Baptism

John 1:5 “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The first understanding of baptism comes from 1 Peter 3:21 where it is a pledge for a clear conscience. Once we get baptized, our conscience does not get cleaned automatically, but it is a request made from us to God so that it should become clean.   Paul further adds that this appeal is through the resurrection of Jesus who has gone into heaven and sits at the right hand of God and has complete authority. Since Jesus is completely victorious, we appeal to God that we be cleansed through Him. Since Jesus has victoriously won, this appeal becomes valid and doable by God. There are two illustrations about Baptism in 1 Peter 3:20,21 and 1 Cor 10:1-4 about the flood and the red sea. Both the incidents did not clean the people away from dirt but brought them to a newer location where the enemy was not present and had no authority. We are in a new battle ground where the situation is very favorable than it was earlier.

Speaking about Baptism, Jesus adds the word “truly” showing His approval on the baptism and how needed it is. But in Ephesians 4:4-6, we read that there is one baptism just like there is only one God, Lord and Spirit. So, just like one God who is also our Lord Jesus and who is also the Spirit, we should know the one baptism being the same in water, Spirit and fire. (Mathew 3:11) These, together provide a cleansing of our body, soul and spirit which is considered one baptism where a person is fully immersed. Baptism by water cleans the body of its contamination but since the soul is still full of dirt, the baptism is not complete. The next stage is when the Holy Spirit comes inside us, He cleans the soul so that we are no longer slaves to sin. But sin is still present in us. Baptism by fire cleans us completely off the presence of sin.  We can read that in Luke 12:49,50. We should also call that the Baptism of suffering which we all would go through as per Mathew 20:22,23.

We have to understand that Jesus never baptized anybody by water (John 4:1-2). But nobody else can ever baptize us by Spirit and fire. The reason is in 1 Cor 12:13 where we are baptized into one body, the church to which Christ is the Head. Jesus is at the receiving end so that He can take control of us as soon as we submit to Him. Only when we get baptized, we give Jesus the authority to further immerse us into the Holy Spirit who cleans the soul away of its addictions and authority of sin. The other reason is that God wants us ourselves to make the decision. We understand this properly when Paul compares Baptism in 1 Cor 10:1-4 with the red sea event which brought people to Christ.

In 1 Cor 1:14, Paul shows his disinterest in baptizing people himself because if this role is done by him alone, the name Paul would become prominent in the event. But since Jesus is the one who has died we are submitted to Christ when we get baptized. So, the name Christ should be declared high and the only reason for baptism. We read in Acts 19:3-5 that if the name of Jesus was not present in repentance and baptism, it had to be done again but with no offense to John the Baptist.

In Galatians 3:27-28 we read that Baptism makes us clothe with Jesus Christ. This does give us the immunity to escape condemnation and a new identity that makes us Christians. This means, we no longer belong to our own traditions and practices. All our standards and lifestyles completely are lost and we belong to the new family now. We are expected to be seen differently when we have the new clothing. Just like Jesus Christ who claimed the Holy Spirit to be His, our bodies will eventually be transformed like Jesus when the Holy Spirit comes inside. But, we dress like Him as soon as we get baptized so that we learn to walk with His stature. Also, according to verse 29 we should understand that we do not earn our inheritance from God after becoming worthy but we receive that when we get baptized and then act and learn to be sons. This is how easy Christ has made our life, but we still complain on these small suffering in our lives.

According to Mark 16:16, baptism should follow faith so that salvation would happen. If we do not believe, we will be condemned. So, a person without baptism but believes may not be condemned. However, if we had opportunities to be baptized but we still did not, we do not believe Him. The following verses explain the authority we have when we believe. We have to learn this properly, once we believe in Him, we are clothed with Christ and have the authority to carry His Name to people in need and perform miracles. All we have to do is believe in the Almighty Name.

In Acts 8:36, we read the Ethiopian’s delight when he saw water being available for his baptism. This water is a very important factor here which should be compared to Grace. We can read that in Isaiah 44:3. God poured out his love towards us so that righteousness can sprout and mature in us. But we have to be saved when this water is available.

Amen.