At this time the Lord is going to help us understand about water baptism: How it should be done.
Jesus said, "surely I say to you, unless one is
born of water and of the spirit, he can not enter
the Kingdom of heaven." John 3:5.
To be born of water is to be baptized by water
and to be born of spirit is to baptized by the
Holy Spirit so that one is born again. So water
baptism is a requirement for one to enter into
the Kingdom of heaven. Mark 16:16 says, "He
who believes and is baptized will be SAVED but
he who does not believe will be CONDEMNED."
SPRINKLING ON THE HEAD OR IMMERSION IN
WATER?
Romans 6:4 -5 says, "Therefore, we were buried
with him through Baptism into death, so that as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
the Father, even we should walk in the newness
of life."
This means that water baptism represents the death
and resurrection of Christ.
We imitate his death by saying, just like he died
and rose again, we have died to our old ways and
have been resurrected to a new life.
Colossians 2:12 also says "buried with him in
baptism,in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the working of God who raised
him from the dead.
Even when Philip baptized the Ethiopian, the bible
says that they went into the water. He did not
sprinkle the water on the head of the
Ethiopian. Acts 8:38.
Baptism represents death and resurrection. When
someone dies, the whole body is buried and not
just sprinkling soil on the head of the dead
person.
So baptism according to the bible should be
through immersion of the whole body and then
pulling the body out of water. Someone has to
hold you backwards in imitation of being buried
and then pull you out of the water in imitation of
being resurrected.
In fact, the word "baptize" comes
from the Greek work "baptizo" which means "to
immerse or to dip".
WHICH NAME SHOULD BE USED TO BAPTIZE?
Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-19 that "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the NAME of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit."
Just a question here. Is Father a name? or Son
a name? If you want to enroll your child into
School and you just write Father will they accept
that? or if you write son instead of your child's
name will they accept that? NO.
There are many Fathers and there are many
sons, they would request for the name. Father or
son are just titles just like Teacher, Doctor etc.
What is the particular name of that Father or
son? Jesus said in the NAME of the Father Son
and Holy Spirit, which means they have one
name.He didn't say in the NAMES.
Holy Spirit is also just a title.There is an evil
Spirit called Satan, so what is the name of the
Holy Spirit?
Spirits have names,the word spirit is just a title
like human being. Human beings have particular
names.
There are also other Spirits which are Holy
called under the title 'Angel' but they have
particular names like Gabriel or Michael. Just like
there are other evil spirits called under the title
'demons' but they have particular names which
they used when they were in heaven as Angels.
Since Father, Son and Holy Spirit are just
titles, then what is this NAME of the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit?
Jesus said in John 14:26 that, "But the
Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send
in MY NAME will teach you all things and bring
to your remembrance all things I have said to
you."
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be sent in his
name, the name Jesus.
And John 5:43 says, "I have come in my
FATHER'S NAME and you have not received me
yet if anyone comes in his OWN NAME, him you
will receive." Jesus said he has come in his
FATHER'S NAME.Which means that name of the
Father is Jesus because this is Jesus speaking.
Which means this one name of the Father, the
Son and Holy Spirit is the name Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:10 says, "At the name of Jesus
Christ, every knee should bow either in heaven, on
the earth or under the earth.
So if Jesus Christ is not the name of the
Father, son and Holy Spirit, then it means that the
Father and the Holy Spirit will bow to Jesus
because it says EVERY knee will bow even in
heaven.
So if every knee bows to the name Jesus, they
are simply bowing down to the Father the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
In the old testament, God revealed himself to the
Israelites under the name Jehovah but now he
reveals himself to us in the new testament under
the name Jesus Christ.
That is why the bible says EVERYTHING you
do, do it in the name of Jesus Christ.
In his prayer in John 17:11,12 He said "I will remain in the world mo longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me." These two verses brings us to a point of the realization of how God honored and glorified our Lord Jesus, even by giving him the greatest and most powerful name--his [God's] very name! Since they are one, they also share one name as we have noted above. This name is JESUS.
