Baptism and Scripture

Today I would like to clarify the issue of baptism by looking at the most notable passages of scripture that we have about the subject, and point out with pure simplicity of the scriptures just what these passages are saying. I'll start with this one in the book of Romans: "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" (Rom. 6:3,4). The baptism spoken of here is as the apostle stated, that which gives us the capacity to literally "walk in newness of life." So then he isn't talking about the general life that we already had in this world, but rather a 'new' form of life. The question becomes, what is that new life, and how do we walk in it? "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who WALK NOT after the flesh, BUT [do walk] after the Spirit. For the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:1,2). Being made free from sin is in fact the ONLY "new thing under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). The reason we are able to "walk in newness of life" due to baptism is because the baptism that the apostle is speaking of is the baptism of the Spirit [of life], which is that which makes us free from sin through the divine power imparted thereby. Here is another 'baptism' scripture that shows us the same exact thing: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26,27). Here we have a passage that states clearly that we become the children of God BY faith in Jesus, THROUGH the baptism wherewith we literally "put on Christ." The only way we can possibly "put on Christ" through baptism is by being baptized with the holy Ghost; because the Bible clearly says, "Now the Lord IS that Spirit" (II Cor. 3:17). And that is synonymous with what Jesus said about 'believing' on him as well: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive...]. (Jn. 7:38,39). So there we have the simple explanation of how we become the children of God by faith in Jesus, through baptism; and also how it is that we "put on Christ." What this means is that no one is born again UNTIL they are baptized with the holy Ghost, which experience is always accompanied by the God-given sign of speaking with other tongues as it was in the beginning (Acts 2:4). Next up we have yet another 'baptism' passage that only shows us once again what we have already seen: "And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power... 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" (Col. 2:10,12). I would like for you to make a mental note of the "complete in him" part of this passage because I'm going to come back to this and finish the article there. But once again, as in Romans 6, we see that we are both "buried" with Jesus by baptism, and also "risen with him" by the same. The key here is the work 'operation,' which comes from the Greek word 'energeia, which is where we get our word 'energy;' and it simply means "an effectual working of superhuman power." So it is clear that it was the 'power' of God that both raised Jesus from the dead, and also raises us out of the state of sin, by means of baptism. So again we see that it is the baptism of the holy Ghost that is being spoken of here, because Jesus told us that it is the Spirit baptism that would impart "power" to us when we receive it (Acts 1:4,5,8). And to these things the scriptures agree even further: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [brought to life] by the Spirit" (I Pet. 3:18). As for that same quickening power of the Spirit raising our spirit out of sin, we have that explanation in the very next verse of the passage that we are currently looking at: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he QUICKENED together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Col. 2:13).

Let's move on now to this next integral passage on the 'baptism' issue: "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" (I Pet. 3:21). Wow! This one is a real smorgasbord of living, powerful truth. Things become really crucial here because the baptism that Peter speaks of here is what is able to save our souls, as he says; and I have to say that is certainly worthy of our most ardent attention. He makes a distinction in this passage that he is NOT talking about a baptism that merely washes over the body, but rather one that we receive as the result of two things; those being "the answer of a clear conscience toward God, and "the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Actually the last thing mentioned here, meaning "the resurrection of Jesus Christ," is the clincher. This CANNOT be speaking of water baptism because water baptism was available BEFORE the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Not to mention that it is water baptism that he is speaking of that only washes the flesh. No my friend, it is certain that we are once again facing the scriptural reality and truth that it is the baptism of the holy Ghost that ALL of these passages are speaking of, because NOBODY could possibly be baptized with the Spirit until AFTER Jesus rose from the dead and went back to heaven (Jn. 16:7; Acts 1:4,5). Not only so, but Peter's statement that "baptism doth also now save us," shows us that it is the Spirit baptism that Jesus was speaking of in the following passage as well: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:16). And it is just as certain that true faith, or 'believing' can be defined as follows: "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God" (I Jn. 3:21). This is to say that the baptism that Peter spoke of in this passage we are looking at, comes as the result of "the answer of a clear conscience toward God;" which is to say by TRUE faith, or 'believing' on Jesus. And what the passage from Mark 16 tells us as well is that we will surely be "damned" if we do not receive the baptism of the Spirit that Jesus died and rose to give us. The scriptures also agree to the same: "Now if any man have NOT the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom. 8:9). Now let's make sure that no one is confused by the doctrine found in the Pentecostal community that says we 'receive' the Spirit when we "get saved," but come into the fullness of it when we are 'baptized' with the Spirit and speak in tongues: "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might RECEIVE the PROMISE of the SPIRIT through faith" (Gal. 3:14). And this; "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the PROMISE of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:4,5). And here's the icing on that cake: "This Jesus hath God RAISED UP, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the PROMISE of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth THIS, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:32,33). Oh by the way, it was indeed the BAPTISM of the holy Ghost, the PROMISE that Jesus told them to wait for, that these people to whom Peter was preaching were "seeing and hearing" upon the 120 who received it that day.

