BAPTISM CONTINUED

John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Why then, if Jesus is God and I AM is the Names used by both, are we not baptized in I AM? Okay did you think about that one? When God walked on this earth and talked with man, did He ask them to get baptized? Did He ask them to do anything? We can read in Exodus 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. When the priest went to the temple not once did God ask them to be baptized, in all the preparations they had to do before entering into the Holy of Holies.

Let us look closer at the Names that are used. Mary was told she would have a son and to call His Name Immanuel which means God with Us. Why are we not baptized in that name?

There are many explanations to explain the origin of the name Jesus, not many to explain the name Immanuel. Immanuel consists of two Hebrew words meaning God with us. It appears three times in the Bible, with only two referring to the Christ Child. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel; and Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The Name Jesus has many explanations. It is related to the Hebrew name Joshua. It is broken down into two parts the first part being the personal name of God YHWH which is Yeho, and second part is related to shua. Shua has many translations: saves; salvation; a saving cry; a cry for help; and my help. Through the years with different translations from Greek into Latin Yehoshua became Iesous, IESVS, and finally Jesus.

This is one of the reasons we love to study, many interesting things come out of it His name is Jesus and further scripture tells us that it is the only name we may be saved by. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Son came to earth born of a virgin. As a firstborn He was taken to the temple. Luke 2: 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

No where does it tell us that a child is to be baptized. Nor does it tell us He was sprinkled with water. We have to admit that if the Bible told us that when the child was taken to the temple that blood from the offering was put on His right big thumb, His right ear, and His right big toe, since He was a priest that actually might make sense. But none of that is done.

People we need to wake up and look at all the traditions that we carry from one generation to another, that are not in the Bible at all. We have no problem with a public acknowledgement of a vow to raise a child in the ways of the Lord. What we have a problem with is saying you are baptizing a child that is not of an age to make a decision to give themselves to the Lord.

Back to Jesus, He Himself was baptized by John. Mattthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [Baptize means to immerse.]
Why are we saying all this? Ignorance of the law does not make you innocent. Months ago I received a traffic ticket in the mail. My car was filmed by a camera. In fact my car was the slowest one in the group of cars on the film, with all the other cars passing it. It did not matter that I could prove I was at work, it did not matter my son-in-law was driving, my car had a ticket and it had my name on it. I had to pay, which my son-in-law gave me the money for.

We firmly believe that if you call on the Name of Jesus you are saved. We do not believe that if you ask the Lord into your life and you die you are lost. God is a good God. He knows that there are many people behind pulpits not telling the truth. That is why again and again we say read and study for yourself. God is not like the law of the land, you are responsible for what you know. His word says that all shall hear the truth and also that the truth shall set you free. John 8:32. You also need to be baptized in the Name of Jesus.

God Bless Indeed
recj/LJG