Lesson 2-16 Water Baptism? Part 2 John The Baptist

I have been asked to give my understanding on water baptism, 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 they 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.

Now as we continue into this subject of water baptism I would like to repeat the guidelines we will be using for this study, just in case this is the first lesson you read.

Introduction: Guidelines for this study:

1. We are 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 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, 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. (For this study the mode of water baptism is inconsequential)
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 close 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 baptism 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. But just so you know, I don’t believe that it was something Paul believed the Body of Christ was supposed to be performing. (1^st Cor. 15:29)

Now in the first lesson, we learned that when it comes to water baptism, we came to the conclusion a lot of different modes of water baptism are being practiced today. Some groups baptize by sprinkling, some by pouring, some by immersion, some face forward, etc. (For this study the mode of water baptism is inconsequential, the fact water is involved is enough for our study)

We are gathering information, and putting it together, so we can continue our study to the end, and arrive with the doctrinally correct answer from God’s Holy Word on whether water baptism is for today. Or whether it like other spiritual items that belonged to the Nation Israel are currently on hold for a future time period.

Alright next up in the study is John the Baptist, let’s ask John why he was baptizing with water, as this will have a big bearing on our final answer to the questions concerning water baptism and it’s relationship to the Body of Christ.

You know what? Good news we don’t have to ask John why he was baptizing with water, the Pharisees asked him for us, while he was still alive and practicing water baptism. Lets go to the scriptures for his answer!

John 1 [24] And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. [25] And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? [26] John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; [27] He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. [28] These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. [29] The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. [30] This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. [31] And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Now the beautiful part of this for everyone involved in this study, is we can read God’s Holy Word and get the answer. John was baptizing with water so that Jesus, the promised messiah, foretold of in the Old Testament, would be made manifest to the Nation Israel. The nation of Israel referred to as his own, in John 1;11 rejected and crucified him.

John 1 [11] He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own (Israel) received him not.

So I believe we should take this as our final answer, I cannot find anywhere that John’s practice of water baptism ever changed, or was for any other purpose than he stated in John 1:31 to make Jesus manifest or known to the nation Israel.

As we look at the subject of the relationship of water baptism to the Body of Christ, I must touch briefly on the subject of replacement theology, of which I reject.

What is replacement theology, well I will give you the dictionary definition.

Replacement theology, is a Christian theological view on the current status of the church in relation to the Jewish people and Judaism. It holds that the Christian Church has replaced the Israelites as God's chosen people and that the New Covenant has replaced or superseded the Mosaic covenant.

I believe the Body of Christ is part of the mystery program that was given to the Apostle Paul. The Body of Christ was hid or not known since the beginning of the world, is a separate organism made up of believers saved after Paul’s conversion.

One day the Body of Christ will be complete, then removed from planet Earth, at which time God’s prophetic program dealing with the nation Israel will resume, and all the Old Testament prophesies concerning the nation Israel will then be fulfilled.

I find no where in the scriptures where the current believers in the dispensation of the grace of God are part of those Old Testament prophesies.

Romans 16 [25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Not to belabor the point but something kept secret since the world began, means it was a secret, and no one but God knew it!

I have come to understand all the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

I believe if you fail to understand, or fail to learn how to rightly divide the word of truth, you can never come to the knowledge of the truth, and sound doctrine.

I am going to conclude this lesson as there is much information given in this second lesson, I hope you will go and study it out, as we get ready for part three when we will look at the baptism of Jesus in depth.

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.

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 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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