Understanding The Word

It shouldn’t amaze me any longer how much people take the bible out of context, or don’t even study the bible but listen to what another person is saying….(Spiritually I understand it, but humanly I get frustrated)

We hear a lot today about being baptized and how important it is….is it really that important?  It depends on what baptism you are talking about and you need to know the difference;  You see, there are in fact 2 different baptisms…..one of water immersion/sprinkling and one of Jesus Christ. (There are people and religions’ trying to make them into one and this is misleading many saved and unsaved people to confusion.)

Religions are placing an emphasis on water baptism…..telling people the only way to get to heaven is to be baptized in water, telling them that they need to have a 2^nd indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or to receive the Holy Spirit at all, telling people the only way to be saved is thru a baptism of water along with believing in Jesus……

False Prophets, False Doctrines, False Teachings, False Interpretations…..have entered in from Satan and Man and all of the above is not of God or in the Bible…..as I will explain in detail below.

Let’s start with Water Baptism

Water baptism has become such a staple in religions, in all honestly it has lost it’s true meaning in many of them, and people who go by Man’s word, that you have to be water baptized in order to receive Salvation (YOU DO NOT),  instead of God’s Word are getting confused and misunderstanding what scripture says about water baptism.

What is the Definition of Water Baptism?

“the religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person’s forehead or of immersion in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian church; A show of commitment to God”

Before going further I want to ask a question…..is water important?  I would hope everyone would say, ‘Yes’, water is very important……..but it would depend on the water (clean or dirty) correct?

(We as humans are made up of 60-70% of water; our blood plasma is 90% water.  Water is essential for our bodies to work; it is why we can’t live long without it.  There are also bodies of water…..oceans, rivers, lakes, creeks, streams, pools, fountains, etc.)

Water gives our body life and function when we drink it….when we are immersed in water, our bodies are cleaned…..when we are sprinkled with it….that is just a symbolism of being immersed in water, in other words,  it’s like a short cut and the word for it is Aspersion.

Why is it important to know this?  Because……

Jesus made it clear that He is the water of life:

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14

Let’s take a look at John the Baptist….

The purpose of John was to lead the way to believing in Christ Jesus, the Messiah for the Jewish people.  It was to teach that Jesus would come and die for their sins, but they could be baptized to show their willingness to believe in a Messiah….A willingness to believe they were sinners in need of a savior…

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.  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.”  Acts 19:3-4

John is always making it very clear in scripture what he means…..

“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:” Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16

“I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” Mark 1:8

This verse is clearly about Jesus Christ, so my question to those who believe in water baptism granting you the Holy Spirit…..how can Jesus water baptize you today?  Through men?  That is a false doctrine, no man can grant you the Holy Spirit but the Man Jesus Christ, and the only way He can grant you the Holy Spirit is for you to believe in Him. 

Let me go even further for those people who claim you must be water baptized to be saved, or to receive the Holy Spirit….

What about the Catholics, the Methodist, and any others who sprinkles babies?  Are all these infants saved and filled with the Holy Spirit at their sprinkling?  I think not…..1- they are already God’s until the age of accountability and 2- they are too young to make the choice to receive Christ as savior, because they can’t even talk yet…..(even though they consider this a washing away the stain of original sin as babies, this is not biblical)

Are you starting to see the problem with religions/people that put emphasis on water baptism?

People who claim that you can’t be saved unless you get water baptized are ignorant of the understanding and differentiating of what water baptism really is and what it is actually for, and if they claim that they didn’t receive the Holy Spirit until they did get water baptized or received a ‘so-called’ 2^nd indwelling of the Holy Spirit….I would reply, “That’s great, you just got saved, because you weren’t before.”

The Baptism of Jesus Christ

Do you know why Jesus got baptized when He was God?  (His Baptism was full of Symbolism)

• It was to show His authority of who He is…..God incarnate. 
• The heavens were opened as a symbol of God’s presence
• The Spirit descended like a dove – Doves symbolize good news
• A voice sounded confirming that Jesus was the Son of God
• It was a sign of His dedication and commitment to God and to us to fulfill the promise of Salvation
• It was to show all three, The Holy Trinity, being one in Him…..
• It was to symbolize that only Jesus could give us the Holy Spirit
• It was symbolic of what happens to all believers when we get saved….

