Baptism In Water

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

Baptism In Water

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

We believe that some misunderstandings exist in Christian circles concerning being baptized in water. Because of lack of proper teaching concerning water baptism, some folks just get wet. It becomes a ritual, a form, with no real change in the life of the person who is baptized. All such misunderstandings come from our natural, carnal minds, which can never understand the word of God.

Jesus was baptized in water by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The Jordan River represents a place of inheritance, a place to cross over from the old to the new, a place of transition from death to life. 

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Matthew 3:13-15

When Jesus said, "For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness," He was referring to fulfilling the plan and purpose of God. What was that plan and purpose? Jesus fulfilled the law,

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4

When Jesus was baptized He was identifying Himself with the men He came to save, in the hour of their new consciousness of their own sin, and of their search for God. Jesus identified with man in every way. This fact is critical for our understanding of baptism in water. Jesus identified with man in every way so that we might identify with HIM in every way. Jesus said,

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

Does this mean that unless you are baptized in water then you are not saved? NO!!! What if a man is saved on his deathbed but has no time to be baptized in water?

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. 

1 Corinthians 12:13

We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ ... the church. Do you really believe that a little H2O (water) is required to save someone and that the dynamite power of the Holy Spirit cannot save someone without the application of water? So what does Mark 16:16 mean? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." The scripture does NOT say, "baptized in water." Man, in his carnal mind, has included the words "in water." Man always tries to pull the significance of scripture down to his own level, rather than seeking to rise up to the level of the Spirit. Similarly in what men call the "great commission," 

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:18-19

We do not see anything in that commandment of the Lord to baptize them in water. The verse just says, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Jesus never baptized any one in water (John 4:2). The apostle Paul likewise did not see anything in the "great commission" that says we should baptize them in water. Paul said, speaking of being baptized in water,

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. 1 Corinthians 1:17

Christians actually argue whether we should baptize new believers in water (1) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost or (2) only in the name of the Lord Jesus. Do you really think that the specific words that the minister says when you are baptized in water makes a difference in your life?

Philip understood "the great commission" in the same way that Paul did.

12 But when they [the people of Samaria] believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized [in water], both men and women.

16 (For as yet He [the Holy Spirit] was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Acts 8:12, 16

Does this mean that we should NOT be baptized in water? Of course not!!! Every believer, if physically possible, SHOULD be baptized in water. It is true that being baptized in water is an act of obedience. However, being baptized in water is MUCH more than just being obedient to the word. It is an external sign and confirmation to others as well as to our self that we have identified in our heart with the death and resurrection of Jesus. The word "baptism" means to "immerse" or "dip." When we are fully immersed (NOT sprinkled) under the water we are identifying ourselves fully with the death of Jesus. When we come up out of the water, we are identifying with His resurrection. 

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4

We have said above what we believe Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16 do NOT mean. If that be true, then what do those verses actually mean?

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16:16

First of all let us remember that the word "baptize" means to immerse or to dip. In Matthew 28:19, "baptizing them in the name..." should more accurately be translated "baptizing into ..." The Greek word translated as "in" is the word "eis," which means "into." Only three entities in scripture speak of that into which men were (are) baptized. The first is Moses. 

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 

1 Corinthians 10:1-2

So the Jews were baptized unto Moses. The word "unto" is the same Greek word "eis." So we should more accurately translate that verse as they were "all baptized INTO" Moses. Moses stands for the law. So being baptized into Moses means being immersed into the law. The law then becomes your way of life.

The second entity into which men were baptized was John the Baptist, who represents a transition between law and grace. Scripture is very clear that John baptized in water unto repentance... to prepare the way of the Lord.

John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts 19:4

The third baptism is that recorded in Matthew 28:19, baptizing into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This means, as Jesus said, "teaching all nations" and immersing them into the Name of the Lord. So Acts 28:19 means we are to teach all nations, immersing them into the Name of the Lord, into the Person of the Lord, into His life, into His truth, into His ways. The Lord becomes our life. His thoughts are to become our thoughts. His will is to become our will. His words are to become our words. His ways are to become our ways. We are to be completely immersed into HIM!

So the Jews were baptized into Moses (the law), then were baptized by John the Baptist into repentance, and finally baptized (fully immersed) into the Name of the Lord (grace and truth). It is by teaching all nations (on our part) and the revelation and power of the Holy Spirit (on His part) that we immerse them into the grace and truth of our Lord.

Note that the Apostle Paul decries any other baptism in his first letter to the Church at Corinth. 

12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in [INTO, the Greek word is "eis"] the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 

1 Corinthians 1:12-15

The Lord says, Woe to those pastors who baptize (immerse) His people into their own name (character, nature, or doctrine). Now let us examine once more the word in Mark.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16:16

Again, we believe the Entity that verse refers to into which we should be baptized is the Name (Person) of the Lord. The words "shall be saved" is future tense, NOT present tense. Please remember that "we are saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved" IF we hold fast unto the end.

One final word about baptism in general: Scripture speaks about being baptized in water, being baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Others have talked about a baptism of suffering and a baptism of love. I even heard one man teach extensively about being baptized in glory. Please consider the following verses. 

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Clearly, these verses say there is only ONE baptism! So is this talking about being baptized in water? or in the Holy Spirit? or what? There is no discrepancy here and no confusion. The problem lies solely in our carnal minds. The one baptism refers to HIS (Jesus') baptism, NOT our baptism. Most doctrinal errors arise when we try to interpret scripture from OUR perspective, as it relates to us, independent of Jesus. This is why many Christians, when they are baptized in water, simply get wet. They do not see the centrality and supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have not seen that the one baptism is His baptism. When we are baptized in water, we are identifying with HIS death and resurrection, the one baptism. No man (except Jesus) could live up to the law. Likewise, no man (but Christ) can live the Christian life. It is no longer I but it is Christ who lives in me. The Lord is not making us "better." Our old man (human nature) died with Christ at Calvary. We are dead to self but alive unto God. Christ in you is the hope of glory!