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Doctrine of Baptisms by J-me (Pt. 4) 9/7/2009 5:06:59 AM
The Third Principle of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ according to Hebrews 6:1-2. Baptism in Water - The Second Witness Just as the baptism in the Holy Ghost is an act of love from Jesus Christ to his children, so also is the baptism in water an act of love toward Jesus Christ by the believer. This act by the new believer is the first act of obedience toward God. It is the first act of faith toward Jesus Christ for the new believer. It is evidence of an invisible event (things not seen Hebrews 11:1), the salvation of the believer's soul. And it is the first public witness by the believer that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the believer commits his life to God through Jesus Christ.
Is water baptism an option? No! Absolutely not! This is part of the great commission given by Jesus to his followers.
• Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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."
Jesus himself is baptized as an example for the believer to follow.
• Matthew 3:13-17, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordon unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness, Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
What is the requirement of water baptism? That the believer be baptized in the name of Jesus.
• Acts 19:4-5, "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
• Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
What is the significance of water baptism? It was at the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist that Jesus was revealed publicly as the Son of God.
• John 1:32-34, "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
It is this testimony, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that every believer gives when he receives water baptism.
The baptism in water signifies that the believer is buried into Christ's death and raised to newness of life, thus showing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Romans 6:3-4, "Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized in 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."
By declaring he is dead with Christ the new believer is stating that he is alive toward God.
• Romans 6:10, "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
The water baptism finalizes the commitment by the new believer by stating, "I have believed God and been obedient to his call."
• I Peter 3:21, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 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."
Finally, Just as the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Jesus Christ) in the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:2), so also the new believer allows the Spirit of God to move in his life in a powerful way by participating in the waters of baptism.
