WORDS OF LIFE

Baptism Explained in Depth
Baptize = immerse into a liquid

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: *His name is 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.
*Those that received Peter’s preaching, were baptized.
Acts 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized

*A type & shadow of baptism started in the O.T.
(Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come...)
1 Peter 3:20 ...in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 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: (not by the washing of the flesh, but the solution (answer) of a clean heart (conscience)

*The ark:
gopher wood ... mentioned One time in the Bible - One way to build the ark (just like there was One way to build an^ altar that would be accepted >1 K. 18:32-35...the wood had to be placed ‘in order’ & covered with ‘water’ 3 times...representing the 3 days in the grave.)
pitch ... ‘sealed’  the wood (the Holy Ghost- Eph 4:30...whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
window ... One source of light (truth) John 9:5...I am the light of the world. Jn 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
door... One door in the ‘side’ of the ark...the only way to enter > Jn 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved...
Jn 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. *Not just blood, but blood & water flowed from Calvary (place of crucifixion)
Gen 7:16...and the LORD shut him in.
water / flood... Gen 7:17...the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. (Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:) 

►Baptism is an operation of God by faith (operation = the way a thing works)
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: *HOW? >
12 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.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (...baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus  Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins... Acts 2:38)
Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. *No other name saves & there has to be a way to receive the name. When we are born, we have the bloodline of our father, and we inherit his surname. Life transfers from parent to child & Blood type is determined by genes inherited from the parents. Since Christ’s blood is what cleanses us from sin, & water baptism is a symbol of burial, it stands to reason that we take on His name in baptism. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (Jn 3:5) *When Jesus was on the cross, “...one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (Jn 19:34) *Not blood only, but blood & water, this signifying that water baptism applies the blood! We are crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed...(Rom 6:6) *The blood & water that flowed from Calvary covers us in water baptism & we are reborn & become a new creature in Christ.

 

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (into = movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else)
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it (the church) with the ^washing of water by the word,
(with = indicating the instrument used to perform an action)
^ making the church holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's Word; > Jn 1:14 ... the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us... (Jesus)

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized ^into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
*The action (^into) of baptism into Jesus Christ is the crucifying & burying of our sinful self. It is an operation of faith & obedience to His doctrine. We show our faith (belief) by obeying this action. 
4 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.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that ^our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (put something on someone) >
Rev 22:4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

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*But what about these scriptures? >

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

*In Rom.10, Paul is teaching on salvation, emphasizing that there is no distinction between Jews and Greeks. He states that to call upon the name of the Lord, one must first believe, and to believe, the gospel must be preached, as faith is derived from hearing the Word. In verse 5, he says that not all Jews have turned away from God...there is a remnant chosen by God, not because of what they have done but by the grace of God. (Rev 22:17...whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.)
*Salvation is not ‘earned,’ it is freely given to all who will receive & obey his doctrine. Baptism is not a ‘work,’ it is an operation of faith & a symbol of being washed clean by His blood.

1 Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God...
1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
*The church is made clean - washed by baptism & the Word. (Eph 5:26)
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, (rebirth) and renewing (making new) of the Holy Ghost;
6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
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*The Kingdom...
Matt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
‘at hand’ = accessible / about to happen / physically within reach
v. 3 - fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah > ...The voice of one (John) crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Prepare the way = create or prepare the essential foundation for Christ’s kingdom (get the people ready for His coming)
Acts 10:44, 45  While Peter is preaching, the Gentiles receive the Holy Ghost & Peter says...
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Acts 19: 1 Paul, finding disciples at Ephesus, asked “have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” (since you became believers of Christ?)
They answered...
Acts 19:2 We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
(John’s baptism - was a call for individuals to acknowledge their sins, and commit to a new way of living in anticipation of the Messiah's arrival.)
4 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.
*They already believed in the Christ that John preached about or they wouldn’t have been baptized, but John didn’t leave his message at baptism - he urged them to believe on the ‘lamb of God’ that would bring them redemption. Remission is forgiveness. Redemption is pardon / salvation.
*John never claimed that the ‘baptism of repentance’ brought salvation. When he was in Bethabara baptizing, he saw Jesus coming to him & said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29) (referring to the prophecy in Isa. 53:7...he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter..
We are redeemed by the blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish & without spot.(1 Pet. 1:18, 19)
Without shedding of blood there is no remission. (He. 9:22)
►5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. *The Holy Ghost is promised to them that are baptized in His name)

 

 ►Why do some people receive the Holy Ghost before water baptism in Jesus name? 

*The moment a 'believer' possesses a genuinely repentant heart, Jesus is faithful to fill them with the Holy Ghost; however, this does not negate the command to be baptized. Peter was preaching... that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:43, 44) *But then Peter said in verses 47,48, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”

►Were the Apostles baptized? 

We don’t find scriptural evidence that the apostles were baptized before Jesus’ death (unto John’s baptism) they were already followers / believers. We do however find scripture where they baptized others (the baptisms would have been in the same manner as John’s) > Jn 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. Jn 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples..) *Baptism in His name serves as a symbol of burial with Him, representing the removal of sins of the flesh and the cleansing through His blood. It is possible that they did not need to perform the ritual due to the profound time they spent with Jesus and the significant moment when He 'breathed on them,' imparting new life by filling them with the Holy Spirit. 

