But only in the sense of submerging something under water. It doesn't mean, as we sometimes say and as you may be thinking, to "immerse yourself" in your studies, etc.
No, you are creating a straw man argument against me here. I never said it means the sense of "immerse yourself in your studies".
The Greek word for Baptize is.
"from a derivative of 911; to
immerse, submerge; to make whelmed..."
The way I showed you from scripture its that the word,
"baptize" is
not just referring to water or submerging under water. This is clear from the three examples I showed. I mentioned the
Baptism WITH the Holy Ghost. This baptism
is clearly not meaning water. And I mentioned the
baptism into Christ, where we
put on Christ. This is also
not a water baptism, but a deeply spiritual baptism, in fact this is the saving baptism and it is by the Spirit. For we read in 1 Cor 12:13, "by one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body". This is by the Spirit and into the body of Christ. This is to be immersed into Christ. I also mentioned being
baptized unto Moses. This baptism was also not water baptism. I could mention another one as well, when Jesus ask if they could
be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with. He was not referring to water baptism here and the word baptized does not mean under water here.
So clearly the word baptize does not mean as you say to submerge only under water. You were incorrect in your teaching.
If your still not convinced, consider John when he said that he baptized them with water, but Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Ghost. John used the word baptize with water, showing two different words, one baptize the other water. It would be redundant to say I dunk you under water with water. Then he uses the word baptize referring to the baptism Jesus would give with the Holy Ghost, and this baptism is
clearly not water. The words baptize you with water are clearly showing the kind of baptism he did. And the words baptize with the Holy Ghost show clearly that you cannot use the word baptize to only mean immerse or submerge under WATER.
The word "baptize" can carry with it the idea of taking a white sheet and immersing is in red dye where the dye absorbs into the cloth. But in the spiritual sense we see this immersion is into Christ. Paul said as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. This is where we are truly immersed into him and he in us.
Jesus said similar in John 15 when he spoke of being in him and he in us.
If that turn of phrase is used, it's an analogy, a comparison to taking something under the waves! So, although you are right that the word can also mean to immerse, we're still talking about the use of water.
No we are not always talking about under water, as I showed in my response above. This is obvious from scripture (well, obvious to some I suppose). To baptize with the Holy Ghost is not to baptize with water, I don't understand why this is difficult to see. Unless long held religious traditions do not change easily.
Correct, but it's not a substitute for what you call "water baptism."
In fact in Acts 1 Jesus told them that John
baptized (
past tense) with
WATER, but they would be (
future tense)
baptized with the Holy Ghost ... So in some way Jesus shows the water baptism was to cease and the Spirit baptism was to replace it.
The Baptism with (or of) the Holy Ghost is a subsequent and separate event, not a different way of describing the sacrament that initiates a person into Christ's church.
I never said that. But the Holy Ghost is involved in a person coming into Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. When a person has Jesus Christ in them, then He will baptize them with the Holy Ghost. First a person must be baptized into Christ. Then rivers of living water will flow from within him when he is baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost. But this understanding needs a few more scriptures to expound on.
I am showing that the saving baptism is into Christ by the Spirit and the water baptism is not that saving baptism. John baptized with water past tense, and He himself said that he must decrease ( his ministry ) and jesus must increase. Jesus told John to suffer it to be so for now, not forever. Consider carefully why Jesus spoke that John baptized with water BUT ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Why mention this about Johns OT water baptism, that belonged to the old covenant?
And what's more, the passage in Matthew that we've talked about absolutely rules out the idea that The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is what Christ was referring to when he commissioned his Apostles to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...." If it had been a reference to what you're talking about, there could not have been anyone administering the baptism; the Apostles could not have been instructed to do the baptizing if that is what Jesus was talking about.
The passage in Matthew is not worded as you word it. It says go teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost. The teaching does something as it is Spirit led, it immerses then into the name (character, power, authority, life and virtue) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and are safe.
But this needs to be more fully expounded. I commented on this in another post, on this forum I can try to find that comment and share it as well. I believe many have misunderstood Matthew 28 and the transition and reformation of the Jewish believers from the old to the new covenant n Acts and throughout the NT and in doing so have mixed the old with the new and have missed the spiritual aspect and reality of the saving baptism into Christ by the Spirit., which all believers are baptized with.
While Jesus was on earth he kept them in the name of the father and he manifested His name. What do you think that means to keep them in the name of the father and to manifest the name of the Father? To immerse into a name is a different baptism from water or the Holy Ghost baptism as i understand it. There is the doctrine of baptisms in Hebrews 6:2. This doctrine is a deep doctrine and covers the various baptisms and their meaning. But the saving baptism is into Christ as we are crucified with him, buried with him and risen with him to the newness of life.
And I can show from scripture that many of the jewish believers were still under the law and customs and following Johns water baptism and the Halakah law of the Jews in regards to baptism as well. They also were still animal sacrificing for many years after Christ death.
