BAPTISM - SIN WASHED AWAY - CLEANSED

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Baptism is the washing away of sin, the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost that takes place when a person is BORN FROM ABOVE (SAVED). Water baptism does not save. It is only a sign that we believe we are saved. At anytime in a persons life he/she can of their own free will be baptized in water. This does not mean that he/she now has salvation. There is only ONE BAPTISM and that is baptism IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

It is generally thought that the Greek word for baptism means immersion. Why then did the translators not translate the Greek word into 'immersion'? It is because the context of the verses would not allow it. If the translators used the word 'immersion' instead of 'baptism' the verse would not make sense.
For example:

Eph. 4:5

"One Lord, one faith, one 'immersion'.

Matt. 20:23

"Ye shall drink indeed of my cup,and be 'immersed' with the 'immersion' that I am 'immersed' with."

1 Peter 3:21

"Whereunto even 'immersion' doth also now save us."

The translators DID NOT TRANSLATE the Greek word, they TRANSFORMED it into an English word (baptism). The Bible is its own dictionary. Therefore, what verses give us a definition of the Greek word BAPTIZO?

Mark 7:4

"And when they come from the market, except they WASH (baptizo), they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the WASHING (baptismos) of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of TABLES."

Luke 11:38

"And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first WASHED (baptizo), before dinner."

Does the 'immersion of tables', sound correct. No! But that is how Mark 7 would read if the Greek word 'baptizo' was translated into immersion. The translators used WASHING because it is a true meaning. Baptism means our sins have been WASHED away by the Holy Spirit, not immersion into water. Remember there is only one baptism.

Acts 19:3 & 5

"And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said; unto John's baptism...when they heard this, they were BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS."

Acts 22:16

"And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and WASH AWAY THY SINS, calling on the name of the Lord."

Water baptism is a shadow of out spiritual baptism. It has no spiritual grace. It is a symbol of our cleansing from sin. Just as CIRCUMCISION was the OLD TESTAMENT SIGN that salvation had come into the home; so BAPTISM is the NEW TESTAMENT SIGN.

When ABRAHAM was circumcised in Gen.17 he was brought into the kingdom of God. His WHOLE HOUSEHOLD (Gen. 17:27) became members of the Corporate Kingdom of God. They may not all be saved yet. But, once the SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION was placed on a man it did not have to be placed on him again. So the same holds true as with water baptism. New Testament baptism shadows this circumcision in;

1 Cor. 1:16

"And I baptized also the HOUSEHOLD of Stephanas"

and in;

Acts 16:15

"And when she was baptized, and her HOUSEHOLD".

Just like circumcision; if a believer was baptized (SPRINKLED or IMMERSED) in a Bible (the Bible ALONE and in its ENTIRETY) believing church, then it is not necessary to be baptized again.

Listed below are some comparison notes on 'Immersion vs Sprinkling'

Ez. 36:25

"Then will I 'SPRINKLE' CLEAN WATER, and ye shall be clean: from all your filtheness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A NEW HEART (born from above) also will I give you."

Isaiah 52:15

"So shall he 'SPRINKLE' many nations."

Numbers 8:7

"And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: 'SPRINKLE' WATER OF PURIFYING unto them."

Acts 8:36

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a CERTAIN water."

Acts 8:38-39

"THEY went DOWN INTO THE WATER. BOTH Philip and the Eunuch; and he 'immersed' (baptized) him. And when THEY were come UP OUT OF THE WATER..."

Matthew 3:16 (see web link)

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up STRAIGHTWAY OUT OF THE WATER,"

We should consider these things when reading the above verses:

1. Sprinkling is mentioned in a few verses.
2. The Greek word 'BAPTIZO' is not translated to 'Immersion' because the verses would not make sense.
3. The Greek word for CERTAIN in 'certain water' is also translated to mean SOME in many verses of the Bible. Could it have been translated 'SOME WATER' also?
4. When Philip and the Eunuch went 'DOWN' into the water where they BOTH UNDER THE WATER? If so, then HOW COULD HE IMMERSE (baptize) them IF THEY WERE ALREADY UNDER?
5. If this verse is saying that BOTH were UNDER THE WATER, then SHOULD PASTORS today also GO DOWN UNDER THE WATER?

In John 13:8 we get a good short summary of baptism;

John 13:8

"IF I (JESUS) WASH THEE NOT, THOU HAST NO PART WITH ME."

We must be spiritually cleansed from our sins to be a part of Jesus. Baptism is a SIGN or TOKEN that we as believers feel we have become a part of Jesus, BORN FROM ABOVE. The amount of water or the method used does not have an important part.

IT IS THE CONDITION OF OUR HEART (SPIRIT) THAT MUST BE CLEANSED.

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