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“Baptism,” the waters. By Robert.B.Dalton. © Menorah Publications. Australia & New Zealand. 2004. Revised, 2016.
“Baptism,”
thewaters.
By Robert.B.Dalton.© Menorah Publications.Australia & New Zealand. 2004.
Revised, 2016.
2
* Points of distinction and emphasis, are used by our authorship solely tobring light to our dialogue.
* Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptural references appearing arequotations from the King James Bible ...computer software, E Sword version 10.2.1 © 2013 by Rick Meyers.www.e-sword.net
First Edition ( November, 2004, re-edited 2016.)
Copyright © 2016. Australia by Robert.B.Dalton.Apart from the purpose of private study or review forarchive retrieval, no part may be reproduced without theexpressed and written permission of the authors (and/ or)their agents for “Menorah Publications.”
Menorah TM
==========Publications =====http://menorahpublicationsweeblycom.weebly.com/
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“Baptism,” the waters.
Introduction.
There are two ordinances given in the NewCovenant or Testament, by The Lord Jesus Christand these are ...
(a) Water Baptism, and
(b) Communion (The Lord’s Table.)
Water baptism is an outward expression or actof obedience to an inward response. It is connected
with both “repentance and forgivenessof sin.”
The primary point of acknowledgingJesus’ authority over your life andverifying your discipleship under HisLordship.
Water baptism is another step toward Christiangrowth (a very vital one!) Water baptism is anordinance, an outward rite, appointed by The LordJesus Christ, to be ministered in the Church, thecorporate Body of Christ.
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The Origin of ...“Christ - in - Baptism.”
The practice of baptism, that is, immersing aperson completely in water and lifting him up again,was common, both before and during New
Testament times. When a “Gentile,” a non-Jewby birth, became a Jew through transfer ofallegiance to the God of Israel, (signifying this) hedid so by submitting himself to a ritual waterbaptism.
Likewise, when Jews or Gentiles becameChristians, they proclaimed the forsaking of formerritualistic religious and pagan belief anddemonstrated their loyalty and trust to their new-
found Lord in water baptism “as anindication of heartfelt response tocommitment.”
Baptism then, to us today, is a publicproclamation of our abandonment of satan’sauthority and ways, and an open confession of ourFaith and Trust in the King of Kings ... The LordJesus Christ.
Mark 16 Verse 16(a) “He that believeth and isbaptized shall be saved; ...”
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Thus it was a common practice in the early
Church, this is an “outward response toan inward Faith, Trust and Belief.”
It is not partaken as a religiousact or form of legalism.
Historically, as a type or shadow, baptism wasshown in the Old Testament times by the priestswashing before entering into,
“The Holy Place ... ”
We do too, because we want to come deeperinto the Presence of Him who is,
“Holiness personified.”
Exodus 29 Verse 4 “And Aaron and his sons thoushalt bring unto the door of The Tabernacle of theCongregation, and shalt wash them with water.”
Leviticus 6 Verse 27(b)“... thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled
in The Holy Place.”
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Christ Jesus is our “Great High Priest”before the Father, and being water baptised is to
“put on Christ” by declaration of “Nowand Forever and so enter into thePresence of God!”
Galatians 3 Verses 27 & 29“For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ ... have put on Christ.”
Verse 29 “And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are yeAbraham’s seed, and heirs according to thepromise.”
By Faith, the Christian also has access to the
Father through The Lord Jesus Christ ... we canenter into the Holy Place.
Hebrews 10 Verses 19-23 “Having therefore,brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by theblood of Jesus,” (20) “By a new and living way,which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,that is to say, his flesh;” (21) “And [having] an highpriest over the house of God;” (22) “Let us drawnear with a true heart in full assurance of faith,having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,and our bodies washed with pure water.”(23) “Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faithwithout wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)”
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The word “to baptise,” means “toimmerse completely, to plunge,submerge.”
There is no scriptural foundation for
“sprinkling of babies, or adults forthat matter either.” Infant baptism, as aritual rite, as opposed to dedication, is firstmentioned historically, in Church history by
“Irenaeus in 200 A.D.” and opposed
fervently by “Tertullian, in the secondcentury.” It became a legalistic, religious form inthe fifth century.
(A) “What Are the ConditionsFor Baptism?”
1) Believing ... on The Lord Jesus Christ.
This means for us, that Jesus is both“Lord and Saviour:”
Mark 16 Verse 16“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
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2) Repentance ... must precede baptism.
Acts 2 Verse 38“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in The Nameof Jesus Christ for the remission ofsins, and ye shall receive The Gift ofThe Holy Ghost.”
- “The Blood of Jesus secured salvation.”
- “The Word of Jesus assures salvation.”
- “Water baptism testifies of salvation.”
- “The Gift of The Holy Spirit,The Father’s seal of approval.”
A question for students.“Why are some people baptised in The Holy Spiritbefore water baptism?”
To quote Pastor Jack Hayford,“At baptism, The Lord Jesus Christ makes aninvisible, yet indelible mark on your soul.”
(end quote.)
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As such, it is quite conceivable in the fact thatThe Lord knows those that are His and God desiresthat none would perish but that all would come tosaving Grace by Christ Jesus.
