MARTINSVILLE FIRST CHISTIAN CHURCH

The Baptism Question PART 1

 

There are many questions that we can ask about Baptism and in this book it will be my goal to answer as many questions as I can.  But before I begin to answer the questions that will be set before us to consider I would like for us to trace the origin of baptism.  If baptism is a doctrine of men then its connection with salvation would be invalid. But if it is from God then it must be consider to be something that falls under his grace, it would then have to be a work of God. Scripture plainly states that men can’t come up with any work that can get them to Heaven.  But the scripture never does say that God can’t require you to do something. Many have been taught that baptism is a work done by the person being baptized so it can have no place in the plan of salvation. If they want to teach that all you have to do is believe then they must make the same argument that belief is a work of men.  But here’s the real truth about belief. John 6:29 indicates that belief is a work of God. 29 “Jesus answered and said to them, this is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (NAS) So believing is a vital part of Gods plan of salvation as one who has never heard the message can’t be saved for they have never heard how to be saved. You might say well that’s not fair that God would send someone to Hell because they have never heard the gospel. My response to that is they had a chance when they go by a church to say I need to investigate. Is it fair that many have set in the pews year after year and never led anyone to Christ? How many people have you led to Christ? The shame of people not knowing is a burden upon every Christian because of Gods commission in Matthew 28:18-20 “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 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (KJV)
The believer is also under the conviction to confess his belief before others as Jesus made clear in Matthew 10:32 “Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven.” (NIV) Then we find that the teaching continued throughout the New Testament in such passages as Mark 8:38; 1st Timothy 6:12-13; 1st John 4:15; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-37. There are many who believe that Jesus is the Christ but they refuse to stand before others and acknowledge His authority. Churches are filled with believers who do not want to make a commitment and take on the responsibilities of a Christian.
We also need to repent of our sins which also commissioned by Jesus in Luke 13:5 “except you repent you shall all likewise perish.” (NIV) Repentance is a turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. This concept is also found throughout the New Testament in other passages such as Luke 15:7; Luke 15:17-20; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30; 2nd Peter 3:9; 1st Peter 3:11; 2nd Corinthians 7:10. I will not baptize a person unless they have gone through these three steps.
Then a person must be baptized and we will make several comments throughout this book on the importance of baptism. Matthew 28:18-20 is the commission from Jesus to baptize those who are disciples. Disciple means learner and also may carry the weight of one who has believed what they are learning. There are several passages in the New Testament that tell us to be baptized and what baptism is for and we have the example in Acts of those being baptized.                                               
Now many will claim that baptism has nothing to do with your salvation and they will claim that it’s a work of men. Colossian 2:11-12 clearly states that baptism is a work of God and we look through the New Testament we must come to realize that being born again is a responsibility that should not be entered into lightly. Since Baptism is a work of God and not of men its connection with salvation is still under the grace of God. When you are baptized God is at work through his son Jesus and in the action of baptism, God (not men) washes away your sins (remission). Colossians 2: 11 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 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.” (KJV) God circumcised your heart by removing your sins because of Christ which took place at your baptism. He raised you up because of your faith and His work. You did nothing when you allowed yourself to be baptized. Since we are always thrown on the defense to prove baptism is in the plan of salvation it is the duty of every Christian to know the meaning and purpose of baptism. When we open the Greek for the word baptism or baptized we find the word baptizo and it means to be immersed. Now there are three other Greek words that I will also look at in order for us to understand baptism. Now the word baptism that we find in our translations like the NIV, KJV, NAS, is a word that was made up by the scribes who were working on the King James Version of the bible. When they came to the word baptize in the Greek scrolls they feared for their lives. Since King James had been sprinkled they thought they would be put to death and so they came up with the general word of baptism.
In twenty five passages of scripture which we will refer to throughout this book we will be using the meaning of baptizo = to make whelmed, fully wet, bapto = to whelm, cover wholly with a fluid, to stain (as with a dye), dip (immersion), baptisma, baptismos= to wash. The word baptismos is used in one verse and all the other verses are baptizo (immersion). Never do we see the Greek word for sprinkling or pouring connected with the New Testament act of baptism. A man made doctrine that has divided the church. There are others who would use the argument that the bible is outdated and sprinkling and pouring are acceptable now. If that is the case why are they still using the bible? They would have to deny what Philippians 3:17 says, “Join with others and follow our example,’ and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” (NIV) That scripture was Holy Spirit inspired it was true then and it still is true today. Acts 2:17 “In the last days” is a very powerful statement. Whatever is in this book is true then as much as it is today as we are in the last days since Pentecost.
Let’s stay in Acts chapter two and go on down to verse twenty one. “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Now people get all hung up on that verse to indicate that all you have to do is believe. Giving the impression saying “Jesus save me” is all that you need to do. If that is true then Romans 10:10-17 becomes invalid.  The rest of Acts Chapter two is invalid and if that is the case we would have to take all the Epistles out of the New Testament. What this verse implies is no longer is salvation for Jews, it has been given for anybody who will come to Christ in Truth and Spirit as a believer in the last days. As a believer we are to look to the cross and realize that through the blood of Christ and no other way can a person find salvation. It should then cause us to ask the very same question as in verse thirty seven “Brethren, what shall we do.”  Notice verse thirty seven they heard Peter’s message and they were pierced to the heart. They believed! Were these people saved yet?   No! What did Peter say to their question? Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized (immersion) every one of you.                           
Repenting is the time that we turn away from our sins and back to God. Baptism is a work of God we get the remission of sins and receive the Holy Spirit. If baptism has nothing to do with salvation then verse 41 would have been placed before verse 38. Three thousand people acting under their own free will accepted Peter’s message and repent and were baptized. Those were the people added to the Church (not a building, but the body of Christ).  
As we search through the scriptures we need to understand that baptism is more than Remission of Sins and receiving the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:12-16: 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (KJV) Phillips message concerned the Kingdom of God and Christ Jesus. The result of such a message was that the people believed (v12), the group included both men and women. The word baptism in verse 12 is the same as used in Acts 2:38. Even in verse 13 it says Simon himself believed and was baptized. If this baptism is that of Holy Spirit baptism then why in verse 18 does Simon offer them money to obtain this power, the people of Samaria had been baptized and they received the indwelling of Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:38. But they did not have the Spirit come upon them so they could do healing, speak in tongues.  They needed to be able to do these things so they could be sent out to evangelize the area of Samaria. When people saw them doing such miracles they would know the message was from God. 

