Baptism
BAPTISM
By Your servant, Dan
Most of the time a person is baptized by a Church minister and the new
convert may think they are dedicating their lives to the Christ but the
minister or Priest is looking at having brought another person into their
organization. As an example when you are baptized in a Catholic Church you are
then a Catholic, they do not recognize any other baptism, and a non-Catholic is
not allowed to participate in the Eucharist -- to be a Jehovah's Witness,
Mormon, 7th Adventist, etc. So, the baptism of the world is different, not just
in a physical way but spiritual as well.
When the Apostles preached the Gospel and baptisms took place they pretty
much walked away and the new believers got together at each other’s homes --
later there was some instruction from Paul to act orderly, and to set up this
orderly conduct the office of deacons and elders were set up. These elders and
deacons were to be servants to the believers, not their bosses. This need grew
out of the elders of converts. Later Paul made known his disapproval at how the
growing numbers of converts were dividing, siding up to different
personalities, and Paul mentioned his disapproval of this, but it was happening
and is today the reason the Christianity Churches are divided, even to the
point of a different baptism, into different names, and spirits. Most, I
believe, of the new converts hearing a heart breaking and mind changing sermon
has an overwhelming emotion and desire to change their lives, to be better, and
they go to the altar call seeking the baptism of repentance, but fail to be
baptized into the Name of the correct Savior. So, the converts are sincere but
end up being misled by the preachers and teachers of the word and accepting a
false name and ultimately a false messiah that is more representative of a
Greek God than of the Messiah, YaHushua. Still, their baptism of repentance is
valid as a declaration to change, but too many stop their bible study and fall
into just following the crowd. This kind of thing was going on from the
beginning as Paul observes –
(1Co
1:12-16) Now this I say, that every one of you says, "I am
of Paul"; and "I of Apollos"; and "I of Cephas
(Peter)"; and "I of the Christ". Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were you
baptized in the name of Paul? I thank
God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should
say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of
Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Paul sees the division and is not happy about it. While Paul was called as
an Apostle to the Gentiles he plainly states he was not called to baptize and
baptized very few, but remember Philip? Philip the table waiter was going
around baptizing. This should confirm for us that to be baptized into His Name
does not require an Apostle -- I personally do not believe this office of
Apostle continued beyond those called personally, face to face, by YaHshua.
(Act
19:4-6) Then said Paul, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the
people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is,
on the Christ YaHshua. When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of
the Lord YaHshua. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them (12 disciples of
John), the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and
prophesied.
This proves that those baptized in the "baptism of repentance"
(Not in His Name) should be baptized again only this time in His, YaHshua's,
Name. Paul’s "laying on of hands" does two things, first it proves he
had the same authority in YaHshua as the other Apostles and second, that there
is a second baptism for
those coming to the true Messiah.
If someone has never been baptized and answers the call, they can,
in my opinion, baptize in His Name and this comes with the baptism of
repentance. You are making a declaration to God Himself that you accept YaHshua
as Savior. For those already baptized, but not into His real Name, there
remains a second baptism to complete the chain of events from the
repentant heart to the declaration to the correct Savior – the one and only
Savior.
Did the 12 disciples of John then baptized themselves or did Paul take each
one individually? It does not say, which leads me to believe that it does not
matter, that part is not that important except for the individual – truly, it
is a symbolic burial of the old person and the resurrection of the new person,
a shadow of something to come. Notice, the 12 disciples of John the Baptist did
speak in tongues, and did prophecy but not tongues of fire. We clearly see this
part of the evidence of the Holy Spirit is no longer being used.
The approval of the second baptism, if not already baptized into His
Name, is demonstrated, not by Paul, but by the Holy Spirit evidence, Paul is
the tool used, the Holy Spirit is the seal, even the show of approval. No one
argues that Paul is doing something out of line by taking the 12, pre baptized
disciples of John the Baptist and baptizing them again, this time in our
Savior’s Name. The approval for this is
visually seen by the physical and visual evidence of the Holy Spirit placing
the same signs that were evident with the Apostles of YaHshua at Pentecost. As a side bar to this event it also proves
Paul’s Apostleship as well, equal to that of Peter.
