Basic doctrine of Baptism

The basic doctrine of the word baptism  is: 'identified with'.  When we are baptized  in the New Testament, we are to be 'identified with'  the holiness  and righteousness  of God the Father;  the sacrifice  and service  of God the Son;  and the ongoing personal relationship with God which is maintained by God the Holy Spirit.

We have this controversy overbaptism because people don't study the Bible for themselves and believe some self-appointed religious authority instead of personally finding the truth.  People know about the Pharisees and others 'Bible authorities' who taught error.  They know that the Bible warns them that Satan's ministers  are liars who claim to be ministers of righteousness  (2Corinthians 11:12-14).  In addition, we read in Galatians that Peter was convinced to support doctrinal error, even though he was a 'good godly Bible believing preacher'.  As a result, he was corrected before theentire church mentioned.  Therefore, if we wish to avoid public embarrassment, or worse, then we need to verify what we are taught by looking into the Bible itself and taking what the Bible literally says.

With this truth in mind, all should agree that we need to look at what the Bible truly teaches about baptism in order to say how the Bible is using the true definition to teach us how to overcome sin in this chapter.

Below are the various forms of the word Baptize  and where each usage can be found in the Bible.

Baptism  is in: Matthew 3:7, 20:22, 23; 21:25, Mark 1:4; 10:38, 39; 11:30, Luke 3:3; 7:29, 12:50, 20:4; Acts 1:22; 10:37, 13:24, 18:25, 19:3, 4; Romans 6:4, Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12; 1Peter 3:21.

Baptisms  is in Hebrews 6:2.

Baptized  is in Matthew 3:6, 13-14, 16; 20:22-23, Mark 1:5, 8-9, 10:38-39, 16:16, Luke 3:7, 12, 21; 7:29-30, 12:50, John 3:22-23; 4:1-2, 10:40, Acts 1:5; 2:38, 41; 8:12-13, 16, 36, 38; 9:18, 10:47-48, 11:16; 16:15, 33; 18:8, 19:3-5, 22:16; Romans 6:3; 1Corinthians 1:13-16; 10:1-4, 12:13, 15:29, Galatians 3:27.

Baptize  is in Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:4, 8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26, 33; 1Corinthians 1:17.

Baptist and Baptist's  are in Matthew 3:1, 11:11-12, 14:2, 8; 16:14, 17:13, Mark 6:14, 24-25, 8:28; Luke 7:20, 28, 33; 9:19.

Please see the verses below for divisions of verses that use some form of Baptize in the Bible.  

1. John the Baptist
• Matthew 3:1; 11:11, 12; 14:2, 8; 16:14; 17:13;   Mark 6:14, 24, 25; 8:28;   Luke 7:20, 28, 33; 9:19
2. The baptism of  John the Baptist = identification with repentance
• Matthew 3:6, 7, 11, 13, 16; 21:25;   Mark 1:4, 5, 8, 9; 11:30;   Luke 3:3, 7, 12, 16, 21; 7:29, 30; 20:4;    John 1:25, 26, 28, 31, 33; 3:23; 10:40;    Acts 1:5, 22; 8:16; 10:37; 11:16; 13:24; 18:25; 19:3, 4;
3. The baptism of  the disciples of Jesus before His death = identification with repentance
• John 4:1, 2;
4. The baptism of Jesus Christ = identification with Jesus Christ (dead to sin, alive to Gods life) through the Holy Ghost
• Matthew 3:11, 14; 28:19;    Mark 1:8; 16:16;    Luke 3:16, 21;    John 1:33; 3:22, 26;    Acts 1:5; 2:38, 41; 8:12, 13, 36, 38; 9:18; 10:47; 11:16; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; Romans 6:3, 4;    1Corinthians 1:16, 17; 12:13;    Galatians 3:27;    Ephesians 4:5;    Colossians 2:12;    Hebrews 6:2;    1Peter 3:21
5. The baptism of  Moses = identification with Jewish people
• 1Corinthians 10:1-4
6. The baptism of  fire = identification with persecution and death
• Matthew 20:22, 23;    Mark 10:38, 39;    Luke 12:50
7. The baptism in Pauls (preachers) name = identification with false doctrine
• 1Corinthians 1:13, 14, 15
8. The baptism unto the dead = either identification with false doctrine (baptized to save dead) or identification with those who have died and need to be replaced in the ranks of living witnesses
• 1Corinthians 15:29

Below are the main Bible references which we need to consider in order to get the true Biblical doctrine on this word.  There is much doctrinal error taught about this word.  However, if the reader will prayerfully consider all that is below, the reader should be able to know, and prove, what is the true Biblical doctrine on this subject.

