BAPTIZE OR NOT

WORD OF WISDOM

CHRISTIAN BAPTISTISM ~ An ordinance immediately instituted by Christ (Matthew 28:19, 20), and designed to be observed in the church, like that of the Supper, "till he come." The words "baptize" and "baptism" are simply Greek words transferred into English. This was necessarily done by the translators of the Scriptures, for no literal translation could properly express all that is implied in them.

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

There are 59 scriptures that have the word baptize in it. I will not list each one, they though are easy to find with a good concordance.

We will start with John the Baptist:
Matthew 3:11-16 (King James Version) 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mark 1:4-8 (King James Version)4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

John 1:25-33 (King James Version) 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Matthew, Mark and John, three different disciples tell the story of John. John baptized in the wilderness, clothed in camel’s hair with a girdle of skin about his loins. His food was locusts and wild honey. To those who ask he tells them he baptizes with water for the repentance of sins after they had confessed their sins. He also tells all that there is One coming after him that was before him. He tells them that He [Jesus] will baptize them with the Holy Ghost. The promise is there that Jesus will fill them with the Holy Ghost. Nothing though is said about any speaking in other tongues, but fire is mentioned.

Now lets go to Jesus.
Matthew 20:20-26 (King James Version) 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. John 3:22 (King James Version) 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. John 4:1-6 (King James Version)When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

These three scriptures tell us very much. Jesus tells us that yes others can receive the baptism that He has. John and his followers tell us that more where baptized by Jesus’ followers then by Johns. What is very important here is we are told that Jesus Himself did not baptize anyone.
Now lets look to the disciples and what they did after Jesus was raised. Peter is speaking here.
Acts 2:38 (King James Version)38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:40-50 (King James Version] 42 And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. Acts 19:3-5 (King James Version) 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Peter one of the original disciples tells the people repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He goes on later to tell us that those who heard that those who believed in Christ received the Holy Ghost before water baptism; then they were baptized. Coming upon those who had been baptized by John for repentance, they were again baptized in the name of Jesus.

So reading all this we can tell that baptism is important. There is more then one way to baptize, but once you hear the right way you need to do it the right way. There is more then one baptism, there is water baptism and there is Spirit baptism. We have learned that you can have one before the other, but you do need both.

But, oh yeah we have to have a but in here. What of the man on the cross with Jesus? Well let’s take a look at him. Did he repent; did he ask to be saved? We know with all certainty that he was not baptized. Luke 23:30-50 (King James Version) 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Two men were also on crosses that day. One mocked Jesus, the other rebuked him saying to him don’t you fear God, you are nailed to the cross just as Him, but we deserve to be here, He does not. Then look carefully at his words to Jesus, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. And just as Jabez prayer was heard and answered, so was this mans. [Now if you do not know the prayer of Jabez you should go read it.] He knew who Christ was, what he did not know, but would receive was a last minute reprieve. He admitted he was a sinner and asked Jesus to remember him and Jesus told him that today you shall be with Me in paradise.

From all the scriptures we have just read we know to call on the Name of Jesus and we shall be saved. We know that it is okay to be baptized in water for repentance of sins. We also have read that once we know that it is the Name of Jesus then yes we should be rebaptized in His Name. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles. There is only One Name under which we can be saved. But not being baptized will not keep you from heaven’s door. What is very important to remember here is that we are held responsible for what we do know. If we have not had some things revealed to us through the Spirit then God is just enough to know this. What we do know and do not act on is what we will be held accountable for.

God Bless,

rECj/LJG