Showing posts with label Baptism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baptism. Show all posts

Monday, May 26, 2014

Six Baptisms; #3 Baptism by Water

Ask anyone what first comes to mind when they think of the word baptism, and they will probably say it’s some sort of religious practice involving water. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water” (Matt. 3:11) and there are several examples of people in the Holy Bible being baptized with water. For centuries, there has been a large group of Christians who refer to themselves as Baptists because they emphasize the importance of water baptism in their Christian faith journey.

Here are some questions and answers related to water baptism:

I. What is the meaning of water baptism?
The great thing about water baptism in the name of Christ is what it symbolizes. It is a symbol of a believer’s complete identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:12 ESV having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Rom. 6:4 NIV We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Imagine a person standing in water about waist high deep. Think of this person as being alive physically but dead spiritually in their sins. Now, imagine this person lays backward down into the water. This illustrates the death of Christ on their behalf and that he or she dies to their sins, repents of their sins, namely repenting from rejecting Christ. Now, imagine this person raising up in the water to stand again. This illustrates that person rising up in Christ in victory over sin and death. Baptism by water is symbolic of what Jesus Christ did for you and it shows publicly that you align yourself with Christ and His teaching, that you are committed to living and dying for Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord.


II. Why be baptized by water?
A. To follow Christ’s example.
Mark 1:9a NIV At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

B. To follow the example of early Christians.
John 3:23, 26 23Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
Acts 8:36, 38 36Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 38So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 
See also Acts 2:41, 8:12-13, 9:18, 10:48, 16:15, 33; 18:8, 19:5 ….

C. To follow Christ’s command.
Perhaps the most well-known Bible passage about baptism is the Great Commission Jesus gave His followers. Matt. 20:18-20 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

D. To realize your relationship with Christ.
1 John 2:3 NIV We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

E. To publicly identify with Christ.
Romans 10:9 ESV because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Matthew 10:32 ESV So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,


III. Is Water baptism necessary for salvation?
Water baptism doesn’t cleanse you from your sins, save you from your sins or make you a born again saved Christ-follower. It is meant to demonstrate that you already are saved by Christ. Only God’s grace and mercy through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord saves you from your sins (Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, Acts 16:31). Water baptism is kind of like a wedding ring; it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you have already made in your heart.


IV. How are we baptized by water?
A. Water immersion just like Jesus.
Matt 3:16 NIV As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

B. Water immersion just like every Bible occurrence of water baptism.
Acts 8:38-39 NIV And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

C. The word ‘baptism’ in the original Greek is ‘baptizo’ which means to dip or immerse under.

D. Immersion in the water is the best way to picture a burial and resurrection.


V. Who should be baptized by water?
Every person who has trusted in Christ as their Savior and Lord! Acts 18:8 NIV  .


VI. When are we to be baptized by water?
As soon as you have believed upon Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord! You should not delay.
Acts 2:41 NIV Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 8:35-38 NKJV 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.


VII. What if I was baptized by water as an infant or when I wasn’t truly saved?
I believe biblically-based baptism makes more sense when a person understands what Christian baptism means and they have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. And I believe water baptism should occur after one becomes saved by Christ. So, now with your basic understanding of the meaning of water baptism in Christ and with your profession of faith in Christ, you should now be baptized by immersion. I believe this reflects the proper biblical symbolism and order.


VIII. What about location?
There's nothing special about the water you are baptized in. Maybe it is Holy water and blessed water and prayed-over water but it's not where you're baptized (i.e. tub, tank, baptistery, pool, lake, or ocean) that matters most. What’s important is why you're baptized and what’s in your heart toward Jesus.


Sometimes you never know quite what will happen when someone is baptized by water. I really enjoy water baptisms. They can be very spiritual and emotional moments. I have been excited at times and I have cried at times while witnessing Christ followers being baptized. I’ve had many experiences baptizing believers and witnessing believers being baptized. I have baptized in the icy waters at Chapman Dam in PA with lightning in the background and rain drops falling. That was a shocking experience. J I have struggled to fully immerse people, in a baptistery, who resist going backwards under the surface of the water with their faces. One of my favorite baptism moments was when our church had a picnic lunch at a park with a lakefront swimming area. We had a baptism/worship gathering in front of many sunbathing swimming people nearby. That was a salt and light in Christ in this world moment; all for the glory of God.

