On Baptism 2

Baptism is a concept that explains identification.
We are baptised INTO or UNTO.
As earlier established, the element of the Baptism explains the
essence.
John baptised with water.
Water is a figurative/symbolic concept for washings and
newness in scripture.
Hence John’s baptism was UNTO repentance.
Repentance implies a change of heart towards another. In this
regard since Johns message was Christ, his baptism was to
turn Israel’s attention to her Messiah, who was to appear and
be shown forth by John.
This happened at Jordan. Jesus appears and The Holy Ghost
came on Him.
John, a Prophet just as every Old testament Prophet
announced concerning The Christ, but uniquely unlike every
other prophet, the Christ was no longer a promise, he was
here! Let's listen again to John concerning The Christ.
Matthew 3:11-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.
Here John explains the element of his baptism and the
essence- Water and unto repentance.
John 1:31-And I knew him not: but that he should be made
manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending
from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with
water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the
Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which
baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Again observe his comments- Jesus will ONLY baptize with
the Holy Ghost.
Jesus Himself makes the clear distinction.
Acts 1:5-For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Without any shade of doubt, their elements (pardon this
expression) of baptism is different,
John -water,
Jesus-The Holy Ghost.
Now unto what was the baptism?
Let us listen to Paul.
Acts 19:1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at
Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to
Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 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.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?
And they said, Unto John's baptism.
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.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and
prophesied.
The use of disciples in verse 1 should not be confused with
salvation or Christians.
Disciple means adherent, follower.
We should ask, follower of what?
Verse 3 makes it clear- John the Baptist or John's baptism.
They had never heard of “any" Holy Ghost.
Even though John spoke about Christ and pointed him out and
referred to his baptism as with the Holy Ghost, yet they were
ignorant!
Thus they had neither heard of nor believed in Jesus.
And in verse 4 Paul preached Christ to them and emphasized
that the essence of John's baptism was repentance... TO
BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH SHOULD COME AFTER HIM- CHRIST
JESUS.
When they heard this, they were baptized... IMMMERSED INTO
CHRIST!
Not water, as Christ baptizes ONLY with the Holy Ghost! Verse
6 speaks of being filled with the Spirit and not baptism with
The Holy Ghost!
Earlier in the house of Cornelius ,peter had faced a debacle .
Jesus ignored peters ceremonies
He immersed the Gentiles into the body.
Acts 10:44-45 KJV
[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.
Peter was astonished.
Acts 10:47 KJV
[47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be
baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Hear the explanation of the Apostles
Acts 11:15-17 KJV
[15] And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as
on us at the beginning. [
16] Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he
said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost.
[17] Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did
unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I,
that I could withstand God?
The baptism happened by believing.
Again,Jesus baptism is with the Holy Ghost.
That's what affirms salvation,not johns baptism of water.
Do we have baptisms in the New Testament?
Ephesians 4: 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye
are called in one hope of your calling. Obviously just ONE.
This is the baptism of Christ by the Holy Ghost.
Its essence is all over the scriptures
Romans 6:3 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.
It leads to complete identification with the finished work of
redemption from the cross to the throne.
The believer is thus judged to have died with Christ, buried
with Him and raised together with Him- Ephesians 2:1-6.
Galatians 3: 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
We are baptised unto/into union with Christ.
1Corinthians 12:13 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.
This means we now partake of the same body with Him.
Colossians 2:12 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.
This is just like Romans 6:4- We are united with the finished
work of redemption as Christ died in our place, baptism places
us in identification
Since Baptism also refers to washing, it speaks of the
renewing work of The Holy Ghost.
I doubt whether ANY believer in the New testament can ever
imagine water washing away sins!
That is ridiculous.
Old Testament symbols were figurative expressions of realities
of Christ’s work.
The Holy Ghost Baptizes/ cleanses us.
What the blood did at redemption ,the Holy Ghost brings the
reality Into the hearts of those who accept the message.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our
Saviour toward man appeared,
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;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour.
This baptism is Salvation.
The writer of Hebrews was the ONLY writer who used baptism
in plural.
Hebrews 6:1 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..
This plural usage is for the washings of the old Testament. He
refers to this in his piece.
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in
which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not
make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the
conscience;
10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings
(baptism), and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the
time of reformation.
If you follow the rule of the book of Hebrews being a book
explaining types and shadows-Hebrews 1:1-2, then this should
be clear!
Today we have been washed by the Holy Ghost and immersed
into Christ. This is the baptism of the Great Commission.
Mark16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20.
We are not to carry water around to preach. Our preaching is
done in the demonstration of The Spirit and Power.
1 Corinthians 2: 4 And my speech and my preaching was not
with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of
the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but
in the power of God.
Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthian church should help:
1 Corinthians 1:17 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.
Just like the baptism of the great commission is via words
(preaching) for Jesus said Go ye and baptize men, by
discipling them, teaching them- as we teach, men are baptized
into Christ!
Blessed?i have received the baptism with the Holy Ghost,I thus
died with Christ,was buried with Christ, raised together with
Him.