One of the first things to look at is the doctrine from 1Corinthians 10:1-4.  There we read: 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;  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  Now, there is a lot of doctrine in this sentence which we can not cover because it will distract from the main purpose of this Study.  (The details, contextual considerations and more are covered in the Book Study on 1Corinthians.)  However, what we can look at, which is important or this Study, is the fact that all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

We are told And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left  in Exodus 14:16 and Exodus 14:22.  When we combine this truth with the truth of 1Corinthians 10:1-4, we see that they were baptized unto Moses...upon the dry ground.  Since the true Biblical definition of a Bible word must be what is true in every instance, the true definition of this word can not be 'dunked' nor can it be 'sprinkled'.  Yes, the true Biblical symbolic ordinance for the 'Church Age' is 'dunked'.  However, that is not the definition which matches every usage of the Bible.  The truth is that God wants His people 'identified with'  the holiness  and righteousness  of God the Father;  the sacrifice  and service  of God the Son;  and the ongoing personal relationship with God which is maintained by God the Holy Spirit.  This can only be done by being baptized  God's way, which is being 'dunked'.  However, as Peter tells us, what is critically important is not being 'dunked' (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh)  but having the answer of a good conscience toward God  because we have truly been 'identified with' God.

One other thing from our reference in 1Corinthians 10:1-4 is the phrase: And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  Once more there is too much doctrine to cover in this Study.  However, what we do see here is the symbolic ongoing personal relationship which true baptism  is supposed to represent being started.  Therefore, the 'identification' of true Biblical baptism  is just the start of an ongoing personal relationship.

There are several verses in each of the four gospels that tell about John the Baptist.  The main thing that he is known for is preaching repent.  Please also see the Message called: Lessons from John the Baptist as it is related to most of this chapter.  The main thing that he is known for is preaching repent'.  Yes, he did 'dunk' people but refused to 'dunk' those who did not have evidence that they truly had repented.  That is, the outward act only identified an inward change.  Repent  is another Biblical concept that religions teaches doctrinal error about.  The true Biblical definition of repent  can be found in Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27 where Jesus  said thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  John'sbaptism  identified people with turning from religious 'self righteousness' to the God of the Bible and obedience to Him that gives true Biblical righteousness  that can be seen by the world in our physical life.  Acts 19:3-5 Tells us that the baptism of John did not save.  It is not enough to repent from sin but we must also receive, and obey, the Lord Jesus.  We must agree to obey Jesus as our Lord in what we do in this life.  Please also see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do?.

Matthew 20:22 and Mark 10:39 and Luke 12:50 all speak of the baptism of Jesus, which was different from the time that John the Baptist baptized Jesus  in the Jordan River.  This shows us that there can be two different physical acts which convey the same spiritual meaning.  In Matthew and Mark, just before this verse, Jesus told the disciples He was going to Jerusalem to die.  Then in Matthew and Mark, Jesus linked Hisbaptism  to the cup that I shall drink of  which was His death in Matthew 26:39-42, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42 and John 18:11.  In Matthew and Luke, before these verses, Jesus was telling parables to teach His disciples to work in God's vineyard by faith and the teaching in Mark, before these verses, also was about working and trusting God for our reward.  So thebaptism  of Jesus was His death in obedience to God for the joy that was set before him  (Hebrews 12:2).  Hisbaptism  identified Him with obedience and service to the God of the Bible, even unto death.

The other references tobaptism  in the gospels, and in Acts (with the exception of thoselisted in the next points), refer to John the Baptist's baptism, which we already saw is associated with the doctrine ofrepent  and his baptism  was refused to those who refused to change their way of living. John'sbaptism  identified people with the God of the Bible and with obedience to the God of the Bible.

