PATTERN OF THE PROPHESIED BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT
The disciples had an initial work of cleansing from John's baptism of repentance. There was also an ongoing work of cleansing as the 'water of the word' washed over their lives during the time of their being with Y'shua, and they became, 'clean through the word I have spoken to you' as Y'shua said. (John 13:10 & 15:3 see also Ephesians 5:26)
Being fully prepared by Y'shua's ministry to them, they became the first recipients of the 'baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire' of which John spoke. (Luke 3:16) According to Y'shua's instructions they waited until the day of Pentecost had fully come which was actually 10 days from the time He ascended into heaven until the Spirit actually fell upon them and 50 days in all from the time He rose from the grave. Acts 2:1-4
Yahweh had originally established the pattern when He brought the nation out of the land of Egypt and effected their deliverance by means of the Passover lamb. Then, at Mt. Sinai fifty days later, He established His covenant agreement with them amidst many signs and wonders and supernatural manifestations of His Presence while He tabernacled on the mountain.
In Acts 2 He came to tabernacle in them and the demonstrations of His power were through them in supernatural manifestations of divinely inspired utterances, which came forth from them with flames of fire being seen over them. It was a parallel to the Sinai experience for the establishment of a new covenant. (Acts 2: 3,4)
At Sinai, He gave them His written law on tablets of stone, here at this time He engraved His law on the fleshly tablets of their hearts. What was impossible in the old covenant, He effected in the new through His Son, the Lamb of God. (2 Cor. 3: 3)
At Sinai, 3,000 were slain as a result of their rebellion (Ex.32:28), now at this time 3,000 are saved. (Acts 2:41) Whereas then they withdrew in fear from the power of His Spirit, now they embrace it and become empowered to go forth as new-creation men, full of the Holy Spirit and power.
THE DIVINE COMMISSION
Upon being filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, the commission that the disciples went out with was - "Repent, and let every one of you be baptised for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call" Acts 2:38-9
THE PROCLAMATION - REPENT
- BE BAPTISED
- THE PROMISE -
- YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
All in one baptism. BY
- REPENTANCE
- REMISSION OF SINS
- RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
Y'SHUA'S COMMAND
"Go ye into all the world and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you;" (This command extended to the ends of the world) Matthew 28:19-20
Make disciples! - baptising them .. .. .. teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.
We are commanded to be baptised. It is not an optional extra. It is an essential part of our turning from our old course of life and a demonstration of a change of nature in our desire to obey and keep His commandments. Y'shua said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). We prove our love by obedience.
To refuse water baptism is to live in disobedience to His revealed will. It is one of the prime foundational ordinances and testimonies of the new-covenant man. Baptism is an integral part of the new covenant. Y'shua is the door and this could be called the doorway, as it is the entrance point into the new life.
It is also the validation of our desire to put to death our old way of life and follow the Lamb wherever He goes. And, He went through the waters of baptism as an example for all to follow. He was the first of the new order and authorised it for all who would come after. We demonstrate our faith in Him by the act of going through baptism. James 2:17-18
"He who believes and is baptised will be saved" Mark 16:16
NEW COVENANT PATTERN
In Jerusalem
The first record of Baptism is in the Book of Acts Ch.2 on the day of Pentecost. This was the birth of the new assembly in the power of the Spirit. The disciples preached the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION of our Lord, Y'shua the Messiah and conviction came upon those who were gathered there for the observance of the feast. 'What shall we do to be saved?'
the answer -- "Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Y'shua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" Acts 2:38
In Samaria
As a result of persecution, the disciples were scattered and Phillip went down to Samaria and preached to them. Signs and wonders followed the preaching of the Word, and "When they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Y'shua the Messiah, they were baptised, both men and women" Acts 8:12 Water Baptism followed them believing, and it was in the name of the Lord Y'shua/Jesus.
In the Gaza Desert
The Angel of the Lord directed Phillip to go from Samaria and to go toward the Gaza desert where a man from Ethiopia was travelling home to Ethiopia from Jerusalem. According to custom, the eunuch was reading the scriptures out aloud from Isaiah 53 of the Messiah, and Phillip going to him expounded the way of salvation. When they came to water, he asked Phillip, "What hinders me from being baptised?" Acts 8:36
Upon his confession of faith - ("If you believe with all your heart, you may") "I believe that Y'shua the Messiah is the Son of God" Acts 8:37 He was baptised! - Baptism followed his confession of faith.
