. Baptism. . .   The word "baptize" is derived from the Greek word "baptizo" meaning: fully wet, immerse, submerge, plunge into, dip or bury. What in the world does it matter if a person is baptized or not, or if they get dunked or sprinkled? Water can't do anything except, maybe, get a little dirt off of you. Well apparently it is quite significant considering Jesus, who knew no sin, walked from Nazareth to Bethabara (probably about 50-60 miles) to be baptized by John the Baptist. When John the Baptist told Jesus that it needed to be the other way around (him being baptized by Jesus), Jesus told him that it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:13-17). Should we be immersed (dunked) or sprinkled? Well, let's see what the Bible says, since we know the word baptize itself means to go down all the way. While it is true that there was sprinkling of blood, oil and water going on during some of the Levitical Priesthood ceremonies around the altar and inside the tabernacle, we shouldn't jump the gun just yet. Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Except a man be born of born or water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 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." Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:" Acts 8:38 "...and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." St. John 3:23 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there..." Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death:..." Colossians 2:12 "Buried with Him in baptism,..." Ephesians 4:5 "One Lord, One faith, One baptism," 1 Peter 3:20-21 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 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:" . There are several reasons the mode (manner) of baptism by the Apostles had to be by immersion: 1. The word itself means to immerse. 2. Instances of those who went down into the water and came up out of the water. 3. There is only ONE baptism (it's not, "You do it your way and I'll do it mine"). 4. It symbolizes the burial of Christ (a complete entombment not sprinkling some dirt on His dead corpse.) 5. The brazen laver that the priests used in the tabernacle ceremonies was the second step (following death at the altar <a "type" of repentance>), and is where the water was used to thoroughly clean (it wasn't sprinkled). 6. There are no examples of baptismal sprinkling in the New Testament. 7. History records that sprinkling came along about the time of Constantine when the church of Rome began sprinkling infants (who, by the way, had not even become conscious of sin yet, let alone had any to repent of). The next question is, "What is the correct formula of baptism?" Jesus said in Matthew 28:19...... . (THE GREAT COMMISSION GIVEN): "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Although, I haven't had seminary training or any other indoctrination for that matter, my studies are "independent" and "open." The chips just have to fall where they may. Furthermore, I am no English major, but I do know that the word NAME in Matthew 28:19 is SINGULAR (meaning ONE) and that the words FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST are TITLES. Also, Jesus was NOT telling his disciples what to "SAY" in Matthew 28:19, He was telling them what to "DO." Jesus is the name of the Father (John 5:43), Jesus is the name of the Son (Matthew 1:21) and Jesus is the name of the Holy Ghost (John 14:26). To find out what His followers "SAID" in order to obey (fulfill) Jesus' Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 you have to go to...... . (THE GREAT COMMISSION IN ACTION): Acts 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." Acts 8:16 "(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus)." Acts 19:5 "When they heard this, they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus." I do not make apologies for the TRUTH! The TRUTH will be around when the doctrine of Rome has been turned into ashes! Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16 and Acts 19:5 PROVES what the proper interpretation and application of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 is. Here we find documented examples of baptisms that were performed by those who knew precisely the correct mode and formula, and they baptized in the NAME of JESUS. In the first example Matthew was standing there with Peter when he uttered those famous words of Acts 2:38 (keep in mind that Jesus gave Peter the KEYS to the kingdom). Also, keep in mind that Jesus often spoke in parables (not to deceive or mislead, but rather to enlighten those who had ears to hear). It was such an ESSENTIAL element of the APOSTLES' DOCTRINE of the New Testament, that 12 men got RE-BAPTIZED in Acts Chapter 19. Read it for yourself in Acts 19:1-7. MILLIONS have been baptized WRONG, according to God's own Word! This is just too unbelievable for many, but I am so confident that I know what I am talking about that I have put my money where my mouth is! I have a $ 10,000.00 challenge for EVERYONE who embraces the doctrine that evolved from the 325 A.D. Council of Nicaea, known worldwide as the "Holy Trinity." Hopefully, this will be an incentive for them to STUDY their Bible AND dig into some Early Church history! SOMEONE HAS TO SAY THIS: Unauthorized changes were made in 325 A.D. when Emperor Constantine and his "scholars" introduced the doctrine of the trinity to the world. This doctrine defines God as being THREE separate and distinct PERSONS who are each co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal to the others. Trinitarians insist