All About Water Baptism
Is water baptism essential to salvation? What
about the "thief on the cross"? Was he saved without it? What is
the proper form, or mode sprinkling, pouring or immersion? Should babies
and children be baptized?
Suppose you were baptized by a minister you
have since lost confidence in. Should you be baptized over again? Suppose
you were baptized "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Ghost [Spirit]." Should you be baptized again "in the name
of yahushua" only?
Should one be baptized immediately, or only
"after a six months' probation"? Must the ordinance be performed
by an ordained minister?
We are saved by GRACE, and through faith—make
no mistake about that; butt here are conditions!
And millions are being deceived, misled into
thinking they are saved, when they are not!
People have been taught, falsely, that
"Yahushua completed the Plan of Salvation on the Cross"when
actually it was only begun there. The popular denominations have taught,
"Just believe that's all there is to it; believe on yahushua ha
messiah, and you are that instant saved!"
That teaching is false! And because of
deception—because the true gospel of yahushua has been all but blotted out,
lo these 1900 years by the preaching of a false gospel about the Person of
yahushua and often a false Christ at that millions today worship yahushua
and all in vain ! "In vain do they worship me," said yahushua,
"teaching for doctrines the commandments of men"
Man is mortal. Man has no immortality inherent
within himself. yahushua, only, of all men who have lived, has immortality
(I Timothy 6:16). The penalty of sin is death—the second, or eternal,
death, from which there will be no resurrection. And ALL have sinned and
come under this sentence. Only yahweh has eternal life inherent in Himself
(John 5:26)—only yahweh has eternal life to give . And as the Father has
life in inherent in Himself, so has He given to the Son,yahushua, to have
immortal life inherent within Himself. And through yahushua, yahweh gives
it to us. (I John 5:11-12) and whoever has not yahushua has not eternal
life. Eternal life is a gift no man has until he receives it as yah's gift
(Romans 6:23).
The blood of yahushua does not finally save
any man. The death of yahushua did pay the penalty of sin in our stead it
wipes the slate clean of past sins it saves us merely from the death
penalty it removes that which separated us from yahushua and reconciles us
to yahushua.
But we are SAVED that is, given immortal life
by yahushua's life, not by His death (Romans 5:10). yahushua is a living
Saviour ! He is not dead He rose from the dead! We could never be saved by
His blood alone, if He had not risen from the dead (I Corinthians
15:17-18).
We are mortal, without immortal life inherent
in us, under penalty of eternal death from sin unless saved. To be saved,
we must be born of yahushua, who is a Spirit. We were born of human
parents, and therefore we are human flesh dust of the earth, earthy (John
3:3,6; (Genesis 2:7);(I Corinthians 15:47-49<). To be born of yahweh, we
must, first, now in this life, receive the impregnating life the Holy
Spirit from yahweh. We are then merely begotten, spiritually comparing to
an unborn human babe still in its mother's womb not yet really born. We
then become merely heirs of the Kingdom not yet inheritors.
Becoming converted means being changed. When
one receives the (Holy Spirit of yahushua, his whole viewpoint, his
outlook, his purposes, goals, ways of thought everything becomes changed!
It is a renewing of the mind the Spirit of a sound mind. But he is as yet
merely begotten. And, as the unborn babe must be fed, through the mother,
and must develop and grow physically before it can be born, so the
converted human, now spiritually begotten, must be fed on the spiritual
food of yah's Word, and must grow spiritually must grow in grace and the
knowledge of yahushua as He reveals His knowledge through His Word (II
Peter 3:18). He must overcome the down pull of his human nature and achieve
self-discipline. He must learn patience, must grow in love,faith, and
understanding. He must do the works of yahushua; and, in this spiritual
growth this life of active service he must endure persecutions and
afflictions and trials unto the end.