We could also ask, what about those that aregeographically confined to a physical wilderness ora desert type environment. Which is of priorimportance ... the horse or the cart?
God is not interested in religionnor religious formulas but He isextremely interested in the fact ofour relationship ... Let’s take a fewmoments now to consider the above question and iftime and situation avails discuss the relevancy ofthe issue amongst ourselves.
(B) “Water Baptism Is SignificantBecause,”
i) It indicates “Whose you are!”
ii) By whom “You are born again:”
iii) By whom “Your sins are forgiven!”
iv) By “Declaring HIS authority.”
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v) By “The Lord being your protection incommitted relationship.”
Psalm 4 Verse 3“But know that The LORD hath set apart him that isGodly for Himself: the LORD will hear when I callunto Him.”
vi) By we, “testifying before men ofHis ownership.”
Matthew 10 Verse 32 “Whosoever therefore shallconfess me before men, him will I confess alsobefore My Father which is in Heaven.”
1 Corinthians 6 Verse 20 “For ye are bought with aprice: therefore glorify God in your body, and in yourspirit, which are God’s.”
vii) “Indicating the transition fromdeath to life eternal.”
John 6 Verse 68 “Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast TheWords of Eternal Life.”
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Matthew 6 Verse 33 “But seek ye first The Kingdomof God, and His Righteousness; and all these thingsshall be added unto you.”
Romans 8 Verse 11 “But if the Spirit of Him thatraised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He thatraised up Christ from the dead shall also quickenyour mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth inyou.”
(C) “Three-fold Symbolism ...What Does Baptism Signify?”
It is symbolic, yet a very real spiritualexperience.
a) “Manner” ...
John 3 Verse 23 “And John also was baptizing inAenon near to Salim, because there was muchwater there: and they came, and were baptized.”
Going down into the water, immersed, plunged,dipped, or to submerge, from the Greek translationof the New Testament scriptures, the word
“Bapto,” is the root word for baptise which is theAnglicanised form of the word. The reason being
that there is no equivalent Englishword!
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The words, “Baptise and baptism”are derived from “bapto,” meaning,
“to plunge, wholly wet.”
The word, “baptidzo and baptisma,”mean “that which is dipped under,” and
“baptismos,” means “a washing or acleansing:”
b) “The Model,” … Jesus’ example.
Matthew 3 Verses 13-17 “Then cometh Jesus fromGalilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.”(14) “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to bebaptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”(15) “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it
to be so] now: ... for thus it becometh usto fulfil all righteousness. Then he
suffered him.” (16) “And Jesus, when He wasbaptized, went up straightway out ofthe water: and, lo, the heavens were openedunto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descendinglike a dove, and lighting upon Him:”(17) “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is MyBeloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
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Verse 15 “Suffer [it to be so] now: ... for thus itbecometh us to fulfil allrighteousness. Then he suffered Him.”
Jesus here confirmed for John, that His request
was “ordained of God.” It became an act
of “High significance,” in the fact that it wasan act of obedience toward The Father God from
the “sinless” Son!
c) “The Meaning” ...It is a personal expression of Faith.
Romans 6 Verses 4-5 “Therefore we are buried withhim by baptism into death: that like as Christ wasraised 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 thelikeness of his death, we shall be also [in thelikeness] of [his] resurrection:”
We are a ... “new creation!”
2 Corinthians 5 Verse 17 “Therefore if any man [be]in Christ, ... [he is] a new creature: old things arepassed away; behold, all things are become new.”
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Matthew 28 Verse 19 “Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of theFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Galatians 3 Verse 27 “For as many of you as havebeen baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
A believer’s baptism or immersion into Christ, is
a call to share in public confession ofFaith and the impact of Christ Jesus in our livesas we live out the truth of the Gospel.
1 John 4 Verse 15 “Whosoever shall confess thatJesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him, andhe in God.”
“Baptism Declared ByThe God-head:”
God The Father ...
Matthew 3 Verse 17(b)“... This is My beloved Son,
in whom I AM well pleased.”
Signifying complete approval.
God The Son ... The Lamb:
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Buried in water at baptism and raised from thesame in obedience to the command of the Father.
Matthew 6 Verse 10(b)“... Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in Heaven.”
Jesus portrayed a prophetic, public andphysical description or enactment of future eventsconcerning the death, burial and resurrection ofHimself at His baptism by John the Baptist.
Matthew 3 Verse 15(b) “... for thus it becometh us tofulfil all righteousness.”
1 Peter 2 Verse 22 “Who did no sin, neither wasguile found in His mouth:”
John 1 Verse 29(b)“... Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world.”
1 Peter 1 Verse 9(b) “... as of a lamb withoutblemish and without spot:”
He, Jesus, put total trust in John the Baptiser,as a like-type of His own trust and confidentreliance in the Father God.
John 6 Verse 38“For I came down from Heaven, not to do Mine ownwill, but The Will of Him that sent Me.”
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What Jesus was declaring before men was thatdescribed in the saying,
John 2 Verses 19 & 21 “Jesus answered and saidunto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days Iwill raise it up.”
Verse 21 “But He spake of the temple of His body.”
