What Does The bible Say About Baptism?

Baptism is definitely something that allot of people are unsure about, maybe because of all the different church doctrines and the need to have an individual church denomination to support it … for example the “Baptist church”, which seems to lead the way for the support of baptism.

So, What Does The bible Say About Baptism? lets see what the scriptures actually say about Baptism and if our Master and Saviour Yahushua supported it…

Lets get straight into this with

Matthew 3:11-17

11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

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

14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

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

16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

First thing to note here is that the Messiah himself was baptized with “water”, many have said that there is no need for water baptism, because the Messiah now baptizes us with the Holy Spirit…we shall look at what this means later.

If we are followers of the Messiah isn’t it our duty to do what the Messiah him self did? the answer is, YES! Even John the baptist himself thought that it was not his place to baptize the Messiah, but the Messiah urged him to do it. (Matthew 3:14,15)

So if the Messiah humbled himself to be baptized why wouldn’t we do the same? Remember the Messiah had no sins. Baptism announced him as the SON of YHWH.

John 3:25-26

25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and  all men come to him.

After John the Baptist baptized the Messiah, the followers that he attracted later on asked him why the Messiahs disciples were baptizing like him, this lets us know that the Messiah supported the baptism by his disciples.

John 4:1-3

1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

3He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

It is important to understand the the Messiah himself did not baptized any body in water but he encouraged his disciples to do it. As can be seen by the scriptures above.

So what is the purpose of baptism?

Mark 1:4

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

If we read Mark 1:4 The water baptism symbolises repentance (sinners (you and me!) promise to change and keep the commandments) and remission (pardoning) of sins if the repentance is sincere.

Lets take a look at what is meant by the Messiah baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire, as this is often used to justify not being baptized.

Acts 10:44-48

44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

If we read the scriptures above we see that when the Holy Spirit was poured out those that received it spoke in tongues, this is not the only sign of the Holy Spirit baptism, but it can be one of them. We should also note that when they spoke in tongues the language was understood by those around.

It is important to understand here though, that after those receiving the Holy Spirit were baptized there was still a need for them to be baptized (we can safely assume this was with water). Other gifts of the Holy Spirit can be found in 1 Corinthians 12, it’s not necessarily speaking in tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 12 <==== As it is clearly talking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Besides tongues not being the only sign of a Holy Spirit baptism, you should notice that after the baptism of the Holy Spirit the gentiles were baptized with water.

In Acts 19:1-7 below, we see that people were baptized and then the Holy Spirit baptism fell upon them, so for this we can see that recieving the water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism can be done in any order.

Acts 19:1-7

1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

4Then 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.

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7And all the men were about twelve.

In conclusion it is clear that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and water baptism are both distinct from each other, but we also see that they are both to be equally performed. The Messiah gave this instruction to his disciples and we should continue baptizing for repentance and remission of sins until his return.

Matthew 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:

An example of a model Baptism can be seen below with Philip and the Eunuch:

Acts 8:35-39

³⁵Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

³⁶And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

³⁷And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

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

³⁹And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

What Does The bible Say About Baptism? Well we should do it!!!

Peace and Shalom.