►Paul tells of his own baptism:
Acts 22:10 What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (His name is Jesus)

Rev 1:5...Unto him (Jesus) that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood...
1 Cor 6:11...ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus...
1 Jn 1:7...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Acts 2:38...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.
*We have established that water baptism in His name is a type of burial of the old man (our sinful flesh) “buried with him in baptism”: a spiritual circumcision (putting off the body of the sins of the flesh). This happens through faith in the ‘operation’ of God. (operation = the way a thing works)  The word ‘operation’ having a two-fold meaning > 1)The cutting away of sinful flesh. 2) Being covered by the blood of Christ for remission of our sins. (Col. 2:11-14)
*There is no power in the water itself - the power is in His name. Jesus was the lamb, the blood sacrifice. It is “...His name that shall be in their foreheads.” (Rev. 22:4) 
*Baptism is not merely a demonstration of faith or a means of joining a church; it is an obedient act of faith through which our sins are cleansed by the blood of Christ.

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*The Thief on the Cross:

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. (malefactor = evil doer / criminal)
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

*The kingdom - Jesus brought the kingdom in himself....He is our salvation. 
In Matt 4:17 Jesus preached > "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (within reach)
Luke 17:21...behold, the kingdom of God is within (inside) you. 

►43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
paradise = place of future happiness (Strongs dict.) place or state where the souls of the righteous await resurrection (Websters) The term "Paradise" is derived from the Persian word "pairidaeza," it signifies a place of exceptional beauty and delight, often associated with the presence of God and eternal bliss.(Oxford)

*Those that were saved before Christ’s crucifixion are ‘asleep in Jesus’ >
1 Thess 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which ‘sleep in Jesus’ will God bring with him.
1 Cor 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, *Those who died before Christ’s coming are asleep in him (at rest) while those that are alive when He returns for his church, shall be changed.
1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

►Why didn’t the thief on the cross have to be baptized & filled with the Holy Ghost?
*God is a merciful God & a righteous judge. Would a righteous God ignore a penitent heart & deny him salvation? >
Jn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Lu. 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them...
Rom 9:15...I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 

*The thief was facing death, so he was declared sanctified and welcomed into the kingdom by the law, similar unto the patriarchs & prophets in the Old Testament. Luke is the only writer that gives account of the thief’s request & there may have been more to the conversation that is not recorded. 
  Those in the Old Testament were not baptized with the New Testament baptism. However, we see a type & shadow of baptism in the crossing of the Red Sea (notice the name --‘Red Sea,’ typifying the blood of Christ,& they crossed on ‘dry’ ground. (dry ground because the blood had not yet been shed)
1 Cor 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Symbolizing baptism & the infilling of the Holy Ghost. 
*Lev. 16 gives detail about the scapegoat & the ritual of atonement for the sins of the Israelites. 
The high priest, Aaron, is instructed to offer a bull as a sin offering and a goat as the scapegoat. The goat is sent into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of the people's sins. However, the blood of bulls & goats only sanctified the flesh & kept them in God’s grace from year to year.>

Heb 10:4 it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. But the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:7) 
*Jesus fulfilled the law when he came to earth in the flesh to be a living sacrifice for our sins. Now we can enter into the holy place in him by a new & living way - “through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” He. 10:20)
*There are other symbolic acts of New Testament baptism such as Noah’s Ark, Crossing the Jordan, Naaman’s healing:  Gen. 7:5-23, Josh 3:17. 2 Kings 5:14
Just because the thief was granted mercy at his death, that doesn’t negate the need for adherence to the gospel of Christ.

Other instances of baptism in the New Testament.
Lydia & her family - Acts 16:14,15
Keeper of the prison & his family - Acts 16:33
Cripus & many Corinthians - Acts 18:8

Lev. 16 gives detail about the scapegoat & the ritual of atonement for the sins of the Israelites. The high priest, Aaron, is instructed to offer a bull as a sin offering and a goat as the scapegoat. The goat is sent into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of the people's sins. In essence, a scapegoat in the Bible is one who makes atonement for another (or redeems them). Just as the scapegoat was taken outside of the camp and into the wilderness, Jesus was taken outside of Jerusalem to be crucified. He was our final sin offering, tho He was sinless, the cross that he bore was our sins.
 Two goats were brought to the priest before the Tabernacle. Lots were cast upon them and on the forehead of one goat was written, "For the Lord."  This goat was killed, and burned on the altar; and the priest, with some of the blood of the slain goat, entered the Holy of Holies, and sprinkled the blood on the ark of the covenant, thus asking God to receive the blood and the offering, and to forgive the sins of the people, and on the other goat was written words that meant, "To be sent away."  This goat was led away into the wilderness, never find his way back to the camp; This was to show the sins of the people as taken away, never to come back to them.
*On crucifixion day - Two men, one crucified & one set free...
*When Jesus was brought before Pilate, as was customary, one prisoner was to be released during Passover. When Pilate inquired of the people whether Jesus should be released, they responded, "Not this man, but Barabbas." (Jn. 19:40)

*Salvation is a marvelous gift from God & is not to be taken lightly. >
Phil 2:12...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (work out = cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete)
Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (they shall have a clear understanding & comprehension of the Lord & his operation of salvation)
The promise of salvation is for all who will believe & receive. (Acts 2:39)