 “And bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, Upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” John 1:32-33

For those who believe that water baptism is paramount to their salvation…..again, how does Jesus baptize you today?  Why, if water baptism is so important to our salvation, did Jesus not even water baptize His own disciples?

“Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples.” John 4:2

Jesus never water baptized anyone because the baptism that Jesus talked about wasn’t a water immersion baptism, but the water/blood of His Life…..

Even John knew that the baptism of Jesus Christ was not a water immersion; it was going to be Jesus’ sacrifice:

“but John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” Matthew 3:14

People tend to forget one of the most important verses of Jesus’ crucifixion…..

“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water…” John 19:34

Why was a point made to say blood and water? Nothing is a coincidence with God; it was stated for a reason…..

You see….. Jesus is the blood and water…..that is the only baptism we need for it is the water, blood, and spirit baptism….. What we do today when we get water baptized is to show our faith to the world…..to show them that we have changed our minds to believe in sin and believe in Christ Jesus….. it is a work of faith…..It is to show our dedication and commitment to the belief in Christ.

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:26-27

(Also, the thief on the cross wasn’t water baptized at all, and yet Jesus clearly told him that he would be with Him that day in paradise….)

Water baptism always followed receiving Christ as Savior

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 19 5-6

“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning, Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 11:15-16

Can you see the difference?  Let’s go further….

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19

Jesus said Himself, to teach all nations….and you can actually read this verse in 2 ways….

– They were to teach about Jesus Christ and whosoever believed on Him would then get water baptized to show their change of mind…..

-or-

–  Jesus told the disciples to teach the baptism (belief) of The Holy Trinity, (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) the baptism of Christ’s death.  It does not say water baptism so it could be interpreted the baptism Jesus is speaking about is the baptism of His sacrifice, because He is the blood, the water, and the spirit all in one…..

Water baptism cannot grant us the Father, cannot grant us Jesus, and cannot grant us the Holy Spirit.  Only when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, can we be truly baptized in the father, the son, and the Holy Ghost, for it is only thru the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that we are washed clean of all our sins, water cleanses our outsides, but the bloods cleanses our souls…

Water Baptism Cannot and Will Not save us…..It is only for us to show our love of Christ to world….to show that we were sinners, now saved by the grace of God!

If water baptism is so important why would Jesus not have Paul preach so?

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Corinthians 1:17

Take note, the verses below see to always be referencing Christs Sacrifice/Gift/Grace…..

The Only Baptism You Need is The Baptism of Jesus Christ

There are so many saved and unsaved people and religions that take the water baptism out of context….there are many people today who go to church, and have been water baptized, and yet because in their heart they do not truly believe in Jesus Christ, they are on their way to Hell.  You see, people get water baptized for many other reasons than for the purpose of showing their faith in Christ.  They do it for power of authority in church, they do it for show (pretense), they do it because someone has talked them into it, etc….. and some because of their misunderstanding will get water baptized 2 or more times thru out their life.    

People can be water baptized and still not be a child of God…..

It needs to be made very, very clear……no person on this earth can grant you the Holy Spirit thru laying on of hands, breathing on you, praying on/over you, sprinkling or immersing you in water, etc…..the only way to receive the Holy Spirit is to believe in Christ Jesus as your savior…..

You must read the verses in context and understand that the baptism of Jesus Christ, is not the same as water immersion baptism…..to say they are the same is reducing the importance of the Baptism in Christ Jesus, and is once again making claim, that Jesus’s blood in not enough to save you……

Jesus has made it very clear, He is the Lord, the Spirit, The Blood, and The Water and when we receive salvation in Him, we are baptized in all:

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” 1 John 5:6

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Ephesians 4:5

Not 2 baptisms……One and One only is the true baptism and that baptism is in Jesus Christ…..Savior of Mankind.