Restoring the Truth of Baptism In Water
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
A universal truth related to our walk as a Christian disciple is that we are called to identify with Jesus, not just with our mind, but in reality, with His baptism, His walk on earth in complete trust and obedience to the Father, His suffering, His weeping over (spiritual) Jerusalem, His death, His burial, His resurrection, and His intercession. Another universal truth is that the Lord, ever since the Reformation, has been gradually revealing more of Himself and His word to those disciples who are looking for Him. Derek Prince, an outstanding teacher in the 20th century, once said that about the year 300 the "Christian world" changed the truth of water baptism. That was a time period when many Christians believed one could not be forgiven if they sinned after baptism.
One of the major truths that the Lord desires to restore today is the true significance of water baptism. For many years I personally had little understanding of the great significance of water baptism, partly because I never remember receiving any teaching on that ordinance and partly because I never looked into the scriptural truth of being baptized in water. I grew up in a Christian environment where water baptism was what a good Christian should do. A few years later I received a little more light (not through a man) that when we are baptized in water we are identifying ourselves with His baptism in water.
On July 3, 2018, one of our grandsons, who lives in California, asked me to baptize him in water. Of course I gladly and with much joy accepted his request. Early Sunday morning, July 8, 2018, in the Virginia Beach area, 14 family members and two young babies gathered together and our grandson was baptized in water. That event was very clearly ordained by the Lord.
However for 3 days prior to his baptism I spent much time seeking the Lord and searching the scriptures on the topic of water baptism, something I had never done before in any depth. I did that because the Holy Spirit quickened to present a brief teaching on water baptism the afternoon before the actual baptism. This word includes an amplified version of what I shared that Saturday afternoon.
As we emphasized in our previous message, a number of verses make it clear that we receive the Holy Spirit at the moment when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. We then become new creatures in Christ ... we enter into newness of life ... we are no longer the old person that we used to be. Our eternal salvation is guaranteed provided we do not later reject or deny Jesus or blaspheme the Holy Ghost. Then we must begin to die to self and live for Christ. Once we are "born again" the Lord instructs us to be baptized in water to confirm what has happened to us spiritually. We don't become part of the body of Christ through water baptism, but through faith in Christ. However, we must understand that being born again and baptized in water is not the end of our journey. The end of our journey is to enter the Promised Land, which speaks of the Kingdom of God.
The word "baptize" means to immerse, to dip, or to make fully wet. Immersion is the biblical method of baptism because of its symbolic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Anyone who receives water baptism must realize what it means to receive it. An infant cannot do that. Further, an infant cannot repent, cannot believe in his heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, cannot become a disciple of the risen Christ, and cannot answer God with a good conscience. Therefore, infant baptism is not Scriptural; neither is sprinkling, because there is no immersion.
Baptism in water does not bring initial salvation; initial salvation precedes and qualifies us for water baptism, which should be the first thing we do after we are "born again." Those who have received Jesus in their hearts should desire to follow Him or be His disciples. Further all of our steps toward perfection must be carried out by faith with a good conscience to God; i.e., we must be sincere and not simply go through the motions. God knows our heart.
Water baptism is a beautiful picture of what our Lord has done for us. As we are completely immersed in the water, we symbolize the burial of our old man and his works of death; we are baptized into His death on the cross and are no longer slaves to self or sin. Our sins are then washed away by God for those who, by faith, put their trust in Him. When we are raised out of the water, we are likewise resurrected ... raised to new life in Christ to be with Him forever.
Just as water cleanses the flesh, so the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts when we trust Christ. Every believer, if physically possible, should be baptized in water. These truths are stated in numerous scriptures, such as,
A Scriptural example of being baptized in water is:
Later, Paul gives an account of what Ananias said to him.
Ananias asked Paul, "Why tarriest thou?" or "What are you waiting for?" A significant fact is that in every example in the New Testament, the believers were baptized immediately in water. But that baptism in water was not the same as the baptism in water unto repentance by John the Baptist. There are two separate, distinct baptisms in water.
When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove and He received the Holy Spirit. 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 so that we might identify with HIM in every way. But what did Jesus mean when He said, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness"? Jesus certainly never needed repentance because He always did the will of the Father. Jesus fulfilled most of the law by his obedience to the word of God. The final part of Jesus fulfilling the law completely was when He was baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist's baptism in water does not apply to Christians because Jesus has already fulfilled the law. Christians can never fulfill the law, although some still try to do that. Our baptism in water is not based on law but on grace.
