The issue of adult baptism or baptism by immersion has been debated by theologians for centuries. Please prayerfully and rationally consider the following:
Why was Jesus baptised? To fulfil that which was commanded to Moses in
the Old Testament – Matthew 3:13-15 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.”
According to the Law given to Moses. The washing of water was necessary for a priest before they could serve as priest. This was a Jewish requirement. Exodus 29:4 ““And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall wash them with water.” Jesus was baptised to meet this Jewish requirement of the Law, before His earthly ministry began.
Israel as a nation was appointed to be like priests to all of the other nations – Exodus 19:6 “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
So when John came baptising in the Jordan, he called the Jews to repent and be baptised to prepare as priests in God’s physical kingdom. So ritual baptism was primarily meant as a sign of repentance in preparation to serve as a nation of priests. Jesus was baptised ritually to meet the requirements of the Old Testament Law. Furthermore, Jesus commented that His disciples should preach God’s Kingdom that was at hand and that Israel should repent and as a sign of repentance wash or baptise their bodies.
The question that needs an answer:–
Did Israel as a nation collectively repent? No.
Could the Kingdom come to earth if the Jews did not repent? No
Although Jesus and His disciples preached that the Kingdom was at hand, history reminds us that God’s Kingdom did not come to earth and Israel, who should have been God’s nation of priests, failed to repent.
The promise and announcement of the Kingdom was based on the condition of national repentance. They failed to respond, so God suspended the Kingdom Promise on earth until the day comes when Israel will accept Jesus as Messiah. With the suspension of the Kingdom came the suspension of water baptism as a requirement. As the New Testament unfolds we discover that a baptism that counts is a Spirit baptism – 1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
When you confess Jesus as your Saviour, the Holy Spirit enters your spirit and makes you spiritually alive. The Holy Spirit baptises you into the Body of Christ. There is ONLY ONE BAPTISM you require, it’s not water baptism, its Spirit baptism, this is what the Bible calls “one baptism”.
Is this one baptism water? No
It is, however, a Spirit baptism. The moment you confess Christ as Saviour you are washed, immersed in Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
The ONE SPIRIT of 1 Corinthians 12:13 and the ONE BAPTISM of Ephesians 4:5, is the BAPTISM of the SPIRIT – Colossians 2:9-12 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self-ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
In water baptism you go into the water, a dry sinner and you come out a wet sinner.
NOTE: Water baptism was a sign of repentance to get ready for God’s promised Kingdom on earth. Spirit baptism identifies you in Christ.
The Spirit Baptism is needed to become born again.
You may say, but Bruce the Bible commands water baptism, you are right, but you have to know why and to whom does it apply. The Bible says a lot about rituals, but now that Jesus died those rituals are obsolete. We are no longer under the old order – Luke 3:16 “John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
I stopped ritual baptism some 35 years ago, because I began to learn more about the only ONE BAPTISM that God requires now.
I’m more than willing to answer any questions on this and other topics and I’m fully aware that at this stage of your spiritual journey you may feel you have to do something. If Jesus gave His all, why do you feel you must do more?
If Jesus died and rose again and you believe it, you are already baptised into Christ.
Romans 6:1-5 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
This baptism into Christ is not water, it’s Spirit – don’t be persuaded by some verses that need to be seen in context.
Consider the following:
Hebrews 5:12-14 "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
Hebrews 6:1-3 “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.”
Please pray about your decision and may you be enlightened by God’s Word. Read the Bible verses I’ve quoted for yourself and I trust that this opens your eyes to the Truth.
