HEB 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Baptisms
There are various baptisms mentioned in the Bible:
Baptism of Repentance
Some people also calls this John's baptism. The purpose of this baptism was for people to show that they have turned their back on their sins. Also see Repentance.
People confessed their sins and turned away from it. Some Pharisees and Sadducees however, thought it would be a good idea to go through the baptism just in case. For them, the whole serving of God was diminished into a list of things that had to be done. In case baptism was one of those things, they thought it safer to rather go through this ceremony as well.
MAT 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Now we need to understand that this baptism was of God! It was not something that John thought out to get attention or offerings. God told him to do it and prepare the way for Jesus.
Due to people's attitude, this right thing can become the wrong thing. For the people who did not want to repent, this action meant absolutely nothing. So the action alone was just one part of it. The other part of it was that the people who went through this ceremony also had to bear the fruit that went along with it.
MAT 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
We have similar ceremonies that has been instituted by God. However, attending these ceremonies with the wrong attitudes may cause us to fall under the following category:
MAT 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
These ceremonies could be:
- Going to church. People who go to church in order to be seen, to perform, to criticize others or to feel better after sinning the whole week, will not help anything - it might even be to their disadvantage. Some people, after they have attended church, look down at other people who did not attend a church and they use this as a measurement of the "holiness". For them church is actually a curse, as attending it makes them think that they have now contributed enough towards living a holy life so that God will not be as strict with them if they continue sinning again on Monday.
- Praying. Everybody knows and understands that praying is talking to God. Therefore prayer in itself is the life-blood of being a Christian. But even this can be a stumbling block for Christians. Many people feel that by saying long prayers with powerful catch phrases and a loud voice will scare the devil and impress God. God is not nervous, so He does not mind people shouting while praying. This is not about shouting, it is about your innermost motivation for screaming.
There are many other ceremonies that could be mentioned, but I think this list should be adequate to bring across to the fact that ceremonies are not as important as our motivation for attending these ceremonies.
Baptism ordered by Jesus
Jesus commanded a new baptism: Not one of repentance, but for the people who already repented. The words are also different:
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Does this mean that only people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior should now be baptized?
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Philip said: "If you believe..."
Jesus said: "Go into the world, make disciples of them and baptize them (the them is the disciples, not all the world").
Why did they have to be baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost? Because when we were born again, we did not invite Jesus into our lives, we accepted that Jesus paid the price for our sins and that we have now entered His Kingdom. Jesus did not want to come into our lives, He wanted us to come into Their lives!
Question:
What about babies?
Answer:
Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
Therefore we need to lay on hands on our babies and bless them like Jesus did. Jesus is our example.
Question:
But is the baptism not the sign of the new covenant and our babies are therefore part of that covenant?
Answer:
We have two things mixed up here: Covenant and Blessing
1. The sign of the old covenant is the circumcision:
Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
The sign of the New Covenant
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
The wine at the communion table is the sign of the new covenant and replaces the circumcision. Therefore the baptism of a baby has nothing to do with either one of the covenants.
2. Blessing
Deu 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the ...
Therefore our children will be blessed. When the time comes that they have to choose between the world and Jesus Christ, they will choose Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit Baptism
This baptism is what is required for us to start our ministries (not just preaching in words, but preaching with our actions in the business and other spheres).
MAT 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
The people who traveled with Jesus had the best Teacher in the world, the best Bible School any scholar could wish to attend. They were taught the theory and then sent out in two's to obtain the practical experience.
However, after three years, they were still not equipped to go into the ministry:
ACT 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,
which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
We now have seminaries where people are taught from two to seven years and more and they think that this qualifies them for the ministry. They either never saw this Scripture, or they spent years developing a theory of why they are allowed to minister without being baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Some denominations do not believe in Spirit Baptism. This is fine, I suppose, but they are not really equipped for the work of the ministry. Could it be that the seminaries are actually equipping the people better than Jesus could equip His disciples? I do not think so!
How can I be baptized in the Holy Spirit?
The easiest way is to attend a church that believes in this baptism. But you do not really have to attend any ceremony to be baptized, all you have to do is ask for the Father to baptize you.
LUK 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The first baptism of the Holy Ghost happens in Acts 2
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The second one happens in Acts 19. So there is not a single outpouring of the Holy Ghost, but an outpouring every time hands are laid on people who have been born again. It is a trick of the Devil to try and make us think that this only happened to the people in the Bible or that we already have it after being born again.
Speaking in other tongues is meant for your spirit to communicate with God so that Satan cannot hear what you are saying and it also charges your battery. No wonder Satan is scared of this!
Do not allow your brain or Satan to keep this away from you! Start speaking brabble noises and you will know when the Spirit takes over. We have to keep our mind busy so that our right-hand brain can get a chance to experience this wonderful gift of God! Try, you will be amazed!