“Nature of the Church VI”

• It Belongs to God
• Purchased With Blood
• Displays the Wisdom of God
• Is the Elect
• Are Glorious
• Clothed in Righteousness
• Forgiving

TODAY

VIII. Believers are Baptized

A) Understanding the word “baptize/baptism”

• Many people do not understand the term “baptism” in the Bible.
• We have taught this many times in our church over the years but some still do not comprehend it completely and so I wish to clear up any confusion or misunderstanding concerning the word “baptism/baptism” in the Bible.
• THE WORLD’S DEFINITION;

–  Webster defines the word “baptize” as 1. To dip in water, or to sprinkle water on, as part of a ceremony of receiving a person into the Christian church.  2. To cleanse or purify, as by baptism.

–  Webster defines the word “baptism” as 1. The act of baptizing.  2. Any act or experience which purifies a person or starts him on a new way of life.

• GOD’S DEFINITION;
  • Matthew 3:1…In those days came John the Baptist (man who baptized people in water), preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • What was John doing? PREACHING! Causing people to be warned of God to what? REPENT! And what else was he preaching? Matthew 3:3… For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  WHY? Because these Jews and Gentiles were walking in the way of the Pharisees and scribes and not the way of the Lord (The Messiah, Jesus). They had crooked paths (bad habits) and John was to make their paths (habits) straight.
  • Matthew 3:3 brings up the prophecy “For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias (Greek spelling of Isaiah),”
  • Isaiah 40:3…The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

• Note the term “make straight in the desert.” It means to fill up the empty minds of God’s people with the truth about God’s Kingdom. A hi-way in a desert is a clear path through an empty, dry, desolate land. Jesus Christ is a clear path through a heart that is empty of salvation, dry of blessings, and desolate of joy, peace and the knowledge of God.
  • The problem was that the Pharisees and Scribes had placed so many roadblocks (burdens) in the lives of the people that they had become bitter and wanting of a savior, the messiah that would release them of their burdens of the Pharisees, the burdens of Rome.
  • Jesus came to release them and us of burdens placed upon us by leaders who are hungry for power and recognition.

B) Jesus was Baptized

• We also need to note Matthew 3:13…Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14) But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (John recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour of the world, the Prince of peace)
  • John showed the heart of true “baptism” in God’s plan of Salvation by elevating Christ above himself. We are to edify one another. Not think of ourselves better than others.
  • Verse 15…And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer (allow) it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered (allowed) him. In other words, Jesus was saying here… “Let’s do what God has planned and fulfill the prophecy of the Old Testament prophets of God.”
  • Verse 16…And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
  • Now I ask you folks today… How many of you upon the time of your baptism had the heavens open up and you saw the Spirit of God come down and land on you softly like a dove?
  • And then did you have this happen… verse 17…And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  • The voice of God was at Christ’s baptism because God wanted His Son Jesus to be recognized as the Messiah of whom God’s prophets prophesied of.
  • I’ve said all this to say one more thing…The word “baptize” does mean to be submersed in water. But that isn’t all. It has more meaning…

C) Baptism of the body

• Let us now look to Paul’s explanation of baptism to the church at Corinth in…  I Corinthians 12:12…For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
• In verse 12, Paul reminds the church that a person’s body is one being, and in that one being there are many members (parts). Then Paul adds that the same analogy applies to being one in Christ, “…so also is Christ.”
• Paul further explains in verse 13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
• “…by one Spirit are we all baptized”  this means that everyone that wants to be a disciple (a follower) of Jesus will also have the same Spirit that Jesus does.
• Having the same spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit of God which comes to you at the time of your repentance which will cause you to have the “nature” of Christ.
• The nature of the church should be the nature of Christ. The nature of Christ was to be obedient to God (His Father) by being baptized by John the Baptist which fulfilled the prophecy of God and the will of God for the life of Jesus the Christ.
• What is the “nature” of Christ and the church? 1. Our body belongs to God, 2. Our life is purchased with the blood of Christ. 3. We are to display the wisdom of God. 4. We are the elect of God. 5. We are glorious. 6. We are clothed in the righteousness of God. 7. We are to forgive others. 8. We are to be baptized in Christ both physically and spiritually.
• Baptism of the Body …
• PHYSICALLY– is to be put under water.
• Mark 1:8…I (John) indeed have baptized you with water: but he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. All pastors and preachers of the word baptize people with water.
• John 3:22…After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.  23) And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. NOTE; In verses 22 and 23 we see that Jesus disciples and John baptized with water but Jesus Himself did not baptize with water as it is said in John 4:1…When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2) (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
• Paul (an evangelist) did not baptize people with water but rather with the word of God. I Corinthians 1:17…For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
• There are some men who preach the word of God and never baptize anyone with water.
• SPIRITUALLY – receive the Holy Spirit of God by believing in His Son Jesus Christ.
• Mark 1:8…I (John) indeed have baptized you with water: but he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
• Three Spiritual baptisms are mentioned in Matthew 3:11…
  • I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:” (This is a baptism that symbolizes repentance/purification of the heart, believing on Jesus who purifies (clothes) us before God)
  • “…but he (Jesus) that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost,” (as mentioned in I Cor. 12:13… baptized into the body of Christ to drink in one Spirit, have the same doctrines)
  • “…and with fire:” Because fire is used throughout this context as a means of Judgment (verses 10, 12) a baptism of judgment upon those who do not repent. Jesus Christ judges /punishes us here on earth, which brings us to repentance of our sins. Then when we stand before God we are not naked but clothed in His (Jesus) righteousness.
• What is another “Nature of the Church?” BAPTISM
• A BAPTISM unto repentance for purification (by water baptism telling other that you are identifying with Christ as a believer in His salvation unto you as you follow Him)
• A BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit to follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit believing in the doctrines of Jesus Christ.
• A BAPTISM with fire in knowing that there is a judgment for our sins which cause us to be obedient to His commandments.

D) Baptized with Christ’s baptism

• Matthew 20:20…Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons (James and John), worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21) And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons (James and John) may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
• Many people do not understand the “Kingdom of God” It is not a physical kingdom but rather a spiritual kingdom. A Spiritual Nature!
• Matthew 20:22…But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
• The baptism that Jesus is talking about here is a baptism of God’s wrath/punishment for sins. Baptism of suffering for the cause of Christ.
  
  
  ARE YOU ABLE to drink of the cup that Christ drank from?