It is only those who, during this Christian
Spirit-begotten life, have grown in knowledge and grace, have overcome,
have developed spiritually, done the works of yahushua, and endured unto
the end, who shall finally be given immortality finally changed from mortal
to immortal at the time of the second coming of yahushua (I Corinthians
15:53-54).
So, being, as we say, converted—receiving the
Holy Spirit of Yah is merely the beginning! Then begins a lifetime of
living under the government of yah by yah's laws which express His will,
instead of by self-will and desire.
A person is not even begotten of yahweh unless
he is yahushua's (I John 5:12). And he IS not yahushua's unless he has
received the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). One is not even converted
spiritually begotten not even started on the way to final salvation, unless
and until he receives the Holy Spirit from Yahweh!
The question, then how to make the first
beginning of becoming a Christian how to start on the Christian life which
leads to eternal life is how to thus be changed and receive yah's Holy
Spirit!
"What
Shall We Do?"
Notice the very beginning of the Gospel of
yahushua ha messiah (Mark 1:15). yahushua said, "Repent ye, and
believe the gospel." The very first words He proclaimed, at the very
beginning of His Gospel, were to command the two conditions to becoming a
Christian: repentance, and faith. Those are the two things we must do!
Repentance is toward yahweh. Faith is toward yahushua. Repentance means to
quit sinning , and sin is the transgression of Yah's spiritual Law so
repentance means to begin living according to Yah's Commandments! And
yahushua said "believe the gospel." And the Gospel is the Good
News of the Kingdom of yah which means government of yahweh, and government
means obedience to laws, in this case yah's laws, which express the will of
yah government by the will of yah, no longer by human self-will!
After yahushua had completed His earthly
ministry, had paid the penalty of your sins,had risen from the dead and
ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost.
Thousands were in Jerusalem for this festival.
When the Spirit of yahweh came upon and into the disciples that morning,
thousands came in awe and wonder at the majestic spectacle. Peter then
preached the first inspired sermon of this Christian dispensation.
Thousands were convicted in their hearts. They realized their lost
condition. They realized yahushua was indeed Messiah Saviour !
"What shall we do?" they cried out
to Peter and the disciples. "How shall we be saved?"
Peter was now inspired. The answer came
straight and direct!
"Repent"! shouted the inspired Peter
in great ,"and be baptized, every one of you in the name of yahushua
ha messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit"! (Acts 2:38.)
There are the conditions—just two—the same as
Jesus gave them at the very beginning of His Gospel—repent, and believe!
For one cannot be rightly baptized except he believe (Acts 8:37).
Baptism is an ordinance symbolizing faith in the death, burial, and
resurrection of yahushua.
Once these conditions are complied with,Yahweh
stands bound by a promise to put within the repentant believer His
Spirit—which means His love, faith,understanding,gentleness and, power,
etc.—Hisattitude of mind—the Spirit of a sound mind His very
life—the impregnation and begettal of eternal life, and the very character
of God! The Holy Spirit in one changes one!
"For the promise is unto you, and to your
children even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).
water baptism, then, is a required part of the
way of salvation!
Yahushua'
Example!
yahushua in all things set us an example, that
we should follow His steps. He was the example for Christian living for the
individual, and also the living example for His called ministers (I Peter
2:21).
yahushua, though He had committed no sins to
be remitted, was baptized, setting the example for us. You'll read of it in
(Matthew 3:13-17;. In being baptized, Yahushua was immersed in water (not
sprinkled or poured upon) because "yahushua, when he was baptized,
went up straightway out of the water." Immediately the Spirit of God
descended upon Him, in this case visibly, and a voice from heaven said:
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." yah help us,
that by His help, power, and grace, we may be enabled to live such
overcoming lives that He may finally say the same of us!
yahushua also set the example for ministers.
Did you know that yahushua baptized more disciples than John the Baptist?
Listen: "After these things came yahushua
and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with
them,and baptized When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard
that yahushua made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though yahushua
himself baptized not, but his disciples).(John 3:22; 4:1-2).