Sometimes there are light-hearted moments. I remember once at TRBC when a young boy was baptized and he stayed in the water while his grandfather was being baptized. The young boy began swimming in the baptistery, treading like a dog and dunking his head under. That was funny. And I will never forget my own baptism experience when I was 9 years old. I failed to bring a dry pair of underwear to put on after the baptism during the beginning of the Sunday night worship gathering service, so I sat there the whole time with wet underwear under my pants. Awkward!

Water baptisms can be very interesting for many reasons because they involve water and people, but at the core of water baptism there is spiritual symbolism of the atoning work of Christ and faith and obedience on behalf of the believer being baptized and the church people carrying out the baptism. This is key to the kingdom of Christ mission work here on earth.  

If you have trusted Jesus Christ by faith as your personal Savior and Lord have you been baptized by water? If not, why not? The Lord calls His followers to be baptized by water. If you have questions, interest, and/or would like to move forward in baptism then contact a local Christ-centered pastor.

Even more important than water baptism is trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. If you have questions or interest in this then read

What do you think about water baptism and what I’ve included here?


Mike


Note:
This blog entry is the continuation in a series called ‘Six Baptisms.’ The first entry ‘#1 Baptism by Fire,’ which includes an introduction to this series, can be read at

The second entry is ‘#2 Baptism by Holy Spirit or into Christ’ and can be read at


The next entry in this series will be about the ‘Baptism of Suffering.’ 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Six Baptisms; #2 Baptism by Holy Spirit (& into Christ)

This blog entry is the continuation in a series called ‘Six Baptisms.’ The first entry ‘#1 Baptism by Fire,’ which includes an introduction to this series, can be read at http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2014/03/six-baptisms-1-baptism-by-fire.html

As I wrote previously, the Greek word “baptizo” in the New Testament of God’s Word means to immerse, submerge, and/or cleanse.

It is by God’s special grace through faith in Christ through which a person receives Christ as Savior, receives the Holy Spirit, receives imputed righteousness from Christ, and receives the fruit of the Spirit among other divine blessings. We, unholy sinners, can enter into a current and eternal relationship with God by His grace through faith in Christ. This is amazing and this spiritual process of salvation in Christ involves a spiritual baptism sometimes referred to in Scripture as ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit, ‘baptism into Christ,’ or ‘baptism into one Body.’

I believe these biblical phrases refer to the same spiritual act of God in the life of a Christian today. This spiritual immersion and cleansing involves a spiritual union with and identification with the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ and His universal Body of believers.

Let’s consider some Bible verses that refer to this spiritual baptism.

Matthew 3:11 ESV “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John 1:33 ESV I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
John the Baptist taught here that Jesus Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit which is different than the baptism John the Baptist was providing people before the public ministry of Jesus Christ. I’ll write more about water baptism and what John was doing in a later entry.

Galatians 3:26-27 ESV for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
This phrase ‘baptized into Christ’ refers to a spiritual immersion into Christ.

Romans 6:1-11 ESV 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
To be baptized into Christ, to be a born-again saved Christ-follower, means to die to your sins (vs3) and to live a new life through the resurrection of Christ (1 Pet. 3:21).

What does this look like for a Christian? Consider Paul’s testimony: Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Corinthians 6:17 ESV But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Christians are spiritually placed into Christ, in union with Him, and they have the Holy Spirit within them, and so we should live accordingly.