Jesus showed that as He was buried in water,so too would He be buried after He had drunk of thebitter cup of suffering ... and His followingcrucifixion. Dead and then buried in a tomb, but thatHe would triumph over sin and death and arise inthe flesh by the power of His own
“Sinless Blood.”
The Blood shed for the remission of sins, theBlood of Atonement applied by Faith, that as Hetotally trusted him who was to immerse Him intoburial beneath the water and trust the strength andthe power of his arm to raise him up, so too did Hetrust His Heavenly Father to raise Him up on thethird day! (Wow!!) This was made possible by theGrace and Power of the Holy Spirit!
Romans 1 Verse 4 “And declared [to be] the Son ofGod with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness,by the resurrection from the dead:”
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“God The Holy Spirit ...The Spirit of Creativity.”
Psalm 51 Verse 10 “Create in me a clean heart, OGod; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Romans 8 Verse 10(b) “... but the Spirit [is] Lifebecause of Righteousness.”
The Spirit of new life, the endurement of powerfrom on high, the physical manifestation of The Gift
of God’s Faith, the Faithfulness of God ...
Personified in The Presence ofJesus Christ.
Colossians 3 Verse 10
“And have clothed yourselves withthe new (spiritual self), which is(ever in the process of being)renewed and remoulded into (fullerand more perfect knowledge upon)knowledge, after the image(likeness) of Him who Created it.”
(Amplified Bible.)
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The Holy Spirit, alighting ordescending on the Son like
“a Dove.”
Matthew 3 Verse 16 “And Jesus, when He wasbaptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,lo, the Heavens were opened unto Him, and Hesaw The Spirit of God descending like a dove, andlighting upon Him:”
“It is rather interesting to note,that according to Old Testamentstatutes, a pair of doves wasacceptable from the poor, for a sinoffering in relation to templesacrifice!”
Luke 2 Verse 24 “And to offer a sacrifice accordingto that which is said in the law of The Lord, A pair ofturtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Water baptism did not imply it would make
Jesus Holier ... “He was and is withoutsin!”
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He did not call us to be baptized in order to
make us more worthy! Faith in Him as Saviourhas accomplished ... fully, our right standingbefore God in that,
“The Blood of Jesus cleanses usfrom all unrighteousness.”
In that sense, going under the waters ofbaptism is an open confession, a public witness toall the world that we want to identify ourselves withChrist Jesus and live for Him. It is the answer of agood conscience toward God, such a step of publicwitness serves to really strengthen your Faith!
1 Peter 3 Verse 21 “The like figure whereunto[even] baptism doth also now save us (not theputting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answerof a good conscience toward God,) by TheResurrection of Jesus Christ:”
Isaiah 61 Verse 10(b)
“... for He hath clothed me with thegarments of salvation, He hathcovered me with the robe ofRighteousness ...”
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Three Truths to be grasped through“Water Baptism.”
1) Discernment,
The Heavens were opened to Him, the invisiblerealm of spiritual reality became more vivid(to impart spiritual insight for the purpose ofenabling ministry to others).
Isaiah 61 Verse 1 “The Spirit of The Lord GOD [is]upon me; because The LORD hath Anointed me topreach good tidings unto the meek;He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, toproclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening ofthe prison to [them that are] bound;”
2)Dynamic,
Matthew 3 Verse 16
“... The Spirit of God descending like a dove,and lighting upon Him:”
The gentle yet powerful Presence of God
settled on Jesus, the mantle of “enablingLove,” giving an enlarged and dynamic capacity
to Love, for the purpose of servingothers.
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He had been begotten of theSpirit at birth, now He was anointedfor functional ministry!
3) Designation,
Matthew 3 Verse 17 “And lo ... a voice fromHeaven, saying, This is My belovedSon, in whom I AM well pleased.”
Indicative of the Father’spleasure with His only begottenSon’s sinlessness.
The Father’s declaration of fullauthority to represent Him tomankind! The Father’s seal ofapproval. In the calling to follow Him in waterbaptism, The Lord Jesus Christ is inviting us toshare the full dimension of His Own release andcommission through His own experience there.
“My beloved in whomI AM well pleased!”
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The outward act of baptism does not in itself,produce the inward spiritual condition of renewal.
Rather, it is the seal and assurancethat this inward condition has beenproduced already, by Faith andthereby appropriated, in the heart ofthe believer.
“Release and Liberty.”
For most, water baptism comes as a mostnatural, progressive step in Faith. It becomes theexpression of sincere and whole-hearteddiscipleship! Jesus was not baptised until He hadcome to what we might call His age of
“understanding,” so that He knew at that
time both “what He was doing and thereason why He was doing it.”
The true Christian believer has not merely
confessed and repented of his sins ... byFaith in Christ’s At-One-Ment! Hehas been justified by Faith, and he hasreceived Christ’s own Righteousness imputed tohim by Faith.
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Thereafter, Christian baptism is an outwardseal, an outward act of obedience, by which such abeliever fulfils or completes, the inwardRighteousness which he already enjoys in his heartthrough his Faith in Christ.
Before being baptised, new converts need toreceive sufficient teaching to enable them tounderstand for themselves, the nature and thepurpose of the ordinance to which they are requiredto submit themselves.