These signs are taken by well-meaning people as well as the wolves
and used as a control feature over people coming to God in the "baptism of
repentance", and then leading them off to be baptized into their fold,
their group, or some cult of exclusion. Some new comers to the faith are
encouraged to speak in tongues, which is defined by the greater Evangelical and
Pentecostal groups to be any sort of babbling and they actually tell some that
they will not receive the Holy Spirit if they don’t. Some are told to fake it
and it will eventually come. This all comes from not understanding the
progression of change, from the work of the Apostles to the Israeli peoples and
then to the Gentile nations and then down to us. In the beginning the first
converts were Jews only – the evidence of “fire”, speaking in other languages,
or languages of angels, and even “prophecy” used to let everyone of the
Apostles know who was to be allowed into the Church. Once approval was
illustrated by the Holy Spirit with these visual signs and the message was
clear, no one was to be rejected, then these evidences were no longer needed.
The Apollos Conundrum:
Apollos, a devout Jewish believer with a great deal of knowledge in Scripture
and a talented speaker is teaching a Gospel concerning YaHshua and is
convincing many that YaHshua is the promised Messiah and he has not been
baptized, and he has not met with any the Apostles. He is taken aside at one
point and a better version (understanding) of the Gospel of the Kingdom is
explained to him by a husband and wife, not any Apostles. This is important
because it explains that to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom does not even
require baptism. This example tell us that the teachers of the Scriptures and
delivering messages concerning the coming Kingdom of God do not have to be
full-fledged, baptized members of your group or mine. We can then, learn from
those we may not agree with, or that are outside of our particular group, and a
proof of baptism is not required. We have this account to verify the fact that
the Gospel is bigger than any one person, of group, or organization.
(Act
18:24) And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and
mighty in the scriptures, came
to Ephesus. This man was instructed in
the way of the Lord; and being fervent
in the spirit, he spoke and
taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in
the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto
them, and expounded unto him the way of
God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the
brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come,
helped them much which had believed
through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly,
showing by the scriptures that YaHshua
was (is) the Christ.
Here we have an example of a preacher of the word, Apollos, who is of the
“baptism of repentance” (John’s baptism). He has gone out and convinced many.
He is pulled aside by Aquila and Priscilla and explained to him “the way of
God more perfectly”. Apollos is a highly educated Jew, and we are told he
was “instructed in the way of the Lord”, so what could Apollos have been
missing – he is a Jew, very knowledgeable in the Scriptures, so what could
Aquila and Priscilla every tell him? My guess is that Apollos had not grasp the
“Liberty” found in YaHshua, our “freedom” through Him in all things. At any
rate, you will notice baptism is not mentioned here. This is a good example of
a person able to teach the word without being baptized into His Name. This
would also mean that the truth is not confined to only those of a special
baptism or calling, cult or mega church – the truth is not limited to one
special groups or Church.
Our Liberty, Our Freedom
Hardly anyone understands the "liberty" we have in the Christ,
YaHshua. It is not the freedom to sin, to lead an immoral life, or to do
anything against our conscience -- but, with the kind of freedom He has
given us comes a higher moral position. In the past if you sinned
against yourself or someone else and it could not be found in the Law then is
was not a sin. The Jewish Rabbis and other teachers then started defining what
was and was not sin -- they had the Law, but what about those gray areas? By
the time they got through with it, the Law, even the Creator of the Law called
it Moses Law, or the Law of Moses and some of His Apostles called it the Law of
the Jews, not the Law of God or YaHWeH. Now, today, there is a big movement
afoot, called the HRM (Hebrew Roots Movement).
This movement is trying to do what others have tried and failed in doing
and that is attempting to restore the Old Covenant. Not even the religious Jews
have the Old Covenant in practice. They fail and always will fail in the trying
to be perfect in the Law because they do not have the Temple. They have
rejected the only individual that could set them free from the requirements of
the Law and the Temple service and sacrificial system. They have cut themselves
off from their God in their defiance. Until the Temple is restored they have no
path to forgiveness – no animal blood sacrifice – no forgiveness. This is true
of the Hebrew Roots people, at differing levels of leadership; they cannot
properly restore the Old Covenant, or correctly restructure the Old Covenant to
allow for what is missing, so they too are missing something – perfection. In this
they mistakenly continue the crucifixion of the Christ.
