Eddie Martinie- Welcome To The Social Media Revolution

Other washing rituals may be found in Lev 14:9; Num 19:18 which are not unlike types of Christian cleansing and purification at baptism. As we see that there are several examples of baptism in the Old Testament I think we should notice that although New-Testament baptism compared to circumcision, they happened and were taught right along side of each other in the Old Testament. It is a common misconception that baptism replaced circumcision. Quite obviously women could not be circumcised, so I wonder what the relationship is there in the idea of replacement.

We also have New Testament references to Old Testament baptisms along with comparisons to circumcision which solidify the facts. The point up until now is simply that this 'sign' did not come out of nowhere. No one was confused by John crying out for them to be cleansed. No one said, "what is the meaning of this ceremonial cleansing, this baptism?" Even the pagans practiced baptism. John was preaching a NEW baptism.

John the Baptist

John's existence was no accident. He was part of the fulfilled prophecy of the coming Messiah. (Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.) Christ Himself said that John fulfilled prophecy (Mt 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.) John was given his name before he was conceived (Lu 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John...Lu 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.)

Although John's role seems small, his calling was one of the greatest (Lu 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; Mt 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.) But his preaching was short-lived because he soon was over-shadowed by the Creator of the world (Mt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, Mt 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. Joh 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.) But of course his purpose had been served once he baptized Christ. Perhaps a good example that un-baptized believers might wait to go out to fulfil their purpose yet. This NEW baptism had been his purpose and message. So I want to do something I have never done, which is look at the characteristics of John the Baptist in order to further understand the baptism of John. At the moment, this is just as new to me as it is to the reader, so I may in the near future revamp this next section. But it seems that the characteristics of John are quite similar to that which the believer is to receive from the Holy Spirit...

Self Denial

Mt 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Courage

Mt 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mt 14:4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

Obedience

Mt 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Powerful preaching

Mr 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Humility

Mr 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Joh 1:19-23 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Holiness

Mr 6:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Burning zeal

Joh 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. John knew a Truth. as stated in other parts of this site, knowing Truth not only gives the beholder a sense of responsibility, but also a sense of urgency. You can tell just by looking and listening that 'This person really believes what they are saying'. It is obvious that the information shared has value in the opinion of the person talking.

John was honoured by Christ just as our baptism is honoured by Christ. Mt 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Lu 7:24-27 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

     He also performed no miracles. Nor does baptism give us any power to perform signs or wonders or miracles of healing. (Joh 10:41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true). John the Baptist was no Apostle. We have no record that he ever did anything miraculous as the Apostles and Christ did. He did not speak in tongues, teach doctrines of men. He only taught repentance that leads to salvation through faith alone in Christ. Our baptism as well should reflect this idea.

     John came before Christ, we as well should come before Christ in witnessing. to be heralds of Christ in humility. Making straight the path to peoples hearts so that Christ can be welcomed. (Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mt 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Lu 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

     John's Testimony Concerning Christ I think is very pertinent here to the subject of baptism. After Christ left, he gave us the comforting Spirit who testifies not of Himself, but of Christ. Before He began, he gave us John the Baptist who testified not of Himself, but of Christ. John testifies of the power in believing what was to come. The Spirit, what HAS come. John prepared the way BEFORE Him-the Spirit AFTER Him. Look at the following verses of John's testimony and change the words as if it were past tense, as if the Holy Spirit were talking not John...
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Joh 3:28-36 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

     Alright. We have looked at baptism before the Old Testament, IN the Old Testament, as well as its introduction INTO the New Testament by Christ and John. Now let us venture further into the Gospels and Epistles before we tackle the Early patristic commentaries on baptism. After John's baptism Christ puts no more importance on baptism. Rather he travels teaching of invisible Truths and ideas that seemingly contradict the type of physical symbol, ritualistic water baptism. He scolds Pharisee after Pharisee for their lack of Spiritual understand and their emphasis on the physical aspect of Religion. Have we once again returned to the same type of religion that Jesus condemned? If

baptism seemingly contradicts the teachings of Christ, why then does He send the Apostles out into the world baptizing? (Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:).

Christ says in Mr 16:16 'He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned', which perfectly explains and matches His command for the Apostles to teach and baptize. Baptism is only for believers who believe what is taught by the Apostles. People who don't believe are not to be baptized. There are other scriptures affirming this fact ( Ac 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Ac 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Ac 2:38 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. Ac 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.) So we see not only did Christ Himself institute and endorse baptism for believers, but we see why He commanded the Apostles to go out to all the world teaching and baptizing. Up to this point, the history and Doctrine of baptism seems pretty simple. But there are a few scriptures that aren't quite as cut and dry once we reach this point in our investigation.

