BAPTISM, AS CHRISTIANS KNOW IT TODAY----
comes to us today from John the Baptist, who was sent by God to "Make straight" {prepare} the way for Jesus Christ, our ONLY SAVIOR!
John came, baptizing in the country side, and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Note: mankind can and should forgive the sins against self, by any human sinners, HOWEVER no MAN, can forgive any sin done not against self, that we MUST ask The Father-God in Christ's name only! So ALL in the "Confession Booths," your sins are still upon you , as men can't forgive them, no matter what your "Priestly" traditions say!
Many in the Judea country-side went to him, and many from Jerusalem confessed their sins, and were Baptized, by John, in the River Jordan, by the total submersion, under water.>>>>
Mark 1:4-5 "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins."
Yes, there antecedents to baptism in the Old Testament, with which John was surely familiar: ritual washing and purification, and, of course the story of Naaman the Leper. However, John taught a Spiritual Purification that went far beyond the mere physical washing of self. He called on people to make baptism a sign that they recognized their own sins and had repented of them. He made baptism an impressive event in people's lives, a public declaration of faith,, which they could not enter into lightly! John's call to baptism required a definite change in people's lives, thus preparing them for the coming of Jesus The Messiah.
Jesus, without sin, why was Baptism needed?
Matthew 3:13-15 "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him."
A Three-fold purpose, ONE: It set the Prophetic beginning right on time for His ministry to begin!
TWO: Is allowed all to see Jesus was sent by The Father-God.
THREE: He set for us the proper example for Baptism.
Note: Sprinkling is not symbolic of dying to sin, and to "bury" our old self, and coming up to be a new person, in Christ.l. Flower Petals or salt, not by phone nor before a child's "AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY" in order for them to know the meaning of it,Infant baptism is empty and void, and a baby knows nothing about this period! This dates back to the dark ages, when infant mortality rates where very high, and people being taught no Baptism, to hell fires you go, which is none-Biblical!
Yet the PRIMARY REASON: In being Baptized, by men, He showed the world that He understood the feelings of sinfulness and unworthiness that are all too common then and now! By His Baptism HE identified Himself with sinners, in their need of a righteousness from God, and He left an example for those who would become Christians. The repentant sinner can identify Himself or herself, with Jesus as He submitted to the rite of Baptism. His sinless life and His death for all sinful human beings, Jesus by this, made His righteousness available to everyone, who accepts and believes in Him in a loving relationship, which will develop in time.>>
Acts 16:30-33 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway"
Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved"
All candidates for Baptism must receive complete instructions in the Christian Faith, of both the theory and the practical, and to put it into practise in daily life. Otherwise they'd be a "Christian in mane only", and the world has far too many of them already!>>>>
James 1:22 " But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Romans 2:13 "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."
It for just this very reason that it's very inappropriate to baptize infants and children before they have learned and understand the seriousness of the step they are taking! Infant Baptism is a deception to all involved!
The reason for total submersion under water, is simply that the Books of Romans and Colossians, in the which Paul speaks to Baptism as a death, burial and resurrection of Jesus....
Romans 6:1-6 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
Colossians 2:11-13 "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"
Note: A Baby nor a younger child, can not understand this, right Thus their Baptism is empty and void! This symbolism would not have meant anything to the early church if they had practiced any other form of Baptism other than total submersion!
Note: Baptismo in the Greek means to dunk to submerse, thus is perfectly fine to say "I am going to Baptismo my cookie in milk"! That's NOT "Sprinkling" is it? OH! It;s much less work by dropping a drop or two of water on the forehead, don't you know! I wonder what its adherents would say, if Jesus had said, to allow Myself to be nailed to the Cross is far too much work and painful.... forget it?????
EXAMPLES OF BIBLE BAPTISMS.
Matthew 3:16-17 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Acts 8:36-39 "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
Baptism should come AFTER the person has repented of his sins confessed them in prayer, and SEPARATED themselves from them. This should include the faith/Trust in Jesus' pardoning love and the commitment to a new life in HIM, which, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is the best way for humans to live.
Baptism is also the point of entry for memberships in your church, and it should not be taken lightly, because it begins a very radical change in one's live.>>>>>
Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Note: Therefore please be tolerant of those who are trying to share the Love of Christ with you, they are only trying to carry out the wish os Jesus, the very ONE who died for YOUR SINS.
Further Study: Matt. 28:19-20. Acts 2:28: 22:16. 1 Corinthians 12:13. Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21.
Thank Y O U for your time. Next # 16 THE LORD'S SUPPER--COMMUNION.
Questions? Comments? John at www.servant@frontier.com
Other Sites: www.AFTV.org www.BLBN.org www.amazingdiscoveries.org www.servantsite@wordpress.com
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