After being baptised, they need to continueto receive further, more thorough and moreextensive teaching in order that they may becomestrong, intelligent, responsible members of theFaith. Thus we see that according to Christ’s
commandment, teaching must both precede,and follow baptism.
Philip said to the Ethiopian Eunuch in,
Acts 8 Verse 37 “If thou believest with all thineheart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, Ibelieve that Jesus Christ is The Son of God.”
Peter commanded Cornelius and his householdto be baptised on the same day he preached theGospel and The Holy Ghost fell on them …
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Acts 10 Verses 44 & 46-47 “While Peter yet spakethese words, The Holy Ghost fell on all them whichheard The Word.”
Verses 46-47 “For they heard them speak withtongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,”(47) “Can any man forbid water, that these shouldnot be baptized, which have received The HolyGhost as well as we?”
Paul himself relates that Ananias said …
Acts 22 Verses 12-16 “And one Ananias, a devoutman according to the law, having a good report ofall the Jews which dwelt [there],” (13) “Came untome, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul,receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked upupon him.” (14) “And he said, The God of ourfathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest knowHis Will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hearThe Voice of His Mouth.” (15) “For thou shalt be Hiswitness unto all men of what thou hast seen andheard.” (16) “And now why tarriest thou? arise, andbe baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on TheName of The Lord.”
So you can see, that in all cases, somemeasure of instruction was given first.
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Baptism can follow,
1) “The same day.”2) “When they believed.”3) “The very same hour.”
Acts 8 Verse 36(b)“... See, [here is] water; what doth hinder
me to be baptized?”
Romans 8 Verse 10 “And if Christ [be] in you, thebody [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] lifebecause of righteousness.”
God’s Spirit alone can give the baptizedbeliever the power that he needs for this new life ofRighteousness. The endurement of power forservice can (sometimes) take place before waterbaptism. The Holy Spirit is the agent to baptise intoChrist and into His Body, the household of God.
Cornelius and his householdwere converted and received thebaptism of The Holy Ghost beforethey were water baptised …
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Acts 10 Verses 44-48 “While Peter yet spake thesewords, The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heardThe Word.” (45) “And they of the circumcision whichbelieved were astonished, as many as came withPeter, because that on the Gentiles also waspoured out The Gift of The Holy Ghost.”(46) “For they heard them speak with tongues, andmagnify God. Then answered Peter,”(47) “Can any man forbid water, that these shouldnot be baptized, which have received The HolyGhost as well as we?” (48) “And he commandedthem to be baptized in The Name of The Lord.”
Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon and Johnthe Baptist were all filled with The Holy Ghostwithout being water baptised. The reason being, isbecause The Gift of the Holy Spirit was not given in
fulness until Jesus was Glorified.
Acts 1 Verse 8(a)“But ye shall receive power,after that The Holy Ghost is come upon you ... ”
Jesus was the only one to move in the fulnessof The Holy Spirit ...
Luke 2 Verse 23 “(As it is written in the law of theLord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be
called Holy to The Lord;)”
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Luke 2 Verse 40 “And the child (Jesus) grew, and
waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and theGrace of God was upon Him.”
Isaiah 42 Verse 1 “Behold my servant, whom Iuphold; Mine Elect, [in whom] My Soul delighteth; Ihave put My Spirit upon Him:”
He brings “Cleansing.”
“Washed in His Blood,Redeemed by His Grace,
He bought Healing andWholeness to me!”
Hebrews 9 Verse 14 “How much more shall TheBlood of Christ, who through The Eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge yourconscience from dead works to serve The LivingGod?”
The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 3 Verse 21 states,the ordinance of Christian baptism in water iscompared to the experience of Noah and his family,who were saved from the wrath and judgement ofGod as they entered by Faith into the ark, and thenonce within the ark, passed safely through thewaters of the flood.
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In direct reference to this experience Petersays,
1 Peter 3 Verse 21 “The like figure whereunto[even] baptism doth also now save us (not theputting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answerof a good conscience toward God,) by theresurrection of Jesus Christ:”
An old song which adds credence to this,
“Jesus is God’s ark todayand in Him you must be,His side was opened widefor you and me,at Calvary!”
By Faith, Moses led the whole tribe of thehouse of Israel through the waters of the Red Sea,symbolic of the Blood.
They passed to the other side,signifying death to the old life andbirth into the new.
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When the waters came together,they destroyed the forces ofbondage.
Thereby ushering in acompletely God orientated releaseof new life.
To summarise, you receive JesusChrist into your heart by Faith as Lordand Saviour. After instruction towardthe meaning, you decide too and youare baptised by immersion as a publictestimony.
By the Touch of The Holy Spirit,you are now an active part of Christ’sBody, The Church.
You are now in the position of alltrue believers, to receive Christ’spromise of “ … power from on high.”“By The Lord Jesus Christ, in ThePerson of The Holy Spirit.”
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2 Timothy 2 Verse 21 “If a man therefore purgehimself from these, he shall be a vessel untohonour, sanctified, and meet for The Master’s use,[and] prepared unto every good work.”
Matthew 28 Verse 19 “Go ye therefore, and teachall nations, baptizing them in The Name of TheFather, and of The Son, and of The Holy Ghost:”
To be obedient to your heart, will bringtremendous Blessing and will be a further stepping
stone to even greater experiences in your lifewith The Lord.