Chronologically, the first one is Joh 3:5 (Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.) There are at least four ways to interpret this scripture that I am aware of. Perhaps more that I am not.

Ac 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. So we have here yet another mode of baptism concerning names. How are we to be baptized- in the name of the Lord, the name of Jesus or the name of the Father Son and Spirit?

Significance of Baptism

Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

1Co 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 been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ga 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Col 2:12 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.

1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Examples of Baptism

Believers at Pentecost

Converts in Samaria

Ac 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

The Ethiopian Eunuch

Ac 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Saul of Tarsus

Ac 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Lydia of Thyatira

Ac 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Philippian Jailer and Household

Ac 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Believers in Corinth

Ac 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Ephesian Disciples Of Christ

Mt 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Mr 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

Lu 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

Administered by John the Baptist

Mt 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mt 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Lu 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

Lu 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Joh 1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Joh 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

Ac 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Ac 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Ac 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Early Patristic writing on Baptism

We can learn an awful lot from the earliest writings and commentary on Christianity before hundreds of years of man's confusion on the matters. However, I always keep in mind that early church fathers are not infallible. They don’t all agree and they are part of the reason I am protestant. So at best we look at the majority opinion. But I believe earliest church writings are some of the best extra-biblical sources of info. I also realize that heretical, Gnostic ideas were here WITH even the apostles. So the amount of time that has past is really no benchmark for the amount of false doctrine being taught. And I would say that we now have THE Apostle’s Doctrine in the Bible, the ultimate Authority, I am sure you agree. Justin Martyr for example believed that the Baptism actually washed away sins. But are we to believe everything we have from him? Certainly not. Especially things of the Virgin Mary. So just because someone is as famous as Origin, doesn't mean that he knows any more about the Bible than I do. I also think that patristic writings, since they were so close the original teachings of apostles, lack a certain depth. If someone immediately tells me to believe and be baptized, I don’t soon start investigating the depths and reasoning thereof. I simply believe and am baptized and I have a basic understanding of the washing away of sins. In such a powerful time in history, evidenced by such a power of the apostles, when they say ‘be baptized to wash away your sins’, then that is what I teach. But throughout history man has become more questioning, needing to know why and how and at what point. In fact, it wasn't until the third century that Christians began to question that lengthy discussions about baptism emerged. Until then most every believer was immediately baptized upon believing. Few early church leaders understood that, just as we nurture and lead our children to faith, we need to bring new converts to a point of understanding-of God consciousness. We have hundreds of men since then, like the earliest translators who have dug out the deepest meanings of Scripture. And over a period of almost 2000 years, a deeper understanding of God has emerged. Who He is and how He works, His character.

Although God’s message never changes, our understanding of Doctrine has evolved. Early patristic writers had no more devotion than you and I do today. And we have much more resources for discerning the truth. And I want to reiterate, that separating baptism from salvation is not possible. but my main argument and question is AT WHAT POINT salvation occurs. And can we have enough confidence in the character of God to know that if a man is unable to baptized in water, does he go to heaven? Of course he does. Does God refuse salvation for people who at the end of the earth have not heard of salvation through baptism? Of course He doesn’t. It is God’s work and desire that all come to repentance and be baptized. He would NEVER let a human soul fall through the cracks of semantics into the pits of hell. Do faith and baptism go together hand in hand? Absolutely. Does someone go to hell for not getting baptized? Absolutely not. Can we lose our salvation? Absolutely not. I didn’t always hold these positions. In the first couple years of salvation I believed baptism was necessary for salvation and I believed that the scriptures warned me of falling out of salvation, of backsliding. But now I have a better understanding of faith and baptism, as I do every day that I study.

