Inconsistencies: Baptism: Page 56

Inconsistencies:  Baptism
 

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 

 

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 

 

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them 

 

28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God (The New Covenant) (Ezekiel 36:25-28).
 

John the Baptist (John 1:23, 30-31) taught the people of Israel the need for three types of baptism: water unto repentance, Holy Spirit, and fire (Matthew 3:1-12; 25:41). 

 

The sprinkling of water received by the faithful believing Israelites identified them with Christ, setting them apart to be an holy nation, a peculiar treasure above all people, to usher in their long-awaited kingdom (Luke 12:32). 

 

It was part of the required preparation for them to be ordained the priests of the kingdom (Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 61:6; Exodus 29:4; I Peter 2:9) 

 

through whom the Gentiles will draw near to God (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:17- 18; Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23) 

 

and for the establishment of the New Covenant (Ezekiel 36:25-28). 

 

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

 

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 

 

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:16-18).
 

38 Then Peter said to them (the house of Israel), 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 (Acts 2:38, 39). 

 

For a short time, the gift of the Holy Spirit followed repentance and water baptism. 

 

Later in Acts, at the time when Israel’s program was beginning to be temporarily set aside, the sequence changed. 

 

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name (Kingdom Gospel) whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 

 

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 

 

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

 

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. 

 

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 

 

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:43-48a).

 

These believing Gentiles were the proselytes of the Kingdom church, coming to God through Israel.

Water baptism is a ceremonial cleansing that pertains to the kingdom promised to the Nation of Israel. 

 

This ceremonial washing continued until the Nation of Israel and its program was beginning to be temporarily set aside. 

 

In TIMES PAST both Israel and the proselytes of their religion had a need to acknowledge their need of cleansing; the former, in order to be worthy to minister the things of God, and the latter, the proselytes, to be recipients of those things. 

 

This cleansing ritual will most likely be resumed in the AGES TOo COME, after the rapture of the Body of Christ, during the Tribulation. 

 

Presently, there is no priestly nation or class exalted above others. 

 

Today the Orthodox Jews have kept part of the baptismal law received by Moses for the Church in the Wilderness. 

 

Following a physical cleansing protocol, they have continued to perform by immersion, a ritual purity cleansing at the temple bath, the mikveh.
 

Like Aaron (Leviticus 8:6, 12, 23), the Lord Jesus Christ had the complete ordination process to fulfill all righteousness of the law in preparation of priesthood. 

 

John Baptized Jesus by water (Matthew 3:13-15; Luke 15:50). 

 

He was not anointed by oil but by the Holy Spirit. He was sprinkled by His own sacrificial blood on the right ear (from the crown of thorns), right thumb (from nail in hand) (John 20:25), and right toe (from nail in foot). 

 

God Himself came to the ordination and anointed His dearly beloved Son (Matthew 3:17). 

 

36 God has made Him to be both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), the anointed Messiah (Acts 2:36).
 

During this Dispensation of Grace let us consider the following:
 

12 We should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

 

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation (the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ) 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 (Ephesians 1:12-14).
 

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 (I Corinthians 12:13).
 

17 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. 

 

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (I Corinthians 1:17-18).
 

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I (Paul) write unto you are the commandments of the (risen) Lord (I Corinthians 14:37).
 

 

A discussion on baptism can be emotionally charged and contentious. 

 

Your view on baptism may be a major factor in determining your choice of denomination (traditions of man: Colossians 2:8). 

 

Paul speaks of the one baptism that was supposed to unite us (Ephesians 4:5), not divide us. 

 

Today, many individuals in the church at large have received two or three baptisms—sprinkling as a newborn (Ezekiel 36:25; Hebrews 10:22), immersed (Matthew 3:16) as they approach adulthood or in adulthood, or by the Holy Spirit when they trust in the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Grace. 

 

Now we are not saved by our works but by the work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles states, 

 

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (I Corinthians 2:2). 

 

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:3). 

 

Eternal life is a gift of God that could only be paid for by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23), 

 

the one who knew no sin (II Corinthians 5:21). 

 

No one can boast about their good works, thinking this will save their souls. 

 

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). 

 

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). 

 

6 Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Salvation is only by grace, 

 

9 through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9). 

 

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5).  

 

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise, work is no more work (Romans 11:6).
 

When churches count the number of baptisms they have performed as the result of their teachings, it tends to indicate that one is not totally saved without works or has not been obedient until they participate in the style of baptism ordained by a particular church. 

 

Without receiving this baptism, one cannot be a member of that church. 

 

This emphasis can annul the work of Christ and puts one’s focus on some form of water ritual as seen in the Law of Moses. 

 

Choosing to be water baptized for believers is optional and personal. 

 

Today, in the BUT NOW Dispensation of Grace, the moment one hears and then places their trust in the Gospel of their salvation, the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit baptizes them into the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13), the Grace Church, and they are sealed there until the day of redemption. 

 

This is the earnest, the down payment, the guarantee of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, until the Lord takes us home. (Ephesians 1:13-14). 

 

There is not a need for another form of baptism in this dispensation.
 

When we believe the Gospel, we are eternally identified with Christ. 

 

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). 

 

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). 

 

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (by the Holy Spirit/not water), 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 (Romans 6:3-5). 

 

17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17). 

 

Here is where we find our new identity, through the work of the Holy Spirit baptizing us, identifying us with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our old man, our old soul that was in the first Adam is dead and buried spiritually with Christ, and we are spiritually raised a new creation in the second Adam, in Christ.
 

As we put off the old man, we put on the new man, the character of Christ. 

 

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). 

 

6 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ. (Philippians 2:6) 

 

6b By love serve one another. (Galatians 2:6b) 

 

22b Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (II Timothy 2:22b). 

 

Our new life is in the Body of Christ, our risen Savior. Today, eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15-18, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8) 

 

from God for all who will receive it. 

 

Christ took the penalty for our sin, paid the price for the gift of eternal life. 

 

God the Father accepts the sufficiency of the cross work and the Holy Spirit is our baptizer, spiritually identifying us with Christ. 

 

He is the One who seals us into the Body of Christ. 

 

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 6:25). 

 

22 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

 

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

This offer of new life is made to all who believe in, trusts in, the work of our Triune God.

God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33). 

 

So why are the scriptures so confusing? 

 

Why are there so many different denominations? 

 

There is one administration of Law and Prophecy, and there is one administration of Grace and Mystery. 

 

So, why did God introduce a new program, a new Gospel, and a new apostle into the scheme of things at this time when His prophetic program was traveling along a well-established path toward restoring the earth, reconciling the earth and God’s chosen people? 

 

Different religious groups have attempted to explain away contradictions but most do not understand what happened to the prophesied Great Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom. 

 

Dr. Luke, the Apostle Paul, and the Apostle Peter have provided their understanding of why there was an interruption in the prophetic program. We will first look at Dr. Luke’s explanation.