“A simple Prayer of Baptism ... ”
“By reason of your Faith in JesusChrist, The Son of God, be baptisedin The Name of The Father, and ofThe Son, and of The Holy Spirit ...
A-men.”
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“Baptism ... the waters.”
Revisionary Questions.
Question 1.What are the two ordinances of the New
Testament given by The Lord Jesus Christ for Hisdisciples, and The Church?
Answer.
a) “Water Baptism” and
b) “Communion” (The Lord’s Table.)
Question 2.
As Christians, who have we “put on?”
Answer.Galatians 3 Verse 27,
“For as many of you as have been baptized
into Christ ... have put on Christ.”
Question 3.
What does the word, “to Baptise” mean?
Answer.
“To immerse completely, plungeunder and submerge.”
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Question 4.What are the two conditions for us
receiving Baptism?
Answer.
i) “Believing on ... The Lord Jesus Christ.”
ii) “Repentance ... from sin.”
Question 5.What seven things are significant through
Water Baptism?
Answer.
i) It indicates “whose you are!”
ii) By whom “you are born again.”
iii) By whom “your sins are forgiven!”
iv) By “declaring His Lordship.”
v) By “The Lord being our protection in committedrelationship.”
vi) By we “testifying before men of Hisownership.”
vii) The indication of our transition from death to
“Life Eternal.”
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Question 6.
What does “the manner,” “themodel” and “the meaning” of Baptismsymbolise?
Answer.
... death
... burial
... resurrection.
Question 7.A believers Baptism or immersion into Christ, is
a call to what?
Answer.Share in public confession of Faith and the
impact of Christ Jesus in our lives as we live out thetruth of the Gospel.
Question 8.What are the three truths grasped through
Water Baptism?
Answer.
i) Discernment(the Heavens were opened to Jesus.)
ii) Dynamic(The Holy Spirit descended in the form ofa dove and settled on Jesus.)
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iii) DesignationThe Father spoke from Heaven saying“This is My beloved Son, in whom I AM wellPleased.”
Question 9.
In 1 Peter 3 Verses 20-21, the ordinance ofChristian baptism in water is compared to whatother experience in the Bible.
Answer.Noah and his family in the ark.
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“Christ … the first fruits.”
It is my personal opinion, that you can notreally give credence to a study on the subject of
“Water Baptism,” without the acclaimafforded the massive victory that The Lord JesusChrist Himself has gained by the example of HisOwn death, burial and triumphant Resurrection.
Romans 6 Verses 4-5 “Therefore we are buried withhim by baptism into death: that like as Christ wasraised 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 thelikeness of his death, we shall be also [in thelikeness] of [His] Resurrection:”
Jesus portrayed a prophetic, public andphysical description or enactment of future eventsconcerning the death, burial and resurrection ofHimself at His baptism by John the Baptist.
Jesus showed that as He was buried in water,so too would He be buried after He had drunk of thebitter cup of suffering and crucifixion. Dead andthen buried in a tomb. He would triumph over sinand death and arise in the flesh by the power of HisOwn
“Sinless Blood.”
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The Blood shed for theremission of sins, the Blood ofAtonement applied by Faith, that asHe totally trusted him who was toimmerse Him into burial beneaththe water and trust the strength andthe power of his arm to raise himup.
So too did He trust His HeavenlyFather to raise Him up on the thirdday! (Wow!!) This was madepossible by the Grace and Power ofThe Holy Spirit!
Romans 1 Verse 4 “And declared [to be] The Son ofGod with power, according to The Spirit of Holiness,by the resurrection from the dead:”
Romans 8 Verse 11 “But if the Spirit of Him thatraised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He thatraised up Christ from the dead shall also quickenyour mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth inyou.”
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God’s Spirit alone can give the baptizedbeliever the power that he needs for this new life ofRighteousness. The endurement of power forservice can (sometimes) take place before waterbaptism. The Holy Spirit is the agent to baptise intoChrist and into His Body, The Church, thehousehold of God.
Hebrews 10 Verses 19-23 “Having therefore,brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by TheBlood of Jesus,” (20) “By a new and living way,which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,that is to say, His flesh;” (21) “And [having] an highpriest over the house of God;” (22) “Let us drawnear with a true heart in full assurance of Faith,having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,and our bodies washed with pure water.”(23) “Let us hold fast the profession of [our] Faithwithout wavering; (for He [is] faithful thatpromised;)”
By Faith, Moses led the whole tribe of thehouse of Israel through the waters of the Red Sea,symbolic of the Blood.
They passed to the other side, signifying deathto the old life and birth into the new. When thewaters came together, they destroyed the forces ofbondage - ushering in a completely God orientatedrelease of new life.
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1To quote Francis Fangipane,
“What lies ahead for theChristian at death, is no more thana mere barrier. What dies, is thebody of flesh, (the husk of our oldnature.”) … death to the “nature ofself and self-seeking, BUT FIRST,THIS is a daily choice.”
“We have a decision to makedaily and that is, to choose to buildand strengthen this new nature thatlies within:” (end quote.)
