Lesson 1-16 Water Baptism? Part 1 Modes of

I have been asked to give my understanding on water baptism and its relationship to the Body of Christ. And should we be practicing it today?

As always I will be sharing the teachings and understanding as I believe the Lord Jesus has shown to me by study, and through the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

I never encourage anyone to believe anything that I believe without them first studying it out for themselves. If you come to a different understanding than myself, that is ok, as there is liberty in the Lord for us to not see all things the same, at the same time.

I have shared teachings that I came to understand very early in my Christian life, with some of my sisters and brothers in Christ who did not see or understand the same teachings as myself for 20 plus years.

True Story; 

I had been sharing with one of my fellow Christians for ~20 years that we get our doctrine for the Body of Christ from Paul’s epistles, and not the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the first 8 chapters of Acts, which are for the nation Israel.

One night I had the privilege to teach the word at a Wednesday night Bible study where I made the comment “Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the first 8 chapters of Acts are really Old Testament books and do not apply to the Body of Christ”. I kid you not, my fellow Christian yelled from the back of the room why didn’t you ever say it that way before.

My fellow Christian that night came to see the Bible rightly divided, although I had been sharing that same information for ~20 years with that person. It wasn’t until that night that the Holy Spirit enlightened their eyes to that truth.

I don’t know why and have no explanation as to why it took ~20 years for them to see it and why others see it right away, but I can tell you this when you see the word of truth rightly divided, it is impossible to study it any other way!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

As a baby Christian grows and even sometimes after we are mature Christians, we have to change our position on certain subjects as we study and grow in our understanding of the word of truth rightly divided.   

1Cor.3 [1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

When we are babes in Christ, we need milk to grow and as we grow spiritually, we are weaned off the milk of the word, and move on to the meat of the word.

As a young Christian I was very fortunate to have had good teachers who taught me how to study and rightly divide the word of truth. When you rightly divide the word of truth not every verse in the Bible will apply to Christians today. Because we are living in the dispensation of the grace of God, as given to the Apostle Paul.

Rightly dividing the Bible simply means you are able to discern the instructions that apply to the Body of Christ today, versus the instructions given to the nation Israel (past, present, and future).

Eph.3 [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:

Col.1 [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

As a teacher of God’s Holy Word, I will be presenting you with differing views and ask you, to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your eyes to the truth as we go along.

I will also be sharing things from my own life experiences that many of you will be able to relate to in your own life as we search the scriptures to determine whether these things are so.

Acts.17 [11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Now lets start our study and see if we can determine with the help of the Holy Spirit the answer to the questions, “Is water baptism for today?” “Should the Body of Christ practice water baptism?” “What did Paul believe and teach concerning water baptism as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus?”.

I personally believe when we get to the end of this study, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will have a clear understanding of the doctrine of water baptism.

Introduction: Guidelines for this study:

1. We will treating the living words of the living God, as spoken by the Lord Jesus, and given to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ as having the same importance, as the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the instructions to the nation Israel.
2. We will not be wresting the scriptures against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and we will not try to make them say anything but what they say.
3. We will be using the verses out of the Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the Authorized Version as our final written authority.
4. We will not be using the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated.

Different types of baptisms that are recorded in the scriptures and definitions.

1. Water Baptism – The practice of the religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person's forehead, or of immersion of a person in water, or dipping a person in water, or pouring water on a persons head and body.
2. Baptism of John – This is the practice of water baptism as performed by John the Baptist. (Matt. 3;11 Matt. 21;25 Mark 11;30 Luke 7;29 20;4 John 1;31 Acts 1;22 Acts 18;25 )
3. Baptism of Repentance – This also is water baptism as practiced by John. (Matt. 3;11 Mark 1;4 Luke 3;3 Acts 13;24)
4. Baptism of the Holy Ghost – This is spiritual baptism with the Holy Ghost. (First mentioned by John the Baptist in reference to Jesus. Pay attention and notice John said that Jesus would be the one baptizing with the Holy Ghost, not water.) (Matt 3;11 Mark 1;8 Luke 3;16 John 1:33)
5. Baptism of the Fire –  Dictionary definition; an introductory or initial experience that is a severe ordeal, (this baptism is spiritual in nature and does not include any water, it is judgmental in its nature). (Matt. 3;11)
6. Baptism of Moses – This applies to the nation of Israel who was baptized in the cloud and sea. (1^st Cor. 10;2) (This is an Old Testament event and happened when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt.)
7. Baptism for the dead – vicarious baptism or proxy baptism today commonly refers to the religious practice of baptizing a person on behalf of one who is dead—a living person receiving the rite on behalf of a deceased person. Baptism for the dead is best known as a doctrine of the Latter Day Saint movement, which has practiced it since 1840. (For this study we will not be dealing with this subject, I only include it so that you know I am aware of this practice. I don’t believe it was something Paul believed the Body of Christ was supposed to be performing. (1^st Cor. 15:29)

