6-29-22
First of all, why do we baptize? Answer, because we were told to.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
When you study baptism in the Greek there are two words. Baptizo and bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptiso is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water and then ‘baptised’ (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first change is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. For example. Mark 16:16 ‘He that believes and is baptized shall be saved’. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change. Like the vegetable to the pickle! Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.
The moral here is that even though they experienced a wonderful saving baptism, it didn’t make a lasting change.
Pickles are so funny! I don’t know why.
1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 11. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
We believe that when John baptized Jesus, he did it by pouring from purification pots as was the custom of those days.
The first pour is, for the priesthood. We die in proxy for and with the saints who have gone on before us, the dead. Including Jesus Christ being the firstfruits of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:20 We raise in proxy for them. We raise in power.
1 Corinthians 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead don’t raise? Why did they bother getting baptized for the dead?
Ummmm I wonder what the context was for that. Let’s look and see if we can make more sense of that.
1 Corinthians chapter 15, paraphrased:
Verse 3. Christ died for our sins. 4. He was buried and rose again. 5. He was seen of the 12. 6. He was seen of 500 people. 7. He was seen of James. 8. He was seen of me, Paul. 12. We all preach He rose. How can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead. (Sadducees don’t believe in resurrection of the dead) 13. So if there is no resurrection of the dead, then wasn’t Christ risen? 15. Yep, Then all those people who witnessed him are liars. 16. If the dead don’t raise then neither did Christ. 20. Now Christ rose from the dead and became the firstfruits of the dead. 21. Death came by man (Adam) resurrection of the dead came by man. (Christ) 22. In Adam all die, in Christ all be made alive. 23. Christ the firstfruits, after that at Christ coming. 24. Then the end comes, when He gives the kingdom to the Father God, when He shall put down all rule and all authority and power. 25. For He must reign, till he puts all enemies under his feet. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 29. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead don’t raise? Why did they bother getting baptized for the dead? 32. If I fought beasts, what did I gain? If the dead don’t raise? So let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we die. 33. Don’t be deceived, evil communication corrupt good manners. 45. Adam was a living soul, the last Adam a quickening spirit. 51. A mystery, we shall all be changed. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 54. Death is swallowed up in victory. 55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57. But thank you Jesus Christ! 58. Keep on, your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Paul was trying to teach the Sadducees about the resurrection. When we die with them, it somehow makes it easier for them to raise again.
This might be a rehearsal.
The second pour is, for the prophets. We are baptized into one body, the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have all made to drink into one Spirit.
I was thinking about the school of the prophets, and I remembered that one time I went to an IMAX movie. I watched schools of fish move in the water, when they turned around, they all did it at the same time. They did not follow each other. It was not like a chorus line. They moved in unison. They explained that fish have another organ that people don’t have. I have prayed that God would give me that organ so that we can move as the body of Christ as one body. But it won’t help unless we all get that organ. Anyways, now I see that we will all be fish but not necessarily the same kind of fish. There will be whales, dolphins, neon tetra, Nimos, oh clown fish, lol, trout, bass, muskie, minows, etc. All moving as one fish.
Isaiah 52:8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye. When the LORD (Yahweh) shall bring again Zion.
You see that says that the body of Christ will behave as one body.
As Lance Wallnau says, “As One”. We are one body of soldiers, just like in the movie “Gladiator”.
Corinthians chapter 12, paraphrased:
Concerning spiritual gifts, don’t be stupid. 2. Gentiles got carried away with dumb idols. 3. No man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4. There are different gifts but the same spirit. 5. There are different administrations, but the same Lord 6. There are different operations, but the same God. 7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit everyone. 8. One is given wisdom, another knowledge, by the same spirit. 9. Another faith, another healing, by the same spirit. 10. Another miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation 11. They all work by the same spirit 12. One body, many members, being many, one body, same with Christ. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, all have been made to drink into one Spirit. 14. For the body is not one member, but many. 15. The foot can’t say I am not of the body. 17. If the whole body were an eye, then where is the hearing? Or if the whole were the hearing, then where is the smelling? 18. God set every member in the body, as pleases Him. 20. Many members, one body. 22. The more feeble members are necessary. 23. We bestow more abundant honor on the less honorable and more comeliness on the uncomely. 24. Pretty parts have no need, God put the body together, giving more honor to the part that lacked. 25. There should be no schism in the body, everyone should care for each other equally. 27. You are the body of Christ. 28. God put in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, healing, helps, governments, tongues 29. Are all apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers 30. Healings, tongues, interpretation? 31. Covet the best gifts. And I will shew you a more excellent way.
This may also be helpful when looking at the circumcision of the heart. Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Here we use the Holy Spirit to save our Soul.
The third pour is for the Kings. God makes an oath. This is for Body Salvation.
Hebrews 7:21 For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord (El Elyon) sware and will not repent, Thou are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18. That by two immutable (unchangeable) things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even after the order of Melchisedec.
Our forerunner is Jesus.
Hope is for body salvation.
We are priests, prophets, and kings. We shall be baptized in all 3 offices and have the responsibilities of all three.
So let’s recap. Here is what we say at the first pour, This is for the priests. We die in proxy for the dead. We raise in proxy for them. We raise in power. Christ being the firstfruits of the dead. Spirit salvation.
By the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I now baptize you.
Here is what we say at the second pour, This is for the prophets. We are baptized into one body, the body of Christ. This is for soul salvation.
By the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I now baptize you.
Here is what we say at the third pour, This is for the Kings and body salvation. God will now make an oath that will bring you into the order of Melchisedec.
By the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I now baptize you.
A theocracy is when God’s law is written in our Spirit. And our Spirit will control our Soul. This is the goal.
At this point I hope for a physical manifestation of this body. I hope immortality.
Forever in His Love
Diane Ebaugh Sutton
P.S. Just in Acts, Jesus followers are explained as, reasoning, arguing, persuading, examining, devating, disputing, explaining, defending, refuting, convincing, proving, but most of all persuading! Let’s go do that.