From 1 Corinthians 10:2, which we will look at in detail in a few more minutes, the Jews coming out of Egypt were baptized unto or into Moses. Moses stands for the law, so being baptized into Moses means being immersed into the law. The law then becomes our way of life.
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. I see no conflict between those two truths. In Matthew 28:18-20,
"Baptizing them in the name" should more accurately be translated "baptizing into the name." Baptizing into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost means "teaching (discipling) all nations" and immersing them into the nature, the character, the essence of the Godhead. That includes 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! 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.
The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12-15 denounces any other baptism. Woe to those pastors who baptize the Lord's people into their own name (character, nature, or doctrine).
Ephesians 4:5 says there is only ONE baptism! So is this talking about being baptized in water? or with the Holy Spirit? or what? There is no discrepancy here and no confusion. The one baptism refers to HIS (Jesus') baptism, NOT our baptism. It refers to identifying with His 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, burial, and resurrection, the one baptism.
Now let us look at two of the major Old Testament patterns of water baptism. In the Old Testament we see two arks ... the ark in Genesis and the ark in Exodus. The ark in Genesis is the ark that Noah built according to the detailed instructions of the Lord. The ark in Exodus is the ark in the tabernacle of Moses ... again built according to the specific instructions of the Lord. Both arks speak of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ark of Noah speaks of us in Christ. The ark of the tabernacle speaks of Christ in you, the hope of glory.
That great flood brought judgment to those not in the ark but life to the eight who went into the ark. Have you ever considered that many of the animals that went into the ark were mortal enemies of some other animals? for example, the lion and the lamb. Just think of all of the problems Noah might have had. But every creature that entered the ark underwent a change in nature, in behavior. So it is with us. When we enter into Christ, are born again and baptized in water, we undergo a change in our nature, in our behavior. If any professing Christian does not undergo a change then it is questionable whether they have ever been born again. We should note (Genesis 8:19) that when Noah and his family and all of the animals "went forth out of the ark," they (both man and beast) soon reverted to their old nature. Even Noah got drunk and was seen naked by his sons. It is only in Christ that we can walk in newness of life.
Note that only eight souls were saved. The population of the earth at that time was perhaps two million. Eight out of two million is a very small percentage. Verse 21 says "the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also save us ..." So it is perhaps likely that the same percentage applies in these last days... eight out of two million. "Many are called but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).
A second Old Testament pattern of water baptism is described in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 10.
From Verses 6 and 11, what happened when the Israelites were delivered from bondage and captivity in Egypt are examples for us and for our admonition. Verse 1 is one of six times in the New Testament that Paul says, "I would not that ye should be ignorant." Peter says the same thing once. In Exodus 13 and 14 we read that the Israelites first killed a lamb and put the blood on the two side posts and on the lintel, above the door. That foreshadowed the blood of the Lamb which was shed at Calvary. When we trust in that precious blood, we experience being born-again ... the first step in our salvation. But the blood of Jesus, as important and necessary as it is for us, was not (and is not) the final separation from the forces of darkness.
Before the departing Israelites reached the Red Sea,
Note that the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud. The pillar of a cloud and a pillar of fire typify being baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly portrays Christ as the baptizer: "I [John the Baptist] baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Matthew 3:11). But neither was it the baptism with the Holy Ghost that caused the final separation of the Israelites from bondage and captivity.
When the Egyptians, with their 600 chariots, were about to catch up with the Israelites, the pillar of cloud moved from before the Israelites to behind them. Thus the Israelites passed under the cloud prior to passing through the sea. The Lord caused the waters of the Red Sea to divide and the Israelites passed through the Sea on dry ground. The fact that the riverbed became dry ground is itself a miracle. The Israelites passed through the Red Sea by faith.
Why did the Egyptians drown? because they did not pass through the sea by faith. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: ..." (Hebrews 11:6). It is critical to understand that the Egyptians all drowned in the Red Sea and therefore could no longer pursue the Israelites. Not one of the pursuing Egyptians was able to pass through the Red sea. Every one of them drowned. The final separation of the forces of darkness, represented by Egypt, from the Israelites happened when the Israelites passed through the sea, symbolic of water baptism.
