I discussed in the Sunday school about Water Baptism as the first step of obedience to the Gospel. I encouraged those who are not yet water baptized to be baptized. Only one was willing yet, and others wanted to be water baptized in the swimming pool or in the sea which is better than of that floody river. So we will schedule for that.
The Three Acts Of Water Baptism
1. An Outward ACT of Commitment before entering into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Christian life is living in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. We believe the Kingdom of Jesus is here existing. Many maybe will argue that the Kingdom of God and the Church are not the same. But, we believe that they are the same. Paul said, in Colosians 1:13;
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. NIVPaul was talking to the members of the Church in Colossi, he said God the Father rescued (past tense) us from the dominion of darkness and brought (past tense) us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
You received a new life, a life in your spirit, a life which God calls his own son. A life which newly born in you, the Bible says, you have been born in the spirit, this is what John has written quoted what Jesus said ‘… you must be born again.’
Now you are rescued, your newly born life is living in the Kingdom of God, you are already brought into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Water baptism is only an outward act of your commitment to live a christian life. The Church as seen literally, as a group of believers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is called as a church but, the life of the Church or the believers, speaking to their spiritual birth or spiritual life, they are living in the Kingdom of God right now.
To live that kind of life, literally in the church and spiritually in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, it needs commitment. Water baptism is you act of commitment.
2. An Outward ACT of Submission to the King.
Water baptism is not an option, it a command. It is not a command by the pastor, by the church officials, but it is a command given by the King of kings.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19. NIVThat statement is spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is commanding that those who heard and believed the gospel should be baptized. Later, after this command was given, Jesus Christ went up to heaven and His disciples obeyed this command.
In the book of Acts, it has proven that those who have been enlightened by the gospel had been baptized. They showed to the public that they have submitted to this command.
In water baptism, there must be few if not many could witness your outward ACT of Submission to the King of kings.
3. An Outward ACT of Cleansing before entering into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
This is only an Act not an actual cleansing. In other words, reenactment. The actual spiritual cleansing is when you have asked the forgiveness of your sins. The actual forgiveness is when you have repented of being a sinner.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38Maybe many will argue and say, ‘ you see, baptism is required for the forgiveness of sin. How you you could say that it’s reenactment only?’
Throughout the entirety of the Bible the forgiveness of sin is in the actual repentance not in the time of water baptism, especially in the Old Testament.
So, repentance and and water baptism are separate. You are already forgiven, before you have been baptized. Therefore, water baptism is an outward ACT of cleansing only to show that to enter into the kingdom of God you ought to be cleansed first.
Water baptism will follow after the repentance, because you want show the symbol that no sinners could enter into the Kingdom of God.
Donate For the Project - Photo Copier
No comments:
Post a Comment