Meaning
of "In the Name of yahushua ha messiah"
There is an important meaning here. Actually
yahushua did not do the physical work of baptizing these people Himself,He
had His disciples do it for Him! And what they did, by His authority and
command, is attributed to Him! So it was considered as if Jesus Himself had
baptized them.
Here is a most important truth. His disciples
did the baptizing in His name that is, in His stead they did it for Him, by
His authority and that was considered just the same as if yahushua had
actually done it Himself! In fact, the Holy Spirit actually inspired the
direct statement that yahushua baptized more disciples than John. When, at
His direction, and by His authority, His chosen disciples, chosen by Him,
did it for Him, it is considered that yahushua did the baptizing. He did
it, in other words, by and through His disciples!
To ask for anything in prayer,or to do or
perform anything, in the name of yahushua, is to ask or do it by His
authority. It is to act for Him. To do it for Him, in His stead. It is
acting as if by power of attorney to act FOR Him. It implies He has
delegated that authority to us. And indeed He has! For we are commanded to
do all things in the name of yahushua!
Yahushua
Commanded Baptism
Keep in mind the clear picture of the true
Gospel. The true Gospel of Yahushua ha messiah is the Message which yahweh
sent to the world, and yahushua was the divine Messenger who brought and
proclaimed it. It was not primarily a Message about Himself, but about the
Kingdom the government of yahweh. yahushua devoted three-and-a-half years
to teaching this Message to His twelve apostles.
After His resurrection, yahushua gave them the
final Gospel commission for this age, and in it He commanded baptism as an
obligatory ordinance for this Gospel dispensation:
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel"to every creature. He that believeth,
and is baptized , shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned" (Mark 16:15-16. Note these points: The Gospel to be preached
was not the present-day message about the Person of Yahushua, but the
Message He brought and preached the Good News of the government of Yah. What
is it necessary to believe to be saved? That which is preached the Gospel!
When even the preachers today do away with yah's Law,and therefore the
government (Kingdom) of yah for there can be no government without law they
deny that which must be believed to be saved and their followers cannot be
saved, but are deceived! And, also, it is "he that is baptized"
that shall be saved. It's part of the divine Commission a required
ordinance for salvation!
Notice Matthew's version of the Great
Commission:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations
" surely the disciples were to teach these nations that which Yahushua
had taught them the Message yahweh had sent Him to deliver and proclaim to
the world the Good News of the government of yah a Message that has not been
preached for 1800 years or more! "... Baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit : teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew
28:19-20).
Here again, in the final Great Commission for
preaching the Gospel in this age, yahushua commanded baptism. And here He
specifically stated "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost [Spirit]."
In
Name of yahushua Only
Since some today are being baptized over again
"in the name of yahushua only" in order to eliminate the Father,
and the Holy Spirit, this should be considered here. The contention of
these people is that this passage in (Matthew 28:19) is the only place in
the Bible where the names of the Father and the Holy Spirit are commanded.
They argue that a thing must be established "in the mouth of two or
more witnesses," and since they claim there is but this one witness to
this command, it must be rejected. All other passages mention only the name
of yahushua.
The explanation is that two or more witnesses
are required only in the case of human testimony—where one accuses another.
That instruction does not apply to the divine Witness, as inspired by the
Holy Spirit, and to assume it does is surely close to blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit! On the contrary, "all scripture is given by inspiration
of yah, and is profitable " And, the scripture cannot be broken! If
you can break, disprove, reject, or throw out this one scripture, you can
reject all the rest!
In this passage, the word translated "in
" should properly be translated "into." The meaning, then,
is that repentant believers are baptized into yah the Father, and into
yahushua the Son, and into the Holy Spirit. But the one who plunges the new
believer under the water performs the act in the name of that is, by
authority of yahushua,Why? Because yahushua said "all power" and
that includes all authority"is given unto me in heaven and in
earth." He has all authority! Either we do it by His authority, or
else we are doing it without any authority.
