Jesus said to the disciples:
We may call the Lord’s earthly ministry “the days of the Son of man.” During those days the Son of man was under the law observing with the Jews their God-given religious ceremonies, carrying on their” law” program.
The Scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat. Matthew 23:1-3.
During those days the Holy Spirit had not yet been sent down from heaven.
It was during those days... months before the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, that the apostles were baptized with water unto repentance for the remission of sins. Note the testimony concerning John the Baptist:
Concerning His own death and resurrection note what the Lord Jesus told His baptized disciples about two years after they were baptized with water:
Years later the risen Lord revealed the truth of Romans 6:3 and 4:
Some Christians read two baptisms into Romans 6:3 to 6, and insist that the transformed believer should be immersed to witness to the world that he has died with Christ, been buried with Him, and raised to walk in newness of life.
But this is a human supposition as there is not one verse of Scripture stating that water baptism is for "a witness to unbelievers".
In the light of plain Scriptural facts we must all admit that none of the twelve apostles received water baptism as "a witness to the world that they were identified with Christ in His death and burial".
Note what John the Baptist said about four years before the death of Christ:“John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.” Acts 1:5
Then note the statement of John 7:39““I indeed have baptized you with water; but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:8
While Christ was on earth no one experienced the baptism into the Body of Christ, mentioned in I Corinthians 12:13.The Holy Spirit was not yet given.” Again, “If I go not away, the Holy Spirit will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” John 16:7
We may call the Lord’s earthly ministry “the days of the Son of man.” During those days the Son of man was under the law observing with the Jews their God-given religious ceremonies, carrying on their” law” program.
The Scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat. Matthew 23:1-3.
During those days the Holy Spirit had not yet been sent down from heaven.
It was during those days... months before the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, that the apostles were baptized with water unto repentance for the remission of sins. Note the testimony concerning John the Baptist:
“And I knew Him not; but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” John 1:31
“And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Luke 3:3.
Concerning His own death and resurrection note what the Lord Jesus told His baptized disciples about two years after they were baptized with water:
Then note their reaction:“And they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death; and the third day He shall rise again.” Luke 18:33.
In Luke 12:48 - 51 the Lord Jesus referred to His approaching death as His baptism.“And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken,” Luke 18:34.
Years later the risen Lord revealed the truth of Romans 6:3 and 4:
The Divine baptism of Romans 6:3 and 4 is efficacious. It transforms the believer from a sinner to a saint ... takes him out of Adam and puts him into Christ, a new creation, and identifies him with the Lord Jesus Christ in death, burial and resurrection.“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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.”
Some Christians read two baptisms into Romans 6:3 to 6, and insist that the transformed believer should be immersed to witness to the world that he has died with Christ, been buried with Him, and raised to walk in newness of life.
But this is a human supposition as there is not one verse of Scripture stating that water baptism is for "a witness to unbelievers".
In the light of plain Scriptural facts we must all admit that none of the twelve apostles received water baptism as "a witness to the world that they were identified with Christ in His death and burial".