I am throughly convinced that the entire world has been misled with regards the practice of water baptism.
One must admit that when they hear the expression baptism, what is the first thing they think of? Getting baptized in or with water. It is rare that one thinks with a view of baptism with Holy Spirit.
Before The Son of God arrived the scene, John the Baptizer was baptizing his own disciples with water for their repentence. Yet, John the Baptizer knew that his gathering of disciples to himself and the practice of baptizing them in water would end. Notice what John the Baptizer says at Mark 1:6-8:
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John the Baptizer says that he baptizes his disciples in water, but the one coming after him would not. He would baptize his disciples with Holy Spirit. John’s ministry and discipleship making to himself would end and that of Christs would begin.
If, has John the Baptizer says, the one coming after him is GREATER or more powerful than he is, then it stands to reason that this ones baptism would be greater than John the Baptizers.
But Jesus Got Baptized By John the Baptizer!
Yes, he did. But that is not proof that we are to get baptized with water. If one reads the account at Matthew 3:13-17 very closely, notice the exchange between John the Baptizer and Jesus. Jesus says “Let it be for now.” In other words, from that day forward, there will be no more baptism in water.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
That John the Baptizer did not want Jesus to get baptized by him – but that he should get baptized by Jesus – shows that John the Baptizer understood water baptism was ending. He had already said that Jesus would baptize with Holy Spirit. So John the baptizer wanted that kind of baptism by Jesus should Jesus baptize him.
But by allowing John the Baptizer to baptize him in water was a public symbol of – NOT what WE are suppose to do in turn – but a public demonstration of what was ENDING: Baptism with water. And, what would BEGIN: gathering of disciples to Christ who would baptize his disciples with Holy Spirit.
One Baptism
The Apostle Paul also understood Christs teaching concerning baptism because he said at Ephesians 4:4-6:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
That one baptism is not in the manner of John the Baptizer in water, but the manner of Christ with Holy Spirit. If one insists on water baptism, then they are essentially saying that they believe that John the Baptizers baptism is that ONE baptism and that it is greater than Christs baptism.
The Opposers of Christ
The very ones claiming to follow Christ are the first ones to oppose him. The first ones accusing and condemning. The first ones to say everyone else is misled. They will fight tooth and nail to follow, promote and maintain the ritual of John the Baptizer. They are really the disciples of a dead man: John the Baptizer as he baptized in water. A student (disciple) follows what his teacher says and does. And, it was John the Baptizer who baptized with water. It was his baptism, not Christs baptism.
This will be one of the many things those claiming to follow Christ will have a very difficult time coming to grips with. Why? Because the religious system called by men Christianity has so thoroughly indoctrinated the world to such an extent, it believes water baptism is something Christ taught and practiced. Few, think of the only baptism: That with Holy Spirit by Christ.
Test It: Google “baptism” and then click on the “images” link and what do you see? Water. Better yet, ask ten people what baptism is and I would venture to say that all of them would be thinking: water.
The majority – because of their indoctrination into Christianity – will take the “stick my head in the sand” way, while others will play the “You are taking things out of context game.” And, yet others will resort to personal attacks or dragging the “Red Herring” rather than listen to Christ, though they say they believe in him.
Many will – at all cost – defend the teachings of the religious organization in which they are members rather than defend what Christ taught.
Christ would not baptize in water, but with Holy Spirit. In fact, we see no instances of Christ baptizing anyone in water. Neither do we see any cases of Christs disciples baptizing each other in water. It is simply not there.
It is almost something inside of these so-called proclaimers of belief in Christ gets agitated and causes them to war with what is so simply the truth. With their mouths they say they believe in Christ, yet what they practice is another matter.
The GREATER baptism – which is the ONLY BAPTISM, is not what is in the forefront today. Water baptism is. Thus, the world has been throughly misled and this is another reason why Christianity is false and the enemy of Christ. It promotes and practices another baptism.
Please view my video as it relates a recent experience I had concerning this topic.
[youtube]0I2HQWv8UGc[/youtube]