New
Testament Ordinance
The apostles understood this as a divine
Commission and Command. They carried it out. They always baptized repentant
believers.
The first inspired sermon after the Holy
Spirit came to convert Peter and the apostles was mentioned above. Peter
commanded all to repent, and to be baptized.
And "they that gladly received his word
were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls" (Acts 2:41 ).
"Then Philip went down to the city of
Samaria, and preached yahushua unto them But when they believed Philip
preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of
yahushua ha messiah, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts
8:5, 12).
Some, who do not believe in water baptism, may
say this baptism was not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. But later,
when the apostles sent Peter and John down to these people at Samaria,
they, "when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Spirit : For as yet he was fallen upon none of them : only
they were baptized in the name of yahushua" (verses 15-16). None of
them had been as yet baptized with the Holy Spirit yet they already were
baptized . Since they had not been baptized with the Holy Spirit, obviously
they had been baptized in water.
Baptism
Definitely Commanded
As Peter preached the first inspired sermon
after the coming of the Holy Spirit, and commanded baptism to the Jews in
Jerusalem, so yah sent Peter also to first preach the Gospel to the
Gentiles ten years later. It was at the house of a very devout Gentile,
Cornelius. But devout though he was, he did not understand did not have
saving knowledge. He knew no better than to fall down at Peter's feet and
worship him, a mere man. yah had sent Peter to instruct him.
Peter preached to Cornelius' family, "The
word which yah sent" the Message yah sent by yahushua as Messenger.
And "while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all
them which heard the word" (Acts 10:44 ). In verse 45 it is termed
"the gift of the Holy Spirit." The word "also"
indicates the same "baptism" with the Holy Spirit as Peter and
the apostles had received. In (Acts 11:15-17) it is plainly described as
the same "baptism" with the Holy Spirit the apostles had received.
Now these had received the "baptism" with the Spirit.
"Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid
water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of
the Yahushua" (Acts 10:46-48 ).
Here is a definite inspired command to be
baptized in water.
Immersion,
Sprinkling, or Pouring?
As in all other points of doctrine, the
churches today are in utmost confusion some practicing pouring, some
sprinkling, some immersing. Some say it makes no difference. Those who
sprinkle usually apply it to children.
The word "baptize" is not an English
word. It is a Greek word. The New Testament was written in the Greek
language. In translating it into English, the translators left this Greek
word untranslated. Literally, in the Greek, the word is baptizo. The
definition of this word is "immerse." It means to plunge into,
put into, dip. It does not mean "to sprinkle" or "to
pour." The Greek word for "sprinkle" is rantidzo, and
"to pour" is cheo in Greek. The Holy Spirit did not inspire the
use of these words, but baptizo, meaning immerse, put into.
Therefore sprinkling or pouring is not
baptizing!
When one understands the meaning of the words
inspired, it is silly to talk about "which form or mode of baptizing
shall we use sprinkling, pouring, or immersing?" It is as ridiculous
as to ask which form of immersing shall we use sprinkling, pouring, or
immersing? Or as to ask "which form or mode of skiing shall we use
swimming, ice-skating, or skiing?" Swimming and ice-skating are not
skiing. Sprinkling and pouring are not baptizing.
John baptized around about Aenon near
Jerusalem, "because there was much water there" (John 3:23 ). He
would have needed only a cupful to sprinkle, or a pitcherful to pour—but
baptizing required "much water" in a river. Also this verse
indicates John baptized the subject with much water, not by pouring a
cupful of water on the subject.
yahushua set us an example there was no other
purpose in His baptism and He was put down into the water, for He went up
out of the water. Both Philip and the eunuch went down INTO the water (Acts
8:38 ). There was no reason whatever for Philip to go actually into the
water, except for the reason there was no other way he could plunge the
eunuch INTO the river. They came up out of the water (verse 39).