The last, but certainly not least passage that I'll look at is the one that sums up the whole baptism issue, and it goes like this: "For BY ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into ONE SPIRITt" (I Cor. 12:13). When we're done with this one you might realize why it is that my ministry has long been named, "By One Spirit." This is probably the most important scripture in the new testament writings, and here is why: First of all it tells us clearly how that ANYONE gets "into Christ." By baptism of course, as is the case with the other two scriptures that clearly define how we get "into Christ;" those being Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:27, which we have already covered. But this verse leaves nothing to be interpreted by any other scriptures, as it plainly tells us that it is THE SPIRIT BAPTISM that puts us into the one body of Christ, which is to say into Christ. This is pretty integral I would say, seeing that "being in Christ" is what makes us "a new creature," which is to say born again (II Cor. 5:17). That "new creature" is the one who "walks in newness of life," due to the reality that he has been "buried with him in baptism, [and also] risen with him through the faith of the operation [power] of God, who hath raised him from the dead" (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). And we become a new creature through the Spirit baptism because that is how we "put on Christ," which is to say, "He that is joined to the Lord is ONE SPIRIT [with Christ]: (Gal. 3:27; I Cor. 6:17). And finally I'll go back to the part of Colossians 2:10 that I asked you to remember, that says we are "complete in him." We've seen that we "get into him" through the baptism of the holy Ghost, so what that means is that the baptism of the Spirit is ALL WE NEED!! We have seen that it is the Spirit baptism that delivers [saves] us from our previous sins, imparts new life to us from heaven, gives us power to overcome the sinful nature and "walk in NEWNESS of life." That my friend is our calling. Not to mention that we are commanded to "love one another as Jesus loved us," and that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given to us" (Jn. 15:12; Rom. 5:5). That is the entire purpose of the Gospel, and NONE of the above can be accomplished apart from the power of God that is imparted by the baptism of the holy Ghost. Being a new creature IS being "complete," and the ONLY thing that can be added to a new creature to grow more of the new creature, is MORE OF THE NEW CREATURE!! Water baptism is in God's graveyard along with every other carnal ceremonial ordinance that never imparted life; and the entirety of God's law and commandments are encompassed IN HIS SPIRIT, which law and commandments are written in our hearts when we are baptized with his Spirit (Gal. 3:21; Jn. 4:24; II Cor. 3:3; Philip. 3:3; Heb. 10:14,15). The ONLY thing that is ordained now by God for believers in his Son is his Spirit, whereby we must be "washed, and sanctified, and justified," and "taught", and "led," and "regenerated;" and finally raised from the dead if we remain pure till the end (I Cor. 6:11; Jn. 14:26; Rom. 8:14; Tit. 3:5; Rom. 8:11; I Jn. 3:2,3; Mat. 24:13). Indeed ALL of God's law is fulfilled IN those who have received his Spirit, and continue to walk therein (Rom. 8:4; Rom. 10:4; Gal. 5:16; Col. 2:6). There is, as the Apostle Paul said, "one baptism;" and it is certain that it's the one that Jesus had to die and raise to impart to us (Eph. 4:5). You might want to go back over this post and search out all of the referenced scriptures that are not quoted here, to really get the power of this truth into your heart and mind just right. God bless.