Examples of Baptism bring understanding PART 2

 

When we talk about the believer being baptized it was something that was done immediately.  Salvation is a choice of a free will person. It is equally true that the same person has a free will when it comes to sin. Infant baptism came into the church because of the teaching that we inherit sin. I have four major problems with that teaching

• If sin is inherited then Temptation would never exist as Satan would not need to tempt a person to sin. Sin would be as natural as our DNA working in us.

• Infants are not believers so even if they do inherit sin, baptism is invalid.

• A person choose to sin and so infants are excluded.  

• There are no examples of infant baptism in the scriptures. 

For those who practice infant baptism as a means of forgiveness of sins and salvation. Why two different standards? If Adult baptism has nothing to do with salvation how can they conclude that about infant baptism? Let’s carry this a little further for those who vote on a person to be added to the church membership. Why should they be baptized? Certainly not to be added to the church. In Acts chapter 2 they were added to the church (the body of Christ, not a local congregation) because they had been baptized, not because they had been voted on. There are two major doctrines dividing the churches in our nation, baptism and the Lords supper. If I was Satan it would be these two areas that I would attack in the church and cause division. It is because the blood of Christ at these two events accomplishes something for the believer.

It now becomes our job as believers to find out what is the purpose of baptism? Acts 8:34-39 “And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom  speaketh the prophet this of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Phillip begins teaching him the good news about Jesus and the kingdom. We do not know how long the journey had been but it had to include enough time to teach about Jesus and baptism. It is obvious that the Ethiopian believed and ask “Why shouldn’t I be Baptized?” What we learn from his statement is the significance of baptism and its connection to those who believed the message. In all cases before us in Acts it was something done immediately upon believing the message about Jesus. It was something that acquired the believer to go down into the water.

Acts 9:18 “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”  Look at the word baptism in this verse. Paul gets up after being told what to do. He met Jesus on the road to Damascus now he had only to be obedient to Jesus command. He gets up and goes off to be baptized. If baptism has nothing to do with salvation then the Lords command is invalid. Whatever Paul was told to do would be useless as Paul would have been already saved. According to varies religions Paul would have been saved

• Because He believed on the road to Damascus.                                                                                 

• He had a religious experience (being surrounded by a light).

• He heard the voice of Jesus.

• He saw Jesus in a vision.

• The pilgrimage on the road to Damascus.

• He fasted for three days.

 

All those things could not save Paul they only influence him to be obedient to what He was told to do. The Lord’s will was for him to be baptized.

