Water Baptism

Article Index


D efinition

Greek: Bapto, to dip. Consists of the process of immersion, submersion and emergence. Used in the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping one vessel into another. To whelm, cover wholly with a fluid. Baptizo, to make whelmed, fully wet.

English: Latin and Greek baptisma, from Greek, bapto, I dip in water. The initiatory sacrament of the Christian religion; the dipping among water; or sprinkling with water.

Water Baptism is the most persecuted truth in the two thousand years history of the Christian Church.

It's central truth. as in the Greek definition above, is Death, Burial and Resurrection.


 

O ld Testament Shadows

1. Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void: and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

The baptismal waters of judgment, the Spirit moved, God spoke.

2. Genesis 6-8 The Flood of Noah.

The baptism of the world in water. The purpose was the destruction of all ungodly flesh.

Water Baptism is not an optional extra for Christians. It is an express commandment of the Lord Jesus

1 Peter 3:20,21 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 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.

Eight (resurrection life) people were raised to new life in the triune ark.

3. Genesis 17:5,10-12,24 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin-, and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not thy seed. And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

(a)Cutting Off Flesh

Romans 2:28,29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew. which is one inwardly-, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

(b) Receiving the God Given Name

- Identification

  1. The Number Eight
  2.  Resurrection

 

T he Triple Seal of God

1 John 5:6-8 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness. because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, the water and the blood: and these three agree in one.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 14 The Cleansing of the Leper
1. Washing in Water.
2. Triple Application of Blood.
3. Threefold anointing of oil on the blood on the right ear, the right thumb, and the great toe of the right foot.

John 3:3,5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 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.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised 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.

The Tabernacle of Moses comprised three compartments, the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

4. Exodus 12-14 The Baptism of a Nation

The Blood of the Passover Lamb, the Waters of Separation of the Red Sea and the Glory Cloud of the Presence of God.

Mark 16:16,17 He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; and they shall speak with new tongues.

Matthew 3:16,17 And Jesus, when he was baptised, 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 a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

5. Joshua 3,4 The Crossing of the Jordan River by the Nation of Israel, Before Entering the Promised Land. Twice in the Church Age does the Church touch the reality of Water Baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism: at the beginning and end of the age: the former and latter rain,

Joshua 3:3,4. 4:6-8 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, that waters of Jordan were cut off; and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever. And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

The Ark of the Covenant is baptised in water two thousand cubits before the people. This is a picture of the Lord Jesus’ water baptism and death two thousand years before the Church enters the Millenium. The Tabernacle is also baptised in water. This signifies Christ and His Church becoming one in water and Spirit baptism, in His death and resurrection.

6. 2 Kings 2:1-11 Elijah and Elisha Baptised in the Jordan by the Power of Elijah’s Mantle. Water baptism in the power of the Spirit. Christ and His Church are One in this operation.

7. 2 Kings 2:12-15 Elisha is Baptised in Jordan by the Power of Elijah’s Mantle That Had Become His. The Church is empowered by Christ through the Holy Spirit to minister water baptism.

8. 2 Kings 5:1-14 Naaman, the Leper, is Baptised in the Jordan River at the Command of Elisha. Naaman was baptised seven times (a theme in the Word of God which requires diligent consideration); a perfect work. Christ’s baptism and death are perfect. Shows healing for the Body of Christ through His death. Portrays the Gentiles receiving the gospel (healing) and water baptism.

9. 2 Kings 6:1-7 Elisha and the Floating Axehead The axehead was baptised in Jordan, then raised by the Spirit of God.

10. Jonah 1,2 Jonah’s Baptism in Water for Three days and Three Nights The sign of the prophet Jonah

Matthew 12:38-40 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall be no sign given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. From these examples it is seen that the subject of Water Baptism is inseparable from the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every picture shows forth the accomplishment of the Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection.


 

N ew Testament Realities

1. Matthew 3:5-12 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptised of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Mark 1:4,5,1 John did baptise in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptised of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

John 3:23 And John also was baptising in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came and were baptised.

Acts 18:24-26 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Acts 19:4,5 Then said Paul, John verily baptised 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 baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. John's baptism, being nameless. is inadequate for the church.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.


 

T he Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13-17 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptised of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptised 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 baptised, 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.

(a) Birth of Jesus
(b) Water Baptism of Jesus
(c) Spirit Baptism of Jesus

The water baptism of Jesus pointed forward to His death, In the Jordan River He was buried in water: three and a half years later, He was buried in Joseph’s tomb. The Spirit baptism of Jesus points to His resurrection. In the Jordan River He received the Spirit rising from the water: three and a half years later, He was resurrected from the dead to live by the Spirit.

 

J esus' Disciples Baptise

John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them, and baptised.

John 4:1,2 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptised more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptised not, but his disciples,)

 

A Church Ordinance                                                    

Matthew 28:19 Commandment
Mark 16:16 Salvation
John 14:15 Keep Commandment
Luke 6:46 Do What I Say
Acts 2:38 Commandment
Philippians 2:11 Lord Jesus Christ


 

W ater Baptism Examples

Acts 8:12-16 Philip at Samaria
Acts 8:36-39 The Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 9:5,17,18. 22:16 Paul
Acts 10:47,48 Cornelius’ House
Acts 16:15 Lydia and Her House
Acts 16:33 The Philippian Jailer
Acts 18:8 The Corinthians
Acts 19:1-7 Paul at Ephesus


 

T he Believer's Experience

Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised 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: Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. Death Romans 6:3-5,11
2. Burial Colossians 2:11,12
3. Resurrection Romans 6:4,5,11 Colossians 3:1

Jesus identified Himself with us at Calvary. We are to identify ourselves with Him in Water Baptism.

The Importance of the Name 1 Corinthians 1:12-17

One Baptism Ephesians 4:5

The Doctrine of Baptisms Hebrews 6:1,2 Repentance and Faith are prerequisites.

1 Corinthians 15:29 If Christ is dead. then what is the purpose of being baptised into His death. if the dead rise not, if there is no resurrection? The context is Resurrection.