Lesson 5-16 Water Baptism? Part 5 Saul/Paul’s Commission

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 this study of water baptism I will repeat the guidelines we are using just in case this is the first lesson you read.  This will be a benefit for all readers such that each lesson can stand on its own merit.

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, 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. (For this study the mode of water baptism is inconsequential, the fact water is involved is enough for our study)
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 and administered to sinners and publicans. (Matt. 3;6,11 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 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). (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. But to 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)

Our desire for these lessons are for them to be understandable, defendable, and have the Holy Spirit bear witness that the answers are the true, and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Now at this point we have established some very important Bible truths which are often overlooked when people just read their Bible like a novel, instead of studying their Bible like the textbook it is (authored and inspired by God, transcribed by man). 

1. At this point we have established there are many different modes of water baptism being practiced today. Some groups baptize by sprinkling, some by pouring, some by immersion, some face forward, and some backwards, etc. with no clear cut directions from the scripture on whether one is better than another.
2. We have clearly established the water baptism that John the Baptist was practicing, was one of repentance for sinners.
3. We have established that Jesus was not being baptized for any sins that he had committed, but to fulfill all righteousness.
4. We have established John’s water baptism had one purpose, and that purpose was to make Jesus known to Israel.
5. We have established that the heavens opened; the spirit of God descended upon Jesus, God said from heaven this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
6. We have established that Jesus at this point in time was made manifest to the nation Israel by the actions of the Living God, and thus proved him to be Israel’s promised Messiah.

Let us now once again continue our study of God’s Holy Word as we add to the information we have gathered so far, this will help us to arrive at a sound doctrinal position on the subject of water baptism.

In this lesson we will be looking at the commission of Saul/Paul by the Lord Jesus. Why look at the commission of the Apostle Paul? Well Paul’s commission is the most important part in our study concerning water baptism and its relationship to the Body of Christ.

First the only reason that professing Christians practice water baptism today is because they were taught to believe that water baptism is what the Lord Jesus commissioned the apostles to do and thus that is what Jesus wants them to do.

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.

Now as we have stated many times on this website that Jesus did commission the 11 apostles to baptize, and teach the nations to observe all things whatsoever he commanded. The problem is that people fail to recognize that Jesus in Matthew through Acts Chp. 8 was teaching the people (Nation of Israel) to follow the law, and believe it or not, baptism was part of the Mosaic Law.

Just because Jesus gives someone an assignment, commission, or some other task to perform in the Bible does not mean that you can just claim it as something he wants you to do, we will discuss this flawed line of reasoning later in these lessons.

Now let's look at Paul’s Commission and instructions that the Lord Jesus gave him concerning water baptism.

Acts.13 [9] Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,)…. The Apostle Paul was also known by the name Saul.

Acts.9 [13] Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man (Saul), how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: [14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. [15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: [16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Now notice in verse 15 Jesus tells Ananias that Saul is “a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”.

Pay close attention to what Saul/Paul’s commission is, Jesus tells Ananias that he is a chosen vessel to bear my name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

God now saves Saul who we now know as Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles and is going to start a new program referred to as the dispensation of the grace of God. The reason that Paul is given this new message is because the Body of Christ is not part of God’s Old Testament Prophetic Program dealing with the Nation Israel. (Rom.11 [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I (Paul) am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: Eph.3 [1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) )

Ok that was just a little more background data, let’s move into 1^st Corinthians.

1Cor.1 [10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. [11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. [13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Definition of contention: something (such as a belief, opinion, or idea) that is argued or stated

Here we see in the verses above that Paul was concerned and dealing with the Corinthians over contentions in the fellowship. One of the contentions that Paul first deals with is divisions, he asked is Christ divided? He stated the answer to this question in verse 10 when he said there should be no divisions among you, that we should speak the same thing, we should be of the same mind and the same judgement.

When you look at Christians and Christianity today do you see unity, or do you see division? Do you see the Christians speaking the same thing? Do you see Christians perfectly joined together in the same mind?

I certainly don’t see unity, I see Christians splintered into so many different groups, and believing so many different things, that hardly any of them can even speak or fellowship with one another as a result of all the differences!

I want to believe that since Paul spoke those words that it is possible for Christians to be of the same mind. I want to believe that we could all be joined together, live in peace and harmony, teach and believe the same doctrines.

But the only way this can ever happen, is for Christians to study their Bible to defend sound doctrine and not the man-made rules and teachings of their individual denominations. See verses below for a good example.

Matt. 15 [7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Now back to Paul and his commission;

1Cor.1 [14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; [15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. [16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

I know this study is going to get very controversial in the next few lessons, as many Christians readily just accept what some man tells them is true, but never take the time to study and find out for themselves the truths contained in God’s Holy Word.

Notice Paul actually thanked God that he had not baptized many of the Corinthians. He only knew the names of two people, one household, and could not remember any others. He gives the reason that he didn’t want anyone saying that he had baptized in his own name.

Don’t you find this interesting that he was happy that he had not baptized many? If his commission had been the same as the other disciples he would been gladly baptizing everyone he came in contact with.

And now we come to verse that I believe will clarify Paul’s commission, and attitude towards water baptism. 

Jesus instructions to Paul; 1Cor.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.

Paul says “Christ sent me not to baptize,” I am not going to spend a lot of time trying to explain it, when it doesn’t need a lot of explaining, it just needs a lot of believing of what the Apostle Paul said.

I think we just need to take what Paul said and that is Christ did not send him to baptize.

In Matt 28 we see that Christ clearly commissioned the 11 apostles to baptize, but that was not Paul’s commission. Anyone who has spent any time around denominational Christians knows that they are following what Jesus told the 11 apostles to do and not what Jesus told the Apostle Paul to do.

Paul goes on to say that Christ sent him “to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”  

Paul said; when you preach the gospel with wisdom of words, you make simple truth of the cross of Christ of none effect.

Christians today have been taught the only person capable of teaching or understanding the Holy Scriptures is some Doctor of Theology, or someone with a degree from some Seminary, or Bible college. There is nothing further from the truth.

This has been one of Satan’s most effective attacks on the Body of Christ, and it has crippled the everyday Christian's desire to learn, and study God’s Holy Word.

The Authorized Version commonly known as the KJV is on an eighth grade reading level, all one needs to understand it’s teaching is the holy Spirit to enlighten your eyes, and not some four year Bible degree.

I know this is a study on water baptism and its relationship to the Body of Christ, that is why it is so important to understand that Paul’s commission was different, and not the same as the disciples in Matt. – Acts Chp. 8.

Even the gospel Paul preached was different;

1Cor.15 [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Cor. 15 [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

We have covered this many times, but the gospel of Matt. – Acts Chp. 8. was the gospel of the kingdom that required people to accept Jesus as their King.

Paul’s gospel demands that people accept Jesus as their Savior!

As we conclude another lesson, I hope you will go and study it out as we get ready for part six where we will look at the word baptism in detail in Paul’s epistles.

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.

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.

The Truth of God’s Holy word is easy to determine if you let the Holy Spirit lead you.

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

If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to believe in him and invite him to save you today! All one need do is to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins to be made new in him.

Gal.2 [16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified

Eph.3 [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

What a great day that will be when Jesus Christ returns in all his glory, friend don’t let that day take you unawares. Today Jesus has his arms outstretched and open to sinners to put their trust in him. One day we will all stand before him either as our savior or our judge, don’t put it off invite Jesus to save you today!

"The crowd that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."

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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