BIBLE BAPTISM

Our word "baptize" is translated from the original Greek word "baptizo", which means to immerse. All Greek Bible dictionaries define the word "baptizo" only as immerse, dip or plunge. "Baptizo" does not mean sprinkle or pour. If our Lord had wanted people to be sprinkled, he would have inspired the New Testament writers to use the Greek word "rhantizo". If our Lord wanted people to be poured He would have inspired New Testament writers to use the Greek word "katacheo". But he didn’t, so "baptizo" was used, which can only mean to immerse.
Let’s look in the Bible to see how people were baptized. In John 3:23 we read, "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there." Why was John baptizing near Salim? "Because there was much water there." Scriptural baptism, which is immersion, according to the Bible requires much water.

In Mark 1:5 we read, "Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to Him, and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River." Why was John baptizing in the Jordan River? Could it be "because there was much water there" in a river?

In Mark 1:9-10, we continue to read, "And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove." When Jesus was baptized, he was baptized in the Jordan River. Why? Again, because there is much water in a river which is required for scriptural baptism, which is immersion. Also notice after Jesus was baptized, he came "up out of the water." So scriptural baptism not only requires much water, but it also requires "coming up out of the water." This cannot be said of sprinkling or pouring.

Next we turn to Acts 8:36-39. The evangelist, Philip, had been teaching the gospel or good news of Christ to an Ethiopian eunuch while they were riding along in a chariot. Then in verses 36-39 we read: "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, See here is water, what hinders me from being baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." Here we see the baptism God has authorized in the Bible requires the "coming to some water", "going down into the water," and after a person is immersed it requires "coming up out of the water." How much clearer could the Bible be on the mode of baptism? Also notice after the eunuch was baptized, "he went on his way rejoicing." Why? Because he was now saved and all of his sins had been taken away. This is certainly something for one to rejoice.

Romans 6:4 says, "Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death." Here we see that baptism is a burial, which is what is done when one is immersed. Sprinkling is not a burial; it is only sprinkling. Neither is pouring a burial. Both are unlawful substitutions made by man which will cause many people to be lost.

Colossians 2:12 says we are "buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him." Here again God requires the one being baptized, to be buried and raised when he is baptized. When we bury a dead person in the cemetery, we do not lay him out on the grass and sprinkle a little dirt on him. No, that would be absurd, and it is just as absurd in trying to substitute sprinkling for baptism. Sprinkling for baptism is foreign to the scriptures. God did not authorize it. There is not one instance anywhere in the Bible where anyone was sprinkled for baptism.

But we then ask the question, from where then did sprinkling or pouring come? The first recorded case in all of early church history was that of Novatian in 251 AD, who lay sick on his bed and water was poured on him. Who made this first exception, man or God? Man did without the authorization of God. God has not approved of it. Sprinkling is just as vain as if it had never been done. This man made exception over the centuries became the man made accepted practice until at the Council of Ravenna in 1311 AD, man legalized sprinkling for baptism, but without God’s authority.

The person who insists on following this man made teaching of sprinkling or pouring has refused to obey God. Sprinkling is without God’s authority. There is no baptism in the absence of immersion. If you were sprinkled or poured, then you have not been scripturally baptized. You still have every sin that you have ever committed and are still lost. If you refuse to admit that your sprinkling is wrong, you will go to your grave refusing to do God's will. On the Day of Judgment you will be eternally condemned to the fires of Hell. Such a tragedy.

"THREE FORGOTTEN WORDS"

From Titus 2:15 we read , "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." (KJV)
As An Evangelist of the New Testament kind, Titus was on the Island of Crete 'to set things in order'. (Titus 1:5) The New Testament evangelist has been given the authority, or responsibility, by The Word of God to get his job done. People are to respect and pay attention to what he says as he teaches and shares the doctrines of God.
Notice that what Titus was told to do is intensified with each additional word used in the text. "THESE THINGS SPEAK, AND EXHORT, AND REBUKE WITH ALL AUTHORITY."
The word 'SPEAK' is the general word. Exhort is a little stronger, involving not only teaching, but urging these truths on those who listen and hear.
The word 'REBUKE' is the most intensified, having to do with convincing people, from God's Word, of their faults and sins against God (with the idea of bringing shame), for the purpose of correction taking place in individual lives.
Therefore, in these three forgotten words it is The Holy Spirit who shows us that God means business, and it is the evangelist who is God's man to see to it that the congregation is obedient to that Word of Truth.
If the milder first two do not bring results, he is to let the people know this is a very serious matter and not to be taken lightly. GOD'S message, HIS Word, is to be heeded, honored and lived daily by those who profess to be God's followers. Timothy received similar instruction and direction from the Apostle Paul (1 Tim. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:15).

"SELF IMPRISONED"

We live in a great country and are blessed by a lot of freedom, as citizens here or citizens of Heaven. But sometimes we can and do imprison ourselves. We can build prisons of bitterness, of worry, of perceptions about circumstances, of addiction, of jealousy or other sins. God can free us from our self-made prisons, and this is HIS desire. And these prisons in our own minds, which we inflict on ourselves, can be the most restricting of all. Let's look at some today.


First, is Bitterness: When we refuse to forgive someone, who is the one that is hurt the most? Who is the one most likely to lose sleep? Whose stomach churns furiously when that person is in sight? Who thinks of possibilities and ways of revenge? Who stews about it? It's the one who won't let it go. Bitterness is a poison a person drinks in order to hurt the other person.

Second, is worry: We can lose hours of sleep, elevate our blood pressure and distract ourselves from the good things for God we could be doing - all in worry about something we probably can't change anyway! Maybe you've seen the statistic that 90% of what we worry about never even takes place!

Then there is jealousy which can be a cruel prison as well. King Saul is a good example of that.
From 1 Samuel 18:7-12 we read,
"As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul." (NIV)



Saul became obsessed with getting rid of David, whom he "eyed" as an enemy. It imprisoned his mind, took over his life, consumed him. Worst of all, it removed him from God. The word "eyed" is key here. We often "eye" or perceive circumstances or events as unbearable, unchangeable. The answer to all these areas in life is to put your trust in, lean on and grow in The Lord. From Proverbs 3:5 we read, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight" (RSV) May God bless