So what is the main shared belief on baptism held by early church fathers? Well they pretty much agree that without baptism we don't go to heaven. The missed point by them is that we never reach a point of complete salvation until we receive a glorified body in the coming Kingdom. There are five, yes things that we must begin with, (i.e. repent, believe, confess, get baptized etc.) This is some of the most basic of Christian teaching. But at what point does salvation enter? Number 5? Number 3?....there MUST be two distinct moments in time, between which Christ's Holy Comforter enters a man, regenerates him from death unto light and makes him an unchangeable member of God's family. A *Point of Salvation*...and the answer is number 1. Faith alone in Christ brings salvation and we continue therein. NEVER in this lifetime will we reach completion. But at what point can we be confident in our destination? Every one of the scriptures from my site here say that faith brings salvation. Not COMPLETED salvation, but salvation that gets you into the Kingdom. I mean really, how many scriptures do we need to say the same thing in order for us to believe it? There is really no way to argue over 100 verses that say the exact same thing and say that you believe the Bible.

In regard to baptism for salvation- the position held by most early church writers- I'll grant you there are a couple verses that can be pulled out of context and looked at in a way that seems to say baptism is the way to salvation. But the way we exegete bible doctrine is put it with all scriptures and match it up and pull out the meaning. In which case there is no other conclusion that can be made than the one I have stated for salvation. We receive the baptism of the Holy spirit by repenting from our old ways and beliefs and turning them toward belief in Christ for salvation, at which point certain things are expected of us like communion and baptism and love, but nothing is required of us before we become Christians and the Holy Spirit is required in order to do these things. We therefore must have the Holy Spirit before these things take place that are supposed to bring us the Holy Spirit. And I think that everyone should know this. Love is the driving factor of my saying these things. Not for the sake of arguing or putting myself on a pedestal. And hope is Purpose of God saying them. That we might have hope of salvation that is unmovable. God doesn't want us to wonder if our baptism was correct, for us to wonder if we are going to heaven or not. I have an educated opinion on this and I think it is one of the only REALLY important issues. So many Biblical issues argued by the church fathers make no difference either way concerning our getting into heaven. But God has given us peace by understanding that we are safe from dying with the world when it comes to judgment. Most early church fathers believed (and rightfully so) that baptism was deeply connected to faith. But the extremist position that being baptized with the belief that baptism saves you was necessary for salvation contradicts the teaching of the Bible. Many also held that there were exceptions to that rule-for instance martyrs and believers who did not have access to water- but if there is one exception there might as well be ten exceptions and God is NOT a God of exceptions or rules. It just isn't in His character. God does not do one thing in one situation and another thing because of different circumstances. God says it is so and it is so. He does not change and He is far above reasoning and rationalizing. These of course are human attributes we use to understand God. Innate in them are the insufficiencies of being human, incomplete and imperfect. God-a Perfect Being- is incapable of having characteristics that make him incomplete, like rationalizing. He gives blessing for obedience and curses disobedience always and forever.

Early church fathers mostly agree on the requirement of baptism for salvation. But few of them agree on the mode of baptism, the relevance of baptism etc. The opinions of the earliest writings vary almost as much as we disagree today. Modes of Baptism

One resounding question through the corridors of time has been infant/ child baptism. Can children be saved at 2 years old through baptism? Many say 'yes', however I think if we take a common-sense approach to looking at this we will see that children reach an age of accountability and point of God-consciousness when they are able to not only decide, but also take responsibility for their own thoughts and actions without their parents. At what point would God hold someone responsible? This is the rational evidence. Empirical evidence can be found all throughout history by looking at the influence of believing and baptism of young Christians. Anyone reading this can remember the change they felt when they first believed, with or without baptism-a change visible by others. And little difference is seen by others after we decide to be baptized if there is an interval. Can we say that there is a visible difference seen in a child or infant's behavior after baptism?

We also see that modes of baptism in the past have often been quite different than what we see in churches today. Many churches have demanded that one must come to baptism completely naked. And countless churches have immersed believers not just once but THREE times in order for baptism to be complete qas is taught in Didache. In some churches one must not only confess Christ, but also denounce Satan for complete regeneration while others have anointed new converts with oil immediately afterward. Some churches even to this day perform ceremonies almost identical to marriage ceremonies where individuals are asked if they 'do confess Christ', etc., and respond with a simple 'I do' for each question before baptism followed by the elders laying hands on them. All of these different positions are held by different early church 'fathers'. Which is why I have a hard time rationalizing any of their thoughts that are so ambiguous and not universally agreed upon. In my experience, Truth is a constant. It is universal and it is not relative. Everything that God does in this world is for us. He does nothing for Himself out of necessity and baptism is no exception. What we must never do is replace Christ with the 'Plan' of salvation. We mustn't put so much emphasis on mode of baptism that we take away from what God is doing for us. Jesus said 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes unto the father but by Me'. He did not say 'no man comes unto the Father but by complete immersion plus confession, repentance, infant baptism, and the laying on of hands'. It seems in a way we are trying to create a stairway to heaven in these five steps to salvation as they tried in Genesis. But I guess the bottom line is that it is always better to baptize than to deny baptism. It is after all God who does the work and saves according to His will, not our actions. But better safe than sorry, right?Physical versus Spiritual Baptism.

