Baptism
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Baptism should always be by full immersion which is symbolic and representational of dying to all of your sinful ways, being buried in a grave of water, and rising again as a clean, new person, symbolic of resurrection to a new way of life in Christ, and identifying fully with what Jesus did on our behalf. The Greek ‘baptiso’ means ’to dip’ into = fully ‘immerse.’
One should be baptised only when they are old enough to make an informed decision with wisdom. It certainly was never intended for babies. A baby may be prayerfully dedicated to GOD, but a baby cannot make an informed decision to be baptised of his or her own choice.
The baptisms of John the Baptist, Jesus and all others in the Bible were by full immersion. Any other way is not representing what it was designed for. Christening - sprinkling with water - is only a symbol of a symbol, it is not scriptural and does not count at all.
‘Christening’ at best can only be described as a symbol of something which is already a symbol. It is a bit like painting the word ‘blue’ on a wall instead of actually painting the wall blue.
A person may be re-baptised if they feel they need to make a fresh declaration, maybe in repentant renewal after falling away; or they have gained significant additional revelation and knowledge, and their relationship with GOD has grown and expanded in transformative ways.
The word baptism comes from the Greek work baptizó, which primarily means a thorough change of condition accomplished through full immersion – to submerge - submersion - plunge. In the Bible it takes the place of the Hebrew word Tevilah = to totally immerse.
This ritual immersion in water is carried out in a ‘mikvah,’ (also spelt ‘mikveh’) which is a Hebrew word meaning gathering of waters – a place of sufficient water for baptism.
For the observant Jew, the mikvah personifies both the womb and the grave and consequently, rebirth. It is regarded as a pure, unadulterated avenue of connection with GOD; and for that reason, it is a place where hope is re-awakened and strengthened.
Matthew 28:18-20 ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
Mark 16:15-16 ‘He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Luke 3:16 ‘John (the Baptist) answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But the One Who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of Whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Luke 3:21-22 ‘When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are MY Son, Whom I love; with You I am well pleased.”
At the founding of the New Testament church, when the Holy Ghost was poured out on the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the multitude:
Acts 2:36-47 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this; GOD has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off; for all whom the LORD our GOD will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising GOD and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’
Every word must be established in the mouth of two or three witnesses. Scripture tells us that the Jews, Samaritans and those believing from the other nations were baptized in the ‘Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.’ We cannot base our teachings on doctrines originating at the Nicean Council. We can only accept the unadulterated Word of GOD.
Satan can only feed his wrong interpretation of scripture to those who do not believe the testimony of GOD’s Word.
The reasoning that the words of Jesus have more significance than those of the apostles, is not overly fundamental, because all Scripture is inspired. The apostles had the revelation and acted on what Jesus told them to do. No Scripture passage records the baptism of one single person or infant by sprinkling - Christening. FATHER, Son and Holy Ghost / Spirit are titles, in Bible days, only those who believed were baptized into the Name which is above every name; the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord GOD Almighty revealed Himself as FATHER, Son and Holy Ghost in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Choose to follow apostolic forebears and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and not follow questionable interpretations which allow for Satanic or denominational religious dilution and distortion.
Acts 8:26-40 Tells the story of Philip being directed by an angel of the Lord to go in a certain direction, which he did, and encountered an Ethiopian eunuch who he baptized shortly afterwards.
Acts 19:4-7 ‘Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.” He told the people to “believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus; when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all.’
Acts 22:16 ‘And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His Name.’
When Jesus was about to depart from this Earth He spoke to His disciples and commissioned them:
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.
Peter and all the other apostles were present. They heard and understood their Saviour correctly. Jesus did not give this commission in the plural: baptize them in the names, but in the singular - “baptize them in the name.” He did not say: “in the name of the FATHER, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Ghost.” If He had, we would have to search for three different names. The Master - GOD - spoke only of the ‘Name’ of the FATHER, Son and Holy Ghost.
What is this one Name? Father is a title, Son is a title and the Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit. What is the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the Name the disciples were to baptize in?
Philip taught the same in Samaria:
Acts 8:16 ‘For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.’
After Peter had the wonderful experience in the house of Cornelius, he commanded them: Acts 10:44 ‘While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on al who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising GOD.
Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.’
Many ministers of today refer to Paul the great apostle. Of those baptized under his ministry, we read:
Acts 19:4-7 ‘Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after Him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.’
As well as baptizing – ‘In the name of the FATHER, Son, and Holy Ghost,’ - the apostles baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:1-10 ‘What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the FATHER, we too may live a new life.
If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once and for all; but the life He lives, He lives to GOD.’
1 Peter 3:17-22 & 4:1-2 ‘For it is better, if it is GOD’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to GOD. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits – to those who were disobedient long ago when GOD waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people , eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward GOD. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at GOD’s right hand, with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.’
Galatians 3:26-29 ‘So in Christ you are all children of GOD through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.’
Ephesians 4:4-6 ‘There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one GOD and FATHER of all, WHO is over all and through all and in all.’
Colossians 2:11-12 ‘In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of GOD, who raised Him from the dead.’