The
Meaning of Baptism
Baptism is a burial, and a rising from a
grave. Notice (Colossians 2:12). "Buried with him in baptism, wherein
also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of Yah, who
hath raised him from the dead." Neither sprinkling nor pouring is a
burial, and one rises up out of neither. They do not picture the symbolic
meaning of baptism, and therefore are meaningless.
When one is plunged into the water, he is in a
watery grave. He would not live ten minutes unless brought up out of the
water—unless risen from this watery grave. Therefore a person immersed in
water is in a literal grave.
Notice further: "Know ye not, that so
many of us as were baptized into yahushua were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
yahushua was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life. 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 ).
There is the beautiful symbolism the real
meaning of baptism.
It pictures, in symbol, the death, burial, and
resurrection of yahushua.
But it is a dual picture, as all things in
yah's Plan are dual in operation. It also pictures the crucifixion of the
old self (verses 6-7), or of the sinning life, the burial of this sinning
self, and the coming up out of this watery grave, symbolic of a changed
person resurrected to a new, righteous, spiritual life in yahushua ha
messiah.
Going down into the water pictures the death
of yahushua, and of the old self.
Burial in the water pictures the burial of
yahushua, and of the old self.
Coming up out of the water pictures yahushua's
resurrection, and a spiritually resurrected person walking henceforth
"in newness of life."
Water baptism is the ordinance ordained of
yahushua by which we express our faith in yahushua as Saviour our acceptance
of His death, burial, and resurrection for us, and our repentance of the
old life and burial of it, rising to new and higher life henceforth. It is
a beautiful ordinance, full of meaning!
Not
Baptized Into a Denomination
Notice carefully, too we are "baptized
into yahushua ha messiah" (verse 3, above), or, as yahushua expressed
it in (Matthew 28:19), into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit not into some
church organization or denomination.
In many sectarian churches today the minister
will refuse to baptize one except into his church his group or organization
of human beings. That is not proper baptism. We are to be baptized into the
divine family the family of yahweh. And it is to be done "in the
name"by the authority of yahushua ha messiah.
Baptism has degenerated in many churches into
a rite or ceremony of entrance into the fellowship of that sectarian
organization nothing more than a rite by which one joins a lodge or social
club!
Note well these facts: One may
"join" a lodge, social club, or organized group of men (and most
churches today have degenerated into social societies). But one cannot join
the true Church of yahweh! You cannot get in of your own accord! No, yahweh
must put you in no man can do it you cannot do it yourself!
How does one gain entrance into the true
Church? "By one spirit are we all baptized into [put into] one
body"the Body of yahushua, the true Church of yahweh.
"Baptize" means "put into." When we receive the Holy
Spirit of yah to change us to make us as new creatures in yahushua it is
the impregnation of eternal life from yahweh. It is the very life-germ from
yah the Father. It is the Spirit of sonship whereby we become His children,
and may call Him "Father" (Romans 8:14-15 ). The Church of yah is
the Household of yah composed of yah's children. We do not become His
children until begotten of Him until we receive His Spirit His Nature His
Life. When we receive His Spirit, therefore, we are automatically put into
His family His Church! Joining one of the social clubs called churches does
not put one into yah's Church!
Now water baptism is a required condition to
receiving the Holy Spirit. At Samaria, and again at Ephesus, they did not
receive the Holy Spirit until after they were baptized in water (Acts
8:14-17;19:1-6 ). True, at Cornelius' house they did receive the Holy
Spirit, and thereby were baptized by the Spirit into the Church before
water baptism but Peter immediately commanded water baptism. This was a
rare exception to the rule.
But there is no PROMISE that anyone will receive
the Holy Spirit until baptized in water even though yahweh in His wisdom
and love may on rare occasions make an exception. The command is,
"Repent, and be baptized "and then "ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit."
The
Thief on the Cross
Is baptism essential? How about the
"thief on the cross"?