Hebrew Roots Movement – Traveling backward
The HRM see the Hebrew connection with the First Century Church and assume
this is how it is supposed to be, ignoring the fact that we are living in the Times
of the Gentiles. This time of the Gentile is not going to be finished until
YaHshua returns and then He will do all the restoring that needs to be
done. The Christians, on the other hand, somewhere in the past, saw this
freedom in the Messiah and preached the freedom while they were busily building
their own set of rules and obligations, many of which were inherited from their
pagan past -- exchanging one kind of slavery for another, and calling it holy.
Our Savior has set us at liberty to function in Satan's world, no matter
what society you live in, a godless or a super religious one, you, as a
believer, should suffer only for Him and not because you wear your pants
backward, or demonstrate against the government you are convinced is Satan born
-- we are to live at peace with all men and if we suffer it should only be
because we will not declare anyone else our Savior but only YaHshua (YaHushua).
So, we are the children of the Kingdom, and as such we do not have to pay
taxes, -- but wait -- YaHshua instructed Peter on this very thing, and told
him, Peter, to pay the required taxes so as not to offend those collecting the
taxes of town or for the Roman Government. This is the really good example of the
liberty we have but with this liberty comes a higher, unnatural rule – to
live at peace with everyone, to respect those in authority, not to go out of
our way to show off our religious nature. Peter was instructed to pay those
asking for tribute (tax) and YaHshua told him the children of the King do not
pay taxes but in order not to offend those in authority to pay. (Matt
17:24-27)
This is a really good example how the law has no authority over us, the
Children of God are free, but we obey common law anyway out of respect for the
feelings and attitudes of other – including those not yet having entered this
truth concerning the children of the King. By the act of God’s love in us we
are ready to share when asked and to be obedient citizens in a world we are not
happy with – we live as strangers -- our true citizenship is still in Heaven
and YaHshua is bringing our passports with Him. Our patience is waiting for the
coming of YaHshua to restore what needs to be restored.
(John
15:19) If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but
because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore
the world hates you.
(Heb 13:13) Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the
reproach He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through Him then let us continually
offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that
acknowledge His Name. (City to come – Rev
21)
(Php 3:2021) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord
YaHshua the Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body,
by the power (God the Father) that enables Him even to subject all things to
Himself. ESV
(1Pe
1:17) Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in
reverent fear. NIV
If we take what happened during the first Pentecost after the Crucifixion
of our Savior, YaHushua, and apply that to us, then something is missing. Today
all we see by the eye is the baptism of water and that is no miracle as men are
doing that, it is not as if water is falling from the sky on us. But, the Holy
Spirit is, because it is promised to us and we are of greater belief, or should
be, because we believe this to be true without seeing it, without seeing with
the eye, this miracle.
(John
20:29) YaHshua said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and
yet have believed."
This, I believe, can be applied to this subject. The visual miracles and
signs were not because the believers of then were seeking them but because our
Heavenly Father was demonstrating His approval. Once this was recorded then we,
as believers, are to believe the record and have no longer a need for proof of
the eye. Our belief is in a way greater because we are believers without the
physical or visual proof. Many of them died because of what they witnessed, what
they saw and became convinced in their own minds and faith. Many of our
brothers and sisters after them died, or paid with their lives for their belief
in things they had never witnessed, believing in YaHshua and His promises
without miracles, without signs and wonders.
Laying on of Hands – And Philip
The matter of “laying on hands” -- a procedure carried out by the Apostles
in bringing about the sign of the Holy Spirit being given. As far as I
know no one is teaching what I am about to tell you -- I have written of this
in an article before but to the point -- Read Acts
8:12-17 -- get your bible out brothers and sisters and read these verses -- you
can go back to Acts
6:5 and you will see where this Philip came from and then leading up to this
baptism event – the baptism of Samaritans into our Savior’s Name by this
Philip. You will see that this Philip is not one of the Apostles but one of the
seven men selected to serve tables in the beginning. We see him later preaching
the Gospel and baptizing people that are not Jews. The Jews did not like the Samaritans
(John
4:9; 8:47).