Acts 10:47 “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” The word baptism is the same as Acts 2:38 (baptizo). These Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit just as the Apostles. They could speak in tongues and do healings. It says the Holy Spirit was poured out on them. The word pour here in the Greek has nothing to do with baptism. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is really a bad analogy of what happens in the case of the Apostles, Samaritans, and these Gentiles. The Greek word used for pour (ek-khoo’-no) does not mean to be covered or dipped. IT means to pour forth, bestow, gush out, run greedily, shed abroad, forth, spill. However they still need to be baptized. They were baptized into the name of Jesus which is Christian baptism and it includes remission of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Acts 16:15; “And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.“

The word baptism again is (baptizo) as found in Acts 2:38. What I want you to notice about this account after she was baptized. She said; “if you consider me a believer” If baptism has nothing to do with your salvation. She would have asked that question first and then would be baptized later.

Acts 16:33; “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.” Once again (baptizo) is the word for baptism. The jailer and his whole household believed and after listening to Paul’s message they were baptized.

Acts 18:8; “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” They heard, they believed, and they were baptizo. But the next verse of this passage is the evidence that baptism has something to do with the salvation plan of God. Verse nine says; the Lord gave Paul this command “keep on speaking”. I think the Lord would have corrected Paul on the teaching of baptism if Paul was baptizing for the remission of sins and to receive the Holy Spirit. What I learn from this passage is baptism is part of the salvation plan.

Acts 19:3-7; “3. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized 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. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve.”  What Baptism did you receive? John’s baptism and Christian Baptism are two different events. John’s baptism was of repentance to prepare the way for the Lord. Ephesians 4:5 even states that there is only one baptism. In the Christian age that would be as we have seen the baptism for the remission of sins and to receive the Holy Spirit. So on hearing Paul’s message they were baptized into the name of Jesus. If you were baptized into something else you need to be baptized for the right reason.

Acts 22:16; “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.“ This is Paul’s explanation in defense of how He became a believer. Here is what Ananias actually said to Paul. “12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Be baptized and wash away your sins is hard to swallow for many denominations. The Greek wording for this passage indicates that a spiritual cleansing is in order and corresponds with 1st Peter 3:21; “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:” The verse is referring to baptism as the agent that now saves us.

Through the years I’ve been told that God didn’t mean what he said there. If God didn’t mean what he said in that verse then Noah was never saved either. Because the symbolic reference between these two events would be invalid. I’ve also been told that times have changed and this is not relevant for today. Why go to Church? Why study the scriptures? That might be the reason your church has it own rule book that overrides the bible. People need to think their answer through before making comments like the ones above.

The purpose of Baptism revealed PART 3

 

Many truths of the scripture are overlooked because it doesn’t fit the doctrine of some churches. In the purpose of baptism the old sinful person is put to death and when they come up from the water are raised into the newness of life. How anybody can miss that fact and still say their preaching the gospel is hard to explain. But it seems to me that many scriptures are passed over or misinterpreted under the doctrine of men.

When we are born again we are justified and sanctified through the remission of our sins. The power of Satan is replaced with the power of Jesus. Satan can tempt you but he can’t make you sin. We choose to sin. We choose to ignore the power of God and rely on Satan’s power. We can repent, but there are still consequences for our actions. If you hate the consequence of sin, there is only one way to minimize those consequence and that is choosing not to sin.

John 3:1-21 (read before you continue)

How can a man be born again? That was the question by Nicodemus. Jesus gives him the answer. “You must be born of the water and spirit.” Born implies that something new is coming or about to happen. In this case a person is going to be born again. They will be innocent as they were during their (first) Physical birth. Nicodemus would have understood this newness that Jesus talked about because of John’s baptism. Notice that Nicodemus never questions him again. He understood what Jesus was talking about as something new was manifested during John’s preaching. He understood that flesh give birth to flesh, and spirit gives birth to spirit. He knew Jesus was talking about a new spiritual birth. The question I want to purpose to our denominational friends. How can you be born again while you are still alive? A spiritual death must take place, you must die to sin.  We find that image fulfilled in the act of baptism. Since we find that to be true baptism is not a ritual or initiation process to be fulfilled. The act of baptism is a spiritual death so that a new spiritual creation can come forth. Having been raised from the dead we are a new creation and that means we are justified.

