Pastor to the Stars : Believers : Building An Ark : Water Baptism

Navigate
Home

Building An Ark
What Does it Mean?
Gossip
Grace of God
Graven Images
Praying in Tongues?
Unknown Tongues
Upon This Rock
Water Baptism

Water Baptism

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." -Matthew 3:16-17

These two verses of Scripture provide believers in Christ with revelation and instruction.

The humbleness and meekness of Jesus Christ is revealed to us when the holy Son of God permits John the Baptist to baptize Him. Here Christs sets the example that we, too, must be fully immersed baptized and show a readiness and willingness to obey God's instructions.

Fully Immersed

The Greek word for baptized is baptizo, which means to submerge, to wash, to immerse fully. Here we see firsthand, that when Jesus instructs us to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19) those of us who obey this will enjoin ourselves to Christ and undergo a "full immersion" baptism in the water. This is how we identify with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and walk in newness of life:

"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." -Colossians 2:12

"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." -Romans 6:4

The next revelation we see in Matthew 3:16-17 is the heavens opening and God the Father publicly declaring and confirming that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. This is the verse where all Three appear at one time -- God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:

Finally, Jesus commands us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." -Matthew 28:19-20

Likewise, Peter instructed:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." -Acts 2:38

Peter spoke to the Jews who believed in God the Father, and who also believed that the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets. However, these Jews also believed that they had been the "most righteous" and the "most zealous" for God. Peter now explains their need (and our need) to repent of their sins, and believe that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, who would take away their sins. For this reason, he instructs them to be baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ".

When should one be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost? When one repents of their sins, and receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Father,
We have enjoined ourselves to Christ by repenting of our sins and being "fully immersed" in water, for through our baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost we identify with Jesus Christ in death, burial, and resurrection, and walk in newness of life! We praise you in Jesus' name! Amen!

Top | Home