BAPTISM!
A Teaching on Baptism
by
john roy bohlen & John 5:30
BAPTISM
Scriptures:
"Baptize"
(All verses are from the King James Bible Version)
(I have taken the liberty to capitalize, as deemed appropriate.)
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:"
Mark 1:4 "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Luke 3:16 "John answered, saying unto them all, 'I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire' :"
John 1:26 "John answered them, saying, 'I baptize with water: but there standeth One among you, Whom ye know not;' "
John 1:33 "And I knew Him not: but He That sent me to baptize with water, the Same said unto me, 'Upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the Same is He Which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
1 Corinthians 1:17 "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."
"BAPTIZED"
Matthew 3:6 "And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Matthew 3:13 "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him."
Matthew 3:14 "But John forbad Him, saying, 'I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?' "
Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:"
Matthew 20:22 "But Jesus answered and said, 'Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?' They say unto Him, 'We are able.' "
Matthew 20:23 "And He saith unto them, 'Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father.' "
Mark 1:5 "And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins."
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Mark 1:9 "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."
Mark 10:38 "But Jesus said unto them, 'Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?' "
Mark 10:39 "And they said unto Him, 'We can.' And Jesus said unto them, 'Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:' "
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Luke 3:7 "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, 'O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?' "
Luke 3:12 "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, 'Master, what shall we do?' "
Luke 3:21 "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the Heaven was opened,"
Luke 7:29 "And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John."
Luke 7:30 "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."
Luke 12:50 "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!"
John 3:22 "After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judaea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized."
John 3:23 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."
John 4:1 "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,)"
John 10:40 "And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there He abode."
Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
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 Spirit."
Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Acts 8:12 "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."
Acts 8:13 "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."
Acts 8:16 "(For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)"
Acts 8:36 "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?' "
Acts 8:38 "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."
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."
Acts 10:47 "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"
Acts 10:48 "And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."
Acts 11:16 "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 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."
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."
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."
Acts 19:3 "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."
Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the Name of the Lord."
Romans 6:3 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?"
1 Corinthians 1:13 "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:14 "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other."
1 Corinthians 10:2 "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;"
1 Corinthians 12:13 "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."
1 Corinthians 15:29 "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?"
Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
"BAPTIZING"
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 Spirit:"
John 1:28 "These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing."
John 1:31 "And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water."
John 3:23 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."
STRONG'S BIBLE DEFINITION:
NT:907: "baptizo" (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of NT: 911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:
- "Baptist", "baptize", "wash"
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
BAPTIZM!
Table of Contents
Scriptures on Baptism
The Definition of Baptism
Reasons for Baptism
The Meaning of Baptism
The Method of Baptism
Who can be Baptized?
Who can do the Baptizing?
The Appropriate Age for Baptism
The Proper Thing to Say when being Baptized
Does Baptism save a person?
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The Great Commission
The Definition of Baptism
What does Baptism mean? First let us look at the Greek definition of the word 'Baptize": From the Strong's Concordance:
NT:907: "baptizo" (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of NT: 911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:
To "baptize" a person means to "immerse" and "submerge" a person until they are "fully wet" and "overwhelmed" by water.
Reasons for Baptism
1) To signify the washing away of our sins: Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the Name of the Lord."
2) Because Jesus commanded it: Matt 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 'All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth. 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: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the World. Amen."
3) Because it is a perfect picture of our going with Christ into His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, glorification. (This is explained in greater detail, to follow, and, see our book, The King's Greatest Secret!.)
4) Because it is a very important part of our salvation process.
5) Because our being baptized is a lovely testimony of our salvation to our family, friends, community, world, to demons and angels and God.
6) Because it is a symbol of our total dedication and commitment of our life to God.
7) Because it is a symbol of our willingness to die and be martyred for Christ.
The Meaning of Baptism
Less than one in ten thousand Christians understands the greatest, truest, deepest meaning of Baptism! The proof of this comes when you look at their lives, and when you ask them the question: "What did Jesus take of ours, with Him, to the Cross?" Would you yourself just take a minute to answer this question? Take a pen and paper and make a list of those things Jesus took of yours to the Cross.
People will give correct answers, like: "Jesus took our sins, sicknesses, worries, burdens and fears." But one will almost NEVER hear the answer, "Jesus took ME with Him to the Cross!!!" Gal.2:20, Col.3, Rom.6, etc. The proper answer to the question: "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" is, "YES, I was there!!!"