So, here is Philip, a table waiter, and believer, baptizing non-Jewish
people – what was he thinking? Christianity in that time frame was still
considered a Jewish religion and believers were still going to the synagogue to
discuss and worship YaHWeH, even James pointed this out in his decision to keep
the Jew and Gentile parts of the church separate (Acts
15:21). It appears that Philip had stepped out of his element in his excitement
to share the Gospel and it is most likely due to his encounter with the
Ethiopian, a non-Jew, that he felt comfortable in going to a people the Jews
did not like, the Samaritans. He obviously picked up on the fact that our Savior
intended His sacrifice to open the way for all people. These people, the
Samaritans were kind of like the lost step-child, between the Gentiles and the
Jews, of mixed blood, many claiming linage with the tribes of Israel and
hanging on to Jewish style worship.
After the events surrounding the Samaritans (Acts
8:6-10) and Peter coming to the Samaritans for the laying on of hands, even
though Philip had baptized many into the Name of our Savior, and even though
Philip exhibited many signs and miracles of healing, the laying on of hands was
necessary to demonstrate to all that even Samaritans were not to be refused.
Philip was not done, for our Lord YaHushua called him to meet the Ethiopian, a
stranger from another land and in that account there is not the laying on of
hands and Philip is immediately taken after the Ethiopian is baptized (Acts
8:39), and finds himself in a different place. Philip had no doubt he was doing
the right thing, after all it was the Angel of our Lord told him to catch up
with the Ethiopian, but you will notice, this was a private event and there was
no need to prove anything to anyone else, so the need for the Holy Spirit to
manifest any kind of sign was not necessary.
His Holy Spirit approval for taking this path came by these miraculous
things that happened to him. By these two events in the life of Philip we see
the Gospel is not contained or restricted to just one body or type of men. But
still, the Apostles had to be shown. Even though the Messiah told them, all
they heard was that He had come to His own people and was to go to Israel,
which satisfied them completely because they, like all good Jews, saw the other
nations and other nationalities as unclean beings. You see this discrimination
in an encounter between Paul and Peter --
Samaritans? Baptized?
So, word gets back to the Apostles at Jerusalem and they send a team out to
see what is going on in Samaria and with Philip. Once they get there, I assume,
they could hardly believe it, so, Peter then "lays hands on them" and
they receive the same sign of talking in other languages (tongues) as did the
original, Jewish, believers, proving this was all okay – they were given
evidence to let the Samaritan believer in. Now everyone was satisfied. But you
will notice there is no mention of fire? It would seem then that the evidence
for who was to be allowed into the fellowship with YaHushua had been reduced to
the “speaking in tongues”. How long this lasted we can only guess but we know
that it eventually stop. The purpose had been accomplished, letting everyone
know the Gospel message and the calling to salvation through YaHshua was for
everyone, Jew, Samaritan, and Gentiles.
Here is the thing; it took an Apostle of high rank for this to happen with
the laying on of hands to prove the receiving of the Holy Spirit was also for
the Samaritans. By this also we know this Philip was not the Apostle Philip.
Today all of the Apostles are dead and not available for the “laying on of
hand”. In each case where this is mentioned, except for one, the laying on of
hands by an Apostle was a special sign of acceptance, and used to confirm to
the Apostles themselves, to the leadership of the Church at Jerusalem for the
advancement of the Gospel out into the Gentile world and not to be refused to
anyone, not even a Samaritan. It took some time as even the Jewish Apostles had
difficulty with their life long discriminatory attitude toward all non-Jews.
(Gal
2:11-12) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to
the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James,
he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision(Jews). And the other
Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away
with their dissimulation. KJV (dissimulation = hypocrisy or, as I see it,
discrimination)
Second Laying on of Hands
There is another instance of instructions concerning the "laying on of
hands" but this is within a groups ministry and is part of a blessing of
approval in sending out fellow believers on a mission and has nothing to do
with baptism. Next, this same Philip, a table waiter, was taken to a road where
an Ethiopian traveling back home reading some prophecy concerning the
resurrection of the Messiah. Philip explained it to this stranger, and then
told the stranger about the Gospel, the Good News of the Coming Kingdom and our
dedicating to the coming King by the sign of baptism -- burying the old man and
raising the new, symbolically dedicating our new man to the Christ, YaHshua.
