WATER BAPTISM
Wednesday – October 18, 2017
Enjoy this picture from the ranch taken in 2008 of the donkeys we had at the time. Let us take moment to carefully reflect upon our primary text as we dive into the topic of water baptism.
Hebrews 6:1-3 (KJV)
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
The common teachings of the Church and baptisms focuses on Water Baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit or perhaps only Water Baptism. As discussed yesterday we are to be fully wet or immersed into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Water Baptism is a common tradition in the Church at large and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is discussed and practiced in a limited number of denominations.
Now I will focus on Water Baptism. I am unaware of water baptism in the Old Covenant however there was a very real immersion into the ways of God. Failure to integrate (be immersed) into the culture of God could result in anything from separation to stoning. As a little bit of an aside. Hopefully, we all know that our God is a good God, a patient, kind, and gentle God. God was however insistent that the family, the tribe, the whole nation be pure which is to say not allowing ongoing persistent sin. It is fascinating to me that stoning was the prescribed way to deal with this and frequently the persons and their belongings were burned after. The fire is a type and shadow of the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Rock, the Stone, and we are living stones building the house of God (1 Peter 2:4). Jesus is the Word of God; The Stone paid the penalty of all sin forever. The Word of God (The Stone) can lead us to repentance and the fire of the Holy Spirit eradicates the sin forever and quickens (breath of life) our deadness.
We first see water baptism with John the Baptist. When we study the lives of Elijah and Elisha we see John the Baptist and Jesus. Elijah was the forerunner of Elisha who had the double portion. There were twelve major miracles in the life of Elisha and six in the life of Elijah. Elijah’s mantle fell from Heaven and Elisha picked it up and did the things Elijah did and greater things (sound familiar). Likewise, Jesus has dropped the Mantle (Holy Spirit) from Heaven, have we picked it up. Are we doing what He did and the greater things? Or, perhaps we are waiting for Him to do something so we can watch. The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance. Symbolic of the baptism to come of being baptized into the Word (Jesus).
Mark 1:4 (KJV)
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
We are not in any way baptized in water for the remission of sin, we are baptized into Christ Jesus (Word/Living Water) the One who has already remitted our sin. Keeping in mind that water in Scripture is commonly talking about the Word of God, Jesus is the Word, this baptism of John was a recognition of the need to line up with the Word, to be immersed in the Word. The Word washes us like water, the more water the cleaner we can be, the same with the Word of God. They confessed their sins and were immersed in the Word, cleansed by the Word of God. Keep in mind that Jesus at Calvary took our sin, He was made sin in our stead. When we are saved we do not need to repent of any sin, He will not know what you are talking about, however we do repent (change our mind) of our rejection of Jesus as Lord and declare Him as Lord and Savior believing that the Father has raised Him from the dead and thus we are saved.
Water baptism like communion is a sacred tradition of the Church that commemorates wicked (talking Maine) important events. Communion commemorates the work of Jesus at Calvary, His broken body and shed Blood. The water baptism commemorates our immersion into Him, He went into the grave physically dead and spiritually dead, however, He arose and so have we in Him. The following Scripture is used at the time of water baptism however it is not describing water baptism but again being immersed or baptized into Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:3-5 (KJV)
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:
Jesus never taught water baptism and although His disciples baptized people in water He never did.
John 4:1-2 (KJV)
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Water baptism for us is not one of repentance, but a recognition and commemoration that we joint-heirs in His salvation. Without Him we were lost (dead in every way) and without hope, but now in Him, we are one with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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