Water Baptism
Part 1
By Dr. Terry L Thompson
Ezekiel
36:24-28 "For I will
take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.225 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all
your idols. 261 will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a
heart of flesh. 2'I will put My Spirit
within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall
dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. "
Water Baptism, as instituted in the
New Testament, is the means by which a believer is united with Christ (Galatians
3: 2728). It is more than a ritual or ceremony. In the New Testament, it is never
mentioned as an act alone. Rather, its meaning always includes the
entire redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8: 12; 2:
38-41). The new covenant relationship, which God promised, becomes tangible
through water baptism. As the "old man" is cut away and buried, we
experience "the newness of life" in Christ (II
Corinthians 5: 17; Hebrews 8: 6-13).
Brother Andrew, "God's
Smuggler" remarked at a meeting in London, England, "...the major issue of conflict would prove to be over water baptism, not the
baptism in the Spirit..." Many of us who are committed to the Spirit's work of restoration in the church are more than ever convinced of the great
importance of this sacrament. The
New Testament practice of immersing new converts in Christ in water, does something significant for
the convert. It does something
significant for the body of believers to whom he is being added. It does something to the watching world.
Perhaps most important of all, it
does something to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. If it involves contention in the heavens, little wonder it evokes some controversy on earth.
Where the gospel is being preached to heathen communities, as foreign missionaries will vouch, it is not the act of receiving
Christ on the part of say, a Hindu or a Muslim - not even his public confession
of Christ - but his baptism in water that seems to stir up
persecution. The
adversary is evidently strongly antagonistic
to the water baptism of believers. F.
B. Meyer used to say, "A man may be as old as Methuselah and still not qualify for baptism." It is not a question of age, but of
faith. It is believers' baptism that we advocate.
Let us examine
this very important sacrament given to the church by its Head, the Lord Jesus
Christ and discover the origins, benefits, and participation in this
act.
1.
BACKGROUND OF BAPTISM
Jewish ritual of immersion baths. {migveh} There were two such
baths that were found at the Masada Excavation. It
was composed of a complex of three
connecting pools. These pools were used
to meet the requirements of Talmudic law for ceremonial cleansing. First, the small pool was for cleaning purposes {washing feet, hands, body, etc.} The other two
larger pools were for the body and
were connected by a conduit for running water.
The ritual bathing pool was meant not
for hygienic cleansing, but rather for ritual purification. Normal dirt, such as
dust on the feet, was removed before entering the miqveh. Hence the need of the small pool for washing near, but unconnected to
the immersion pool. Ritual purity was required of a Jew before entering the Temple Mount,
before making a sacrifice, before receiving the benefit of a
priestly offering and for other similar purposes.
`Drawn' water, carried to the miqveh in a bucket or
vessel from a cistern-is impure according to Jewish law.
"Flowing" water or "Living" water-rain or spring or river
water that has flowed directly into the miqveh is ritually pure by Jewish law. What happens when `impure,' drawn water comes into contact with
the pure water? Mishneh Torah law,
"Flowing water, it is said, purifies `drawn' water." So when the `flowing water stored in thecollecting pool is allowed to come into contact with the
`drawn' water via the connecting pipe the `flowing water purifies the `drawn' water and makes the bath ready for
use in the ritual immersion. Complete immersion was required.
The Christian background for water
baptism has this ceremony in mind. John the Baptist was a Jew. John's
father, Zechariah, was a priest of the division of Abijah who served, according to his lot, in the Jerusalem Temple (Luke 1: 5,9). A delegation
from the Pharisees investigated John, asking him if he was Elijah or `the prophet' (John
1: 19-28; cf. Deut. 18:18). He proclaimed the presence of the
Kingdom of Heaven. (Mt. 3:1) We may therefore reasonably conclude
that John's baptism was not something new. It was something that grew out
of Jewish ritual immersion in miqveh.
What was the role of John and other
baptizers in Christian tradition? Were they administering the baptism,
immersing those who were being baptized? The evidence is technical and
inconclusive. It is possible and probable that John did not "administer the sacrament,"
but rather witnessed the rite. Jewish law required ritual immersion in the miqveh to
be witnessed, although it is clear that
the person immersed him or herself. The Mishnah uses
the words: 'tabal'
= immersed himself and `tabelu' = immersed themselves.