In the bible not even one person was baptized by
saying "I baptize you in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit." These are just
titles. That one name has to be used or else it is
not a valid baptism.
Jesus told the disciples to baptize in the name
of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit but why did
they all baptize in the name of Jesus including
Apostle Paul?
Because they got the Revelation. Peter knew that
Jesus did not mean that statement literally just
as he did not mean it literally when he said
"unless you eat my flesh and drink my
blood, you'll have no life in you."If Peter was
walking in the flesh, he might have killed Jesus
to eat his flesh and drink his blood for the sake
of being saved!
We need to walk in the guidance
of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told them, "I have many things to tell you
but when the Holy Spirit comes, he will teach you
all things."
That is why in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost
when the Holy Spirit came, Peter received the
revelation that that name is Jesus. The Holy
Spirit who teaches all things taught him.
Acts 2:38 says, "Then Peter said to them, Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the
NAME OF JESUS CHRIST for the remission of
sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit."
It says that day three thousand people where
added to them and baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ.
Even in Acts 10:48 Cornelius and all those who
believed were baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. It says, "And he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
Acts 8:14-16 as well as many other verses show
the same. In fact, Paul even told those who has been
baptized by John to be re baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ in Acts 19:1-5.
No one in the bible ever was baptized using the titles but in the name
Jesus Christ.
No wonder even Colossians 3:17-18 says what
ever you do,do it in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Acts 4:12 even says there is no other name
under heaven in which we can be saved but in
the Name Jesus Christ.
SHOULD BABIES BE BAPTIZED?
No one in the bible ever baptized babies. Jesus
clearly said he who believes and is baptized will
be saved (Mark 16:16). Babies have no ability to believe or not
believe .Only those who believe should be
baptized.To be baptized, you should be able to
either believe the word or reject it.
Some say the whole household of Cornelius was
baptized but the bible clearly says "The Holy
Spirit fell upon THOSE WHO HEARD the word
and they were baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ.
Which means they heard and believed." Acts
10:44.
Babies don't have that ability. The instruction
about babies and children is that we should let
them come to Jesus and bring them up in the
way if the Lord. Matthew 19:14 and Proverbs
22:6.
Water Baptism is when one has personally
believed. That is even why judgement begins
when one has known good and evil. If a child who
has the ability to believe has believed, then
good. But not a baby. About children in 1 John 2:12 John says "I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name." This means that children of believers (below accountability age) are forgiven already.
1 Corinthians 7:14 says that Children of a believer are holy.
Some people die without having an opportunity to
be baptized. For example, one may accept Jesus
on the death bed and die. God knows their
circumstance. But one cannot avoid it on
purpose and get away with it. That is why James
4:17 says "To him who knows to do good but
does not do it, to him it is sin".
If you were not baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ, then you need to be re-baptized because
God doesn't count that baptism valid. And yet
water baptism is one of the basic requirements
for Salvation.
"IF ANYONE COMES AND PREACHES ANOTHER
GOSPEL APART FROM WHAT WE HAVE TAUGHT
YOU,EVEN IF IT IS AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN
LET HIM BE ETERNALLY CONDEMNED."Galatians 1:8.
PREPARE
THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN ABSOLUTE REPENTANCE,
RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, TRUTH AND COMPLETE SURRENDER TO THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST . TIME IS ABSOLUTELY OVER; THE MESSIAH JESUS CHRIST IS
IMMINENTLY COMING TO PICK HIS BRIDE!!!
REPENTANCE PRAYER:
LORD Jesus,
I
acknowledge today that you are LORD and savior of all mankind, I
believe that you died and rose from the dead for my sake, and today I
have recognized my shortfall, I repent and turn away from all sin.
Please wash me with your precious blood, and establish your word in my
life, that I may be found in righteousness and holiness and write my
name in your book of life and baptize me with the power of the Holy
Spirit in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
Shalom!!! Shalom!!! Shalom!!!
Brother in Christ and A Servant of The LORD Peter Macharia.