I have to constantly remind myself that God is not bound by the same restrictions of time and space as I search for the *point* in time that I (and we ALL) received the Holy Spirit and salvation. If one were baptized at precisely 6:52:31 pm, were they 'unsaved' at 6:52:30, and born again believers at 6:52:32? and since God is omniscient, is our salvation recorded all the way down to the nanosecond? What are the facts dealing with baptism in the physical realm versus the spiritual? Is the physical act of baptism the place where we meet in time with the spiritual realm? Are there physical/ spiritual properties and requirements that are met in baptism by water- a sort of meeting place for the divine and human actions that take place? Every day that we continue through existence, our awareness is heightened. Though technologically we advance, since Adam we devolved in respect to our knowledge of God. That is, up until the point that he gave us the canon of scripture where we now relearn that which Adam spoke directly to Christ about. We are now reaching a point of understanding unprecedented in times past and we are ever subject to the laws of creation and existence-looking at the glass from the glass- So is there more to what we read from Mathew after Peter's confession, 'Verily I say unto you, what things ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.'

The Holy Spirit lives in regenerated human spirits; which even dead spirits (unregenerated man) share in the connectedness of things; spiritual awareness is our self-conscious connection to God and the Universe. But God does not live in a dead spirit any more than we can live in a dead body. So we are quickened, who once were dead (Col 2:13). And just as I want a globe handy when reading the geography or history of Earth, it would be nice to have a 'map' of the universe (including the spiritual realm) that showed the space-time issues we are talking about. Unfortunately it is very hard for most to visualize this spatiotemporal, spiritual idea. The best visual aid I have as of yet is Here. But it really wont help for now. It will however help to read about souls at this point (although the page is far from complete) since they are so closely connected. But it doesn't state clearly anything that answers some of our 'baptism and time' questions. For example, how do we represent the fact that we look backward in time to a smaller Universe as we look outward into ever-larger space- to our expanding Universe? I know most readers must be wondering what this has to do with baptism. But on the contrary, it has everything to do with baptism of the Holy Spirit. We can't look at spiritual things as if they are fantasy-some mythological/ hi-tech thing that hurts to think about. If we are to believe the Bible we have to look at the spiritual realm as something even more real than the common dimensions of space-time. Something that Jesus taught often and partly the reason He used parables...so that they could be deciphered when one's mind was ready.

Our readiness is developed through abstracting abilities. I have always called it 'stretching my consciousness'. But also Paul tells the Corinthians 'Spiritual things are Spiritually discerned' as our minds work together with our human spirit wherein lives God himself in measure (or a portion. Only Christ has received the Spirit without measure i.e. the whole Thing, not a portion per Jn 3:34). The feeling of connection to nature, and the Cosmos is the psychological (incidentally from Psuche' the Greek word for soul) and emotional basis of mental/ spiritual health; insanity is the consequence of its loss. In psychology we see the two words interchange quite a bit during rehabilitation. Mental illness is the risk for the ability to abstract- physical contact with reality may be lost. So there is quite obviously a distinction. There is always a thin line between genius and insanity. Some of us live in the middle ground called eccentricity. But the point is that advanced doctrine of baptism can be a little bit 'out there'. My wife often says that nothing is worth anything if it costs you nothing. This is true and ignorance is bliss. Christ never said it would be easy. But if we are to know for sure that we are saved this is what we must do-at least this is what I must do myself and I choose to share it because the meaning of baptism is important to me.

It is easier to see the reasons and purpose of the spiritual aspect of baptism. It connects God to our human spirit which is connected to our mind. Therefore when you are baptized with the Spirit, you have the New Mind of Love that thinks the positive thoughts of the Spirit of God, instead of the sinful thoughts that naturally come out of us (Ep 4:17-32). Not that our sin nature goes away when we are baptized, but that we have an alternative- a choice to be Spirit-lead or self gratifying. As Christians we don't always make the right choice (Romans 8). But we are given the ability and judged according to those choices. (Rev 20:11, 1Cor 3) We are given the opportunity through spiritual baptism.