In Damascus
In Acts 9 Saul was converted on the road to Damascus. He recognised that he was being given a divine visitation and said, "Who art thou, Lord?", whereupon He replied, "I am Y'shua, whom you are persecuting: .. .. .."(Acts 9:5) "So he trembling and astonished, said 'Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:6) At this moment Saul was converted as he acknowledged Y'shua as 'Lord', for no man can say that Y'shua is Lord but by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
Blinded by the Shekinah glory of the risen and exalted Lord, he was led into Damascus and was ministered to by Ananias who was sent to him by specific instruction in a vision. Laying his hands on him he prayed for him to receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit, "and he arose and was baptised" Acts 9:18
Later (in Acts 22:16), Paul recalled the words of Ananias, "And now, why tarriest thou? arise and be baptised, and wash away thy sins, calling on the Name of the Lord" The emphasis is placed on obedience to the command of baptism immediately after his conversion, Saul is then baptised as a believer in the Name of the Lord Y'shua.
In Caesarea
The next account of baptism is found in Acts 10 of Peter's ministry to the household of Cornelius, again by the specific instruction in a vision to both parties. Y'shua had committed to Peter the keys of the kingdom in the building the Assembly (Matthew 16:16-18). He was used to open the door of faith to the Jews in Acts 2 and on this occasion to the 'Gentiles' (Acts 10:11). Once again the risen head of the Assembly of Yahweh, working by His Spirit, brings both together for His purposes. Peter following his instructions goes to Cornelius' house and as he preached to Word to them, the Holy Spirit falls on all who heard and they began to speak with other tongues, which was an undeniable evidence that they had received the Holy Spirit, as had the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 10:46)
Peter immediately responds with, "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" And Peter "commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord." (Acts 10:48)
Being baptised and receiving the Holy Spirit were an integral part of the same ordinance, the Holy Spirit was given at baptism. Having received the Spirit first, baptism completed the experience. By Peter's command, baptism was as essential for Gentiles as for Jews.
In Phillipi
As a result of Paul and Silas ministry in Phillipi causing a stir through the deliverance of a girl bound by divination, they were cast into prison. They prayed and sang praises to Yahweh and He sent an earthquake which shook the foundations of the prison, opened the doors of the cells and loosed the bands of the prisoners. The keeper of the prison would have been under a penalty of death had the prisoners escaped and so, he was about to kill himself when Paul and Silas assured him that they were there and had not escaped. Under conviction, the gaoler cried out, "What must I do to be saved?" to which they responded, "Believe in the Lord, Y'shua HaMashiach and you will be saved, and your house" Acts 16:30-31 And the result? They all believed and were "baptised immediately" Acts 16:33
In Corinth
When Paul ministered in Corinth it is recorded that "many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptised" (Acts 18:8). It is obvious from his letters to them that baptism was a focal issue in their salvation experience. See 1 Corinthians 1:13-15
In Ephesus
When Paul arrived there it was obvious that there was something lacking in their spiritual experience. They were only baptised "unto John's baptism" a baptism unto repentance, and therefore had not received the Holy Spirit.(Acts 19:1-4) When they heard that they should believe on Messiah, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Y'shua. - "and when Paul laid hands on them they received the Holy Spirit". (Acts 19:5-6)
The baptism of John was not a replacement for messianic/christian baptism. Being baptised for the repentance of sins and faith toward God could not be equated with entrance into the kingdom of Yahweh through remission of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit. They needed the right baptism.
Many believers today only have the equivalent of 'John's baptism' - unto repentance of sin. They have not understood the message of the spiritual kingdom of new-creation sons of Yahweh. They have only exercised faith in the salvation of Y'shua for their sins and deliverance from the wrath to come. So, as with the Ephesian believers, upon greater understanding of the truth, re-immersion may be required to become part of the Body of Y'shua and enter into the spiritual kingdom.
SALVATION AND BAPTISM
Coming to faith in the living God is sufficient for a person to receive eternal life. John 3:16; 5:24; 6:29
Baptism does not make you a new-creation man, but rather because you have repented you should desire to be baptised. It is those who do not believe who will be condemned, although a person who has come to faith should desire to live in obedience to all of Yahweh God's revealed will. Mark 16:16
However, sometimes circumstances prevent a person entering into baptism.
Faith to surrender your life to Y'shua the Messiah is necessary for baptism. You only bury dead people. You do not bury people to make them dead, but because they are already dead. Burial is the appropriate thing for a dead body.
If Y'shua gave His all to make eternal life available to us, then we should be willing to follow Him in the waters of baptism according to the example He set of submitting to the will of the Father and obeying His commandments.
"Now by this we know that we know Him, If we keep His commandments. " He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2: 3, 6