. John told all he was not great, Christ was
the coming Messiah. John told all his way of baptism was not complete, that it
was for repentance only, that Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John
being a great prophet like Moses and a Levite priest, could ceremonially wash
the Levites, the firstborn, set then apart, present the servants in the Lord’s
work, those who worked for the atonement of the Israelites, and could also wash
the high priest for ordination. After
John baptized Jesus, John’s earthly mission wound down and he was imprisoned
and finally beheaded. Jesus after being tempted began His ministry. This was a
successful ministry and included having His disciples baptize for repentance.
The Holy Spirit was not given in baptism until after Christ’s death and
resurrection, and this is the water baptism we now receive in the New Covenant
of grace through Jesus Christ.
*About the baptism
of Jesus:
Jesus was thirty when
He sought out John to be baptized. Thirty was the original age God set for
Levites, the firstborn, to begin working for the Lord, the same age David
became King. John, feeling unworthy, was reluctant to baptize Jesus until Jesus
told John it was needed to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus did not come to
repent and have His sins forgiven, for Jesus had no sin. Jesus needed to be
ceremonial clean, He was the righteous one, the servant that fulfilled the Old
Testament prophesies, under the Old Covenant law. This was the beginning of
Christ’s ministry, Christ was baptized into His
ministry, death on the cross for the atonement of sin. Jesus was consecrated,
set apart, and presented to His Heavenly Father. And most important of all
Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, God’s only Son, who came
from Heaven to die on the cross for sinners. Christ arose from the dead and
sits on the right hand of God offering forgiveness for all who believe, who
love their Lord above everything else.
There are two Old Covenant washings for beginning of one’s work in the Lord.
1. All firstborn
were given to serve the Lord, even though they were later replaced by the
Levites. They were given to Aaron and his sons as servants to do the Lord’s
work. But they had to be ceremonial cleaned by sprinkling, set apart and
presented to the Lord. Christ is the firstborn, consecrated to serve God. He
fulfills the prophecy of being a servant for God.
2. Priests are to
be washed prior to starting their ministry. We are told that Christ is our High
Priest. They were washed from a basin either by taking water out and pouring it
over one, or by washing one in the basin.
Jesus was washed
for righteousness, most likely as the firstborn, a
servant to begin His work, for this was ceremonial and had to be done. He could
also have been washed to be consecrated as High Priest, but this was to make
one holy and Jesus was holy. Or it could have been for both.
There are no definitive passages in the
Bible on how to apply the
water for baptism. For verses can be interrupted different ways:
*Many believe Mark
1:10, “coming up out of the water” to mean Jesus went under the water and now
was coming up. But it could also have meant that Jesus was coming up from the
water on to the bank as is meant in “came up out of the water” in Ac 8:39. For both Phillip and the eunuch were coming up out of the water on
to the bank, and both would not have been submerged under the water at the same
time. Moreover Luke tells us Jesus was praying as the Holy Spirit anointed
Him. God was introducing His Son to the ministry, not introducing baptism. One
is not consecrated, anointed while still standing in the water that washed
them, but when they are out, set apart as they are presented to the Lord, in
the open, publicly for all to see. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus for all
clearly to see, anointing the Son of God, the Messiah, the King, the High
Priest, the Servant, the Firstborn, to begin His
ministry. The Heavenly Father was proud of His Son, was showing off His Son for
all to see, was setting His Son apart as the Messiah,
the Christ that would save all from their sins.
*Others believe
that we are buried into death with Jesus through baptism. A picture of one’s
physical body is depicted, resulting in a belief that we are totally covered in
the grave so we must be totally covered under the water. But others believe
differently. That we are united with Jesus spiritually, not
physically in baptism. Since we are one spiritually
with Christ, spiritually we live in His body. We were therefore
spiritually buried in Christ’s body and through its perfection are able to
become righteous. Through Christ’s physical death we are able to have our sins
spiritually forgiven. And because we are spiritually holy, one day our bodies
will be made holy, glorified by the Lord as they are united with our spiritual
souls to live in Heaven forever. We do not look down to the grave when one is
baptized, but up to the Heaven where they are spiritual united with our Lord.
We should focus on how Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, not how John
baptized with water.
There are three baptisms in the New Covenant: (for 1+2 see Baptism
of the Holy Spirit)
1. Being Born Again, having our original
sin forgiven, through baptism or
pouring out of the Holy Spirit: 1Cor 12:13, John 3:3+5. When God brings the
nation of
2. Receiving manifestations or spiritual
blessings from the Holy Spirit as we are baptized with the Spirit or have
Him poured out on us: Ac 1:5 - Ac 2:33 The disciples
did not receive water baptism at this time, and already had received the
Spirit, they just received the power of the Spirit to begin their
ministry.
3 Water baptism:
Jesus instituted with the words, “Baptize them in the name of the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
We can be born again, be baptized with the Holy Spirit (not
water baptism) and receive manifestations of the Holy Spirit, before, during,
or after our water baptism. Water baptism
is different from being baptized by the Spirit. (See Baptism of The Holy Spirit)
*Before – Many
meet the Spirit, believe in Christ, and have the faith, are born again, before
they are baptized. Peter could not refuse to baptize gentiles because they had
received the Spirit the same as the apostles had. This was before they were
baptized.
*During – Many
repent, want to meet Jesus, desire to be baptized. In
baptism all are given the Holy Spirit, and by accepting the Spirit many are
enabled to have the faith to be born again. They are united with the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, their sins are forgiven.
*After – When we
accept the Spirit we are strengthened, and given spiritual blessings all of our
lives. But many do not completely accept the Spirit. Some, including those who
are active in a Christian congregation, who were baptized, and considered
themselves to be Christians, have never completely given their heart to Jesus.
They did not allow the Spirit to transform their will to become our Lord’s will.
Some later in life, often many years after their
baptism, finally completely accept the Spirit, believe in Jesus. Their
baptismal gift of the Holy Spirit comes to life in their hearts,
they are given the faith, the love, to become one with their Savior, to be born
again. Others remain lost forever, even though they believe themselves to be
Christians, even though they are baptized, are active, are even leaders in
their congregations. To be saved we must live by the Spirit, let Him lead us to
the grace of Jesus Christ.
We may never
completely understand baptism of the Holy Spirit or water baptism until we are
with our Savior in Heaven. But we must have the faith and love to believe
spiritually accept that which is not physically comprehensible. We should try
to get the Holy Spirit working in all as soon as possible, for only the Spirit
can open one’s mind to Jesus and allow Him into our hearts. Only the Spirit can
give us the faith to love, trust, and follow our Lord, even though we will
never be able to fathom our Lord’s great love for us.