Yet, this is the truest and deepest, most significant meaning and purpose behind the experience of Baptism. Baptism is a perfect picture of our going with Christ into His Crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification.
What would you think of me, if I came to you as a stranger, and gave this testimony: "You are looking at me, a person who has been murdered! I have been murdered, martyred, maimed, and massacred!" What would you think of me? And then I told you that even though I have been murdered, that I am alive! And then I told you, while touching my chest, "It is not really me that is living here." What would you think of me? Yet this is exactly what the Apostle Paul was saying in Galatians, chapter 2, verse 20!!! (from the New American Standard Bible):
"I have been crucified with Christ;
and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me!"
Rom 6:1 "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 (was - has been) 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."
Col 3:1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who is our Life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him That created him:"
1 Corinthians 12:13 "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."
Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Please see our book, The King's Greatest Secret!, for a more complete explanation of baptism.
The Method of Baptism
NT:907: "baptizo" (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of NT: 911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:
John 3:23 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."
Acts 8:38 "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."
In Bible School, we students were assigned the task of demonstrating a one person drama of some Scriptural happening, while the rest were to guess what we were demonstrating. I was too afraid to give a demonstration of the "Sprinkling of Jesus". I was going to demonstrate how Christ went down into the water, about chest deep, while John the Baptist, carefully dipped his fingers into the water and sprinkled Jesus.
As you have noticed in John 3:23, the reason John baptized where he did was because "there was much water there"! Obviously, if sprinkling were the method by which John baptized, there would have been no need for "much water"!
The truth is: In the New Testament days, sprinkling was NEVER the method of baptism, nor was it EVER intended to be the means of baptism! To baptize means to "submerge UNDER THE WATER'!!!!!!! If you have only to be sprinkled, you still need to become baptized under the water.
Who can be Baptized?
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
1) A person needs to become a believer in Jesus as total Lord and Saviour as God. In order for a person to become a believer, one first needs to personally invite Jesus Christ to come and live inside as Lord and Saviour and Life! In Revelation 3, verse 20, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."
2) A person needs to become a totally committed disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be willing to do anything God wants them to do.
Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:" According to the Great Commission of Christ to us, we first need to become disciples and become taught. Before we can call ourselves disciples of Jesus, we need to meet the following conditions: In Luke 14:26 & 27, Jesus said, "If any man come to Me, and hate not (by comparison to the love he or she has for Christ) his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear (his or her) cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. Then Jesus said, "So likewise, if you do not forsake all that you have, you cannot be My disciple!" v. 33
This simply means that we must be totally, totally, totally, totally, totally, totally, totally committed to Christ as our Lord and Master and Boss and Commander, before we can claim to be His disciple. And, according to Christ's Great Commission, we need to be His disciple, before we can be baptized.
3) A person needs to confess, repent and forsake every known sin, before being baptized. 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 Spirit."
Again, the Bible is telling us that repentance is a requirement for baptism.
4) We need to "gladly receive God's Word"! Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
5) We need to be taught about and fully embrace the Gospel of the Kingdom of God!
Acts 8:12 "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."
Before being baptized, we need to first believe the things concerning the Kingdom of God.
Who can do the Baptizing?
John 4:1 "Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,)"
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 Spirit:"
Here, the requirement is simply that we be disciples, before we can baptize others. Otherwise the Great Commission applies to all who are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, as God. A disciple is simply one who is totally, totally committed to and is obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. No other qualifications are given.
The Appropriate Age for Baptism
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
The Bible NEVER teaches that an infant or very small child can be baptized, but that we need to become a believer and a disciple, with the knowledge of what baptism means, and a full awareness of what we are doing before becoming baptized.
Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Babies cannot "gladly receive his word". We have to be aware of what we are doing, before we can "gladly receive".
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 Spirit." Again, the Bible is telling us that repentance is a requirement for baptism. Babies cannot and do not repent. Therefore babies should not be baptized, nor should they be sprinkled. Instead, they should be dedicated.
Acts 8:12 "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."
Before being baptized, we need to first believe the things concerning the Kingdom of God. Babies have no comprehension of these things. Notice also, that the Word says, "both men and women", NOT "babies and very small children".
