1 Corinthians 1:12,13 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
What is baptism? What is it not? How is it supposed to be administered? When do you do it? Let's set aside the traditions of men for a second and look at what the Bible has to say.
Romans 6:3-5 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:
Baptism is identifying ourselves with Jesus. It is a celebration of His death burial and resurrection.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Baptism is not a method of salvation. All Christians should be baptized but it is not required. It is only through faith that we are saved.
Acts 8:36-37 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.
These verses give us the method of baptism. It must be administered in water, taken with the verse from Romans above, it can plainly be seen that it must be by complete immersion (See above: planted & buried)
Matthew 3:7-9 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Unbelievers cannot be baptized. A real New Testament church has the right to refuse baptism to anyone who is not saved.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Baptism should be done in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost. This is the only method ever given by Jesus.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I only mention this because Oneness Pentecostals have twisted this verse. We already covered the Importance of the Name in a previous post. If you don't want to go back and read, I will tell you that name means authority and that the Son of God was called Yeshua.
John 3:4-7 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Many people misunderstand John 3:5, saying that this proves the need for water baptism. Oneness Pentecostals will quote verse 5 completely out of context. When taken in it's proper context you can see that being born of water means natural birth and that being born of Spirit means a spiritual rebirth.
Matthew 3:11 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:
Everyone will be baptized one day, in this life or the next. Christians are baptized with the Holy Ghost, and arise to walk in newness of life, and will one day go to heaven. Unbelievers walk in their own way and will one day be baptized in the lake of fire.
Jeremiah 6:15,16 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. 16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
It is your choice where you will spend your eternity. You can live any way you want, and fall with the fallen one. Or you can pickup your Bible everyday, find the old paths, and walk therein. Choose eternal life!
Heavenly Father, we want to please you. We want to find the old paths. Speak to us through the scriptures. Help us to find the old paths and restore the old landmarks. In Jesus name, amen.
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