Mark 16:16 says: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  In this verse, baptized  is added (and) onto He that believeth.  That is: the person must believeth.  before they can add on the being baptized.  If you think about it, they are two separate events.  Our verse is not saying that being physically 'dunked' is required to be saved  because the thief on the cross was not physically 'dunked'.  However, it is saying that we must be 'identified with' our Lord  and Saviour  in a way that the lost world understands.  If the lost world doesn't understand that we are 'identified with' our Lord  and Saviour  (by the life we live) then our claim that we believeth  is an empty claim of a lie.  The God of the Bible believes in 'put up or shut up'.  This verse does not say what happens to the people who claim to believeth.  but refuse to be baptized.  They are dealt with elsewhere like where Revelation calls them lukewarm  and Peter calls them unjust.  Our verse shows that we must have physical action in our life to match the belief that we claim.'  The God of the Bible believes in 'put up or shut up'.

Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-13, 16, 36, 38; 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:15, 33; 18:8, 19:5, 22:16 all talk about people being baptized  to join the church.  Many of these people were endangering their lives and many were declared dead,  by their family and friends, when they were baptized.  They were identified with the God they believed in ways that most of today's so-called 'Christians' will not do.  The so-called 'Christians' of today do not have the power of first centaury Christians,  who met the Bible definition, and when people of today see that they make excuses instead of following the example of people who had God's power on their life.  Our sections of the Bible show us that we must have a to match the belief that we claim if we want the power of God on our life.'

Acts 1:5 and 11:16 promises ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  When it happened they spoke in tongues and were identified with the Holy Spirit (God of the Bible).  They then went outand 'turned the world upside down  (Acts 17:6-7) to the point that they suffered persecution and death but kept doing what God commanded.  'Baptism is symbolic of starting a new life which displays the power of God that comes through having received the Holy Ghost.  Baptism is to be identified with Jesus Christ even if we lose everything in this world and our own family declare us dead and refuse to recognize us ever again.'

Romans 6 usesbaptism  to identify people with Jesus Christ  and with a changed life that shows true Biblical repentance and identification with the God of the Bible.  This chapter uses baptism  to identify people with Jesus Christ  and a changed life that shows true Biblical repentance from sin and identification with a life which displays the changes brought by a personal relationship the God of the Bible.  This chapter has the word now  in it 4 times and three of those times Paul is telling us what to do based upon the doctrinal truths that he just explained before using the word now.  The first now  is in Romans 6:8 and all of the chapter up to that verse is giving a single doctrinal truth which is the basis for what is said in Romans 6:8.  Our current sentence is part of this initial group and must be understood in context of all of the sentences within this group.  The conclusion of this section of doctrine is given in the next sentence, which starts with Therefore,  and tells us: even so we also should walk in newness of life.'

1Corinthians 1:17 says For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. baptism doesn't save but preaching the gospel does.  All other references in 1Corinthians also downplay the importance ofbaptism  while lifting up preaching the gospel.

1Corinthians 10:2 tells us that the Jews were all baptized unto Moses.  Among other things, this verse lets us know that baptism does not save.  Judas was baptized unto Moses  but definitely went to Hell.  The fact is that the Jews were 'identified with' Moses and the Mosaic Law.  The main use of baptism, within the Bible, is to identify one person with the with the power, authority and message of another person.'

Galatians 3:27 says For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ  and the context is talking about identification with the God of the Bible by a changed life that shows true Biblical repentance.  Their life changed from showing the pleasure of sin to showing how Christ  wants us to live.  Please see that chapter and associated notes.

Ephesians 4:5 uses baptism in the middle of a list of things which bring spiritual unity in the church and equates baptism  to one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith...One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  This is obviously not talking about being physically dunked but being identified with the God of the Bible.

Colossians 2:12 is part of a sentence that goes from Colossians 2:10 through 2:12.  In this reference,baptism  is equated to 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.  Herebaptism  is equated with true Biblical repentance.  It is separation (circumcised) from the temptations of this world and being identified with the God of the Bible.

Hebrews 6:1-2 is a single sentence (see the note associated with it in the Lord Jesus Christ Study.)  It says that  baptisms  (plural) and repentance from dead works  are only a couple of the principles of the doctrine of Christ  which are the basic spiritual principals involved in learning spiritual maturity.  Being identified with (acting like) Christ  is what Hebrews 6:1-2 means by baptisms.