In this account Philip is asked by the Ethiopian what was to prevent him
from being baptized right then and there -- he said, look there is water,
and Philip said fine, and they got down from the cart and the Ethiopian
went down into the water -- no laying on of hands, nothing, really, but a
joyous new believer. This man is never heard from again, but may very well be
the origin of the Jewish/Christian mixture of faith found in Ethiopia today and
not the Queen of Sheba, as some speculate.
In Acts
8:26-39 it sounds like both Philip and the Ethiopian were baptized -- they both
went down into the water -- I am sure you see the real sense of this and that
it is not saying this at all -- both of them went down into the water and the
Ethiopian was baptized or "immersed" which is what "baptize"
means.
Notice, the Ethiopian stated his belief, and then was baptized, no great
words from Philip, no laying on of hands, just water baptism into the Name of
our Savior, YaHshua -- we know this part because we are told that is exactly
what Philip was doing prior to this with the Samaritans – baptizing them into
His Name (Acts
8:12). Declare yourself and go down into the water, that's it. Too many
misunderstand the "laying on of hands" and make it part of their
group doctrine.
I don't think is it wrong it is just not a requirement and was a method
used to convince the super prejudiced that the Gospel was for everyone. Even
after this incident with Philip and the Apostles and the Samaritans -- it was
necessary for our Savior to give Peter a vision leading to the baptism of a
Roman Officer, Cornelius and his whole household, and even then Peter had to
return to the Jerusalem council and stand before all of the elders in defense
of his actions -- for they said it was unlawful for a Jew to enter the house of
a Gentile –
(Act
10:45) And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were
amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the
Gentiles.
(Act
10:47) "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
(Act
11:23) So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized
him, saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."
Lucky for Peter he had taken some other Jewish believers with him and they
witnessed the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit (the tongues again) just as
they had on that day of Pentecost -- proof YaHshua had accepted them. You will
notice, too, the Holy Spirit was given before the water baptism. I think this
is important, because it demonstrates that receiving the Holy Spirit does not
require water baptism. Water baptism is a sign between the one being baptized
and His Savior, a symbolic gesture of dying with Him and being raised a new
person with Him – the reality of this is still future, when He returns and we
are resurrected, changed –
(Php
3:21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body…,
(1Co
15:42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is
raised in incorruption:
Peter had his witnesses to back up what he had done, going into a Gentiles
house? James and the other elders and other believer of the Pharisees might
have been ready to stone Peter, but instead, gave him the opportunity to
explain himself. Apparently the episode with Philip and the Samaritans was not
as serious as this.
Even so it did not end there, they, the original Apostles still were
reluctant to deal with the Gentiles, as we read earlier (Gal
2:11). YaHshua had another plan, He tried to lead them by example using signs
of approval, the same signs He originally used on them but it still was not
working, so, He calls Paul, a man that hates the followers of YaHshua, a man
bent on persecuting as many "turncoat" Jews as he could -- YaHshua picks
him, Paul, to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
(Act
9:14-16) And here he (Paul) has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your Name.
But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he (Paul) is a chosen vessel to
me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles,
and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he
must suffer for my Name's sake.
Paul, as the Apostle to the Gentiles, said later that he was not called to
"baptize" -- still, he did baptize a few -- Paul met twelve of
John the Baptist disciples and he did baptize them, but even then, Paul did not
go about baptizing believers as a whole. He converts many, bringing great
numbers to the Savior, YaHshua, yet baptized on a few, and laid hands on a
very few.
(Act
19:3-7) And he said unto them, Unto what then were
you baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John
verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that
they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ
Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on
them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were
about twelve.
(1Co
1:14-18) I (Paul) thank God that I baptized none
of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in
mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know
not whether I baptized any other. For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but
to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ
should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them
that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Can we see now? The laying on of hands is for a purpose, when the
purpose is no longer needed then it is laid aside (no pun intended). The
Laying on of hands as a blessing is a good practice but to expect those of
today to begin to chant or call out at every occasion in babbling tongues or
the language of angels is wrong. Too many fake this in order to comply
with those telling them they must or they do not have the Spirit, this is a
lie. It is a wicked generation that continually looks for signs (Mat
12:39).
