FOUNDATIONAL DOCTRINES LESSON SEVEN

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Apr 13, 2015, 12:34:54 PM4/13/15
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                                                             LESSON SEVEN

 

                                FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES

 

Let us now see the third doctrine, the Baptisms (Hb.6.1-3)

 

As we have discussed in the last lesson, the meaning of the word ‘Baptism’ is originally not an English word but it is from Greek. The word Bapto in Greek means immersion. So anything which does not involve immersion is not a Baptism at all.

 

In Baptism three things are involved.

  1. The one who gives Baptism

  2. The one who receives the Baptism

  3. The medium in which the Baptiser immerses the person to be baptised.

     

    We can see in the fundamental doctrines in Hebrews, the word used is not ‘Baptism’ (singular) but ‘Baptisms’ (plural) (see all popular English translations).So we have the obligation to study the different Baptisms taught in the Bible.

     

    Essentially we must know three Baptisms as revealed in Bible.

     

    Baptism is known by the medium in which the individual is immersed. The primary Baptism viz. the Baptism by the Holy Spirit is described in the previous lesson.

     

2. Baptism into the Water or known as the water Baptism

 

This is the shadow of the life giving baptism which is by the Holy Spirit. So the eligibility conditions are the same namely repentance and faith.

                                                                                                                                                                                

The great commission of the Lord says

 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt.28.19-20)

 

This Great commission contains three parts

 

     1.Making disciples- This is the Baptism into the Body by the Holy Spirit
 

      2. Baptise them (disciples)-Baptism into the water by a human servant of the Lord to demonstrate

           Publically what is happened inside.

 

      3. Teach to observe all His commands-This needs Baptism into the Holy Spirit by Lord Jesus

 

 

 

 

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached repentance as a precondition for taking Baptism. (Acts.2.38)

 

“Then Peter said to them,”Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. This is the first Christian sermon ever preached in this world. It contains all the three Baptisms.

 

  1. Repent. Repentance involves true faith also. So in many places in the Bible, repentance is used as a synonym for salvation.Eg.1Cor16.15, 2Peter.3.9, Luke.16.30, 24.47, Acts.11.18). Here repentance is mentioned as salvation or the Baptism by the Holy Spirit.

     

  2. Be baptised. Those who are baptized by the Holy Spirit are to be baptised in water to testify the world that they are people who belonged to Jesus Christ. Jesus taught this, apostles practised it and nobody has got any right to disobey it.

     

  3. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is the same as Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul asked the Ephesians “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you Believed’.(Acts.19.2)

     

    From this we can clearly understand the plurality of the Baptism as a foundational doctrine of Christian faith.

     

 

While preaching to the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip taught ‘believing with all your heart as a precondition for taking Baptism’. (Acts.8.37)

 

Lord commanded to baptise the disciples. (Matt.28.24). If you have taken baptism,(irrespective of whether you have taken child Baptism or adult Baptism) before taking a decision to become a disciple of the Lord, you must take Baptism again in order to obey the Lord in this commandment.

 

Believing and then baptising is the formula given to us by the Lord. (Mark.16.16)

 

Jesus was baptised in the river of Jordan (Matt.3.16), Eunuch in a lake (Acts.8.38) and these reveals that the Holy spirit recorded the need of immersion for taking Baptism. (John.3.23).So sprinkling water and calling it baptism is an open insult to the glorious Word of God.

 

Two historical incidents which are identified with water Baptism, teaches further spiritual truths about Baptism.

  1. Crossing of the red sea. Israelites were saved from death because of the blood of the pass over Lamb. As long as they were in Egypt they were under Pharaoh’s ruling. Pharaoh was not against worshipping the God of Israel in Egypt. Pharaoh was a shadow of Satan. Symbolically when you obey the Lord in water baptism Satan will lose his authority over you. Water of Red Sea separated Israelites from Egyptians. If the same is not happening in Baptism the Baptism is meaningless.   (Ex.8.25-28)  

  2. The great flood of Noah. The water of the flood separated Noah and his family from the world and the sinners lived in the world. So if the baptism is not separating you out of this world and the sinful people of this world, your Baptism is meaningless.(1Pet.3.20.-21)

      

Water Baptism is a commandment of the Lord and it is not an optional after thought. Those who are disobeying this commandment of the Lord is rebelling against the simple wisdom of God as revealed in 1 samuel.15.22 “Obedience is better than sacrifice”. Pharisees and lawyers of Jesus time rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptised. (Luke.7.30)

 

 

 

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Nb. Please read all the scriptures from the Bible preferably NKJV. For any clarification or doubt contact. perthfe...@gmail.com

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