First up let us look at one of the commands that Jesus gave to the 11 Apostles. At this time Jesus was talking to only 11 of them, (see Matt. 28 verse 16). Judas Iscariot had already hanged himself, and a replacement apostle had not yet been chosen.

Matt. 28 [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Verse 19 & 20 has come to be known as the Great Commission, the majority of Christian religious systems have laid claim to these verses, and use them as their marching orders to preach, and take their particular beliefs into the world.

Of course there is little agreement among the different Christian organizations on exactly what teachings they are to be communicating to the world, other than baptizing them in water, but after that, whatever particular belief each denomination or non-denominational group holds in highest regard is what they teach.

Funny thing is, in my 42 years as a Christian, I have discovered these Christian organizations are not even consistent when it comes to the first one “baptizing them in water”.

Let me share with you, the following experiences that I personally have had, and take this section to introduce you to the some of the many different modes of water baptism.

I want you to know I am not making fun of these Christians at all, but I think this is one of  the best ways to teach you how to compare, spiritual things with spiritual, and exercise your spiritual discernment. 

1Cor.2 [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

When I was a child, I was in a denomination that utilized sprinkling with water on the top of the head for baptism.

Later on I was associated with a denomination that believed you had to be fully immersed in the water in order to be properly baptized.

The next denomination I was introduced to believed that just being fully immersed was not good enough, but you had to be fully immersed in the water by one of their church elders, or you would die and go to hell. 

Next I ran into a group that  believed, if you had been fully immersed in the water, but the preacher baptized you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, instead of just using the phrase “in the name of Jesus” your baptism didn't count, and it would have to be redone if you wanted them to accept you as a real believer.

Just one more, I had a person tell me that their denomination baptized their new converts by full immersion, three times face forward, when I asked why, I was told Jesus never did anything backwards.

We see in the Old Testament when the Lord Jesus gave the Nation Israel instructions on how to perform animal sacrifices, they were clear, step by step instructions, so the people would not have any problem following them. 

Personally, I think if the mode of water baptism had been as important as people try to make it out to be, that the Lord Jesus would have provided clear, and specific instructions on how this water baptism was to be accomplished.

There also is subset of water baptism: infant baptism, teenager baptism, re-baptism after someone has been a really bad person.

Also re-baptism if you try and join a different Christian group with a different name than the one you previously were associated with. This new Christian group will want to make sure you have submitted to their particular way of baptizing, and these groups get real serious over who, how, and when a person was baptized.

This lesson is the first of several that will deal with baptism so I encourage you to get an Authorized Bible (KJV) and look up all the places the word baptism appears as it will aid in our upcoming studies on this subject.

We are more dedicated than ever to help people understand Pauline doctrine for the body of Christ, and to help young Christians grow and be built up in their faith, and to equip them to win others to the Lord Jesus.

Hopefully this study and the future studies will provoke you to become a more dedicated, and consecrated Christian, who will study and become a strong witness for the Lord Jesus in this upcoming year.

I encourage you to not just mention that Jesus was born, but share with your friends, loved ones, and anyone else that you come in contact with that Jesus died for their sins, was buried, and rose again and in Jesus they can have eternal life.

Romans 10 [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [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. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The Bible is an easy book to understand when you just read, and believe it, not try and make it say things it doesn’t say.

As far as spiritual discernment, when you know where to get your doctrine from, you will not be an easy target for men trying to deceive you.

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Come join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!

Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

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