My take on water baptism

[Peterlag]

Circumcision is a work of the flesh required by the Old Testament Law, and by the way so is water baptism, which is a carryover from part of the Levitical Law. There are many examples of people in the Old Testament who would wash themselves with water as a final step to being clean. Water baptism was an outward sign of washing, and then you would be clean to God. Baptism in water, and the need to be circumcised passed away with the coming of Pentecost, as did the other Levitical Laws. To be led by the spirit is to not be under the yoke of bondage with the extreme of legalism, seeking the works of the flesh from the old covenant concerning the past Law administration that was written to Israel.

It's clear from the gospels that water baptism had to do with the kingdom, which was ministered by John who was known as the Baptizer, and not a minister for the Church of God. John who was a prophet functioning under the old covenant was appointed by God to prepare and confirm the promises made to Israel. His message was to tell those who lived under the old covenant that the king had come and “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

He used water as a sign to baptize those who believed the promised Messiah would be coming in just a matter of months and to illustrate that he would be the Christ, who would baptize them not with material water, but with holy spirit, which is “power from on high.” From the habit of tradition, and only for a short period of time, a small handful of people were baptized with water into the New Testament, but never again afterwards.

In the epistles written just a little bit past the beginning of the New Testament is where we read the only time water baptism is mentioned is to note there is no more need for it, and that we are now to be baptized with holy spirit. And this is why in Acts 2:38, Peter commands “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.” In Acts 8:16, Peter and John “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” In Acts 10:48, Peter “commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” In Romans 6:3, it declares “that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ.” There is not one exception to this practice where we see water baptism, which belonged to the time period when Christ walked the earth, being used once the Church of God had become established.

[Willa]

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Baptism is the norm for all disciples of Jesus Christ.  Paul said he had only baptized a few people but he was emphasizing that it is the cross and Christ crucified that saves us, not baptism.  Baptism in water is usually combined with a public confession of our faith in Christ.  It should be by immersion to represent the death burial and resurrection with Christ. i.e. the death and burial of our old nature, having arisen a new creature in Christ, born again.  Baptism is one of the works the Holy Spirit leads us to do, along with reading the Bible, praying, gathering together with other Christians, loving each other.

[Don19]

I see water baptism as looking forward to Holy Spirit baptism, and Holy Spirit baptism is the "one baptism" of Paul (Eph 4:5). Moreover, the references to baptism in texts such as Rom 6:3-4, Col 2:12, Gal 3:27 pertain to Holy Spirit baptism, not water baptism. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body (1 Cor 12:13).

Nevertheless, I see water baptism as a commandment and a gospel ordinance. When God gave Cornelius and the Gentiles the Spirit in Acts 10, I think Peter's reaction sums it up well. One, he asks what man can forbid water to those that have received the Holy Spirit. The water looks forward to the Spirit. Water is turned into wine. Having received the Spirit (the wine), what man can forbid water? But then Peter commands that they be baptized, and I believe that command stands, which is why we baptize in water. But water itself cannot purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. That's what the Spirit does.

Of course, water baptism plays no part in salvation. That comes by faith, through which we receive the gift of the Spirit: the earnest of our inheritance. And once we receive this earnest from God, our salvation is eternally secure. (Otherwise, the promise of the Spirit would be no earnest, nor could we be "sealed" with the Spirit.)

[JohnD]

Water Baptism is an outward testimony of an inward transformation (from unbelief to belief in the Lord Jesus Christ).

It is not required. Certainly not for salvation.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is merely a manner of speaking referring to faith in Christ Jesus which is also a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

Ephesians 4:5 (AV)
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Jesus underwent water Baptism with John and yet said...

Luke 12:50 (AV)
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

He was referring to crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection.

Don't let the metaphor / symbolism cloud your theology. John the water Baptist contrasted water baptism with:

Matthew 3:11 (AV)
11 I indeed baptize 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 baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

 

[R. Hartono]

35 minutes ago, Don19 said:

I see water baptism as looking forward to Holy Spirit baptism, and Holy Spirit baptism is the "one baptism" of Paul (Eph 4:5). Moreover, the references to baptism in texts such as Rom 6:3-4, Col 2:12, Gal 3:27 pertain to Holy Spirit baptism, not water baptism. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body (1 Cor 12:13).

Nevertheless, I see water baptism as a commandment and a gospel ordinance. When God gave Cornelius and the Gentiles the Spirit in Acts 10, I think Peter's reaction sums it up well. One, he asks what man can forbid water to those that have received the Holy Spirit. The water looks forward to the Spirit. Water is turned into wine. Having received the Spirit (the wine), what man can forbid water? But then Peter commands that they be baptized, and I believe that command stands, which is why we baptize in water. But water itself cannot purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. That's what the Spirit does.

