#15: Baptism

In the earthly sanctuary, after walking through the door, the priest would enter the courtyard. Before he could pursue his daily duties of offering the morning sacrifice in the courtyard, and offering incense and lighting the candlestick in the tabernacle, he needed to wash his hands and feet._[1]

Laver Analogy: Not only does baptism begin the Christian walk (holy place); it also empowers you to bring others to the cross (altar of sacrifice).

The first Scripture that builds on this theme is 1 Corinthians 10:1-4:

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 

We understand clouds to be condensed moisture, so the children of Israel were "immersed" in water, with water on the sides of them and over above them. Following, they ate and drank of Christ. And it was all of them - they were a part of a fellowship of believers.

Baptism is the complete immersion of the body beneath the surface of the water. It is a public announcement before men and angels that I have chosen to follow Christ, with no reserves. It is also represents our entering into church fellowship with a body of believers.

Let's examine the story of Cornelius, found in Acts 10:44-48 and Acts 11:15-18:

Firstly, baptism follows an understanding of the Word of God. Secondly, baptism is done in the name of the Lord. "There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved."_[2] Thirdly, both the baptism of water and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are required. In the case of Cornelius, God bestowed the Holy Spirit first so that Peter would understand the universal nature of salvation, that baptism is not just for the Jews. That leads us to our fourth point: preventing baptism is viewed as withstanding God!

The fifth and final point from the story of Cornelius is that it represents repentance unto life.

Which begs the question: what died?

I

Ezekiel 30:15

And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No. 

Romans 6:2-6

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. 

In baptism, self is buried and it dies. Upon coming up out of the water, the person is raised to new life in Jesus, a mere babe in the Spirit. Here we see a beautiful picture of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection: the Rock of our faith._[3]

God wants to destroy sin in us; and when we choose baptism, we are allowing Him to bury that old sinful self. No other form of baptism illustrates this so powerfully.

The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is His name. ...

But God cannot perform what we do not want Him to perform; and when He comes to destroy sin forever, our sinful bodies will naturally be destroyed.

Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

(Exodus 15:2-5)

Pharaoh chose not to be raised to new life.

Jesus requires baptism of His disciples. In John 3, when speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus tells him that entrance to the kingdom of heaven requires baptism.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."_[4]

But Jesus never commands us to do something that He Himself would not do. He left for us an example to follow Him in baptism.

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased._[5]

Again we see in this Scripture that with the baptism of water, there must be the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In the words of Jesus, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit..."

Finally, Jesus commanded us before His ascension that we are to go to all the world, preach the gospel, baptize believers, and instruct them in righteousness. Discipleship!

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._[6]

We are the baptize in the name of the Godhead: in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Why is that? Because power is committed to the Son by the Father_[7]; and no man comes to the Father but by Christ_[8]; and we are to also be baptized with the Spirit.

Baptism represents our decision to accept salvation and serve God. Salvation follows belief, and baptism follows salvation.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

Believing is the first step. But where there is true faith, action follows._[9] If a man made a decision for Christ, and was unable to be baptized, God would count his belief for righteousness._[10] But if another man made a decision for Christ, but chose not to be baptized even when there were no barriers, that man would be damned._[11]

The story of Naaman provides for us a perfect example:

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean._[12] 

Namaan at first did not believe that simply bathing in the dirty Jordan would cleanse him of his malady. He wanted "some great thing," something he could be proud of. Instead, God only wanted Naaman to trust His word and belief in His power. "Not by might, nor by power, but My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."_[13]

Baptism is nothing special by itself. It is an acknowledgment of my belief in Christ and of His power to both cleanse and save me from sin. When I am baptized with His Spirit also, He empowers me to walk in newness of life and to grow in grace through a knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - in other words, a study of the word of God (the table of showbread) and communion with Him through prayer (the golden altar of incense).

In "#12: The Church", we will see that baptism obligates us to share God with others (the golden candlestick) and lead them to the cross (the brazen altar of sacrifice).

1. Exodus 30:18-21
2. Acts 4:12
3. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 Corinthians 10:4
4. John 3:5-6
5. Luke 3:21-22
6. Matthew 28:18-20
7. John 10:29; John 14:28
8. John 14:6
9. James 2:14, 18-20
10. Romans 4:3-5; Luke 23:39-43
11. James 2:26; Matthew 21:28-32
12. 2 Kings 5:9-14
13. Zechariah 4:6

#2: The Godhead (Part 2 of 2)

Now let's speak about the dynamics of the Godhead.

God is interesting because He is three in one_[1]. There are three persons, each who carry the same divine nature and mission. They are equal in power and strength and divinity. They have a harmony of purpose -- all votes are unanimous. Though they all have almighty power, they defer to one another. They allow the other(s) to give them commands_[2]. It is a harmonious union, one without flaw.

