August 9, 2020
Morning Service

(Heb 5:8)  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Heb 5:9)  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Heb 5:10)  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. (Heb 5:11)  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (Heb 5:12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

(Heb 5:13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (Heb 5:14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

And then he says:

(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, (Heb 6:2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

·        This morning we want to look at the Doctrine of Baptisms.  Plural.  Now there is a lot that can be said of water baptism.  In the O.T.  water was used as a cleansing agent in ceremonial washings.

·        Ezekiel 36:25-29

·        25  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 

·        Leviticus 14:8

·        8  And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

You see it was recognized as a cleansing agency.  Be sure and wash your hands.

It continues to be in the N.T.  Remember John the Baptist?

·        (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:

·        Johns’ baptism was with water, for the (cleansing) or remission of sins.  Wash those old dirty sins away.  Cleansing.

·        Now wait a minute. John baptized for the remission of sins, but he baptized Jesus who had no sins. So why did he do that ???

(Mat 3:13)  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (Mat 3:14)  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (Mat 3:15)  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

·        Jesus is telling John “go ahead and baptize me for it is the right thing to do.”  Righteousness means, right living.

Then God gives His approval by saying this, “(Mat 3:17)  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

But in Johns’ day they were still under the O.T. laws of Moses.  The New Testament dispensation had not began yet.  Remember Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Authority. 

So listen to this.

·        (Act 18:24)  And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. (Act 18:25)  This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. (Act 18:26)  And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 

·        So what Apollos was doing was baptizing them, upon their repentance, essentially in Johns name, (his authority).  So Aquila, and Priscilla took him aside and told him of the baptism in Jesus name (or His authority).  Which is the N.T.  Christian baptism.

Now one might ask, “but what about the baptism of fire that John spoke of, that Jesus would bring”?

·        James and John, the sons of Zebedee ask Jesus one time; Jesus replied  “(Mar 10:38)  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with”?

·        Jesus is referring to His entire ordeal of going to the cross, as a baptism of life (or fire).

The word baptism, means to be immersed.  With that in mind let’s look at one more baptism.  Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

On the day of Pentecost; (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.

·        Now you could say that these were immersed(or baptized) in the Holy Ghost.

·        The same thing happened at the house of Cornelius the gentile.  A special outpouring of the Holy Ghost when the door was opened for the Jews, and the Gentiles.  This also has been referred to as the baptism of fire.

SO LET’S SUM THIS UP;  O.T. water was a washing for cleansing; Johns baptism washing away sins;  Jesus telling James and John that His life to Calvary was a baptism of fire; Being immersed in the Holy Ghost a baptism;

Now after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and on the Day of Pentecost we enter the N.T. dispensation. 

NOW LISTEN TO PAUL;  (Eph 4:3)  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:4)  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Eph 4:5)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Eph 4:6)  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

This is the same church that Paul ask the people there;  have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed;  Act.19.  Elablorate.  Unto what then…………………

THERE IS ONE CHRISTIAN BAPTISM, AND PETER USED IT ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST. ACTS 2:38, IMMERSION IN JESUS' NAME (OR AUTHORITY) AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST (WHICH IS ETERNAL LIFE, AND THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY GHOST) ONE AND THE SAME.

Almighty God, help us to keep the unity of the faith believing in the one Christian baptism, in Jesus' name.  Amen.