So why is something necessary externally for us to receive this internally? Or is it? Why these two forms of baptism when we read that there is only ONE baptism (Ep 4:5) or are they one and the same? What REAL significance can there be in the physical dipping into water? What separates our baptism from taking a bath, swimming or any other physical thing that we could do? What is up with the water versus the Spirit?

Baptism With Water versus Baptism With Spirit

In John's own words: "I indeed baptize you in water to repentance. But He [Jesus] who is coming after me is mightier than I ... He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire" (Mat 3:11). Again John's words: "I baptize with water" (John 1:26). John baptized with water, but it was He who was coming after John who would baptize with the Spirit (John 1:26-33). And in Christ's own words after He was resurrected from the dead: "And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but said, Wait for the promise of the Father which you heard from Me. For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days after this" (Acts 1:4-5). And while Christ's followers were waiting in Jerusalem the Promise did come in the form of the Spirit (Acts 2). Now the Promise is the Holy Spirit: "the Promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father" (Acts 2:33). This Promise was not only to Christ but to "as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39). It is the baptism with the Spirit that counts it seems, not baptism with water. "Water" is merely a symbolic representation of Spirit from these Scriptures. When Christ spoke of water he meant the Spirit (see John 7:38-39). We see hear PLAINLY that when Christ said 'water', he meant the 'Spirit'. Is this what he meant to Nicodemus as well in the third chapter of John? Was Christ saying that water WAS the Spirit or was He saying water baptism AND Spirit baptism are necessary? And are we baptized in water to show our repentance? It would seem baptizing in water today would be exactly the same as John's water baptism. Otherwise there are two new baptisms since John's baptism-the physical and the spiritual.

As I look at John 3, the first thing I am reminded of is that I think it is poorly-translated. Christ tells Nicodemus that everyone must be born 'again' in order to see the Kingdom of God. But if you will notice in your Bible's footnotes the words 'from above' (in greek, Anothen aànw from 473). That is because the word really has a different mean than to be born 'again'. This is actually the verse that helped me realize that the Bible wasn't written in English.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature lists three uses for anothen in this order: 1. from above; 2. a. from the beginning, b. for a long time; 3. again, anew.When Jesus says to Nicodemus, “...unless one is born anothen,” he means “from above”. Nicodemus continues, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus replies without really answering the question: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The answer makes sense in context of being born from above much more than it does if we translate it 'again'.

Jesus is telling Nicodemus that one cannot enter into the Kingdom of God unless he or she is born from above - from God - baptized in the Holy Spirit in contrast to that of physical birth. Anothen occurs 13 times in the New Testament. For instance James 1:17, 'Every good and perfect gift is "from above". In the NASB, it is translated only twice as “again,” each time in these passages in John. Five times it is translated as “above.” In the book of John, anothen appears three other times and is translated “above” twice and is not translated the final time, but the inference is from “above.” There is further evidence that this should be translated 'from above/ anew' but we have stated here enough to move on to the other translational question in this verse.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". The words 'water' and 'Spirit' are pretty much cut and dry (the word 'the' inst really in the verse, only implied so we wont include it). But the word AND is very important here. The word is kaið and it is translated several ways!...

KJV (1097) - also, 514; and, 1; both, 43; even, 108; likewise, 13; misc, 32; not tr., 348; so, 18; then, 20; NAS (936) - accompanied, 1; actually, 2; after, 2; again, 1; along, 4; also, 535; although, 1; besides, 1; both, 1; certainly, 1; continue, 1; either, 2; else, 1; even, 132; forty-six, 1; if, 1; including, 1; indeed, 2; just, 3; likewise, 1; more, 2; moving about freely, 1; nor, 4; now, 2; only, 1; or, 11; same, 1; so, 30; than, 4; then, 105; though, 6; together, 1; too, 34; until, 1; very, 3; well, 13; when, 7; whether, 1; while, 1; whose, 1; without, 4; yet, 9;So with the same word being translated all of these different ways, how can we be positive that Christ did not say we must be born of water, EVEN the Spirit, water THAT IS the Spirit, water ACTUALLY the Spirit, water, INDEED the Spirit, water MORE SO the Spirit, water NOW the Spirit, water UNTIL the Spirit, etc. So let us not take ourselves to seriously on a word so ambiguous as kaið