Wile there are three persons to the Godhead, God emphasized strongly to the children of Israel: "The LORD our God is one LORD."_[3] There was to be no mistake -- God is one. Israel was not to be as the heathens around them_[4]. They were not to have a Baal for rain and an Asherah for fertility; they were not to pray to a Poseidon for the stilling of the waters and then to an Apollo for healing. NO: they were to have one God over all. He proves His all-encompassing power in the Egyptian plagues by overthrowing all that to them was dear_[5]. He wanted to show His people that God is ONE.

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In the same way, God has made His people to be individuals that operate as one body -- a perfect harmony, if you would. He has ordained this is marriage and in His church.

1. In a marital relationship, the two become one flesh_[6]. This is true physically, emotionally, and psychologically. They are not to lose their individuality; they are not to be swallowed up into the personality of another. But each is to love the other with so much love and heart-felt desire that they are willing to humble themselves and defer to the will of the other party, so long as it does not conflict with the will of God in any way_[7]. The wife is to submit to her husband, and the husband is to love his wife unconditionally_[8]. The divine parallel to this is Jesus as the husband and the church as His bride. Jesus, being higher than us, is to be submitted to: we are to humble our selves and our wills before Him_[9]. Yet, though above us, Christ does not shame us; He loves us unconditionally_[10].
2. While speaking of the church, let us remember that we are all the bride of Christ_[11]. But God does not advocate the having of multiple wives; we, as the body of Christ, are to be one_[12]. Though we are each unique in our talents, gifts, personalities, and backgrounds, we all are members of the body. The body has many parts -- sometimes two of each part. There are arms and legs that aid the church in moving forward. There are ears and eyes that work as watchmen. There is the mouth that speaks words of truth. But all of these parts do not operate on their own. We must also remember the workers behind the scenes -- those who act as the muscles, and tendons, and nerves, and cells. Most importantly of all is the brain, and that is Jesus Christ. He operates the controls; He is the reason why we can move at all; and without Him, we are nothing. Working together, each doing our individual part and each working towards the same goal, we can accomplish the work that God has for us to do.

Scriptural References:

1. Notice the plurality in Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 11:5-7
2. John 14:10, 13, 16, 24, 26, 28, 31; John 15:8-10, 26; John 16:7, 13-15, 25-28; John 17:1-2, 4-5, 21
3. Deuteronomy 6:4
4. Deuteronomy 12:29-32; Deuteronomy 18:9; Jeremiah 10:2-4
5. Exodus 7-10
6. Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:31
7. 1 Peter 5:5; Ephesians 5:21; Acts 4:19
8. Ephesians 5:22, 25, 28-29, 33; Colossians 3:18-19
9. Ephesians 5:23-24; James 4:7
10. John 15:13; Ephesians 5:23-27
11. Revelation 19:7-9; 21:9-11; Ephesians 5:30-32
12. Ephesians 4:4-7; 1 Corinthians 12

#2: The Godhead (Part 1 of 2)

God, being the theme of the Bible, will be spoken of the most, right?

This is an interesting topic because defining God is a difficult task. "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever..."_[1] God has not revealed to us everything about Himself. For us to attempt to analyze and dissect God is not only inappropriate, but dangerous. Easily, skeptics are made as people attempt to prove that which does not have "sufficient evidence" in the eyes of man. What we need to do is take God at His word; we ought to believe, for His Word is unfailing.

God has revealed Himself through His acts of creation, justice, mercy, and love. We may see God's character of the perfection outlined in the undeviating symmetry of a leaf of flower. His creativity and artistic expression may be marked in the various colors and textures that flood our earth. The mother's love displays the love and care of heaven_[2]. Within the moral laws of ancient Israel, it may be seen that justice is mandated for every wrong. Repudiation, redemption, restoration can and must be acquired_[3]. We see in the history of man how God shows love, mercy, justice, and order in the individual lives of His people. We see that He does not change -- He is the same yesterday, today, and forever_[4]. All these we can learn by observation. Jesus often pointed to things in nature and in everyday life to show His hearers who God is_[5].

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One of the most important revelations of God is His many names. In that part of the world -- The Middle East and Asia -- names carry significant meaning. So the names of the God must be important_[6]. They indicate His power, His status, His sovereignty, and His love.

Though He is all-powerful, God has allowed us to maintain freedom of choice. We as individuals may choose to rebel or to submit. God has a path outlined for us_[7]; but we still choose if we will take it.

So how do we account for His foreknowledge? Let's just say that He read the book before the movie came out. He read that He would plead with us, and He read whether or not we would listen. He knows the end from the beginning (which means that He knows everything from the beginning of the world to the end and eternity, and that He knew all of it at the beginning)_[8]; but He does not take the liberty of changing it to suit Him. He does not violate our free choice.


Scriptural References:

1. Deuteronomy 29:29
2. Isaiah 66:12-13
3. Leviticus 14 & 25
4. Hebrews 13:8
5. See Matthew 6:24-34; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 15; John 3:5-8
6. Psalm 148:13
7. Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 1:3-6; Jeremiah 1:5
8. Isaiah 46:9-11