This is what Paul had to say,
1 Corinthians 15 Verses 31 & 33-34“I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ
Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
Verses 33-34 Be not deceived: evil communicationscorrupt good manners.
1 Frangipane Francis, “The Place of Immunity.”Arrow Publications. P.O. Box 10102
Cedar Rapids. I.A. U.S.A.
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(34) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for somehave not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] toyour shame.”
“ … I die daily,”
2John 11 Verses 25-27 “Jesus said untoher, I AM The Resurrection, andThe Life: he that believeth in Me,though he were dead, yet shall helive:”(26) “And whosoever liveth andbelieveth in Me shall never die.Believest thou this?”(27) “She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: Ibelieve that Thou art The Christ,The Son of God, which shouldcome into the world.”
2 Dalton, Robert.B & Nicola.J “Abraham’s Seed.”Menorah Publications. (edit. 2007.)
http://www.menorahpublications.weebly.com/
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Jesus here in John Chapter 11 makes morethan a sweeping declaration to Martha. Headdresses her in the first person and says,
Verse 26 “ … whosoever liveth andbelieveth in Me shall never die.Believest thou this?”
Christ, is The Head of TheChurch, The First to rise from thedead. So as assuredly as The Headcannot be kept prisoner by thegrave The Promise is toward all themembers of His corporate Bodyfrom the least, to the greatest, allshall rise in Christ!
Verse 25(b)
“ … he that believeth in Me,though he were dead,yet shall he live:”
The phrase,
“ … though he were dead, … ”
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This is a verb, in action, it relates to somethingthat has taken place; (past tense) or (it will happen,)in the very foreseeable future:
Even though the curtain is passed through, itwill not bar access to what lies beyond it’s door!From the very moment one believes in Christ andpartakes of The Nature that resides within, hispassage through death, will be unhindered.
His body may lay in the ground, but for acertainty, his passage is immediate into Life Eternaland Fellowship with both our Head, and TheInnumerable company that lie beyond this veil:
To which Martha yielded her heart-warming cry,
Verse 27 “ … Yea, Lord: I believe thatthou art The Christ, The Son ofGod, which should come into the world.”
Martha‘s heart, had learned the ChristianAlphabet,
i) “Thou art The Christ … ”
ii) “ … The Son of God … ”iii) “ … come into the world,”
(The promised Redeemer,Divinity veiled in humanity.)
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1 Corinthians 15 Verses 12-23 “Now if Christ bepreached that He rose from the dead, how saysome among you that there is no resurrection of thedead?” (13) “But if there be no resurrection of thedead, then is Christ not risen:” (14) “And if Christ benot risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and yourFaith [is] also vain.” (15) “Yea, and we are foundfalse witnesses of God; because we have testifiedof God that He raised up Christ: whom He raisednot up, if so be that the dead rise not.”(16) “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christraised:” (17) “And if Christ be not raised, your Faith[is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (18) “Then theyalso which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”(19) “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, weare of all men most miserable.”
(20) “But now is Christ risen from thedead, [and] become the firstfruits ofthem that slept.” (21) “For since by man[came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection
of the dead.” (22) “For as in Adam all die,even so in Christ shall all be madealive.” (23) “But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits; afterward theythat are Christ’s at His coming.”
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Here Paul, refers to Christ Jesus, as …
“The First Fruits.” He is using theanalogy of a grain of wheat.
Now, seed reveals a basic fact, and that is, thatseed will always produce after it’s own kind. Youplant a lettuce, you got a lettuce, likewise cabbage,beans, corn or wheat, all produce, after their ownkind:
John 12 Verse 24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you,Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth muchfruit.”
1 Corinthians 15 Verse 37 “And that which thousowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, butbare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of someother [grain]:”
Paul compares TheResurrection of Christ to thesprouting of a tender young shoot.After the shoot, the bud and afterthe bud, then the fruit.
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1 Corinthians 15 Verses 42-58 “So also [is] theresurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; itis raised in incorruption:” (43) “It is sown indishonour; it is raised in Glory: it is sown inweakness; it is raised in Power:” (44) “It is sown anatural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is anatural body, and there is a spiritual body.”(45) “And so it is written, The first man Adam wasmade a living soul; the last Adam [was made] aquickening spirit.”(46) “Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual,but that which is natural; and afterward that which isspiritual.” (47) “The first man [is] of the earth, earthy:the second man [is] the Lord from Heaven.”(48) “As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that areearthy: and as [is] the Heavenly, such [are] theyalso that are Heavenly.” (49) “And as we haveborne the image of the earthy, we shall also bearthe image of the Heavenly.”(50) “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and bloodcannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither dothcorruption inherit incorruption.”(51) “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not allsleep, but we shall all be changed,”(52) “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at thelast trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and thedead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall bechanged.” (53) “For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal [must] put onimmortality.”
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(54) “So when this corruptible shall have put onincorruption, and this mortal shall have put onimmortality, then shall be brought to pass the sayingthat is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”(55) “O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where[is] thy victory?” (56) “The sting of death [is] sin; andthe strength of sin [is] the law.”(57) “But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us thevictory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (58)“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast,unmoveable, always abounding in the work of TheLord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is notin vain in The Lord.”
