Baptism Many Christians have adopted “The Great Commission” from Christ’s instructions to His disciples to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19). From this single verse, a doctrine was created and the Body of Christ has fractured. When considering why Christians are to be baptized, we cannot simply stand on one scripture for our instruction, for relying on a single verse in this matter has led to misinterpretation, misunderstanding, and division. You must consider the weight of the scriptures addressing baptism. First, let’s start with what John the Baptist said about baptism. “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (Mark 1:8, also see John 1:33). And when John’s disciples asked him about Jesus’ disciples also baptizing, John made a distinction between his own teaching and Jesus’ teaching, saying he that is of the earth (John) speaks of earthly things, and He that is from above testifies of what He has seen and heard (heavenly or spiritual things). Christ’s message is of spiritual things. Baptism into water for remission of sins was an earthly act based on man’s repentance, man’s effort to come to God. It was known as John’s baptism (see Luke 7:29 and Acts 19:3), and it projected to a more important baptism. John’s mission was to prepare Israel for the coming of the Messiah (Luke 1:15-17), to spotlight the Son of God (not draw attention to himself: “He must increase but I must decrease” John 3:3), to go before Jesus and to say, Here is the Son of God, He is more important than I; His message and His baptism are of heaven. John’s baptism, an earthly act, was a foreshadow of what would come after the Cross, Christ’s baptism of the Holy Spirit. By the way, Jesus didn’t practice water baptism, but his disciples did (John 4:1-2). Christ verified John’s distinction of baptisms in Acts 1:5, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Paul also distinguished between the two baptisms. “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto Johns baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:2-6). So, what does the word baptize mean? It means to immerse, soak, steep. This is two becoming one, just as tea leaves steeped in water becomes tea. In Romans 6:3-11, Paul said we were baptized into Christ, immersed into Him. This is a spiritual baptism and has nothing to do with water baptism, BUT this is exactly what John’s water baptism pointed to. Notice this spiritual baptism is an act of God, not of man. God baptizes us into Christ. Also, spiritual baptism was only made available after Christ’s death and resurrection; it was not yet available during Christ’s earthly ministry, so any mention of baptism during that time either referred to water baptism or to the spiritual baptism which was yet to come after Christ’s death. This is important to note when we now read what many call “The Great Commission.” Paul said when we were baptized into Christ, we were also baptized into His death, freeing us from the bondage of sin and the law. Spiritually, that deed is already done by the Father, but we need to acknowledge it to make it real in our lives. In our minds and hearts (our souls), we must reckon our death with Christ so we can live in that freedom and not keep yielding ourselves to sin or the law. Paul was the only biblical writer after John who taught of a spiritual baptism. This came from Paul’s revelation of Christ; he was personally instructed by Christ after Christ died. The others didn’t see this spiritual baptism, they only knew of the earthly act of water baptism. Speaking of the spiritual baptism, Paul said: • “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 [this is spiritual baptism]” (1 Cor. 12:13). • “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:27). • “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4:4-6). He says the spiritual baptism is the real baptism. Earthly things are not real. Spiritual things are real (2 Cor. 4:18). Of the earthly baptism, Paul said: “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 14-18). To Paul, preaching the Cross of Christ, salvation through the Cross, was far more important than water baptism. Paul (I believe Paul wrote Hebrews) also said it was time to move on from doctrine to grow to maturity in Christ. “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, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2). Today, after the Cross and in the age of Grace, baptism is a human’s earthly act simply to tell the world we accept Christ. We do not earn our salvation through any act of our own, but we accept Christ’s unearned and free gift of forgiveness, salvation, and redemption; and we live by HIS righteousness, not ours. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). (© Copyrighted 2014 by Teresa Ferraro)
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 17:20:59 +0000
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