The answer is, yahweh commands water baptism.
The water baptism is not the thing that saves us. While it is commanded
"for the remission of sins," yet it is merely symbolic of that
which remits our sins the death of yahushua. While also it pictures His
resurrection, by which we are finally saved, it is merely the symbol, not
the reality.
The true explanation is that the "thief
on the cross" was unable to be baptized. And since baptism is not the
thing which saves us from the death penalty, makes us righteous, or imparts
eternal life, he did not lose salvation because of circumstances out of his
control. yahweh makes allowance for such cases.
But yahweh commands water baptism; and
for one who is able to either defy the command and refuse, or neglect, or
even put off obedience to this command until too late, certainly would be
an act of disobedience which would impose the penalty of sin, and cause
loss of salvation.
You need not worry about the thief on the cross
or one utterly unable to be baptized. You need be much concerned, however
you who are able about obedience to the command. It is essential to
salvation inasmuch as yahweh commands it, and noncompliance is disobedience
which would mean loss of salvation.
How
Long Should We Wait?
This brings us to the question how soon must
we be baptized?
One or two denominations insist it be put off
until the candidate has proved himself has proved he has the Holy Spirit
and is living a righteous spiritual lifeor has come to certain spiritual
knowledge. One denomination will not baptize people until they come to
"see" and accept yah's Law, and many of this denomination's
doctrines, and usually there is a six-months' probation period.
Paul says yah's Law "is spiritual,"
and that the carnal (unconverted) mind is not subject to the Law and cannot
be (Romans 7:14; 8:7 ). The order of God is: 1st. preach the Gospel,
leading to a conviction of sin in the hearts of those yahweh calls, leading
to repentance and faith in yahushua; 2nd, baptism; and 3rd, they shall
receive the Holy Spirit, which renews their minds, teaches them, reveals
spiritual truth. Since one cannot spiritually understand yah's spiritual
Law or spiritual things until he receives the Holy Spirit, and he must be baptized
before he has a promise of the Holy Spirit, he should be baptized first.
Everyone knows he has sinned, and lived contrary to yah's will, though he
may not have spiritual understanding of yah's will. yahweh can grant
repentance to a carnal mind before the CONVERSION , 28:19-20 (Matthew
commandments the them teach 3rd, believers, repentant baptize 2nd, gospel,
preach 1st, was, events of order yahushua? into baptized be and repent to
knowledge Bible in education college spiritual a need not does One mind.
Therefore, how long should baptism be put off
?
The answer is, just as soon as one has been
convicted in his heart of his past sins and sinful life just as soon as one
realizes his own way of life has been wrong, and becomes sick and tired of
it, and turns from his own ways and wants to find yah's ways and live them,
truly repents of his past life of sins, and believes in and accepts
yahushua as personal Saviour, and the One whom he must obey henceforth, and
wants to turn to the changed, different, new and happy life of faith in
yahushua, and to become a child of yahweh then that person should be
baptized immediately if possible and if this is not possible, then as soon
as a true servant of yahushua is available to perform the baptism.
Baptism
Should Never Be Delayed
It might be neglected until too late! In every
case recounted in the New Testament, repentant believers were baptized
immediately.
On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 were baptized
that same day. Philip baptized the eunuch at once. yahweh sent Ananias to
baptize Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, the apostle. Immediately on
meeting him, Ananias said: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the yahushua"
(Acts 22:16). Paul baptized the Philippian jailer and those in his house
"the same hour of the night"and it was after midnight (Acts 16:33
). They did not even wait until daylight !
Should
Children Be Baptized?
One cannot be baptized until after he has
fully repented. Only those who believe, both the true Gospel (the Message
yahushua preached, which is the Kingdom, or Government of yahweh) and on
yahushua ha messiah as personal Saviour, can be baptized (Acts 2:38; 8:37;
16:31 ).