Of course, water baptism plays no part in salvation. That comes by faith, through which we receive the gift of the Spirit: the earnest of our inheritance. And once we receive this earnest from God, our salvation is eternally secure. (Otherwise, the promise of the Spirit would be no earnest, nor could we be "sealed" with the Spirit.)

In acts 10 Peter baptize people after they hv rcvd Holy Spirit n spoke in tongue.

 

[Peterlag]

6 hours ago, Willa said:

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Baptism is the norm for all disciples of Jesus Christ.  Paul said he had only baptized a few people but he was emphasizing that it is the cross and Christ crucified that saves us, not baptism.  Baptism in water is usually combined with a public confession of our faith in Christ.  It should be by immersion to represent the death burial and resurrection with Christ. i.e. the death and burial of our old nature, having arisen a new creature in Christ, born again.  Baptism is one of the works the Holy Spirit leads us to do, along with reading the Bible, praying, gathering together with other Christians, loving each other.

Water baptism is not taught in any of the Epistles written by Paul or any other Apostle. All that can be known for the Church of God concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ is in those Epistles. And water is not in there.

 

 

 

 

[Peterlag]

3 hours ago, Don19 said:

I see water baptism as looking forward to Holy Spirit baptism, and Holy Spirit baptism is the "one baptism" of Paul (Eph 4:5). Moreover, the references to baptism in texts such as Rom 6:3-4, Col 2:12, Gal 3:27 pertain to Holy Spirit baptism, not water baptism. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body (1 Cor 12:13).

Nevertheless, I see water baptism as a commandment and a gospel ordinance. When God gave Cornelius and the Gentiles the Spirit in Acts 10, I think Peter's reaction sums it up well. One, he asks what man can forbid water to those that have received the Holy Spirit. The water looks forward to the Spirit. Water is turned into wine. Having received the Spirit (the wine), what man can forbid water? But then Peter commands that they be baptized, and I believe that command stands, which is why we baptize in water. But water itself cannot purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. That's what the Spirit does.

Of course, water baptism plays no part in salvation. That comes by faith, through which we receive the gift of the Spirit: the earnest of our inheritance. And once we receive this earnest from God, our salvation is eternally secure. (Otherwise, the promise of the Spirit would be no earnest, nor could we be "sealed" with the Spirit.)

Water baptism is not taught in any of the Epistles written by Paul or any other Apostle. All that can be known for the Church of God concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ is in those Epistles. And water is not in there.

 

 

 

 

[Peterlag]

3 hours ago, R. Hartono said:

In acts 10 Peter baptize people after they hv rcvd Holy Spirit n spoke in tongue.

 

I think the answer was no and not yes when Peter said how about water.

[appy]

In Acts 10, we read of Cornelius being baptized with water after receiving the Holy Spirit.  Cornelius and all with him that day received the Holy Spirit upon hearing and believing the gospel.  Cornelius was a devout man, but he needed to hear the message of the gospel.  The moment a person believes the gospel message and puts his/her faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into a person's heart, and he or she is born again. The story of Cornelius and the men at Ephesus (Acts 19) teach that we humans need to hear and believe the gospel and that at the moment of believing we receive the Holy Spirit.
 
Nowhere in Scripture are we told to be baptized  in or by the Spirit, or in any sense to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 is the key passage in the Bible regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit:

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”.  Notice that we “all” have been baptized by the Spirit all believers have received the baptism, synonymous with salvation, and it is not a special experience for only a few”.

Romans 6:3-5
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

But Matthew 28:19 commands us to be water baptized.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “

Water baptism is a public testimony and confession of faith in identifying with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. But in order to truly testify, one must not only have faith in Jesus, (that is to believe) but also have been willing or at the least a desire to turn from all known sin (repent). Because the then visual testimony of water baptism is the public affirmation that the person has died to self and turning to a new life in Christ.

One thing I do want to point out in closing is that the Holy Spirit did not die for us, only Jesus died for us. So we are NOT baptized in the Holy Spirit, for He is already residing in our hearts the hour we first believed the message of the gospel.

 

[Don19]

10 hours ago, Peterlag said:

Water baptism is not taught in any of the Epistles written by Paul or any other Apostle. All that can be known for the Church of God concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ is in those Epistles. And water is not in there.

 

 

 

 

What about 1 Cor 1:13-17?