Acts 19:4 "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." In other words, since repentance is a prerequisite for baptism, infants must wait to be baptized until they repent.
The Proper Thing to Say when being Baptized
Acts 10:48 "And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord.
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 Spirit:"
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 Spirit."
Acts 8:16 "(For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)"
Here, in these 4 verses, we have 4 "formulas" that could be used when baptizing. Some people like to argue, or be legalistic, or be religious, or stubborn, as to which formula, which "magic words" are to be used.
1) There are what is known as "Jesus Only" people who INSIST that one's baptism is not valid, unless this formula is used "I hereby baptize you in the Name of Jesus, only, for the remission of your sins."! Then, they add other qualifications and conditions of salvation, such as speaking in tongues, etc. I presume that being born again is also necessary, but I am not certain if membership in their denomination is also required.
2) Then, there are what is known as "Yahweh People" who INSIST that this formula be used, "I baptize you in the Name of Yahshua, Son of Yahweh, for the remission of your sins." Well, it is true that Father God's Name is Yahweh, but these people, for the most part also insist that obedience to most of the Old Testament Laws is also required or advised, although I am not aware of very many that advocate the stoning of their children when they misbehave, or the drinking of poison for a wife of a jealous husband. These people do not know that we are no longer under law, but grace, and that the "Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, has set us FREE from the Old Testament Torah Law of sin and death" or that we are to "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free, and be not entangled again in the Old Testament yoke of bondage". Here we have a good example of "If the enemy cannot suppress a truth (God's Name is Yahweh), then the enemy will get behind a truth and push it to a cultic exteme." In this case, the cultic extreme is the insistence that we keep the Old Testament Law!
People do not realize that the "formula" is relatively unimportant, because they do not realize that to do something in someone's name, has little to do with the literal name of that person. To do something in someone's name has everything to do with how we represent that person's will and nature. I can misuse and take your name in vain without even mentioning your name, simply by misrepresenting your will and your character. Speaking of you, I can say, "That lying so-and-so is a thief and a seducer!" Without even mentioning your name, I am taking it in vain and besmirching your reputation, so the formula used is not even that important.
IN JESUS' NAME!
To do something in Jesus' Name means two important things:
1) Power of Attorney: Christ, as God, has given us the legal right, the authority, the power to represent Him and His interests. Before leaving for Africa this last time to minister, I gave to my wife legal permanent power of attorney. This means that I have given her the right to "sell the farm", or purchase another, to do ANYTHING 'in my name'! I absolutely do not even need to know what she is doing, or even how she signs my name, J. R. Bohlen, John Bohlen, John Roy Bohlen, etc., In a very similar way, Christ has given us the legal right to represent Him and His Kingdom and His interests.
2) When Christ comes to live on the inside of us, as LORD and Saviour, and we allow Jesus to LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH US, speaking through us, thinking through us, living through us, abiding in us, loving through us, doing the Father's will through us, this is the TRUE MEANING of what it means to do or say something "IN JESUS' NAME"! To do something in Jesus' Name simply means to gently and sweetly allow Jesus to do whatever He wants to do through us. The formula is unimportant.
ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE
1 Cor 9:22, 23 says, "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."
When I baptize people, I use the following formula, so that the person being baptized can be "all things to all" who will quibble and argue about the validity of their baptism:
"I hereby baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We baptize you in the Name of Jesus only, for the remission of your sins. And, we baptize you in the Name of Yahshua, Son of Yahweh, by Ruach HaKodesh, (The Names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in Hebrew!)"
Does Baptism save a person?
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Again, there are those who are legalistic and religious, who INSIST that a person cannot be saved, unless he or she has been baptized. The most extreme position about this I am aware of was the theologian from the olden days who swore that "unbaptized babies a foot long would burn in hell forever"! In the first place, babies are not to be baptized or sprinkled, or they will get wet! But a few drops or hundred gallons of water will not save them, nor the lack there of damn them.
Do we recommend baptism? OF COURSE!
Is baptism necessary for salvation? Of course not!