In 1 Cor. 12, Paul was dealing with a situation where the Corinthian church was splitting into factions over the issue of spiritual gifts. Overemphasis on certain spectacular gifts had led to the attitude that some people had the most desirable gifts, while others were deficient. In response, Paul wrote, "We're all one (in Christ)! Don't divide up into cliques!" And to prove his point, he wrote this to the Corinthian Christians, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

What’s his main point here? All true Christ-followers share the reality of being baptized into Christ by way of the Holy Spirit. The phrase ‘into one body’ here refers to the Body of Christ, not meaning His physical body, but referring instead to His spiritual body which includes the universal Church of true Christ-followers in which He is the head.

Titus 3:4-7 ESV 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
I believe this passage refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit through Christ.

When does this spiritual baptism occur? In modern day Christianity, I believe that the ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’ and ‘baptism into Christ’ (& into one Body) occur simultaneously at the salvation conversion moment in a Christ-follower’s life. There is a spiritual justification conversion moment in God’s plan of salvation for people today. This is the moment when the person called by God begins trusting Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. It is God who declares the person is saved, and that they now have a position in His heaven, and he or she is reconciled with Him. I believe it is at this salvation moment that the person is sealed by and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and baptized into Christ and into one Body. Consider, in addition to the above verses:

Ephesians 1:13 ESV 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Romans 8:9 ESV 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

So, for personal example, when I was nine years old I received Christ into my life as my Savior and Lord. In that spiritual salvation conversion moment I was baptized by the Holy Spirit and baptized into Christ (& into one Body).

There are moments in early Christianity when some individuals received the baptism of the Holy Spirit after a salvation conversion moment; such as at Pentecost to the original Apostles (Acts 2) and to some Samaritan believers in Acts 8:14-17. I believe this was just part of the transition period from the incarnated days of Jesus Christ, to the beginning of the Christian church, and to the spread of Christianity to Jews, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. By the time we get to Acts 10, I think we have the model for today; personal impact of the Gospel, trusting belief, and receive the Holy Spirit.

These days, I believe the ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’/’baptism into Christ’ is a one-time spiritual act by God at the salvation conversion moment that spiritually identifies a person with God. There doesn’t have to be miraculous signs and wonders or dramatic recoveries from addictions or other major things occur at that moment, although salvation itself is miraculous and a big life-transforming deal! Praise God! If you are a true Christ-follower already you don’t need to seek a baptism of the Holy Spirit. It already took place.

Each genuine Christ-follower has the Holy Spirit in their life as God’s gracious gift; however, they are exhorted to be filled with the Holy Spirit (aka ‘led by’, ‘walk by’ or ‘walk in’, and ‘live by the Holy Spirit’). This means the individual Christ follower must decide regularly to ask God to fill him or her with the Holy Spirit, to choose to regularly yield to/submit to the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Galatians 5:16-26 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

The above passage gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to be a Holy Spirit-filled Christ-follower in contrast with being characterized by the immoral works of the flesh. Which do you align more with?

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is part of ‘progressive sanctification’ in a Christ-follower’s life. This maturing spiritual sanctification in Christ varies for each believer in their lifetime. There can be many fillings of the Holy Spirit, all the while the Christ-follower continues to be indwelt by and sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit-filled life is characteristic of the Christ-follower who acknowledges their ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’/‘baptism into Christ’ and they live accordingly for the glory of God.

I hope and pray that you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit and into Christ and are living accordingly. What do you think about this subject in Scripture and what I’ve written about here?

The next entry in this series will be about ‘baptism by water.’ 

Mike

Friday, March 7, 2014

Six Baptisms; #1 Baptism by Fire

Some folks would call me a Baptist and there is some truth to this. I’ve been baptized in more than one way.  The first church I was ever involved in was a Baptist church. I’ve pastored in Baptist churches and I’m currently a member of a Baptist church. I am also ‘baptistic’ in my theological doctrine.

The word ‘baptism’ is used several times in the New Testament of God’s Word so I thought I would write about biblical baptism.

When you come across the word ‘baptism’ what’s the first thought that comes to your mind? Many would probably first think about some sort of religious practice involving water. And this true in one sense because there is a Christian baptism that involves water but not all baptisms in God’s Word are water baptisms. I see seven main types of baptisms in the Holy Bible. There is Baptism by Fire, Baptism by Holy Spirit (& into Christ), Baptism by Water, Baptism into Suffering, Baptism into John's Baptism (the Baptism of Repentance), and Baptism into Moses.