that the THREE are somehow ONE! **IF** their "God the Father" and "God the Holy Spirit" are separate PERSONS as they claim, then they have a real problem on their hands because their "God the Father" could NOT be the Father of the Christ child according to Matthew 1:18 and Matthew 1:20 (OOPS!). My friend, the only distinction in the Godhead is FLESH and SPIRIT - not THREE "separate and distinct PERSONS"! God is a SPIRIT (John 4:24) and a spirit hath not flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). God is the WORD (John 1:1) and the WORD was made flesh (John 1:14). God was manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). It was NOT the body of Jesus Christ that was God, but rather the Spirit of Almighty God that dwelled in that sinless body (John 14:10). As man, the flesh knew pain, hunger, thirst, etc. As God, the Spirit forgave sins, healed the sick, performed miracles, walked on the water, raised the dead, etc. Because of this "DUAL NATURE" of Jesus Christ, there were times when the flesh spoke, and there were times when the Spirit spoke. The THREE PERSON doctrine has been so well indoctrinated that hardly anyone questions it! I am a father, I am a son and I am a husband, but none of these TITLES is my name! These are positions (offices) that I occupy, YET I am ONE PERSON. There is a tremendous difference in ONE PERSON (singular) occupying three separate and distinct positions or offices (plural), and that of "three separate and distinct PERSONS" (plural) occupying ONE position or office (singular) of ALMIGHTY GOD! Ponder that for a while. The THREE PERSON DOCTRINE is a product of man - PERIOD, END OF ISSUE! You might accuse me of "splitting hairs" about invoking the NAME of Jesus at baptism, but remember that God's plan for building the ark was SPECIFIC and ESSENTIAL, and God's plan for building the tabernacle in the wilderness was SPECIFIC and ESSENTIAL. Likewise, God's plan of salvation is SPECIFIC and ESSENTIAL! We must understand AND comply with God's SPECIFIC and ESSENTIAL plan for water baptism in order to be accepted by Him! Why is this "Trinity" theory so impoatant when discussiong water baptism? Because in Matthew 28:19 Jesus was telling them what to DO, not what to repeat verbatim, which the denominational church does. And by doing this they deny Jesus NAME, they substitute his NAME for a TITLE. Jesus said to baptize in the name of the father, son, holy ghost. However, ALL baptisms, where there is an actual baptism taking place, was done in the name of Jesus. The Apostles knew and understood that the name of father, son, holy ghost is JESUS (God manifest in the flesh - 1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus is the ONLY NAME given unto men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). 1. Father is not a name   (is the name of your father - "father"?) 2. Son is not a name        (is the name of your son - "son"?) 3. Holy Ghost is not a name. A popular saying among denominationalists today is, "Baptism is an outward sign of an inward work." If the Bible says that baptism is an outward sign of an inward work, then baptism is an outward sign of an inward work. Years ago, when I first heard that saying I searched it out and just couldn't find any place that said anything baptism being a "sign" of anything to anyone. I did find something about "signs" (we'll talk about later), but nothing about "signs" and baptism. However, what I did find out about baptism, in addition to the scriptures mentioned earlier is: Mark 1:4 "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." Luke 24:47 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name beginning at Jerusalem." Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The Bible confirms that repentance and water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ was ESSENTIAL elements of the APOSTLES' DOCTRINE of the New Testament Church that was ordained by Jesus Christ. Therefore, is baptism an outward sign of inward work? No! Then what is it? Lets read the Word of God and find out. Romans 6 3]  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4]  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. 5]  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6]  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7]  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8]  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9]  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10]  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11]  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12]  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13]  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14]  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15]  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16]  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17]  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18]  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19]  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20]  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21]  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22]  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23]  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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Bible Studies: . # 1: The Word of God # 2: The testimony of Jesus: Who is HE? # 3: Repentance # 5: The new birth: What does it mean to be born again? # 6: Sanctification: What is sanctification? # 7: Miracles and healing: Are they for us today? Reference Library ... menuN