Water Baptism

Our Bible Study Sunday Morning by Linda, and taking notes to present an edited message.

 

 

The Christian principles of our nation are based on what has been handed down from the Jewish Holy Men of God, who wrote the Bible.  Our faith is not religion, but a personal relationship with God. 

Leviticus 11:24-40 mentions laws of cleanliness and washings.  Certain animals were forbidden to eat.  Water to drink and cook with, must have a natural flow or a clean cistern.

Leviticus 11:36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean - -

In 1850, Doctor Ignaz Semmelweis saved lives with three words: “Wash your hands.”

The laws of cleanliness given to Moses, were for health but there were spiritual meanings as well.

Jeremiah 17:13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.

Jesus declared - - John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

Jesus told the woman at the well “But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Our lesson turned to John baptizing Jesus.  Jesus went down into the water, John baptized him and Jesus came up out of the water.  Amazing a voice from heaven spoke the words:  “This is my beloved Son, Hear ye him.” The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.  Here we have God the Father speaking; Jesus is in the water, and the Holy Spirit descending. – 

Understand that it is the blood on the cross that saves you, not baptism.  Our practice of water baptism is in obedience to Christ command to be baptized as a testimony to the world that we have died to our old life and have risen to a new life in Christ.

Many were sprinkled as a baby, prior to their free will being acknowledged.  Might it be good as a grown up person to be baptized again with our understanding. 

 

We do not judge those who were sprinkled as an adult, because the very ceremony has great meaning to them.

When possible, we prefer to get into the “Water” and stay there soaking in his presence.  Our attitude of obedience is important.

Let us consider the question, “Why was Jesus baptized?”  Jesus made an intentional decision, “I must needs be baptized.”  This baptism was to declare His Heavenly Father as his God.  The Holy Spirit descended and a voice was heard showing approval of what Jesus did.

John’s eyes were opened to see the truth of who Jesus was.

Isaiah 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Philippians 3:8-9  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

It is important to understand the reasons to be baptized and to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. 

 

The last commandment of Jesus was  Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - -  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen