BS-41 ‘Baptism’
When you hear the word ‘baptism’ spoken what is it that you think of? To start with what does it mean? The word comes from the Greek word baptizo, meaning to immerse. People who professed Christ were immersed in the Jordan River by John the Baptist as a public confession of their faith in Jesus as the savior; back about 2000 years ago.
It is like once a person repents and puts their trust in Jesus as their Savior & Lord they identify with the Lord in a public gathering. Sometimes you can use the text in Matthew 10:32-33 as fulfilling the requirement. What does it say?
Jesus speaking, “If you confess me before mankind; I will confess you before my Father in heaven; but if you deny me before mankind; I will deny you before my Father in heaven.” This is a serious comment; one thing I will add is that if you never confess Jesus it is a DEFAULT to denying Him.
Backing up; the only way being SAVED or BORN AGAIN can take place is that with your own mouth you commit to Christ; you put your trust in him for atonement; to take away ALL of your sins. Only the blood shed by Christ is powerful enough to cleanse any of us. Many people use John 3:16, which is good IF you understand that the word ‘believe’ is in the context of your Thesaurus, which means to place trust or confidence in; and you count or depend on the blood shed by Jesus as atonement.
My commentary also uses the words ‘to commit to’ and rightly so. When you read James 2:19 it reads that the demons ‘believe’ and they shudder. They believe in Jesus but have never put their trust nor have they committed to Him.
Baptism comes after salvation, not baptism and then salvation. When a person is being convicted that they need Christ as their Savior often there is a feeling of remorse from within; maybe not always but for those who are not fully repenting or committing to Christ; some call it just giving lip service to the idea; there is no commitment. So, somewhere along the Christian journey the person will walk the talk; they get involved in some way.
At ‘Salvation’, the Holy Spirit enters the person and dwells within. This is called the ‘Baptism of the Holy Spirit’. A SAVED person has the Holy Spirit. If a person does not have conviction when they mess up and sin then there is a challenge with thinking you are a SAVED person.
There is also a term used of being ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’. It is one of those WOW times when you are in tune with God; praying or praising Him and you are overcome with Joy and Gratitude for just connecting spiritually with Him. When it happens you just know-it. For me it causes me to tear-up and cry; knowing the Spirit of God is ministering to me in the moment.
You do not have to speak in tongues to be filled as some in the Corinthian church did; the Apostle wrote that tongues would cease. Some church groups might tell you they do it today; it was called a gift but the lesser of the gifts. You do not need it to be filled. FYI.
Jesus who is ‘God the Son’ was baptized by immersion in the Jordan River. John 1:29-34 & Mark 1:9-11. It is our example.
A QUESTION. Do you have to be ‘Baptized’ to go to heaven? I don’t think so based on the scripture of Luke 23:39-43. There were two thief’s; one of them repented and trusted Jesus for atonement and one rejected Jesus. One went to paradise and one went to hades. The one who showed repentance never had the chance to be baptized but he did publicly acknowledge Jesus with his own mouth as Lord. It is a heart issue; not a legal issue. Baptism does not SAVE the sinner, attitude of the person and true repentance is what counts to the Lord.
Yes to “should we be baptized after ‘Salvation’”. It is the bible way and to be obedient to the gospel; it’s what mankind should do. It is a choice.
DG
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John 3:16. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes [Commits to – Trust in – Counts on – Depends on – and you Rely on.]; in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. [Believe in Christ means much more than just the words believe; the secular or the heathen may have heard or know about Christ and actually believe he was a real person but have never taken the step of putting their trust in Him as Savior & Lord. It is like someone offers you a gift; if you never accept the gift it is not yours.]
James 2:19. 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. [The John 3:16 belief is more than just believing as secular mankind does.]
John 1:29-34. 29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’ 31 And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” [John baptized in water as a testimony that people made the choice to trust in Christ publicly; Jesus did it as an example to ALL of us in what we should do.]
Mark 1:9-11. 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” [The same example but with the other two deities involved with the baptism of the Son.]
Luke 23:39-43. 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” [Only one thief went with Jesus to paradise; the one who confessed Jesus.]