Acts 13:38-41; “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.“ Paul’s message there in Acts 13 about Christ being the only one authorized to forgive sins need to be preached. Romans 3:20-26;“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Grace is the alternative to the law. In the grace system there is justification, under the law system no one was justified. The only way to be justified is through the blood of Christ (v21). Your justification didn’t cost you anything it was by grace. In baptism God is working under his grace to cleanse you. If baptism was a work of men we would say that because we dipped ourselves in water we were responsible for forgiving our sins. Scripture tells us in Colossians 2 that it was a work of God. The argument over works is put to rest once again by the scriptures.

Acts 15:8-9; “And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”

Both the Jew and the Gentile who heard the gospel and believed, confessed that belief before men, repented of their sins, and were baptized had their hearts purified by the blood of Christ. Romans six explains to us how we come into contact with Christ. Those who are raised to walk in the newness of life are subjected to no distinction in the remission of sins, and the acceptance by God. The Pharisees had taught for years that purity came through observance of the ceremonial laws and circumcision. This kept many Gentiles from having a right relationship with Christ. But the New Testament plan made no distinction. The truth is that God never abandon any man, but false teachers have kept many of men from coming to God.

Luke goes ahead and writes what Peter said (Acts 15:10); “Why do you test God?”(NIV) These Pharisees had placed a yoke upon the people. A burdensome or oppressive religious duty that kept them slaves to the law instead of freedom in righteousness. The law does nothing to purify the heart of a man. Peter’s message was so clear that is says in verse 12 the Pharisees could find no forcible argument against him.

Galatians 4:6; “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

The Holy Spirit is sent into our hearts and that corresponds with Acts 2:38 were we receive the Holy Spirit at our baptism. The only way we know that we are true sons is having the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Paul pointed out that being a son opened up the opportunity to be included in the family inheritance. We are no longer slaves to sin. A slave has nothing, but a son has all the benefits. Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

                                           

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” The Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance as sons. The point that we became sons is when we became united with Christ. We just need to know when we were united with Christ.

Romans 6:4-8; “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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 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. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:” We became dead to sin but alive in Christ (united). We are raised to walk in the newness of life. In verse five it says we were “united”, that word united in the Greek means the joining of two things together so they can grow in harmony. John 15:1-8 and Romans 11:17-24 gives us a great illustration of braches being grafted into the tree or vine.  In the same way we are united with Christ spiritually.

Ephesians 2:6; “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Who gets to sit at the throne with Christ? His Brothers and Sisters is the only possible answer.  Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” At some point God transformed us into his kingdom. Many will say this will happen when we get to heaven. But that would nullify the first part of this verse. He delivered us from the power of darkness. When did we get delivered? It was when are sins were totally forgiven (at Baptism). God transferred us into His Kingdom the Church (body of believers).  This all corresponds with Colossians 2:12-13 “God made you alive” nothing you did could make you alive again. But God made you alive and if that doesn’t get you excited then you must be content being dead in sin. When we look at the language of these verse and compare them too Romans 6:1-11 we can ascertain that point of transformation was our baptism. When we take everything I’ve said and compare it too Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Benefits for the believer PART 4

 

Having gone through the book of Acts I want to turn our attention to the epistles. When ones studies from the Epistles there is a rule of thumb that needs to be followed. The writers are addressing Christians who already understand in part the significance of baptism. So the writers never give us the plan of salvation in great detail. So the passages concerning baptism and salvation must correspond with the examples in the book of Acts. There are those who go into the epistles and take verses out of context and make great claims of salvation plans. That is why it is important to read the whole chapter. For instance the phrase “calling on the name of the Lord” has been abused to say all you have to do is believe. Actually all this verse is saying is what Romans 10:13-17 implies. If you hear about Jesus and you want to be saved you don’t seek salvation by any other means than following Christ.

The purpose of baptism is set before us in the epistles and it is these scriptures that we will focus. In these verses we find the benefits of being a baptized believer.  These benefits are not just for a believer. What we’ve already learned is a baptized believer has:

• Receives the forgiveness of sins (sins are washed away).

• Receives the Holy Spirit.

• Is justified

This is not all that happens to the baptized believer as this study will reveal. What this study does reveal is the faith only religion to be a great hoax that has kept a lot of great people from entering into heaven.

Romans 6:1-11 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 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. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“We died to sin,” that is a benefit that makes the baptized believer different than just a believer. It was when died to sin that we were raised with Christ. There is no scripture that makes that claim for the believer. The word baptized in verse 4 is the Greek word “baptisma” and has the same meaning as Acts 2:38. According to these verses the baptized believer is united with Christ, Christ death, Christ burial, Christ resurrection, freed from sin. The baptized believer is therefore to count themselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. What that means is your sins in the past were forgiven at your baptism. Now if you sin you have a mediator Christ Jesus whose blood cleanses your sins.  You don’t have to keep bringing a sacrifice like the Israelites of the Old Testament. All you have to do is repent and ask for forgiveness.

