This is a couple chapters from a book I wrote many years ago entitled "Foundational Teachings" based on the list found in Heb 6:1-3.
This material is about the "Baptisms" and refers to John 3 for base material.
Foundational Doctrines
f20 Baptism Into Christ
Hebrews 6:1-3
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
The word "baptize" is from the Greek word "baptizo." It comes from the root "bapto," meaning "to dip, sink, plunge, submerge, or cover wholly." The meaning of the word can be seen from its usage in Romans 6 and Colossians 2.
Romans 6
3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ
were baptized
into his death?
4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism
into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so, we also should walk in newness of life.
The word "into" is key in these verses. The Greek word for "in" is "en," while the word for "into" is "eis." The meaning of these simple prepositions is crucial to the understanding of the concept of baptism. The word "in" means to be stationary inside a place or time. You are "in" a car, "in" a house, or "in" the 20th century. The word "into" carries with it the concept of movement. You begin at a point outside and move "into" a place or time. We are baptized (submerged) "into" Christ, water, and the Holy Spirit. The concept is that you begin being separate from and outside of the element. You then proceed from the point outside- "into" the element. Once fully submerged, you are considered one with the element. Upon emergence, you are a part of the element.
Look at the reference to Moses and the Jews as they left Egypt:
1 Corinthians 10
1 And I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud,
and all passed through the sea,
2 and all to (
into) Moses were baptized in the cloud, and in the sea;
The word "to" in the phrase "to Moses" is the Greek "eis": which is "into." The People who were with Moses in the cloud were baptized "into" Moses. When they emerged from the cloud and the sea, they were one with him. They were considered equals with Moses. But the scripture goes on to say that even though they were identified with Moses, God was not pleased with some of them, and some were overthrown in the wilderness. But the point is (for this discussion) that when they entered the cloud, they were separate from Moses, while in the cloud they were baptized into Moses, and upon exit, they were one or identified with Moses.
Foundational Doctrines
f21 Teaching on Baptisms INTO
For some time, I have been studying certain passages from John (and elsewhere) which involve an understanding of the Greek. Specifically, the Greek prepositions "en" (in) and "eis" (into). In themselves, they are not particularly interesting. But when one considers some of the usages, some unusual ideas are brought forth. Take the famous passage in John 3:3-17, which I will not present in its' entirety for brevities' sake.
5 Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is
not able to enter into the reign of God;
..........
7 `Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born again;
.............
14 `And as Moses did *exalt* the serpent in the wilderness, so it behoveth the Son of Man
to be
exhalted,
15 that every one who is believing
into him may not perish, but may have eternal life,
16 for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every
one who is believing
into him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
17 For God did not send His Son to the world that he may judge the world, but that the
world may be saved through him;
18 he who is believing
into him is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already,
because he hath not believed *into* the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I have changed the prepositions to their corrected form. Most notable, I think, is the famous verse 16: "every one who is believing
into him may not perish, but may have eternal life. "The difference between these two words, "in" and "into," I think is important.
Strong’s entries:
Lexicon Greek
1519 1519 eis {ice}
a primary preposition; TDNT - 2:420,211; prep AV -
into 573, to 281, unto 207, for 140, in 138, on 58,
toward 29, against 26, misc 321; 1773 1)
into, unto, to, towards, for, among
Lexicon Greek
1722 1722
en {en}
a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication)
instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537);
TDNT - 2:537,233; prep AV -
in 1874, by 141, with 134, among 117, at 112, on 46, through 37, misc 321; 2782 1)
in, by, with etc.
The primary difference is in motion. While studying Greek years ago, I remember a diagram of prepositions. There was a box with the prepositions arranged around it in their respective positions, creating a graphic representation of the words. The word "over" was placed over the box, the word "under" was placed under the box, etc.. The Greek word in (en) was placed stationary inside the box. No movement. As Strong’s definition above says: "denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e., a relation of rest..."
The word into (eis) was represented in the diagram by an arrow beginning at a point outside of the box, and proceeding to the inside of the box, stopping at the word "in." Again the idea being portrayed when the word "into" is used is one of _motion_. Moving or changing in position or state, or time. The understanding that I am coming to is somewhat different from the conventional.
