Baptism

First, Christ promised it (Matt 3, Mark 1, Luke 3).
Second, Paul said everyone in teh body has it (1 Cor 12; Gal 5).

Therefore, we learn that ...

1. It is for every believer, not just a select few.
2. It brings one into the body and therefore every believer is in teh body of Christ, which is his church.
3. It is not experiential. Many in Corinth did not have the gift of tongues, but Paul said they had all been Spirit baptized.

The "invisible" question seems strange to me. What is the alternative? If you are asking about visible evidences, #3 above answers that question. The Holy Spirit, being invisible, and the baptism being forensic (not experiential) shows us that it is an "invisible," that is, without visible demonstrationg.

 

I guess it all depends on when a person believes the church started. I believe that the scriptures clearly teach and show that Christ started the church during his earthly ministry. This was posted on another post but copied it to here.

Matt 16:17-18 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
KJV

Christ is the one who started and continues to build the local church today.

1 Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles , secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
KJV

We are told here in this passage that apostles were the first to be set in the church. We find this taking place in the book of Luke.

Luke 6:12-13 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles ;
KJV

I can not find any where prior to this happening where there was any differnt baptism other than John's baptism.

It is my firm belief that the church started at some point around this time.

John 20:19-22 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: KJV

There are two important things to see this passage of scripture. First, all of the “about an hundred and twenty” (taken from Acts 1)disciples were present when Jesus appeared in the midst of them. Second, they received the Holy Ghost prior to the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. KJV

The church was already in place as the three thousand were added and you do not add something to nothing.

Richard

 

Istherenotacause

IYO is Romans 6:3-4 speaking about water baptism or spiritual baptism?

Richard

 

Paul was directly commissioned by Christ to preach the Gospel. He was not in the presence of the resurrected Christ with the other Apostles and did not receive that ordinance to baptize. His was immediately to preach the Gospel.
Note:

Immediately upon baptism, Paul preached the Gospel.

Later Paul or separated by the Holy Spirit (along with Barnabas); while in the church at Antioch, this church recognizing his and Barnabas' separation they then ordained them (sent) them at this time, they (Paul and Barnabas) Preached and baptized.

To say as you have leaves an immediate contradiction, for if Paul baptized any, having been expressly commanded by Christ to not baptize and not at 1 Cor. 1.17 is emphatic, he would have been disobeying the command of Christ.

God Bless
Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

Both actually, since water baptism is the outward expression of what Jesus has done on the inside.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

I have not been literally baptized into Jesus Christ, but I have spiritually.

I have not been literally buried with him, but only in like manner by water baptism.

Spiritually, I am dead, buried, and raised to new life. Water baptism only "pictures" that for others to see and indentify with.

If we're counting baptisms, then we would consider Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

But these are not spiritual baptisms, but O.T. rites instituted by the Pharisees and Sadducees, washings.
Still, there is only ONE baptism in the Lord, and that is by the Lord, thus "One Lord, one faith, one baptism"

As soon as I can, I will post a link to a friend of mine's website that has done a very indepth and in detail study relating EVERYTHING concerning baptism.

In His Holy Service,

Brother Ricky

 

I understand your reasoning, but that last statement is wrong. Jesus instructed the disciples of the Great Commission to preach,teach, and baptize. Some of those Apostles went to the Gentiles of their day, we also as His disciples are to obey the Great Commission as instructed by Jesus.

Not looking for a way out are you? Then obey!

In His Holy Service,

Brother Ricky

 

Since you only get scriptirally baptized ONE time, and that due to the baptism of and by the Spirit at salvation, (not evidenced by speaking in tongues as some presume). there is only ONE baptism.

Here's the link to the message by Brother Stacy Shiflet, consider:http://www.untold-millions.com/ you'll have to go to "articles" then click on the one about Scriptural Baptism. Feel free to visit any thing within the site it's all free, and RIGHT!

Brother Stacy is a personal friend of mine. I was there when he first announced his call to preach, seen hin grow, support evrything he's doing in South Africa, he's real! The Lord might even lay it on your heart to contact Brother Stacy and go help in the work!

 

When Jesus died on the Cross the veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom. The Jewish religion became a dead religion. Jesus gave the commission to the church and not to the Jews.

Bro. Dallas Eaton

[sorry about the above post, I came in and Kelly was logged on and I didn't realize it until after I had posted].

 

Yes, everytime some one is baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ: Lord, the Father. Jesus, the Son. Christ, the Servant that carries out the redemptive work through convicting the sinner, giving space to receive the gift of repentence, and upon that repentence, washing them in the Blood of the Lamb.

Hence, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/ the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Istherenotacause,

Verse 5 is in the context of this passage and it says:

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"

That makes the context of this passage refer only to the water baptism and does not speak of some type of "sipirtual baptism".

The definition of likeness is as follows: "State or quality of being like. Appearance, guise, semblance. A copy, effigy, portrait."

Verse 5 cannot be separated from verses 3 and 4 so it cannot refer to something not seen and since the only thing that can be "a copy" it is water baptism.

Richard

 

First of all, a "likeness" is NOT literal, also you don't "plant" anything in water, except by hydroponics, and believe me, we are not hydroponically planted in Jesus.

Another aspect to ponder, if we are buried physically in water, "in the likeness of His death", did you actually drown and die in that water?You CANNOT separate spiritual baptism from water baptism scripturally by this passage.

 

Water baptism is a likeness..it shows forth our identification with the death, burial and resserection of our Lord and Savior. This water baptism is a likeness - it is not the real thing only a likeness.

Richard

 

So you think that the apostles never carried out the great commission? That is unsound. The book of Acts is the story of carrying out the great commission. This distinction you are making is similar to what "oneness pentecostals" make I believe. The early church practiced Scriptural baptism.

 

I understand fully what you're saying, but you aren't understanding the fact once you're saved you ONLY get SCRIPTURALLY baptized ONE time.

I know the experience one has with those who believe in baptismal regeneration, that is NOT what I'm saying and neither does this scripture.

Yes waterbaptism is the picture of what has been accomplished by the Holy Spirit, you CANNOT separate the two that way.