PART 3
10) WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED?
Why was Christ baptized? Most assume that if He did it, surely we should do it, too. Let us consider why Christ was baptized in His own words. John the Baptist had this same question on his mind when Christ came to be baptized of him. John said, Why are you coming to be baptized by me? I need to be baptized by you! Why
would John have said that? Because at that time, water baptism was associated with cleansing from sin (see Mark 1:4). John knew that Christ had no sin, so he is wondering why Christ would need to be baptized. Notice the Lords answer: Matthew 3:13-15, Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 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.
What did the Lord mean when He said it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness? Why did Christ come to the nation of Israel? Did He come to destroy the Law with its ordinances or to do away with the prophets? Christ Himself said, Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (Matthew 5:17). The Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, came to identify with the human race and in particular with the nation of Israel. In doing so, He submitted Himself to all of the laws of the nation of Israel, including the water washings or baptisms. In order to identify with sinners, even though He was sinless, He
partook of this water washing which symbolized a cleansing for the nation of Israel. He came and partook of the same so He would become one with them. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that water baptism was required for the priestly tribe when they were initiated into the priesthood (Exodus 40:12). Priests were to enter the ministry at thirty years of age, which is exactly how old Christ was when He entered His earthly ministry and became water baptized according to the Law of Moses. We are not under the Law today. The Lord Jesus Christ was circumcised on the eighth day in the temple, He worshipped at the temple, and He partook of the Jewish feasts. Are we to do all of those things today? Of course not. We are not under the law, therefore, we are not subject to the water washings of the Old Testament law.
Another verse which shows why Jesus was baptized is John 1:29-31, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. Johns baptism was to manifest Christ to Israel. How would the baptism of Christ reveal Him to Israel? God had told John to watch for the Spirit to descend like a dove. As he baptized, the One on whom the Spirit descended and remained, would be identified as the Messiah. 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 (John 1:33).
11) IF WATER BAPTISM WAS A PART OF THE JEWISH LAW, AND IF IT'S REALLY NOT INTENDED FOR US, AND IF GOD HAS GIVEN US A SPIRITUAL BAPTISM, WHY DID PAUL BAPTIZE?
Why did Paul baptize? I Corinthians 13:12 gives us a principle which will help us to understand why Paul baptized with water in his early ministry. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part. What is Paul talking about? When he wrote I Corinthians, he had only received a small portion of the full revelation that would eventually be given to him. There came a time when God did reveal the fullness of the mystery to the Apostle Paul. But when he wrote I Corinthians, he said he only knew in part. This explains why Paul continued a Jewish practice as long as he did.
We can pinpoint when Paul stopped baptizing according to Scriptures. In Acts 18 at Corinth, Paul water baptized. He refers to this in I Corinthians 1:14-16, I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Paul had gotten a revelation concerning water baptism between Acts 18 and when he wrote I Corinthians. This is a space of about two years. We can pinpoint that
during that two year period Paul received further revelation that water baptism was not a part of his commission for this Dispensation of Grace. This is what we call progressive revelation. By the time he wrote I Corinthians, Paul could confidently state, For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel (I Corinthians 1:17). God did not give the whole program to Paul all at one time. He progressively revealed it. And Paul did what any of us would do if we wanted to be faithful to the Lord. As we learn, we change. We practice what we know to practice until we learn otherwise. And when Paul learned that water baptism was not a part of this dispensation, there is not one more instance of Paul baptizing anyone after that time.
12) WHAT HARM IS THERE IN WATER BAPTISM?
Many recognize and understand that water baptism does not save us. They understand that we are not under the law. But really, what harm is there in going through this little ceremony? The most obvious danger is trusting in baptism rather than trusting in Christ. There are many churches today which teach salvation by baptism. We call this doctrine Baptismal Regeneration. Major denominations teach that the way to be saved is to be baptized with water. Why is this dangerous? Many young people are baptized with water as a child and as they grow, they are taught this took away their original sin. Or they are taught that this baptism places them into the Kingdom of God. This is tragic and it flies in the face of what Paul taught. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Many evangelical, fundamental churches do not teach salvation by baptism, but they will not allow you to be a member of their church unless you have been baptized. God will accept you, but they will not. Some will sort of accept you, but you are not considered to be in the will of God if you do not do it.
Others would say baptism is just an outward sign of an inward reality, and that being dunked in water pictures what we believe. We believe we have been buried with Christ. We believe we have been raised again and baptism is said to be a ceremony to show this. But we should ask Why? Where does the word of God ever tell us that baptism is to show someone you are saved? The fact is it doesnt. Many point to Romans 6, which is not referring to water baptism at all (see question #9).
The harm, aside from the danger of clinging to baptism as your point of salvation, is the shadow water baptism casts on the message of the gospel. Colossians 2:8 says, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Paul says to beware. Some would try to strip something from you, steal something from you. This is what is meant by the word spoil. But what is it they want to steal from us? Verse 9 says, For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And in verse 10, And ye are complete in him. We are complete in Him! What can you add to that? Baptism? A water washing? A ceremony? We are complete in Him. What does this say if we say we are saved, but yet there is a next step, if you want to really have everything - be baptized. What is that saying about your salvation? It is saying that something is missing. But Paul wrote that we are complete IN HIM! The Jew would ask, Dont I need to be circumcised? Verse 11 answers, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. In putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Many today would ask, Dont we need to be baptized?
Verse 12 answers, 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. Pauls message is that you do not need to be circumcised, you do not need to be baptized, because you already are! You are complete in Christ. You already have these things. To go back and do them for a religious purpose casts a reflection on the finished work of Christ. It is as though you are saying you really do not believe that what Christ did was quite good enough, and that it set me in perfectly good standing with God, so you are going to add just a little bit more to it. Water baptism casts a reflection on the finished work of Christ, and this is why it is dangerous!
Paul goes on to illustrate it in verse 14, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. Baptism was an ordinance. Many churches will tell you
there are ordinances for today. Scripture says there are not. They have been blotted out. Verse 16 says, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [the substance, the real thing] is of Christ.
Baptism was a shadow - Christ is the real thing. Which would you rather have? Paul says in Christ you already have the real thing. Do not go back to the shadow. Do not go back to that which has no substance. Glory in Christ. He is the real thing! If you told your son to carry out the trash and told your daughter to do the dishes, would they be considered obedient children if your son would do the dishes and your daughter would carry out the trash? No, we might commend them for doing something, but they really could not be obedient if they did not do what you told them to do. In the final analysis, we would have to conclude they were unfaithful servants. This is a simple illustration and yet in essence, it describes what the church has been doing or trying to do for the last 2,000 years. By and large, the church has been trying to carry out the final instructions of our Lord to the Twelve Apostles, often known as the Great Commission. One of the common questions which arises when we talk about the unique and distinctive message committed to the Apostle Paul is the question:
Question 13. AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE CARRYING OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION: (SNIP)
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord.