To those that grow produce, the appearance ofthe tender shoots at the appointed season heraldedthe arrival of the crop for harvest.
In Old Testament times, “The FirstFruits” of the harvest, were bought before The
Lord as a “Wave Offering” giving assurancethat the crop to follow would be both bountiful, andgathered in safety under The Hand of God‘sprotection.
Isaiah 61 Verse 11 “For as the earth bringeth forthher bud, and as the garden causeth the things thatare sown in it to spring forth; so The Lord GOD willcause Righteousness and Praise to spring forthbefore all the nations.”
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The sheaf of the first fruits, was the first
“complete or whole fruit of theharvest to rise up out of the seedthat was sown in the earth:”
If Jesus for some reason had stopped short ofHis passage through death on the cross. Therewould be no corresponding fruit of God’s reconcilingman to Himself by and through The Person of HisOnly Begotten Son.
Jesus, was buried alone, butwhen He conquered death, hell andthe grave. He did not rise alone.
Many followed Him, though asingle grain was planted at death,the stalk which rose up, never borejust one single grain of wheat but awhole … “ripened husk ”
Not just thirty fold, sixty fold, but a full hundredfold harvest! No longer a single grain, but a sheaf of
first fruits, the true meaning of …
“The Hundredfold!”
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The Body of Christ, was sown to the earth inmany tears, but God’s Word states,
Psalm 126 Verses 5-6
“They that sow in tears shallreap in joy.” (6) “He that goeth forthand weepeth, bearing preciousseed, shall doubtless come againwith rejoicing, bringing his sheaves[with him].”
In Luke Chapter 8 Verses 1-15, Jesus unfolds
“The Parable of The Sower.” “TheSeed,” is “The Word of God” and “TheField,” is “The World” in which we reside.
Within each man there is in own his heart ofhearts, it’s very own garden, the place which gainsthe attention of the parable. To the crowd thatlistened, Jesus gave the same opportunity He givesto us to test our own hearing of His Word!
“Take heed thereforehow ye hear … !”
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In other words, relationship with The Person ofThe Lord our God, is more than just some religioushead trip.
It’s an affair of the heart that produces something deep within and that is revealed openly in bothyour lifestyle and your relationship toward thosearound you.
“You show by your actions,who’s you are!!!”
The idea of this parable in itself, cuts rightacross the notion that parables need some vagueinterpretation, that reveal some sort of hiddenmeaning. Jesus, in telling this parable of
“The Seed” reveals openly the types of hearts
that will “receive and act” upon His Word:
i) “Wayside Hearts,” are hard heartstrampled with no chance of growth.
ii) “Rocky Hearts,” have no available soil;they have no depth of earth to grow in.
iii) “Thorny Hearts,” are all choked out and ifyou come near them, you are bound to eitherbecome entangled, scratched or choked out:
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I sometimes wonder, was this also part ofAbraham’s own observations even in the era inwhich he lived?
I feel sure that it must have been, becausethese observations are part of every society inwhich we live. From the most simple, to thecomplicated; so live the hearts of men! Those thatsow God’s Precious Seed know full well thatnothing is ever wasted in the economy of God.
He, is the only one who can “turn the evilfor the good.” “Fallow ground” can
indeed be ploughed up. “The Rocky,” can be
broken and pulverised and “The Thorny” canbe slashed, burned and uprooted:
Nothing, and no one, should ever be
considered as “hopeless.”
As long as there is breath, there is “Hope.”Therefore, on the basis of this, all we rejoice withPaul who knew,
1 Corinthians 13 Verses 11-13 “When I was a child,I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thoughtas a child: but when I became a man, I put awaychildish things.”
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(12) “For now we see through a glass, darkly; butthen face to face: now I know in part; but then shall Iknow even as also I am known.” (13) “And now
abideth Faith, Hope, Love, thesethree; but the greatest of these [is]Love.”
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Bibliography of Reference Material.
Dalton, Robert.B & Nicola.J “Abraham’s Seed.”Menorah Publications. (edit. 2007.)
Dake, Finis. Jennings. “Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible”Dake Bible sales. P.O.Box 1050.Lawrenceville, Georgia. 30246. U.S.A.( 11th edit. 1993.)
Frangipane, Francis. “The Place of Immunity.”Arrow Publications. P.O. Box 10102Cedar Rapids. I.A. U.S.A.
Henry, Matthew. “Commentary On The Whole Bible.”Hendrickson publications.
(1991 edit.)
Hughes, Ernie. “Water Baptism”(1985 a private paper)
Prince, Derek. “Foundation Series” Vol. 1-3.
Solid Foundations “Studies For Christian Growth”
Strong, James. “Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible.”Hendrickson publications. (1995 edit.)
Thompson, Frank Charles. “Thompson Chain Reference Bible.”B.B.Kirkbridge Bible Company,Inc.
(K.J.V. 1964 edit.)
Vine, W.E. “Vine’s Expository Dictionaryof Old and New Testament Words”
Thomas Nelson, inc., Publishers.(1985 edit.)
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TM
Menorah PublicationsCatalogue 2014.
Series, “Discovering Discipleship … ”
Hebrews 6 Verses 1-2
No.1 - “Let us go on …”No.2 - The “how to,” called …
Repentance:No.3 - The “can do,” Faith from God:No.4 - “Baptism … the waters.”