Let us use the illustration of an automobile: Can a car be driven without a seat belt? A spare tire? An emergency brake? Lights? Seats? Bumpers? Glass in the windows? The answer to all of these is "Yes, a car can be driven, operated, will take you where you wish to go, without any of these things." But, we do not advise anyone to drive an automobile without them. Can a person be saved without being baptized? The answer is "Yes!" But we do not advise it. We and the Bible STRONGLY recommends and urges us to be baptized.
Baptism "for the dead"
1 Corinthians 15:29 "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?"
Here is a quote from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft.
"As martyrdom and baptism were thus so closely and intimately connected, baptizesthai (NT:907), to be baptized, was used to express being put to a violent death by the hands of persecutors. So Matt 20:22-23: "But Jesus answered and said, Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of? etc." (Can ye go through my sufferings?) "They say unto him, We are able. He saith unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup," (ye shall bear your part of the afflictions of the Gospel), "and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with (that is, ye shall suffer martyrdom.) See also Mark 10:38. So Luke 12:50: "I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened until it be accomplished!" That is, I must die a violent death for the salvation of men.
10. The sum of the apostle's meaning appears to be this: If there be no resurrection of the dead, those who, in becoming Christians, expose themselves to all manner of privations, crosses, severe sufferings, and a violent death, can have no compensation, nor any motive sufficient to induce them to expose themselves to such miseries. But as they receive baptism as an emblem of death in voluntarily going under the water, so they receive it as an emblem of the resurrection unto eternal life, in coming up out of the water; thus they are baptized for the dead, in perfect faith of the resurrection. The three following verses seem to confirm this sense."
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
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:"
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Luke 3:16 "John answered, saying unto them all, 'I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire' :"
John 1:33 "And I knew Him not: but He That sent me to baptize with water, the Same said unto me, 'Upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the Same is He Which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:"
Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
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 Spirit."
Acts 8:16 "(For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)"
Acts 10:47 "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"
Acts 11:16 "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 Spirit.' "
Acts 19:4 "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."
Here, we have 11 powerful references to the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" in connection with baptism. This is very significant. However, if you ask most Christians, they will answer like those who were baptized with the baptism of John. "What is this?" The Bible clearly teaches that all Christians neeeeeeeeeeed the experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I asked my good friend and mentor, Dr. Bob Smith, of Bethel, if he believed in the Second Blessing. He said, "I most certainly do - - - and the third, and the fourth and the fifth - - !" I personally can name a number of blessings that we can experience following salvation. We can experience total commitment, sanctification, glorification, infilling of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, filled with Agape love, etc. There are dreams and visions and languages and glory spells, and all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. Like the old saint said, "It is better felt than telt", and spoke of being "Under the spout where the glory comes out!"
In addition to all of these, there is the King's Greatest Secret!, also known as the "Keswick" experience, or the "Exchanged Life", or the "Life of Christ", or the "Mystery of the Gospel of the Ages which is Christ in you, the Hope of Glory"!!! All of these things are available to you! If you want to know more about any of these available experiences, including "glorification", let us know, and we can provide you with more information.
The real question is not, "When do I get the baptism of the Holy Spirit?" But, "Am I full of God right now?"!! We limit both God and ourselves when we insist that we got it all when we got saved. If this is true, then there are many, many Christians that need to get saved! Too many of us, got filled with God in the olden days, but then sprung some leaks! The Bible says, "Be ye being filled!" and, "Out of your innermost being shall flow flooding torrents of living water continuously!"
I love that Scripture in Ephesians 3:19b from the Amplified Bible, which says, "May you be filled with all of the fullness of God, that is, may you have the richest measure of the Divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself, indwelling your innermost being and personality."!!!
The Great Commission
Matt 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 'All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth.
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: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the World. Amen'."
CONTACT INFORMATION
You may contact us at:
Great Commission Ministries
9473 County Road D
Webster, WI 54893
Phone: 715-866-4060 email:
Website: www.Great-Commission-Ministries.org
Other books and articles we have written:
How To Rule The World, or Seek 1st the Kingdom of God
The Cult of Cannibals, or, How To Rightly Relate
The Sexual Ministry, or, How To Live Happily Ever After
How To Raise 'Purfect' Kids
The King's Greatest Secret!
FGM, or Female Circumcision
Poetry
Law, Grace and Law
Body Stewardship
The Glorious Church
Apostles: Who, How, What, When and Where
True African Adventure Stories
How To Save Time
What is God's Name?