Baptism is necessary for salvation-it

  is "the washing of water by the word"

  Ephesians 5v26 cp Matthew 28v19,20, Mark 16v15,16

    Baptism must be preceded by a belief in the Truth,  as shown above.   It is

     an  outward  expression  of  an  inward  belief.  It  is  a  demonstration that

     the one  baptized is "dead to sin",  Romans 6v2,  and is  in this way joined

     with Christ  by  being  "baptized into his death"(v3).   And  "as Christ was

     raised up from the dead  by the glory of the Father.. we  also  should  walk

     in  newness  of  life" (v4).  Baptism  is  IMMERSION,  not  "sprinkling",

     which was originally  a  pagan Roman rite,  and was subsequently adopted

     into  the  apostate "church" teaching.   It is  therefore another example of

     the evil of that system of iniquity revealed in Revelation 17v5-

     "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

     AND  ABOMINATIONS  OF  THE  EARTH"- see under 'Index' links to

     'God', 'spirit', 'mortal', 'devil', 'satan'.  The process  of  apostacy is traced

     out in 'departure'.  We have  to ask,  what repentance could any new-born

     babe have?  It is a mockery  of the  Divine  command,  and only came into

     vogue  because of  the  erroneous  belief  in "the immortal soul". It shows

     how  one  error  leads  to  another,  and illustrates how careful we must be.

 

     Being  "born  of (Grk.'ek'= 'out of') water" and  then  at  the  resurrection

     "of spirit" is essential for us to  "enter the kingdom of God",  John 3v3-5.

     John  the  Baptist  "was  baptizing  in  AEnon  near  to  Salim,  BECAUSE

     THERE WAS  MUCH WATER THERE", John 3v23. "Much water" was

     needed  for  IMMERSIONS.  Note  that  "Jesus,  when  he  was baptized,

     WENT UP straightway  OUT OF THE WATER", Matthew 3v16. Cp v15-

     "thus it becometh US to fulfil all righteousness". Baptism is for those who

     are "dead to sin",  which is  not applicable  to a new-born babe.  The dead

     are  BURIED.  "Therefore we are  BURIED WITH HIM  BY BAPTISM     

     INTO DEATH",  Romans 6v4.  Belief comes before baptism-Ephes.5v26.

 

     Baptism  is also a "dyeing" process.  W.E. Vine in the 'Expository Dictio-

     nary of  New Testament Words' says-    "To  baptize,  primarily a frequent-

     ative form of  'bapto',  to dip,  was used  among  the Greeks  to signify the

     dyeing  of a garment". Belief  in  the Truth   makes immersion a "dyeing".

     (Essential teachings are set out -link to 'statement' or go via 'Index').

     The blood of Christ  figuratively  dyes  the  water,  making  the immersion

     a  true  baptism.  The end of  the  life-long  process  thus begun for the re-

     deemed is  in Revelation 7v14- "These are they which  came  out of great

     tribulation, and  have  WASHED  THEIR  ROBES,  and  MADE  THEM

     WHITE  IN  THE  BLOOD OF THE LAMB". Cp ch.1v5- "Unto him that

     loved us, and  WASHED  US  from our sins  IN HIS OWN BLOOD".

 

     The process begun at baptism must be a continual service to God-see Ro-

     mans 6v3 mg "we are (baptized)"- v4 "we are buried"-v6  "our old man is

     crucified"-"For he that is dead is freed from sin"(verse 7).This dedication

     would have no beginning however if we were not"born out of water". Such

     follows a belief in the Truth, including God's promises,focalized in the Sa-

     crifice of Christ- see links to 'promises' and 'sacrifice' , bottom of page.

 

     Note the analogy by the Apostle Paul between baptism and circumcision on

     the 8th day,Colossians  2v10-15-link to 'grace'- page 2,or via 'Index'. Jesus

     preached  "the gospel  of  the kingdom",  Matthew 4v23 etc.  But after His

     sacrifice had made  the  future  fulfilment  of  the promises sure, the discip-

     les  "preached the gospel..the things concerning the kingdom of God, AND

     THE NAME OF  JESUS CHRIST, (and) they were baptized, both men and

     women"- Acts 8v25,12; 28v31.  "The Name of Jesus Christ"  involves  the

     truth  concerning  His  sacrifice  for  sin, without which the future fulfilment

     of the promises of eternal inheritance would have been impossible.

 

     It is instructive  to  look at  an occasion when  "certain  disciples" found at

     Ephesus were found  to  have  had  a   defective understanding of the Truth.

     They  had  not  understood   that    "John's   baptism"     involved "believ(ing)

     on him which should come after him,  that is,  on Christ Jesus",  Acts 19v3,

     4.  And in v5,  "When  they heard this,  they  were  baptized    in the name of

     the Lord Jesus".  In contrast to this, we  read in Acts 18v24-28 of a disciple

     named  Apollos,  who  was    "mighty in the scriptures..instructed in the way

     of the Lord..and  spake  and taught  diligently  the    things  of the Lord", al-

     though  "knowing  only  the  baptism of John".   It was unnecessary for him

     to  be  re-immersed  (baptized),    for  his  baptism   had been effectual  in the

     sight of God.    All  that  remained  was  for  him  to  have "expounded  unto

     him the way of God  MORE PERFECTLY".  There is only "one baptism",

     Ephesians 4v5-  it can only occur once. Then we "as newborn babes, desire

     the sincere milk of the word,  that (we) may grow thereby",   1st Peter 2v2.     

        return to index   go to promises   go to sacrifice