No.5 - “The Laying on of Hands:”No.6 - “Resurrection of the dead.”
No.7 - “The Eternal Godhead:”
“ ... Going on to perfection ... !”
The first of a three part series of Bible Studies,these lay the foundation teachings of our Faithbased on Hebrews 6 Verses 1-2. Good for youngdisciples, each lesson is prepared so it can be usedas private, group or classroom study material.
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Series, “Growing Discipleship …”
“The Be- Attitudes, Love‘s Divine Attitudes”Matthew 5 Verses 3-11
1.“Blessed” … “are the poor in spirit.”2.“Blessed” … “are they that mourn.”3.“Blessed” … “are the meek.”4.“Blessed” … “are they which do hunger.”5.“Blessed” … “are the merciful.”6.“Blessed” … “are the pure in heart.”7.“Blessed” … “are the peacemakers. ”8.“Blessed,” “are they which are persecuted.”
If you “be in Christ,” then it stands toreason, that whatever curved balls are thrown
to you in this life, you will “Be-in-Christ’s-Attitude,” and not react in an inappropriatemanner. As hard as that may be!
“Blessed are …” relates to the presenttense, to the here and now, not only to the future.But from here, to there and beyond!
This second of a three part series of Biblestudies, are designed to help understand thedevelopment of our Christian Character in our dayto day walk.
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Series, “Overcomers…Discipleship.”
That ye might be ... “partakers.”2 Peter 1 Verses 1-11
1.) “And beside this, giving all diligence ...”
2.) “... add to your Faith virtue ...”
3.) “… and to virtue knowledge;”
4.) “And to knowledge temperance; …”
5.) “ … and to temperance patience; …”
6.) “ … and to patience godliness;”
7.) “And to godliness brotherly kindness; …”
8.) “ … and to brotherly kindness charity(or LOVE.)”
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Our third in the Discipleship series, is
“Discipleship that Overcomes,”
And is titled,
That ye might be ... “partakers.”
These lessons come from the second letter ofPeter and work well alongside the previous series
entitled, “The Beatitudes” which cover thedevelopment of our Christian Character.
If a man has come to the place of little or nogrowth, then surely, he has remained as a babe. Ifhe has not given himself over to be dealt with byThe Spirit of Grace, then he is marked by the arm ofthe flesh.
He is still a Christian, but a carnal Christian, ababe in Christ. But if he completely surrenders hiswill to The Holy Spirit, he will rapidly and willinglychoose to put down the deeds of the flesh andbecome what God’s Word calls a
“ Spiritual man.”
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Copy-right ... personal observations.
To those Brethren, that have laboured long andhard in The Word of our God ... I take time to Bless them publicallyfor their endeavours to pass on that Holy Ghost inspired Wordthroughout His Church ...
Hebrews 6 Verse 10 “For God [is] not unrighteous to forget yourwork and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His Name,in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Therefore, edify The Body of Christ, encourage and exhort;but remember, if you are tempted to call the work of another yourown, you are the one that will in the end be held responsible foryour actions. “The Spirit of Grace,” gave the work to the hand of“the scribe,” who faithfully put pen to paper. Plagiarism, is not onlyillegal, it is immoral; above all, we must ...
Romans 12 Verse 10“[Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
love; in honour preferring one another;”
So I exhort you in The Name of our Lord and Saviour, to feelquite free to use the material with which The Lord has so blessedus and those before us, bearing in mind that the pre-eminencebelongs to
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself ...
Your brother in His service,Robert .B. Dalton.
Matthew 10 Verse 8(b) “ ... freely ye have received, freely give.”
http://menorahpublicationsweeblycom.weebly.com/
e mail [email protected]
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“The stronger the foundation,the brighter the future!”
1 Corinthians 3 Verse 11“For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, …which is Jesus Christ.”
Let us join together to,
“Church the Un-Churched,Teach the Un-Taught,”and most of all,
“Reach the Un-Reached ...for Jesus!”
“Go Ye ... !”“Speak Ye ... !”
“Do Ye ... !”
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About the author.
Born and raised in inner Sydney, N.S.W. Australia, Robertwas a child when the likes of Arthur Stace, Alan Walker and TedNoffs ministered to Sydney in the nineteen fifties.
The Lord spoke to Robert at the age of seven, outside of theold Cleveland Street Congregational Church. For many years, hecontinued to live for himself. That is, until The Lord again spoke tohim in The Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. He received JesusChrist into his life as Lord and Saviour in February, 1980. BeingWater Baptised in April, Born Again and Filled with The Holy Spiritin May of the same year.
Bob and Nikki married, in October of 1987 and have anawesome family of five plus four of Bob’s older children withaltogether and to date nineteen Grandchildren.
Bob has compiled and published materials helpful for growthand development in Christ Jesus. Sadly, but with great joy, Nikkipassed into Glory to be with our Lord. 21st July, 2014.
Over the years, Bob has ministered as a Pastor/ Teacher andfunctioned as itinerant Preacher with a strong call to Missions.
His desire, is to see more folk, coming out of themselves,and going deeper into personal relationship with our Lord andSaviour, The Lord Jesus Christ.
