What is water baptism? What does the bible says on water baptism? How should I do water baptism? Why should have a water baptism? Should I have my water baptism at all? Need Biblical approach to this topic? Sit, relax and pay attention with or without your bible around. We'll be blessed, promises to be a sweet time in bible study today again. Don't forget to share, tell a friend about this teaching if you think it would interest them too. This topic should have been a whole book but I have made it so short that you won't have to read a so long article: it's concise and straight to point. Lord we receive Your word again today.
Water baptism!
Here is what the man I call the Father of water baptism has to say concerning his pivotal baptism ministry. I mean John the Baptist.
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
(Luke 3:15-16 KJV)
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(Acts 1:5 KJV)
There are several accounts of this confession of John the Baptist in other gospels too and even in the Acts of Apostles, and they are all the same; so let me not bother you with each of them. The above two should be okay for us.
Now consider the above texts. Everyone was expecting that only the Christ should baptize. In fact, in the account of John, the Baptist was queried. And they asked him, and said unto him, "Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?" (John 1:25 KJV) Everyone thus already knew that baptism should be the sole responsibility of Christ! But John quickly made the distinction that "mine is just water, but He, the Holy Ghost and fire". He seemed to be saying, "I am inferior, He is superior. Mine shall be short-lived, His shall be permanent. While awaiting Him that Christ, I must use mere water, and this shall last till His emergence". The word "but" in that "baptism" signified a contrast. Hmm!
Water baptism was therefore meant to be temporal. It was meant to expire or cease at the appearance of the Christ. "I indeed baptize you with water; but… He [Jesus the Christ] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire". (Luke 3:16 KJV) Please note that he didn't say "He shall ALSO/IN ADDITION baptize you" otherwise that would mean everyone must first pass through water baptism then Jesus' Holy Ghost Baptism.
From this text, I draw out some conclusions.
That water baptism is to be discontinued at Jesus' appearance.
God seemed to prove this in the fact that immediately after Jesus' baptism, more people began to draw unto Jesus' "water baptism" and John's ministry lost much "congregation".
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him. (John 3:26 KJV)
John himself attested again "He must increase, but I [must] decrease" (John 3:30 KJV). He said, "Yes! My baptism ministry must wane: while Christ's baptism ministry must blossom". So we seem to see water baptism as one which then must have shortly vanished. But we seem to be having it revitalizing again today: men baptising after the order of John's water baptism. Is it to prepare the way for the Christ again? Is it the Christ who has come or the One to come to judge the quick and the dead?
John's (water) baptism and Jesus' (Holy Ghost) baptism aren't complementary.
By "complementary", I mean the two aren't meant to compatibly go side by side. A combination of the two should be as a mixture of petrol and water. Remember, John the father of water baptism said "He must increase, but I [must] decrease." (John 3:30 KJV) When one dies finally, the other is fully expressed. The two cannot co-inhabit as items necessary for salvation.
Oooh!!
It is interesting to note that while Jesus was on His earthly ministry, somehow He seemed to have intentionally avoided the water baptism activity. You don't know?
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (THOUGH JESUS HIMSELF BAPTIZED NOT, but his disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
(John 4:1-3 KJV)
You think it's just a coincidence? Jesus had to change location because of this water baptism issue. He avoided it in every way.
But one might say "Wasn't it Jesus who must have commanded the disciples to be conducting water baptism?" Hmm! See the following texts.
For Christ SENT ME NOT TO BAPTIZE, but to preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV)
Again, Paul places a contrast between the preaching of the news of Jesus and the act of water baptism with his word "but". Ah! Don't be shocked. Or do you think that was a personal instruction given by the Caller to Paul only? No. Or was it only Paul who was instructed to preach the gospel? Yet Paul says preaching the gospel (for salvation) and the activity of water baptism (for or unto salvation) do not work together! Paul actually water-baptised some few; so you can know God didn't tell him "personally" to avoid water baptism.
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 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.
(1 Corinthians 1:14-17 KJV)
At this point, he is thanking God he didn't get involved in water baptism. However, is water baptism conducting a sin? Certainly not! Lest it means Jesus' twelve disciples were sinning right in Jesus' eyes and He didn't correct them. It is just not to serve or assist or confirm or validate or prove or certify or attest a man's salvation that is through the gospel of grace without works. As long as a man is not taking it to mean any of the above functions which believing the gospel should do, it is not a "sin" to conduct water baptism; neither is it a sin to be baptised in one. Only do not build a "salvation doctrine" on it, knowing that "Christ sent me not to baptise, but to preach".
The preaching of the gospel therefore ought to carry a perfect substitute for water baptism. The essence of water baptism ought to be taken care of in the preaching of the gospel. Oh yes! It does! Alleluia!
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.
(Colossians 2:12 KJV)
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.
(Romans 6:3-4 KJV)
Paul who shunned water baptism said to the Colossian saints that they have been baptised through the faith of the operation of God. The same he said to the Romans. Remember Paul did not go about baptising these people, yet he says "we were baptised into Jesus Christ". Thus, in the preaching and receiving of the gospel is the required "water/Holy Ghost baptism". This must be the foolishness being spoken of in 1Corinthians 1. "How can preaching alone produce all needed works for righteousness?" Without water baptism, a man is completely saved, and can go on freely without it forever? Yes!
A man might ask again, "But Jesus said: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19 KJV)."
This is not a complete sentence, because it ended with a colon. The full sentence explains how that "baptizing them in the name of the Father…" is accomplished. It is by "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you", and that does the "baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost!" Do not forget there is no mention of water here.
Also, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:15-16 KJV). Isn't it interesting or coincidental as you may see, that in both places where baptism is used by Jesus, preaching the gospel is the previous word. When a man believes, he is as well baptised; not by you, but by Him whose shoe latchet you should have been unworthy to unloose, Jesus the Holy Ghost Baptiser Himself. This is why Paul sticked on to the preaching of the gospel and he claimed just that is enough!
Slowness of heart to learn this made the disciples go about baptising men in water. Even Paul himself had to go through this unpalatable redundant experience in the hand of Ananias. Also notice that when God instructed Ananias to go to Paul, He did not talk about any water baptism. The same applies to Peter in Cornelius' House: immediately they believed, they were baptised by Christ Himself and they began to speak in tongues even when Peter was yet to realise their salvation. You can't outsmart God.
Dear friend, isn't it just enough that Jesus died? Do you think we should be re-doing what Jesus has done or should do for us? We might need to unlearn some things; humility will serve us better. Even Peter afterwards learnt the proper place of water baptism. He said this when he wrote his epistle.
The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not THE PUTTING AWAY OF THE FILTH OF THE FLESH, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
(1 Peter 3:21 KJV)
which figure now also saves us, baptism; NOT A PUTTING AWAY OF THE FILTH OF THE FLESH, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
(1 Peter 3:21 MKJV)
Oh God! Peter simply reduces water baptism to "THE PUTTING AWAY OF THE FILTH OF THE FLESH", that is, bathing. Peter now says, water baptism is only a means of bodily cleanliness: but the true baptism which now saves us is the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This surely cannot be done by humans (Hebrews 9:9 KJV)
You cannot clear the conscience of a man before God, neither can any physical activity do that. But Jesus has accomplished that for you because He resurrected! Alleluia!
How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and LIFELESS OBSERVANCES to serve the [ever] living God?
(Hebrews 9:14 AMP)