Colossians 2:11-12 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 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.“ God removed your sin at your baptism and raised you up just as he had Christ. The word operation in the Greek actually means work.

Galatians 3:26-29 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
“You are all sons of God.” How did you become a son of God? By faith in Christ Jesus you clothed yourself with Him. For the faith only doctrine and for those who believe everybody is going to heaven. This passage indicates that one must have faith and be baptized it doesn’t matter if your Jew, Greek, Slave, Free, Male, Female. You have the right to become the sons of God. If you give up that right God is under no obligation to save you.

1st Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” Again the word baptism is the same as found in Acts 2:38. What seems to be happening in the Corinthian Church was that whoever baptized you overshadowed the fact that you were baptized into Christ. They began to follow after leaders in the church instead of Christ. It was causing division among the believers. What we can learn from this passage:

• Anything other than Christian Baptism is unacceptable.

• You are not a follower of some leader in the church.

1st Corinthians 10:1-2 “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; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”

Here is an example from the Old Testament for baptism and Salvation. Moses is a symbolic type of Christ. What symbolic type means is that people, places, events, prophecy of the Old Testament was foreshadow of things to come in the New Testament.

So when it says the Israelites were all baptized into Moses. What you have is foreshadow of what would happen under Christ. Now all major scholars who haven’t gone off the deep end agree that the cloud over head was the Holy Spirit. So because they were trapped between the army and the sea they were as good as dead. The sea parted and they passed through the sea under the cloud and between the waters (burial). When they reached the other side they began a new life (resurrection) free from bondage. At what point then was Israel saved? The answer is when they were baptized into Moses and they were not saved until they reached the other side. Paul in 1st Corinthians 10:2 says Baptized into Moses is the same Greek word we find in the other passages (baptizo). If the faith only doctrine is true being baptized into Moses has no significant value. Faith only advocates would have to say that they were saved before they cross the Red Sea.

1st Corinthians 12:12-13 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 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 Spirit.”

How did we become part of the one body? The answer can only be baptism from the research of the previous chapters we find that baptism does these six things:

1.  Forgiveness of sins/your sins are washed away.

2. Conscience is cleansed.

3. Unites us with Christ.

4. Unites us with the death, burial, and resurrection.

5. We are clothed with Christ.

6. We come into contact with the blood of Christ.

Colossians 1:21; “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.”

Once we lived a lifestyle that God had not intended and we were considered enemies of God. But now we are reconciled by Christ and presented as holy, without blemish, and free from accusation in God’s presences. Those who have been born again are set apart (holy) to live as saints, to life pure under the blood of Christ. Everything that could be done to reconcile you back to God has been done through Christ.

Romans 7:4-6; “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter” (NAS).

We were delivered from the law when Christ was nailed to the cross. We were delivered that we might bear fruit. We’ve been accepted because of Jesus. If Gods word declares for us to do something and we do it in obedience we are actually in the grace of God. Colossians 1:6 reaffirms to us the truth of that statement. “Which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth” (NAS).   Everything that they heard was because of God’s grace. All its truth does not exclude baptism, or any other step that God has in the plan of salvation.

1st Corinthians 1:30; “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (NAS). Those in Christ Jesus as previous revealed those who had been baptized. It was God’s plan that we should be saved in such a righteous, holy, justified way. There is no other who can take claim for what happens in a believer who is baptized. Jesus alone has that authority to save. Paul wrote that God choose the foolish things, weak things, lowly things of this world. So how can a man get saved by being immersed? The average person would see this as a ritual. But that is how God choose to cleanse your sins and to give you the Holy Spirit. My concern is to be obedient and leave the rest to Christ. What I do know is that Satan has divided the church over baptism. 1st Corinthians 6:17; “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (NAS). The Greek word for joined is “united.”

Ephesians 2:10-22; “10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (NAS).

The result of being united is us becoming dead to sin. In Romans 6:2-3 Paul is writing to Christians. He reminds them that baptism was the divine factor. To deny baptism its rightful place in God’s plan is to be misinformed, ignorant, or just forgot what the word declared.

Sin is out of character for a Christian and disobedience is out of character for the believer who is trying to become mature in Christ.

1st Peter 1:13-25; “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was preached to you” (NAS).