The Importance of Receiving Proper Baptism
The Teachings of the Lord Jesus:
♦ Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand; repent and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15)
♦ He also said, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
The Apostles' Teachings:
♦ Peter declared, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
Baptism is essential for the forgiveness of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 10:45) And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
(Acts 10:46) For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
(Acts 10:47) "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
(Acts 19:2) And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
(Acts 19:3) And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism."
(Acts 19:4) And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."
(Acts 19:5) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
(Acts 19:6) And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
(Acts 8:15) who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
(Acts 8:16) for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
(Acts 8:17) Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Complete Path to Salvation:
♦ Repentance, faith and confession are the starting points:
"For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
However, salvation does not stop here; faith must be accompanied by action - receiving proper baptism.
Baptism and Union with Christ:
♦ Baptism is union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection:
♦ "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3)
♦ "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." (Romans 6:4)
♦ The act of baptism should reflect the likeness of His death, just as Jesus bowed His head and gave up His spirit to the Father.
(John 19:30)
'For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ' (Romans 6:5) (KJV)
♦ 'And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. '
(Acts 8:38) (ESV)
The Spiritual Significance and Testimony of Baptism:
♦ Baptism involves water, blood, and the Holy Spirit as witnesses:
♦ "This is He who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood." (1 John 5:6)
♦ "There are three that bear witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one." (1 John 5:8)
♦ The blood of Christ is the foundation of our salvation:
♦ "You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:19)
♦ "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)
Conclusion
Receiving proper baptism is a crucial step toward salvation. Through the precious blood of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, baptism cleanses our sins, unites us with Christ, and allows us to walk in newness of life. It is not enough to merely believe in the heart and confess with the mouth; we must also follow the biblical command to receive baptism according to the teachings of the Lord and the apostles.
Baptism is where water and blood come together, under the eternal Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the witness who enables this union, which transcends space and time. Thus, when a sinner is baptized in water, he is actually baptized in the blood of Christ!
HalleluJah! Praise the LORD!
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