1Peter 3:21 is where a lot of wrong doctrine comes from because people ignore Peter's definition ofbaptism contained within the verse which is (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God).  It is not being 'dunked' (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh).  It is equated with true Biblical repentance (but the answer of a good conscience toward God) and being identified with the God of the Bible.

In Matthew 28:18-20 we have the 'Great Commission'.  Within it we are told to be baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:.  We are to get them to be identified with the God of the entire Bible including all of the Old Testament except the religious part of the Mosaic Law which was replaced by the New Testament.  We are to identify them with the Son of God who gave us the New Testament and shows us how to act like God, which is a true son of God  (John 1:12-13).  Further, we are to identify them with the Holy Ghost who keeps us saved and in touch with God in spite of our sin and interprets the Bible for us.  'The Spirit of God uses the word of God to show the child of God what is the Will of God'. Finally, we are to identify them with the Trinity.  Otherwise, they will become Muslims or join some other cult.

Our command is very clear and explicate.  Yet people preach and teach doing something else while claiming to obey the God of the Bible.  Doing that proves that we are liars.  Therefore we need to command God's people to obey literally.  They are to 'be identified with' the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  That 'identified with' is to first be symbolically with baptism,  which is literally being put under water and then raised by a God ordained church and as taught by our current section in Romans.  In addition, our 'identified with' the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost  is to be shown by the way that we live for the rest of our life.  Thus, the symbolic baptism  is only a public statement of how we intend to live the rest of out life.

In addition, to that, baptism  'identifies us with' the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost  That is, we are to be 'identified with' 'each person within the Trinity as well as being 'identified with' the Trinity as a whole.

When we are 'identified with' the Father,  we are being 'identified with' the greatest being and the greatest power that exists.  We are also agreeing to submit to Him and obey all of His commands, including those that are within the Old Testament.  As shown elsewhere, the only part of the Bible which was replaced by the New Testament is the religious part of the Mosaic Law.  We do not bring sacrifices to the Temple in Jerusalem, which currently does not exist.  We also obey the laws of the land which we are in, instead of obeying the Civil part of the Mosaic Law.  However, all of the rest we obey and agree to obey when we are baptized  in the name of the Father.

When we are 'identified with' the Son,  we are being 'identified with' The character of God's Son  as well as with each of His roles as Lord,  Jesus  and Christ.  Please see each of these in the Lord Jesus Christ Overview document for more details.

When we are 'identified with' the Holy Ghost,  we are being 'identified with' the New Testament.  It is the indwelling Holy Ghost  that gives us our assurance of salvation and sanctification in the Church Age.

When we are 'identified with' the Trinity,  we are being 'identified with' all three persons of God, which is what the Bible teaches.  People who rejected the doctrine of the Trinity created a group of people who claimed to be Christian and yet went completely to Islam when it was presented because it rejected the doctrine of the Trinity.  The same is still true today.  The doctrine of the Trinity keeps us from many doctrinal errors because it requires believing what the Bible literally teaches even when it goes against what our flesh wants to believe.  Anyone who rejects the doctrine of the Trinity will fall for some doctrinal error which comes from applying the wisdom of this world  to the Bible.

So every reference of baptism  is identification with the God of the Bible by a changed life that shows true Biblical repentance.  Yes, every case (where possible) the people were physically 'dunked' but that was done as an outward declaration of an inward change that they planned upon continuing to live for the rest of their lives. Every use of the word baptism,  within the Bible, can be shown to be supporting the conclusion that is in the next sentence (Therefore),  which is: even so we also should walk in newness of life.'

All of this brings us back to Romans 6.  In our chapter, the phrase: so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death  is identifying so many of us  with the death  of Jesus Christ  and, by implication, His resurrection.  It is identifying so many of us  with a changed life that shows true Biblical repentance and identification with the God of the Bible.  In addition, that is followed with a sentence which starts with the word Therefore  and tells us: even so we also should walk innewness of life.  The verb walk can not be properly interpreted as a one-time religious action but is an ongoing repeated steps.  Since that verse says even so,  our current action verb of: baptized  means that it is not a one-time event but is the start of an ongoing life-long activity.  Our walk in newness of life  means we are to keep doing these ongoing repeated steps for the rest of our life.  Therefore, our being identified with Jesus Christ  through baptism  must also require ongoing repeated acts of identification.  Please see the Romans 6:2 which has links to sentences within Romans which deal with death.

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