Now as we close this study of water baptism, I hope you have enjoyed and learned from it.
Hopefully our desire for these lessons to be understandable, defendable, and for the Holy Spirit to bear witness that the answers are the true and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures has been granted.
Now as we approach the conclusion and comments on this subject, I would like to repeat the guidelines we always use on this website in our Bible Studies.
Guidelines:
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 will not try to make the scriptures 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 do not and 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.
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 will not try to make the scriptures 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 do not and 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.
First question I was asked, and hope to answer in the conclusion to this study is; “Does it really matter what I or any other person believes about water baptism?” I think this is a great question and really defines why the study of water baptism is so important, especially if we can arrive at a doctrinally sound answer that is easily understood by all Christians seeking the truth.
First up is Jesus speaking to the woman at the well in John 4 [22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. [23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Second up is the Bereans in 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.
Third up is Paul in 1stThessalonians 5 [21] Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Fourth up we have John in 1stJohn.4 [1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
We see in the above verses a principle (a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning) that is true across all the different time periods of the Bible, and that is believers in every generation were to read, memorize, study, and search the scriptures so they could discern truth from error.
Christians are to try (to examine or investigate judicially), prove (to establish the existence, truth, or validity of), the things that we believe are true. In Matt.-Acts Chp. 9 the word truth appears 39 times, Paul uses the word truth 51 times, and I believe it is important since the Lord Jesus said “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Christians spend a lot of time in worship services today singing worship songs to the living God, but when confronted with the Truth of God’s Holy Word, they seem disinterested in actually studying to discern truth from error.
You ask, how do we discern truth from error, well there is only way to do this and that is by comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. In verse 11 a man knows the things of a man by the spirit of man which is in him. In other words, we understand things about people or humans, and can relate to other humans because of the spirit of man that we have in our heart (one's innermost character, feelings, or inclinations). In this same way Paul tells us that we cannot understand spiritual things with man’s teaching or wisdom, but we have to have the Holy Ghost teach us by comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Cor.2 [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [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.
Now the conclusion of our study on the subject water baptism.
Summary of Items that we proved to be true in the previous six lessons, these are simply undisputable facts concerning water baptism and spiritual baptism;
1. 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. The water baptism that John the Baptist was performing was one of repentance for sinners.
3. John’s water baptism had one purpose, and that purpose was to make Jesus known to Israel.
4. Jesus was not baptized for any sins that he had committed, but to fulfill the law and all righteousness.
5. We established that the heavens opened; the spirit of God descended upon Jesus, and God said from heaven this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased after Jesus was baptized.
6. We established that Jesus was made manifest to the nation Israel by the actions of the Living God, and thus proved him to be Israel’s promised Messiah.
7. We established Paul’s commission contained no instructions to continue baptizing people with water, and he clearly states that when he said in “1st Corinthians 1 [18] For Christ sent me not to baptize”….
8. We established Paul’s commission was to preach the Gospel of Jesus’s death for our sins, his burial, and his resurrection from the dead the third day. “1st Corinthians 15 [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [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:
9. We established Paul’s epistles do not contain one reference, or any indication that the Body of Christ should practice water baptism, in fact just the opposite, Paul indicated there is only one baptism which we determined to be spiritual baptism into the Body of Christ. "Ephesians 4 [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"
1st comment:
Water baptism is the most divisive issue of the Christian faith; it is the major issue Northern Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Seventh Day Baptist, and Southern Baptist cannot get along with the Methodist, as they fight over baptism by immersion verses sprinkling. Then all of the different denominations fight over infant baptism, teenage baptism, modes of baptism, even the words being said over the person being baptized. Some groups believe you have to be baptized in Jesus name, and of course this group believes that if the baptizer spoke the words in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost those people were not properly baptized. Some groups practice naked baptisms. Some groups believe in water baptismal regeneration (you get saved when you go under the water), etc. and the list goes on and on of the differences surrounding water baptism. But the one thing that is sure about water baptism is its divisive nature among the Christian denominations.
2nd comment
There are absolutely zero instructions from the scripture on the modes of water baptism, and no clear cut directions on who and how the authorization to perform water baptisms after John the Baptist and the apostles died would be passed along. Of course some groups believe it has to be a Church elder, others believe anyone can do the baptizing; others hold that it has to be a deacon, bishop, pastor, etc. but this information is not clearly stated, or found in the scriptures.
3rd comment
Paul clearly stated that Christ did not send him to baptize, and we have clearly stated that Jesus did tell the 11 apostles to baptize. This is clear in the scriptures and no one I know ever addresses this fact or the subject of the difference in Paul’s instructions by the Lord Jesus in the main line denominations.
4th comment
Paul is clear in his epistles on the subject of water baptism, and removes the confusion making it very clear water baptism was not part of his commission/instructions given to him by the Lord Jesus Christ.
5th comment
Is there anyone reading this that cannot see the confusion the subject of water baptism causes for believers, and the divisive nature that it continues to be? 1st Corinthians 14 [33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
6th comment
I am afraid that we are approaching the point of no return for saving the Christian faith as a force in the world. Satan currently has a death grip on the Body of Christ, the pews are full of Christians who no longer know the scriptures or search the scriptures on a daily basis for truth to prove, try, and test whether these modern day preachers are preaching the truth. No Christian who reads the Bible should just sit under any teaching and not check to make sure that the teaching is sound doctrine. I personally like it when people look up verses and study, even if it is to try and disprove what I am teaching, at least they are in the word. Notice in the verses below that Satan’s ministers are transformed as the ministers of righteousness. We need to be good soldiers for Christ and able to spot Satan’s ministers. 1st Corinthians 11 [13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
7th comment
I cannot think of anything more damaging to the Body of Christ and its testimony to the world of lost sinners, than for the Christians of all denominations to be fighting over all the issues surrounding water baptism. Especially if we are correct in our study and water baptism is not even supposed to be practiced by the Body of Christ! Honestly this is a text book case of how Satan works, divide and conquer over unsound doctrine.
Conclusion
“Does it really matter what I, or any other person believes about water baptism?” Yes, it does matter what we believe about water baptism verses spiritual baptism. It does matter, in the same way what we believe and teach about Jesus death, burial, and resurrection from the dead matters. The Truth always matters. We as Christians should be engaged in searching the scriptures daily for the truth, to ensure we are promoting and teaching sound doctrine for the Body of Christ.
Let’s make a commitment to start studying the scriptures on a daily basis. Let’s get our house in order and get some clear directions for the Body of Christ. I am going to close this lesson with some verses that should help you if you are interested in becoming a stronger Christian witness.
1. Recognize and make sure you know who your apostle is:
a. Rom. 1 [1] Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
b. Rom. 11 [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
a. 1Cor. 4 [16] Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
b. 1Cor. 11 [1] Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
c. Phil. 3 [17] Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
a. 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.
b. Phil.1 [27] Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
c. Phil.2 [2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Can you imagine if Christians would quit fighting each other over silly issues like whether to put a person in the baptismal pool face forward or backward, sprinkle or immerse them, and instead focus on being the Christians we should be. What a difference we could make in this world! You can make a difference!
As we conclude this series, I hope you will become a student of God’s Holy Word rightly divided!
With modern day technology being what it is, it is very easy to do word searches and check when someone quotes a Bible verse or tells you something is in the Bible for you to look it up and verify if they are pulling your leg!
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 needs to 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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