Bible Question:
Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Doesn't being baptized involve water? Dan |
Bible Answer: Of course there are other ways to look at this, for example; From Webster's Dictionary: Baptism - 1) a Christian sacrament marked by ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian community, 2) an act, experience, or ordeal by which one is purified, sanctified, initiated or named. NOTE: It seems the second definition above is referring to the pracitice of baptizing babies and is therefore not really germane to this topic as it is unBiblical. BUT I don't want to contradict Ray's statement about there being one baptism. Yes, indeed there is only baptism as described in the NT for christians in this day and age. What I want to add to the discussion is the fact that the picture of water baptism draws its power from the analogy of a watery grave as depicted in Rom 6. Its not the water itself, as stated so powerfully by Peter in 1 Pet 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. As with so many features about Christianity, acts or rituals described in the Bible have a tremendous amount of implications and power about them. That's why I think it's so important that we're baptized for the right reason, only because that's where the Bible puts all the emphasis. As Ray stated, there's only ONE single baptism per person. It seals the person's relationship with our Lord forever, IF he/she remains faithful as cited in Rev 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Let's not forget Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now in the first century, there was a second baptism, that of the Holy Spirit. It only happened twice, once to Apostles in Acts 2 and again to Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. With that baptism came special miraculous powers which has NOT been duplicated since the last person died having received such powers from the "laying on of the Apostles hands," as described throughout the book of Acts. But the one baptism that Paul was talking about was the one reserved for all time to be point of entry into God's Family, His Kingdom. Hope this helps and God bless. --Rowdy |