Children have not reached that maturity where
they have the self-discipline to truly repent, and believe.
When some Samaritans repented at Philip's
preaching, "they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12 ).
Only the adults were mature enough to be ready for baptism.
The average mind does not mature until about
age 25 though there are often exceptions. Some few mature and become sober
and serious in life outlook by 16, or on rare occasions, even younger.
An immature mind may experience an emotional
feeling of temporary remorse, and this may be falsely construed as
repentance when it is only momentary, soon forgotten. It is like
"puppy-love." How many teenagers, 13 to 17, have a number of
temporary emotional experiences of feeling sure they are "in
love." Of course they themselves feel sure of it, and cannot be talked
out of it. Usually they grow out of it, but in rare cases, of course, they
may really "know their minds"though this is the rare exception,
not the rule. So with repentance and belief.
The child who is baptized may be ever so
serious about it at the time. But when that child grows older, he or she
undergoes an entirely new experience in life comes under
"teen-age" influences which are quite different today than one or
two generations ago must meet many temptations peculiar to energetic, dynamic,
restless, excitement-craving youth in the blooming flower of sex-appeal.
Experience shows not one in perhaps a hundred can be truly
"converted" prior to this age and remain converted, and
constantly growing spiritually, closer and closer to yahushua and His
Kingdom, through these trying years.
There can be no set rule about the proper age
for baptism. It is almost impossible to be absolutely sure about young
people under 21 or 25—and especially under 18 and unless positively sure
that such a one has really repented of self-will, self-desire, and the ways
of this world, such a one should be encouraged to live according to yah's
Word, but refrain from baptism until sure. John the Baptist insisted on
candidates bringing forth "fruits meet for repentance"or proving
their repentance by the fruits in their lives.
Youngsters should let a few years of such
fruits prove their repentance and permanent sincerity and earnestness.
Adults should be baptized immediately, or as soon as possible, on real
repentance and faith.
In the case of some awaiting baptism Where
necessity prevents immediate baptism, in such cases, or like the thief on
the cross, yahweh understands and makes allowance. But avoid all
unnecessary delay.
Must
Baptism Be Administered Only by Ordained Ministers?
Finally, who is authorized to administer
baptism?
Must the repentant believer be baptized only
by an ordained minister? How much depends upon the goodness, or belief, or
spirituality of the man who performs the ordinance?
First, let us look to the example of yahushua;
next, to the instructions of yahushua; and then, to the teaching and
practice in the early New Testament Church.
Was yahushua Himself an "ordained
minister"that is, ordained and approved by one of the popular
denominations around Him? No, He was despised and rejected of them opposed,
persecuted , belittled as a non-conformist. And He baptized more disciples
than John. Even John was not recognized, ordained, or sponsored in any way
by any popular group or church. He was in their sight a rank outsider.
Actually, as pointed out earlier, yahushua
Himself immersed no one with His own physical hands His disciples did it
for Him, by His authority. And right there is the point which answers the
whole question. The one qualified to do the immersing must always perform
it in the name of yahushua which means by His authority, acting for
yahushua as His disciple.
The principle is that it is yahushua who is
baptizing you. The man who puts you under the water is merely performing
this physical act for yahushua, in His stead. You are not to look to the
human man, further than to conscientiously try to go to one you honestly
feel is a man of yahweh, called of yahushua, and used of Him in the work of
His true Church. And if later he turns the wrong way, your salvation does
not depend on that man or any other mortal man, but solely upon yahushua !
There is no cause to be baptized again by another man.
Always there is the chance that you may be
deceived in the man you believe qualified to act for yahushua in the act of
baptism. If it depended upon this man, you would have to have divine powers
of reading minds and hearts to be sure. You might have to be immersed fifty
times before you could be absolutely sure of the man who did it and even
then you could be mistaken. Just be as careful as you can, as yahweh gives
you to see, in the man who acts for yahushua in baptizing you and then do
not look at the man look at yahushua consider that it is yahushua who is
baptizing you, by and through a human instrument. And even if the
instrument turns out to be imperfect, remember all humans are imperfect,
and it was done for, and in the name of the only One who ever was perfect.