The following verses refer to these baptisms.

Matthew 3:11 (ESV) “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.


Romans 6:3 (ESV) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Acts 8:38 (ESV) So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 

Mark 10:38 (ESV) Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

1 Corinthians 10:2 (ESV) and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

I plan to write about all these types of baptisms but in separate blog entries. First up is Baptism by Fire.

To help us better understand the Biblical subject of baptism, let’s consider the New Testament Greek word translated into the English word “baptism”. The Greek word “baptizo” means to immerse, submerge, and/or cleanse.

When it comes to ‘baptism by fire’ think, immersion by fire. What could that mean? It doesn’t sound good, does it? I have played with fire a few times in my life, touched flames and been burned by fire but I would never want to be immersed by or in fire. This would be painful and deadly.

One time I attended a Monster Truck show (I know, I one of those guys who likes high performance engines and stunts) where a stunt man purposely sat in a car that exploded in flames. What? Are you kidding me? I am not that courageous or should I say ‘crazy?’ He then jumped out the fiery window on fire, ran a little bit, and then rolled on the ground as he was extinguished by firemen nearby. Some people call that entertainment and a way to earn money. Other people call that stupid crazy because being immersed in actual fire is life threatening big time!

There’s an idiom known as “baptism by fire” which is similar to “trial by fire” which refers to a very difficult experience with something. Matt. 3:11 is not referring to such an idiom or acting like a crazy stunt-person.

Don’t confuse this baptism by fire with the ‘tongues as of fire’ seen at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit dramatically came upon the Lord’s Apostles. That moment was a rare phenomenon event and not the same thing as baptism by fire referred to in Mt. 3.

In God’s Word, there is a connection between fire and God’s judgment upon people (i.e. Isa. 66:15-16). God is ultimately the judge over creation and He judges people based on His righteous holy just character. Praise God for His grace and mercy as well or we would all be in big trouble for eternity. The main types of God’s judgment upon people involve divine discernment between right and wrong and also divine separation between good and evil.

An example of God’s judgment of discernment is when true Christ-followers have their works processed by spiritual fire and the works that are God-honoring lead to eternal rewards.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (ESV) 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

An example of God’s judgment of separation between good and evil is found in Matt. 3:7-12 (ESV) 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Based on the context of this passage, this ‘baptism by fire’ refers to the judgment of separation between good and evil which is when God eternally separates those who trust God for salvation (according to His plan of redemption) from those who don’t; non-believers. The two groups are separated from each group and the non-saved group is separated from God, for eternity, in a horrible place the Bible calls Hell.

Consider the winnowing process which involves swinging a winnowing fan or fork tool to separate the kernels of threshed grain, such as wheat or barley, from the chaff with a current of air. The grain and its mixture of straw and husks were thrown into the air. The kernels of wheat or barley would fall into a pile on the Threshing Floor; and the chaff, (the junk not wanted) would be blown away by the wind.

In God’s Word, chaff symbolizes worthless, evil, or wicked persons (or things) that are about to be destroyed. For example,

Psalm 1:4-6 (ESV) 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish
.

Chaff is a fitting figure of speech to describe destruction by judgment. Those who are ultimately separated from God will experience this ‘baptism by fire.’ I believe this ‘baptism by fire’ will occur at the second coming of Christ, sometime in the future. God’s Word is not clear as to an exact date/time of His Second Coming. It only provides some signs pointing to it and some ordering of related future events.

The ‘baptism by fire’ is not something you want to experience. Consider some similar wording to ‘baptism by fire’ in this passage:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (ESV) 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

The great news is that you and I do not have to experience this eternal judgment from God if you experience the ‘Baptism by the Holy Spirit’ which coincides with the ‘Baptism into the Body of Christ’ about which I’ll write about in separate blog entries.

What do you think about this ‘baptism by fire’ mentioned in God’s Word?

Mike