An Original Sign of Acceptance
The laying on of hands became a sign of acceptance. Philip had
baptized some of the Samaritans (Acts
8:2) but the hard headed Jewish believers in Jerusalem had to see it for
themselves, so they sent Peter and John, to lay hands on these repentant
souls to see if it was true that even Samaritans are accepted and when they did
this even though Philip had already baptized them, were able to see for
themselves that yes, even Samaritans were to be accepted. Read all of Acts
8, and you see that Philip did not lack in the spirit, he was performing
miracles and in such power and amazement as to even cause the local magician to
step aside and seek baptism himself. By this we know that the purpose of
Peter and John's arrival had nothing to do with the people receiving conversion
or the spirit, but about seeing with their own eyes the evidence.
(Act
8:14-17) Now when the apostles which were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them
Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they
might receive the Holy Spirit: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of
them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid
they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Another way to see it -- Philip was an elder, not an Apostle, and he had
done many miracles among the Samaritans and even had baptized the Samaritans
into the Name of YaHshua, but look, as you read Acts
8, that Philip called for the Apostles, out of Jerusalem, Peter and John
came, and it was to them that Philip asked them to lay hands on those he had
baptized and they demonstrated the receiving of the Holy Spirit. But
look, it was through the Apostles this sign came, not Philip, a fellow worker,
because Philip was not one of the Apostles. Do you see, the Apostles are
all dead and buried, awaiting the return of our Savior. Are we to then
call them up from the grave? Heaven forbid. This should demonstrate
that the laying on of hands at baptism was practiced by the early Ecclesia but
the sign of the Holy
Spirit came only through one of the Apostles, not an Elder, or servant such as
Philip. Do we stop laying on of hands as a practice? No, not at
all, for a blessing is passed on and requested and is a tool used within the
Ecclesia as an aid and encouragement to believer, whether for healing of
comfort or request in service. Philip, was a table waiter, and he was
baptizing anyone that asked him, but it was only through the hands of the
original Apostles --- well, I am repeating myself, hoping you see and
understand that you do not need to feel guilty if at you baptism you did not go
crazy as some say you must.
There is another baptism coming, a worldwide baptism, but that is way down
the road, and I will discuss that a little later, but for now let's look at who
can baptize?
Who Does the Baptism
It is my opinion that anyone can baptize you -- I know they make a show of
it in Scriptures with the Holy Spirit causing those baptized to talk in other
languages (tongue) and for fire to appear over their heads, but many of these
gifts (signs) are not for us today. I hope that at this point you see that the
Holy Spirit is actually given to you before the act of water baptism. It is the
Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father that is calling and opening the mind of
those He is giving to YaHshua.
Too many wolves have capitalized on what was happening with the First
Century believers by applying these things to today – seeking after signs and
wonders. However, consider this – the Apostles waited for Pentecost and when
the Holy Spirit came on them they spoke in other languages (tongues) and fire
flickered above their individual heads, they were like living candles. Later,
we hear of the speaking in tongues but no more mention of the flames above the
head. How many people today are baptized and flames of fire burn above their
heads? This alone should tell us things have changed. Next, in the account on
Pentecost there is no mention of water baptism? Our Savior, YaHshua, is with
the disciples for 40 days after His death, teaching them things about the
Kingdom – then He mentions baptism but not by water –
(Act
1:3-15) He presented himself alive to them after his suffering
by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom
of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from
Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you
heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit not many days from now."
This is a confirmation of what John the Baptist said himself –
(Mat
3:11) "I (John) baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming
after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire.
Do we see this today? Imagine, if you will, people coming to the Lord and
speaking in other languages or tongues of angels and fire bursting from the
tops of their heads. I would think this would make the evening news. In fact
the internet would be literally burning up with You Tube videos. Again, the
lack of this evidence proves there has been a change and the purpose of the
signs was to lead the Apostles in the direction YaHshua wanted them to go, not
confining themselves to Israelis only.