For many years I have held that to "believe in" something means to mentally or spiritually accept or agree with a truth or to ascribe to an unseen reality in space or time that cannot be proven by ordinary, natural means. i.e., I believe in God, I believe in creation, I believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and I still hold this understanding.
Yet, in reviewing the above information concerning the difference between "in" and "into," I am forced to reconsider some of the passages that I previously thought I knew the meaning.
I knew what it meant to believe "in" him, but what about to believe "
into" him?
Looking back at the context of the passage in John 3 brought some insight.
Vs. 16 is part of a teaching by Jesus about being "born again." He goes on to say that this birth is one of the spirit, not the flesh. It is also a second birth, in that it is called being "born again." So this "new birth" of the spirit involves a change. A result of this change is that a person may now "enter into the reign of God." A second clue is in verse 8: "the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit." A person born of the spirit, or born again, can hear the voice of the Spirit or commune with God.
If we understand the context of the passage to be consistent throughout, then it is reasonable to think that believing "into" Him has something to do with our spirit being born again, by which we enter into the reign of God and are able to commune with the Spirit of God.
This brings us to verse 14,
14 `And as Moses did
exalt the serpent in the wilderness, so it behoveth the Son of Man to be
exhalted,
15 that every one who is believing
into him may not perish, but may have eternal life
Some revelation comes from studying these verses. If you recall the story of the serpents in the wilderness, you will remember that the people were plagued by serpents. (Num 21) God instructed Moses to construct a brazen serpent and to raise it above the people. When they were bitten, they could look upon the serpent and were "
given life for it." It is significant that this wording was used. It does not say they were healed; it says they were given life. Youngs Literal translation is excellent:
Numbers 21:
9 "And Moses maketh a serpent of brass, and setteth it on the ensign, and it hath been,
if the serpent hath bitten any man, and he hath
looked expectingly unto the serpent of brass--
he hath lived."
Note the word "ensign" or "standard." No mere "post" or "stick." The brazen serpent was placed on a vehicle of honor to be a glorious symbol that people rally around. Hence the Greek word for "exalt" in Jo 3:14.
The common understanding of John 3:14 is that the ensign is the cross. But a new understanding emerges when we remember that the new birth is not a result of the cross but of the resurrection!
1 Peter 1:
3 (KJS) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to
his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead.
We are born again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In the type, the Jews believed into ("looked expectantly unto") the "exalted" brazen serpent, and were given life, we too
"believe into" the "exalted" Jesus, and are given life. The "exalted" Jesus is the resurrected Jesus! Not the crucified Jesus up on the cross.
The new understanding is that there is a difference between a general "believe in Him" and supernatural "believe into Him." We have to believe that Jesus is the Christ, but this reveals a deeper understanding of what happens when we do. We believe into His "exaltation," and are born again, being raised up together with Him. This would change our understanding of the "brazen serpent" type. It was not the cross, but the resurrection that was pointed to by the brazen serpent. It is the resurrection that gives us life. The cross was not an "exaltation," the resurrection was! This in no way diminishes the importance of the cross or the tremendous sacrifice of our Lord. But it deepens our understanding of the spiritual mechanics of the operation of God in the provision of the new birth.
The best scripture to add to this is:
Ephesians 2:
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 And hath
raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
Here we see Christ being raised up (as an ensign), wherein we “believe into the operation of God” (Col 2:15), and are quickened together with Him, and are made to sit with Him (entering the reign of God!) in heavenly places!
Look at Colossians 2:12.
Colossians 2:12 (KJS)
Buried with him in baptism, wherein
also ye are risen with [him]
through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Doctrinally, this is referred to as Baptism into Christ.
Romans 6:
3 (KJS) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were
baptized
into his death? {were: or, are}
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism
into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
in newness of life.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJS)
For by one Spirit are *we all baptized
into
one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether
[we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit. {Gentiles: Gr. Greeks}
2 Corinthians 1:21 (KJS)
Now he which stablisheth us with you
into Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God;
Galatians 2:16 (KJS)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed
into Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ,
and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 3:27 (KJS)
For as many of you as have been baptized
into
Christ have put on Christ.
John 12:46 (KJS)
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever
believeth
into me should not abide in darkness.
Romans 3:22 (KJS)
Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ
into all and
upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
