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NASB | 1 John 5:6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 5:6 This is He who came through water and blood [His baptism and death], Jesus Christ--not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. It is the [Holy] Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [He is the essence and origin of truth itself.] |
Subject: What does baptism consist? |
Bible Note: Greetings again Arrow1, If we do not have to be baptized in order to be saved, then just how important is baptism? The Christian "era" was introduced with the forerunner, John the Baptist, who baptized along the Jordan those who desired to prepare themselves for the coming of Christ. The first public act of Jesus as He began His ministry was to be baptized by John, as He said, "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15), and serving, in this and in all other aspects of His life, as the perfect Example for those who "follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). During His own public ministry, He also, through His disciples, continued the practice of baptizing His new disciples in water (John 3:22). In Matthew 28:18-20, we read the Great Commission, which consists of three parts: (1) "Make disciples of all nations", (2) "Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit", (3) "Teach them to observe all the things that I commanded you" (see also Mark 16:15,16). Therefore, baptism is an integral part of the Christian's Commission from His Lord, and is of highest importance. The early Christians always observed this order: immediately after a man or woman was truly converted to Christ, they were baptized and identified with the local church, where they would be instructed in the full scope of Christian faith and life. Baptism is not considered to be part of the gospel, by which people are saved (1 Cor. 15:1-4), as Paul made clear when he said: "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Cor. 1:17), but it is an essential part of the Great Commission. Therefore, baptism was immediately followed by conversion in the early church (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 8:36; 9:18; 10:47; 16:14,15; 16:30-33; 18:8, etc..) The occurrence of baptism immediately after conversion simply means that as soon as a person trusted in Christ, they would publicly identify themselves with the Lord and with His church in his own community, by following the Lord in baptism. The importance of baptism can be summed up in this verse: "For we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4, KJV). Blessings to you, Makarios |