Subject: Explanations of difficult verses |
Bible Note: Baptizo 1)to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) 2)to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe 3)to overwhelm Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995. It matters not which way a person faces as long as they are totally immersed. John 3:22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized-- 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison. As the passages reveal in John 3:23, the water should be sufficient enough to immerse. Pouring or sprinkling will not do. Romans 6:3,4 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. When Christ died he was buried in a tomb. As many of us who have been baptized into Christ are baptized into his death. When a person dies are they not covered completely? In Jesus' case he was covered completely by rock. The Romans even sealed it! Today, are we not completely buried in dirt or a tomb of some sort? When a person is baptized, they are buried in water, as the bible commands and shows overwhelming evidence of. Baptism is a crucial part of salvation. Not after salvation but unto salvation. For until one is baptized they do not come into contact with Christ's death! They are not saved...according to the bible. The thief on the cross was blessed with forgiveness by Jesus before Jesus died. There was no need for him to be baptized. It matters not what kind of water is used as long as "there is much water there". Who is allowed to baptize? The bible is not explicit on this but it does show enough example of someone else baptizing the one being baptized. John the baptist, Jesus' disciples, and others. 1 Corinthians 1:12 gives us some idea, "Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. From this I would say Paul, Apollos, and Cephas(Peter) baptized. Christ didn't baptize because the bible tells us he didn't in John 4:2. Acts 8 tells us of Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch. There are others but I would say, based on what we find in the bible, that anyone could baptize as long as they are in Christ. You say you can find no answers for these questions? I found answers to all of them in less than ten minutes using the search function of this web page and some bible software I have. |