Difficult Divine Decrees: Baptism
Notes
Transcript
Difficult Divine Decrees: Baptism
Difficult Divine Decrees: Baptism
The question brought was ‘Why do we need to be baptised and why do different churches do it differently?’
It depends on what verses you consider more important, how you interpret those verses, how you devalue other verses, and tradition.
When I say baptism, you likely have an immediate image that comes to mind, but I am not sure that image is the same among you all!
Baptism is not an english word. It is a transliteration of a Greek word.
The Greek word means to dip, immerse, and there begins the debate.
Baptism:
Sprinkle
Dip
Immerse
Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican
Baptist, Presbyterian, etc.
Frequency:
Once
Three times
Varies, Orthodox immerse three times in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
When?
Infant
Adult
Before/After belief
Big debate here, because of the Why?
Why?
Salvation?
Obedience?
Purification?
Forgiveness?
Membership?
Word Picture?
But everyone assumes the substance is water, but the word baptism does not assume the substance.
Quick question: Why did Jesus get baptized? Was it for one of these reasons?
What?
Water
Spirit & Fire
Name
Like communion, baptism is a rite or sacrament that has been debated for nearly 2,000 years. People have lost their lives over this topic.
It is not a matter of life or death on earth, it is a matter of eternal salvation in the mind of some
Be aware of this when you discuss it.
Now, the Jordan river and Baptism seem to have an association, especially with Jesus.
In the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, there are two thing that are ‘baptised’ in the Jordan river.
First,
Now as the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went in the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord dipped in the edge of the water of the Jordan (now the Jordan was full throughout its entire flood plain like the days of the wheat harvest),
When we covered this section in Torah, we recognized that it was as if the waters stood still at attention as the Ark of the LORD passed through the water.
They did not quickly move through the river, the people were in the water for some time while Joshua recited the law.
Second,
And so Naaman went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times according to the word of Elisha. His flesh returned like the flesh of a small child, and he was cleansed.
We have this Hebrew bible allusion to ritual purification and healing for Naaman.
But it get’s complicated
Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
So why is Jesus coming to John? To confess his sin? Water for repentance?
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
Seems to be for an entirely different reason.
Remember I mentioned the Ark crossing the Jordan?
Imagery is important. The Ark will not be immersed in the waters of chaos because the throne of God is not overwhelmed in the chaotic waters of death.
However, Jesus, will succumb to death, and he will emerge from it, and the Father will honor him.
Here is our Divine Decree…
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Now, this is known as the great commission. If you ever ask, ‘What does God want me to do?’ This is the answer.
Notice: baptize in what? The Name.
Luke has an interesting take:
And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
Some traditions will take the baptism as repentance for forgiveness of sins, but they stop there.
Notice the HB passage attached to the baptism.
It is apocalyptic, to prepare the way of the LORD, prepare for his arrival.
Does Jesus come once or twice?
Is it possible that baptism continues to be an announcement?
Keep that in mind…
Did you know that Jesus’ disciples baptised too?
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
Interesting little tidbit…
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.
Well that is interesting too…
Okay, so now begins the real controversy…
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
So is it in water or not?
Get’s a bit more complicated…
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
So they use water, but the Spirit, in this case, does not come on the Eunuch, it carries Philip away!
“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
So, there is water involved.
What about the who. (Lydia)
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Her household was baptized, and she is not the only one.
And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.
But it get’s more interesting…
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now, are you clear on the issue of baptism?
Can you understand how people can latch on to a few verses, ignore some others, create a system, and then start judging others by it?
These are NOT ALL the passages. Throw what Peter says into the mix and you have a mess on your hands that takes some work to get through.
And the issue is not something that came later in the church.
Paul was dealing with this too.
Last verses…then we will wrap this up.
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Paul makes a shocking statement…Did you catch it?
Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, and not in some theological eloquence, not with philosophy, otherwise, the Cross of Christ is powerless.
The message is super simple.
So, what is baptism for?
Difficult Divine Decrees: Baptism
Difficult Divine Decrees: Baptism