And since it was in reality done by yahushua , it should never be done over
by another.
Who
Should Baptize?
Now back to the example of yahushua. In His
own earthly ministry, He had this immersing performed for Him by His
disciples. At that time they were not even converted had not yet received
the Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit was not yet given (John 7:39 ) because
yahushua had not yet ascended to heaven to send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7
), which first came to enter within and convert these disciples on the day
of Pentecost.
Peter was their leader, and even after this
baptizing, Peter denied yahushua three times. If you had been baptized by
Peter in yahushua's name, would you, on learning of his denial of yahushua,
be baptized over again?
These men, who baptized for yahushua when He
was with them in person, were not ordained ministers were not recognized by
any popular church were merely students of yahushua at the time, being
taught, not yet prepared to be sent out as His apostles and His ministers.
And the indications are they were young men, perhaps not yet old enough to
be made preachers or evangelists. They were not perfect, not even converted
(Luke 22:32 ).
Consider now yahushua's teaching. Those who go
forth teaching, or preaching, His Gospel (most popular denominations preach
a different gospel) . are the ones He commanded and commissioned to do the
baptizing (Matthew 28:19-20 ).
Consider the example of the inspired early
Church. Philip was not an apostle, or a regular minister, but merely a
deacon commissioned by the Church only to perform physical acts, such as
waiting on tables ( Acts 6:2-5 ). Yet he went down to Samaria and preached
yahushua and His Kingdom, and the people who believed were baptized (Acts
8:5-6, 12). The text does not even state that Philip did the baptizing he
may have had some of his new converts do it.
If you study the New Testament on the point,
you will see it does not appear to attach great importance as to which man
puts the believer under the water, since it is considered by the one
baptized that yahushua does it. The Holy Spirit sent Philip later to
baptize the eunuch (Acts 8:26-39 ).
However, notice that the one performing the
baptism ceremony was a representative (though not necessarily an ordained
minister) of the true Church of yahweh in every New Testament case. This
was the Church yahushua founded (Matthew 16:18).
Paul
Baptized Few
Consider, finally, Paul's example and
teaching.
The Corinthian Church was having a contention
as to which man they would follow. At Corinth some wanted to follow Paul
and start a church with him at the head others wanted to follow Peter;
others, Apollos.
"Is yahushua divided?" asked Paul of
them (I Corinthians 1:13 ). "Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye
baptized in the name of Paul? I thank yahweh that I baptized none of you,
but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own
name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not
whether I baptized any other. For yahushua sent me not to baptize, but to
preach the gospel" (I Corinthians 1: 13-17).
Notice, Paul baptized very few. He had others perhaps
among them a few lay members who were not ordained ministers at all do it
for yahushua. He was the called minister by whom yahushua carried the
Gospel to the Gentiles through whom yahushua as head of the Church ruled
the churches which had been raised up by the preaching of Paul and the
young men he taught and sent out under his direction. Paul did not consider
it important or essential that he, personally, baptize all those being
converted under the ministry yahweh carried on through his supervision.
"yahushua sent me not to baptize," he said. Paul had other
ordained ministers and helpers do the baptizing for him under his
direction.
Some being converted today seem to think it
important that certain ministers baptize them. But, as in the days of Paul,
there is danger lest people get to looking too much to the person or the
human instrument yahweh is using to call them, instead of looking to
yahushua, the head of the true Church of yahweh.
And so, as Paul did, we today sometimes have
other consecrated and dedicated non-ordained men do the baptizing. It is
done in the name of yahushua it is really yahushua doing it, through human
instrumentality. A man does it merely as a servant, or instrument of
yahushua just as performing a service, never to his own credit or glory or
honor.
Shalom
|
