WHY STUDY YOURSELF

In our next few articles we are going to show you why it is so important that you study the scriptures. So we hope you enjoy the articles and as always look forward to your comments.

I decided to start off how to study yourself by talking about a subject that is very controversial. You can walk into any number of churches and hear and read for your self scriptures that support any number of different views. So how do we determine what is right and what is wrong? By Studying.

Baptism, now wait a minute I told you it was controversial. Let us start at the bringing.

Nowhere in the Old Testament is baptism mentioned. Not once, never. In the New Testament we have the following:
Baptism 22
Baptism 1
Baptize 9
Baptized 57
Baptizest 1
Baptizeth 2
Baptizing 4
Total 96 times

Now just what do we want to know about it? Let’s think about this; what would be your questions? What is baptism? What does it mean? How is it done? What is the right way to do it? I like, who can do it? What about where should it be done? Is there a wrong way? Did Jesus baptize anyone? Sounds like good ground to start on. Lets see what we can find out.


What is baptism? First we will go to Webster’s New Riverside University Dictionary and it says:
Baptism 1. A Christian sacrament marked by symbolic use of water to rid the recipient of original sin and resulting in admission into Christianity. 2. A ceremony, trial, or experience by which one is initiated, purified, or given a name. 3. Christian Science. A submergence in Spirit or purification by Spirit.
Baptize 1. To admit into Christianity by baptism. 2. a. To cleanse or purify b. to initiate 3. To give a first name, to administer baptism.

Now lets look up the Greek meaning. Why you ask? The New Testament was translated out of the Greek language.
Baptism as it is used here is from the Greek word meaning taken from baptisms: to make overwhelmed [i.e. fully wet]; used only in the NT of ceremonial ablution, especially [tech.] of the ordinance of Christian baptism.-baptist, baptize, wash. The word baptize basically means to immerse, submerge.

Okay do we have a meaning? According to Webster’s we have a lot of different meanings. Symbolic use of water to rid one of sin and results in admission into Christianity. A ceremony, a trial, or experience by which one is initiated, purified or given a name. And let us not forget our Christian Science belief: submergence in spirit or purification by spirit. Shall we read on? To admit us into Christianity. To cleanse or purity or to initiate. To give a first name or to administer baptism.

Almost enough right there to do one of two things. Throw up your hands and except what you are told. Or say that doesn’t make sense I want to know more, I want to know the truth. So which is it going to be with you?

Me I want to know the truth. Lets look at the Greek from where it was translated. To be overwhelmed, fully wet, in the NT only of ceremonial ablution. And ablution means to wash away. To completely submerge means to go under the water. Immerse means covered by water. By going to the Greek translation of what the word means we have the true definition

But is that all there is to the meaning, what of baptism of the Holy Ghost? Well that is very important and tomorrow we will see where we are led.

I pray that this has gotten you to open your eyes and your hearts to the word of God. Tomorrow we will search more into the right way.

rECj