Passing through the sea was life to the Israelites but darkness and death to all the forces of evil. Passing through the sea speaks of water baptism. Therefore the final separation between the Israelites and the evil forces of darkness occurred when they passed through the sea. That means that the last inch of any legitimate claim that the enemy has over us is removed after we are baptized in water. From that point on in the life of a believer, the only way that the enemy can do us any harm is if we act in unbelief, as in 1 Corinthians 10:5-10.
Returning to 1 Corinthians 10:5-10, we read that with many (or most) of them, God was not well pleased. Why? because they reverted in numerous ways back to works of the flesh. They did not die daily to self. In effect, they no longer trusted the Lord. As a result only two adults, Joshua and Caleb, actually entered the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God).
All Israel passed through a double baptism ... a baptism under the cloud (the baptism with the Holy Spirit) and a baptism in the sea (water baptism). Just before they passed through the sea, the pillar of cloud was their protection by day and the pillar of fire was their protection throughout the night. But when they passed through the sea on dry land, they emerged a new people, with new laws, a new leader, and a new destination. The enemy could no longer touch them as long as they continued in faith and did not yield to the lies of darkness.
The beautiful truth of the profound provisions in water baptism for the Lord's people is complete remission of past sins, a divine new nature extended, and final separation from the forces of darkness. We must once more emphasize the tremendous importance of water baptism. The final separation of the people of God from the forces of darkness was not the blood of the Lamb which was shed at Calvary; it was not the baptism with the Holy Spirit; but it was when we pass through the sea of the baptism in water. At that point the enemy has no legitimate right to follow us anymore. We have accepted the lies of the enemy long enough! May the true meaning of water baptism restore that which the Lord intends and give us all overwhelming gratitude for His unfolding truths!
The real tragedy was when many of the Christian community downgraded the importance of water baptism. But praise the Lord who is restoring the truth of being baptized in water!
The end of the matter is by our daily dying to self and our daily obedience to the Lord, by the power of the Holy Ghost, we allow the Spirit of God continuously to make us perfect until He appears the second time without sin unto salvation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
In our next three messages, we hope to share the significance of the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in the Book of Acts.
One of the major truths that the Lord desires to restore today is the true significance of water baptism. For many years I personally had little understanding of the great significance of water baptism, partly because I never remember receiving any teaching on that ordinance and partly because I never looked into the scriptural truth of being baptized in water. I grew up in a Christian environment where water baptism was what a good Christian should do. A few years later I received a little more light (not through a man) that when we are baptized in water we are identifying ourselves with His baptism in water.
On July 3, 2018, one of our grandsons, who lives in California, asked me to baptize him in water. Of course I gladly and with much joy accepted his request. Early Sunday morning, July 8, 2018, in the Virginia Beach area, 14 family members and two young babies gathered together and our grandson was baptized in water. That event was very clearly ordained by the Lord.
However for 3 days prior to his baptism I spent much time seeking the Lord and searching the scriptures on the topic of water baptism, something I had never done before in any depth. I did that because the Holy Spirit quickened to present a brief teaching on water baptism the afternoon before the actual baptism. This word includes an amplified version of what I shared that Saturday afternoon.
As we emphasized in our previous message, a number of verses make it clear that we receive the Holy Spirit at the moment when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. We then become new creatures in Christ ... we enter into newness of life ... we are no longer the old person that we used to be. Our eternal salvation is guaranteed provided we do not later reject or deny Jesus or blaspheme the Holy Ghost. Then we must begin to die to self and live for Christ. Once we are "born again" the Lord instructs us to be baptized in water to confirm what has happened to us spiritually. We don't become part of the body of Christ through water baptism, but through faith in Christ. However, we must understand that being born again and baptized in water is not the end of our journey. The end of our journey is to enter the Promised Land, which speaks of the Kingdom of God.
The word "baptize" means to immerse, to dip, or to make fully wet. Immersion is the biblical method of baptism because of its symbolic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Anyone who receives water baptism must realize what it means to receive it. An infant cannot do that. Further, an infant cannot repent, cannot believe in his heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, cannot become a disciple of the risen Christ, and cannot answer God with a good conscience. Therefore, infant baptism is not Scriptural; neither is sprinkling, because there is no immersion.
