Get the basics: Baptisms

Hebrews 6


1So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
This scripture shows us some of the basic or fundamental principles of Christianity.

1) Repentance and forgiveness. 2) Faith in God 3) Baptisms 4) The laying on of hands 5) The resurrection of the dead 6) Eternal judgement 7) Moving on….

There are 4 main Baptisms

Baptism of repentance. (Johns baptism)

Baptism into Christ (the baptism of death and resurrection)

Baptism of the Holy Spirit (The baptism of power)

Baptism of fire.


Baptism of repentance. (Johns baptism)

John’s baptism was a sign to the outside world of repentance, of washing away of sins and returning to God. It was like a sign post to indicate the coming of the Messiah. Mat 3:2 and 8-9 read Acts 13:24

Jesus was baptised by John to fulfil all righteousness. It was symbolic of his act of substitution for us and as an example.

Mat 3:15

Jesus baptism was also a symbol of the finishing of the old dispensation (under the law) and the beginning of the new dispensation (under grace).

God showed him to be his son and the Holy Spirit alighted on him immediately after coming out of the water establishing him as the Messiah. This was the beginning of Jesus public ministry. John 1:32-34 Acts 1:22


Baptism into Christ (the baptism of death and resurrection)

Romans 6:3-5 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

Colossians 2:9-15 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.b 10So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

11When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.c 12For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15In this way, he disarmedd the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Galations 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

We can see that through baptism into Christ we are united with Him in death. Baptism signifies death to sin and death to self, it is the action of burying the old man or the old lifestyle.

It is also the action of being raised from the dead through faith in God.

We are Physically and openly identified with Christ in His death and resurrection.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.d 15He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Acts 19:1-7 Shows us that the baptism into Christ supersedes the baptism of john and normally (not always) precedes the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Note that those who were baptized according to Johns baptism were baptized again into Christ.

Acts 19:1-7

There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit whena you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized intob the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tonguesc and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.


Who should be baptized and when should it occur.

Every person who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ should be baptized and it should take place as soon as they have the understanding of it.

Mathew 28:19-20 The great commission.

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ina the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Mark 16: 15 -18 15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "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.

Acts 8:12 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

How is it done

Mark 1:10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

Acts 8:38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.


Acts 10:47 Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."

We know from scripture that water was used to baptize. Even the children of Israel were figuratively baptized in the cloud and in the Sea. The scripture doesn’t however specifically teach of a method to be used when baptizing and I think the reason for this is that the importance lies in the willingness of the heart to show obedience in this act of faith.

That being said, I personally believe that being dipped under the water is symbolic of being buried with Christ and then being raised again. Ill say it another way, putting the old nature in the grave and rising up a whole new person.

I also believe that baptism should be done in a public place and is a testimony to others. (Christ was put to death in a public place)


Baptism of the Holy Spirit (The baptism of power)

John and other prophets foretold it, (Mark 1:8, Joel 2:28, Isaiah 32:15)

Jesus promised it, Luke 24:49 And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven. Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

The believers received it. (acts 2:1-4) Read

The Holy Spirit is Gods Spirit in us who gives us the power to carry out the Great commission.


Baptism of fire. (The wow factor)

A burning desire to do the will of God.

Fire tests and proves all things.

This baptism is not seen much today, but will be seen again soon.
Another teaching.


PS…

When we are baptised into Christ , we take on a new identity: That is the identity of Christ. In doing this we leave behind our old identities, they become null and void. Colossians 3:9-10 says, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

2 Corinthians 5-17…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

I used to be known as Des the Drunk and idolater but now I am becoming known as Des the Christian and speaker of the word. My old identity is passing away and my new identity is becoming more apparent.

In the same way, those who were identified with a contrary religion or a pagan practice cease to be identified in that way and instead become identified as children of God and heirs with Christ.

Colossians 3:11

Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

The scripture goes even further to include the so called “Christian religions”

1 Corinthians 1:12-13

What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

The fact is We are baptized into Christ and those of us who were known as Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Anglican and so on are now known as Christ. The body of Christ, the Son of God, the heir to the Kingdom….THATS US MATE.

The one Unifying factor, The only common denominator…..Christ.

John 17:20-23 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Summing up.

Baptism into Christ is an ongoing attitude of the heart that is initiated with a physical act as a testimony to the world.


Steps;

1) Believe…… Acts 16:31

2) Confess (Tell somebody) …… Romans 10:9

3) Repent (turn away from your way and accept Gods way) ……Acts 3:19

4) Be baptized …… Acts 2:38 (you may need other believers to help you with this)

5) Receive the Holy Spirit ……Acts 2:38

6) Get a bible and read it (the Holy Spirit will teach you)

THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS

For the next 60 seconds, set aside what ever you're doing and take this opportunity!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=J6NwgmV267U

THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS


At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty.

At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixtion Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.

Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.

The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breath.

Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.

Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding.



He was simply pouring water from his wounds.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side. But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even large nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.

He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds.

The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.

Jesus poured all 3.5 litres of his blood; He had three nails hammered into his members; a crown of thorns on his head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into his chest.

All these without mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying his own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where his hands were nailed).

Jesus had to endure this experience, so that you can have free access to God.

So that your sins could be "washed" away. All of them, with no exception! Don't ignore this situation. JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU! For you, who now read this. Do not believe that He only died for others (those who go to church or for pastors, bishops, etc).

He died for you!   It is easy to joke or make foolish comments, but when it comes to God, sometimes you feel ashamed to talk to others because you are worried of what they may think about you.


Accept the reality, the truth that JESUS IS THE ONLY SALVATION FOR THE WORLD.

God has plans for you, show all your friends what He experienced to save you. Now think about this! May God bless your life!

60 seconds with God...



For the next 60 seconds, set aside what you're doing and take this opportunity!

It is because of our wrongdoing that we die, but Jesus has payed that debt by dying in our place.
If you accept what He did for you, the death debt is paid and you will rise again to live forever.
If you do not accept what He did then you will pay the debt yourself and die forever.

Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

What do I do?



Romans 10;9-11

9If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced

You can say this simple prayer
Dear God, I believe that Jesus Christ is your son, that He died in my place and that you raised Him from the dead. I ask that you forgive me of all wrongdoing and make me clean and new.
I say that Jesus Christ is Lord, amen.

Jesus has paid the debt, you are now SAVED.

If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus' instructions. He said(Matthew 10:32 &33): "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whosoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven".



Yes, I love God. He is my source of life and my saviour. He keeps me alive every day,

Des,
Mondoroks

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=J6NwgmV267U