Baptism
Paul told the Ephesians that there was just one baptism. So is it John the Baptist's water baptism that he was sent by God to perform or is it the holy Spirit baptism that John said that Jesus would perform.
Baptism is essential but you need to know what baptism it is that you need. Study these articles to understand why you need to be baptized by Jesus and to understand what happened to water baptism.
The New Birth CD Set
Was it before they received the baptism of the holy spirit? What did Jesus have to do to make the new birth available? This reasoned discussion of the bible's revelation will answer these questions and remove the confusion. Learn how the spirit of antichrist has confused God's people on this fundamental issue. This 3 CD set available at cost price from our eBay store
. Knowing who is, and who is not born again is perhaps the most important understanding that you can gain.
Baptism Articles
- Baptism
- Baptism
- Have Ye Received the holy Ghost Since Ye Believed?
- Are You Born Again?
- New Commandments
- Seven Lies #1 Christianity is the Family of God
- Seven Lies #3 The holy Ghost baptism is Not the New Birth
- Impossible to Return
- Questions on Why the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is The New Birth
- A Prophet Like Unto Me - Part One Washing
- A Prophet Like Unto Me - Part Two To Be Priests
- Jesus is Sufficient
- Appearances and Baptism
- New Testament Fundamentals #4 John's Baptism
- The First Thing to Seek
- The Receipt
- John 3:16
- Whatever It Is
- Getting Into Christ
Suggested Further Reading
Spiritual Light is the result of four visitations from the Lord over a period of 4 years. Starting with the 3rd commandment and then insight into Christ's sacrifice the book reveals desperately needed understanding that dispels the confusion about conversion, baptism, salvation and works.Related Topics
- Other subjects from the topical index related to the New Birth.
- Salvation & Conversion
- The New Birth
- Speaking in Tongues
- The Holy Spirit
- Ceremony
Send a Question or Comment
Thought for the Evening
7-30
IMPOSSIBLE TO RETURN
2Corinthians 5:17
The one baptism (Eph. 4:5) that cleanses fallen man from sin is not the baptism that washes the body; rather, it is the baptism that came "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1Pet. 3:21); that is, the holy Ghost baptism. The water of Noah's flood, together with the ark, separated Noah from the wicked generation in which he lived; the flood destroyed the wicked and saved the righteous. In that way, it was a figure of God's baptism in spirit (1Pet. 3:20). The Spirit is the "water of life"(Rev. 21:6) to which Jesus calls us, and it springs up like "rivers of living water" from those who receive it (Jn. 7:38). The holy Ghost is both the ark of safety and the power that will destroy the wicked forever.
John's watery baptism in the Jordan River was another figure of the baptism of the Spirit. This is what John meant when he proclaimed, "I indeed baptize you with water, but one mightier than I is coming, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire" (Lk. 3:16).
God used Noah and John to play special parts in producing "shadows of heavenly things". Then, when Jesus purchased our redemption and "the true light" began to shine, all such shadows, holy as they were in their time and place, passed away. In other words, after the Messiah had come, there remained no more need for the things that told us that he was coming.
In reality, it is as impossible to practice John's baptism in water today as it would be for us to re-enter Noah's ark. Neither of those two Old Testament shadows of heavenly things any longer exists. God's will is the thing that made both of them shadows of Christ, and it is no longer His will that we should enter into an ark made of wood or be baptized with a baptism using earthly water. Jesus fulfilled those symbolic works that had been commanded by God, and then, God moved on. We need to move on with Him.
It is good for anyone to obey God and be baptized by the holy Spirit into Christ (Acts 5:32; Gal. 3:27). If we continue to keep His word after being cleansed by the Spirit's baptism, God will keep us from even desiring to return to old things that have passed away. He will make us wiser than to try to return to things that no longer exist. In Christ-not in any shadow of him-is hidden all the wisdom and power and goodness of God.
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Brother Billy Mellick sent the following response to this TFE:
Pastor John:
I don't think Noah would have took a swim in the flood or that John would have tried to unloose Jesus' shoes. They were both perfectly content to be in their places.
Bro. Billy
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Yes, Brother Billy, and we who are children of God are happiest when we stay in our place, which is out of the shadows and walking with Jesus in the light of life.
Pastor John