Baptism in water does not bring initial salvation; initial salvation precedes and qualifies us for water baptism, which should be the first thing we do after we are "born again." Those who have received Jesus in their hearts should desire to follow Him or be His disciples. Further all of our steps toward perfection must be carried out by faith with a good conscience to God; i.e., we must be sincere and not simply go through the motions. God knows our heart.
Water baptism is a beautiful picture of what our Lord has done for us. As we are completely immersed in the water, we symbolize the burial of our old man and his works of death; we are baptized into His death on the cross and are no longer slaves to self or sin. Our sins are then washed away by God for those who, by faith, put their trust in Him. When we are raised out of the water, we are likewise resurrected ... raised to new life in Christ to be with Him forever.
Just as water cleanses the flesh, so the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts when we trust Christ. Every believer, if physically possible, should be baptized in water. These truths are stated in numerous scriptures, such as,
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.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:6 Knowing this, that our old man is [was] crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed [made ineffective], that henceforth we should not serve sin.7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.10 For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:3-14
A Scriptural example of being baptized in water is:
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. Acts 9:17-18
Later, Paul gives an account of what Ananias said to him.
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16
Ananias asked Paul, "Why tarriest thou?" or "What are you waiting for?" A significant fact is that in every example in the New Testament, the believers were baptized immediately in water. But that baptism in water was not the same as the baptism in water unto repentance by John the Baptist. There are two separate, distinct baptisms in water.
When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove and He received the Holy Spirit. 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 so that we might identify with HIM in every way. But what did Jesus mean when He said, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness"? Jesus certainly never needed repentance because He always did the will of the Father. Jesus fulfilled most of the law by his obedience to the word of God. The final part of Jesus fulfilling the law completely was when He was baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist's baptism in water does not apply to Christians because Jesus has already fulfilled the law. Christians can never fulfill the law, although some still try to do that. Our baptism in water is not based on law but on grace.
From 1 Corinthians 10:2, which we will look at in detail in a few more minutes, the Jews coming out of Egypt were baptized unto or into Moses. Moses stands for the law, so being baptized into Moses means being immersed into the law. The law then becomes our way of life.
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. I see no conflict between those two truths. In Matthew 28:18-20,
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
"Baptizing them in the name" should more accurately be translated "baptizing into the name." Baptizing into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost means "teaching (discipling) all nations" and immersing them into the nature, the character, the essence of the Godhead. That includes 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! 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.
The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12-15 denounces any other baptism. Woe to those pastors who baptize the Lord's people into their own name (character, nature, or doctrine).
Ephesians 4:5 says there is only ONE baptism! So is this talking about being baptized in water? or with the Holy Spirit? or what? There is no discrepancy here and no confusion. The one baptism refers to HIS (Jesus') baptism, NOT our baptism. It refers to identifying with His 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, burial, and resurrection, the one baptism.
Now let us look at two of the major Old Testament patterns of water baptism. In the Old Testament we see two arks ... the ark in Genesis and the ark in Exodus. The ark in Genesis is the ark that Noah built according to the detailed instructions of the Lord. The ark in Exodus is the ark in the tabernacle of Moses ... again built according to the specific instructions of the Lord. Both arks speak of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ark of Noah speaks of us in Christ. The ark of the tabernacle speaks of Christ in you, the hope of glory.
That great flood brought judgment to those not in the ark but life to the eight who went into the ark. Have you ever considered that many of the animals that went into the ark were mortal enemies of some other animals? for example, the lion and the lamb. Just think of all of the problems Noah might have had. But every creature that entered the ark underwent a change in nature, in behavior. So it is with us. When we enter into Christ, are born again and baptized in water, we undergo a change in our nature, in our behavior. If any professing Christian does not undergo a change then it is questionable whether they have ever been born again. We should note (Genesis 8:19) that when Noah and his family and all of the animals "went forth out of the ark," they (both man and beast) soon reverted to their old nature. Even Noah got drunk and was seen naked by his sons. It is only in Christ that we can walk in newness of life.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:19 By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison;20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:18-21
Note that only eight souls were saved. The population of the earth at that time was perhaps two million. Eight out of two million is a very small percentage. Verse 21 says "the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also save us ..." So it is perhaps likely that the same percentage applies in these last days... eight out of two million. "Many are called but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).
