For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and
have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
— I Corinthians 12:13 —
Baptism of Repentance
Mark 1:1-4 The beginning of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold,
I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before
thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness,
and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
John the Baptist preached the “baptism of repentance
for the remission of sins.” It isn't the same baptism that
he performed in the river Jordan. John’s baptism couldn't bring
about remission of sins; the baptism of Jesus could.
To “baptize” is to wash completely or cleanse.
It is a metaphor for the true cleansing of the soul. In the book
of Mark, John the Baptist demonstrates that there is a difference
between his baptism and the baptism of Jesus.
Mark 1:7-8 …, There cometh one
mightier than I after me, the latchet whose shoes I am not worthy
to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized
you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
The two key words in this passage are “with”
and “but,” with denoting “by
what method” and but showing “exception”.
Consider it written this way, “I indeed have baptized
you using water, however, he shall baptize
you using the Holy Ghost.”
Water Baptism is a Symbol
This will probably offend many, but baptism of
water was only a symbol pointing to the real baptism. The rituals
of the temple were symbolic of the real sacrifice that Jesus would later
make. We don't continue to practice ritual sacrifice to remind
us that Jesus died for our sins. Why should we continue to practice
water baptism when we have received the Holy Spirit? ( Read
Hebrews 8- 10 )
Hebrews 9:8-14 The Holy Ghost this signifying,
that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest,
while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a
figure for the time then present,
in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not
make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the
conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings,
and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until
the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high
priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle,
not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither
by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered
in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes
of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of
the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?
Christianity is based entirely on faith. There
is no ritual requirement prerequisite to being Christian. It is
not wrong to perform or receive water baptism.
It is wrong, however, to say that it is conditional to salvation.
Consider the thief crucified with Jesus in Luke 23:39- 43,
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed
on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear
God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed
justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this
man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto
him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt
thou be with me in paradise.
The thief did not have a chance for baptism, still
Jesus promised him that he would be in paradise.
If you personally feel that you should receive baptism
with water, then by all means do so. It would be wrong not to, for conscience
sake. (Read Romans 14)
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned
if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:
for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1:14-17,
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.
If Paul had felt that water baptism was very important,
he would not have ceased to practice it. Water baptism was
a transitional figure between the old covenant and the new covenant.
John was sent by God to perform water baptism while preaching the baptism
of the Holy Ghost, which had not yet been given. Jesus said,
John 7:38-39 He that
believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly
shall flow, rivers of living water. (But this spake he of
the Spirit, which they that believe on him should
receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because
that Jesus was not yet glorified).
When the Holy Ghost was given, the need for a symbol
was finished.
Hebrews 8:10-13 For this
is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God,
and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every
man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know
the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins
and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith,
A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that
which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to
vanish away.
Baptism of Fire
The truth is we must be baptized to be saved, but
it is with the Holy Spirit that we must be baptized.
There is another baptism mentioned in the Bible,
the baptism of fire found in Matthew 3:11-12 and Luke. It
says,
Luke 3:16-17 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: Whose fan is in
his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the
wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Mark 9:49 For every one
shall be salted with fire,…
We will be baptized with fire; it is inevitable.
This isn't figurative or spiritual symbolism, it is literal.
There is an account in Daniel which also serves as a precursor and example
of the baptism of fire.
During a time when the kingdom of Judah was overthrown
by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the people of Judah were taken
captive.
Daniel 1:6-7 Now among these were of the
children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto
Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach;
and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
These young Jewish captives refused to fall down and
worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. For their
obstinance, three of them were thrown alive into a “burning
fiery furnace.”
Daniel 3:20-25 And he commanded the most
mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery
furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen,
and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast
into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the
king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot,
the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery
furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose
up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors,
Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They
answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered
and said, Lo, I see four men loose,
walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt;
and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Verse 27 and 28 says, “the
fire had no power over these men because they trusted their God.”
In Revelation 21:8, we see another kind of fiery furnace.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and
the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.
For we who trust in God, Revelation 20:6 says,
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in
the first resurrection: on such the second
death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and
of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