The baptism by water is a baptism of repentance and John was doing that, as
would be anyone before YaHshua. We read of accounts of water baptism still
being carried out in the first century but the incredible is diminishing.
We are given an account of several disciples being baptized by “fire”, not
water. Later we see many people are convinced and become believers in the
message Peter delivers and in that day we are told 3,000 individuals –
(Act
2:41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three
thousand soul. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon
every soul: and many wonders and signs
were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had
all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all
men, as every man had need.
You will notice it is the Apostles coming up with “many signs and
wonders” and no mention of the 3,000 speaking in tongues, only that they
received his word, and no mention of laying on of hands,
only baptism. The miraculous things of the First Century
Church were just that, miraculous things kick starting the
movement and building a following in the Name of YaHshua, that no one
could deny. Most of them were witnesses or knew of witnesses to these events
surrounding YaHshua. For a time it would appear these people being
influenced and unable to deny the miracles of the Apostles would sweep up the
whole world, and this was why Paul (Saul) was given paper to search out and
imprison anyone calling on this name, YaHshua, as Messiah. We all know
what happened to Paul, being struck blind, and then raised up to be an Apostle
to the Gentiles -- not Peter, but Paul. All of those with the power of
Laying on of Hands that would produce the sign of the Holy Spirit, had all been
eye witnesses, they had walked with, and been taught by YaHshua
personally. Remember Philip? This is a wonder and sign past that
the first century Ecclesia (called out ones) saw and realized by this that no
man was to be refused.
We, today, have the knowledge that no one is to be refused that wants to
come to our Savior. Unlike the exclusiveness of the Jewish religion at
that time, heavily prejudiced against the Gentiles, but in this we can see the
need of the Laying on of Hands miracles to change this Jewish thought.
Today, we know it is to all people and when we become part of His earthly body
we are on faith alone and in some respects that is a greater blessing, even
YaHshua made mention of just that, how much more a blessing to those who have
not seen but still believe.
Then, of course there is the Calling. Your calling may be different from
mine, and mine from yours, but we are all still one in Him, doing what we do by
the same spirit, but in a different way (1
Cor 12:4-6). So, from what I can see there must be a great number of people down
through the histories that never saw the baptism of water, but were adopted as
sons and daughter by the Spirit alone and the evidence of this is the calling
they were called to -- the revelation and understanding of things that
seem so reasonable to you while others think it strange -- when you have
lost the world but gained the Kingdom, you will know in your own spirit if He
is with you. Still, if we think water baptism is required and you feel, as I
do, that it is then how this happens is up to you. No matter who helps you
with this, a friend, a loved one, a local minister, just remember, you are NOT
being baptized into some Church of men but into our Lord YaHshua -- it is
between you and Him, not some man, so if you are moved at the mount of hearing
the Gospel it does not matter who is baptizing you, just know this -- Satan
will not baptize you, not into the Body of the Living Christ, never, so fear
not, your baptism is your baptism. Yes, some have used the act of baptism
to build a body of followers unto themselves, but if this is the reason
for you baptism then it is not a baptism to YaHshua, nor in His Name, but of
men. Be you a follower of Him, not some man, or Prophet, or
minister, or Cardinal, or Pope. You are called to His word, so read
it, study it, talk to Him.
Peace to you -- If you seek baptism by an ordained minister or
pastor or elder into the Name of our Savior YaHshua then I would recommend you
contact the following. There are other groups but I have the most
confidence in these. I will add more groups as I am able to investigate
their origins. I personally do not agree with many of the doctrines they
teach. If, however, you go back to the first century Church you will find
many of them did not agree on every issue. The Apostle Paul ran into
these same divisions and expressed his disappointment, none the less, it did
not mean these followers of YaHshua were not part of the body because they
disagreed on certain issues. The one overriding issue they all had in
common was the Messiah they accept, YaHshua, and no other.
Peace, your servant, Dan
Congregation of YHWH
P.O. Box 832
Carteret, NJ 07008
http://www.coyhwh.com/en/scriptures.php
-- or --
Yahweh's Restoration Ministry
P.O. Box 463
Holts Summit, MO 65043
Office Phone:
573-896-1000