A second Old Testament pattern of water baptism is described in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 10.
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;
[Baptized in the sea speaks of water baptism; baptism in the cloud speaks of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.]
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1 Corinthians 10:1-11
From Verses 6 and 11, what happened when the Israelites were delivered from bondage and captivity in Egypt are examples for us and for our admonition. Verse 1 is one of six times in the New Testament that Paul says, "I would not that ye should be ignorant." Peter says the same thing once. In Exodus 13 and 14 we read that the Israelites first killed a lamb and put the blood on the two side posts and on the lintel, above the door. That foreshadowed the blood of the Lamb which was shed at Calvary. When we trust in that precious blood, we experience being born-again ... the first step in our salvation. But the blood of Jesus, as important and necessary as it is for us, was not (and is not) the final separation from the forces of darkness.
Before the departing Israelites reached the Red Sea,
21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. Exodus 13:21-22
Note that the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud. The pillar of a cloud and a pillar of fire typify being baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly portrays Christ as the baptizer: "I [John the Baptist] baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Matthew 3:11). But neither was it the baptism with the Holy Ghost that caused the final separation of the Israelites from bondage and captivity.
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. Exodus 14:19-20
When the Egyptians, with their 600 chariots, were about to catch up with the Israelites, the pillar of cloud moved from before the Israelites to behind them. Thus the Israelites passed under the cloud prior to passing through the sea. The Lord caused the waters of the Red Sea to divide and the Israelites passed through the Sea on dry ground. The fact that the riverbed became dry ground is itself a miracle. The Israelites passed through the Red Sea by faith.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. Hebrews 11:29
Why did the Egyptians drown? because they did not pass through the sea by faith. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: ..." (Hebrews 11:6). It is critical to understand that the Egyptians all drowned in the Red Sea and therefore could no longer pursue the Israelites. Not one of the pursuing Egyptians was able to pass through the Red sea. Every one of them drowned. The final separation of the forces of darkness, represented by Egypt, from the Israelites happened when the Israelites passed through the sea, symbolic of water baptism.
Passing through the sea was life to the Israelites but darkness and death to all the forces of evil. Passing through the sea speaks of water baptism. Therefore the final separation between the Israelites and the evil forces of darkness occurred when they passed through the sea. That means that the last inch of any legitimate claim that the enemy has over us is removed after we are baptized in water. From that point on in the life of a believer, the only way that the enemy can do us any harm is if we act in unbelief, as in 1 Corinthians 10:5-10.
Returning to 1 Corinthians 10:5-10, we read that with many (or most) of them, God was not well pleased. Why? because they reverted in numerous ways back to works of the flesh. They did not die daily to self. In effect, they no longer trusted the Lord. As a result only two adults, Joshua and Caleb, actually entered the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God).
All Israel passed through a double baptism ... a baptism under the cloud (the baptism with the Holy Spirit) and a baptism in the sea (water baptism). Just before they passed through the sea, the pillar of cloud was their protection by day and the pillar of fire was their protection throughout the night. But when they passed through the sea on dry land, they emerged a new people, with new laws, a new leader, and a new destination. The enemy could no longer touch them as long as they continued in faith and did not yield to the lies of darkness.
The beautiful truth of the profound provisions in water baptism for the Lord's people is complete remission of past sins, a divine new nature extended, and final separation from the forces of darkness. We must once more emphasize the tremendous importance of water baptism. The final separation of the people of God from the forces of darkness was not the blood of the Lamb which was shed at Calvary; it was not the baptism with the Holy Spirit; but it was when we pass through the sea of the baptism in water. At that point the enemy has no legitimate right to follow us anymore. We have accepted the lies of the enemy long enough! May the true meaning of water baptism restore that which the Lord intends and give us all overwhelming gratitude for His unfolding truths!
The real tragedy was when many of the Christian community downgraded the importance of water baptism. But praise the Lord who is restoring the truth of being baptized in water!
The end of the matter is by our daily dying to self and our daily obedience to the Lord, by the power of the Holy Ghost, we allow the Spirit of God continuously to make us perfect until He appears the second time without sin unto salvation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
In our next three messages, we hope to share the significance of the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in the Book of Acts.
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