The major difference between Jewish
ritual immersion and Christian baptism has been mentioned by a number of
scholars who have considered the possible relationship between the two. Jewish ritual
immersion is purifying. Christian baptism is initiatory; it is a
one-time ritual that initiates the person into the Christian sect.
Initiatory baptism, however, has its
parallels in Jewish proselyte baptism. Three things were required of a
proselyte to Judaism: circumcision, the offering of a sacrifice and immersion in
the miqveh. After the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., the sacrifice was no longer required. While the Church confined its missionary
activities to Jews; circumcision was not an issue. When it decided to
reach out to Gentiles, the requirement of circumcision was discontinued.
This left ritual immersion in the miqveh as the ONLY
applicable Jewish requirement of conversion. Ritual immersion (i.e. baptism) became the central
Christian initiatory rite.
2. BAPTISM MEANS
The word 'baptizo'
means: to dip, or immerse. The secondary meaning is the idea of `influence' and
`identification.' Dale says: "When an object or person is strongly
influenced by an object or person, then it becomes identified in that
particular area of influence. Example: When a white cloth was influenced by a red
dye, it becomes identified with the red dye by taking on its color characteristics. Whatever is capable of
thoroughly changing the character, state or
condition of any object, is capable of baptizing that object.
Various Greek Lexicons give the
meanings: to dip, to plunge, submerge, and to wash, cleanse. To put into or
under water so as to entirely immerse or submerge. Washing and cleansing may
be performed by immersing, pouring, or sprinkling. Early Christian baptism
involved (1) immersion, or (2) effusion - pouring water from a
container over the person being baptized, or (3) aspersion - sprinkling.
Next time we will examine the power of
using the name of Jesus and its meanings. I strongly suggest if you have not
been baptized in water that you seek out a bible believing fellowship and get
connected. Until next time, God bless you.
(Dr. Terry L. Thompson can be
contacted for leadership training, seminars and weekend ministry.
Contact him to participate in his next missions trip to Mexico. PO Box
721 Montgomery, TX 77356. He may also be contacted through his website:
(terrylthompson.com)
Part 1
By Dr. Terry L Thompson
Ezekiel
36:24-28 "For I will
take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.225 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all
your idols. 261 will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a
heart of flesh. 2'I will put My Spirit
within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall
dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. "
Water Baptism, as instituted in the
New Testament, is the means by which a believer is united with Christ (Galatians
3: 2728). It is more than a ritual or ceremony. In the New Testament, it is never
mentioned as an act alone. Rather, its meaning always includes the
entire redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8: 12; 2:
38-41). The new covenant relationship, which God promised, becomes tangible
through water baptism. As the "old man" is cut away and buried, we
experience "the newness of life" in Christ (II
Corinthians 5: 17; Hebrews 8: 6-13).
Brother Andrew, "God's
Smuggler" remarked at a meeting in London, England, "...the major issue of conflict would prove to be over water baptism, not the
baptism in the Spirit..." Many of us who are committed to the Spirit's work of restoration in the church are more than ever convinced of the great
importance of this sacrament. The
New Testament practice of immersing new converts in Christ in water, does something significant for
the convert. It does something
significant for the body of believers to whom he is being added. It does something to the watching world.
Perhaps most important of all, it
does something to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. If it involves contention in the heavens, little wonder it evokes some controversy on earth.
Where the gospel is being preached to heathen communities, as foreign missionaries will vouch, it is not the act of receiving
Christ on the part of say, a Hindu or a Muslim - not even his public confession
of Christ - but his baptism in water that seems to stir up
persecution. The
adversary is evidently strongly antagonistic
to the water baptism of believers. F.
B. Meyer used to say, "A man may be as old as Methuselah and still not qualify for baptism." It is not a question of age, but of
faith. It is believers' baptism that we advocate.
Let us examine
this very important sacrament given to the church by its Head, the Lord Jesus
Christ and discover the origins, benefits, and participation in this
act.
1.
BACKGROUND OF BAPTISM
Jewish ritual of immersion baths. {migveh} There were two such
baths that were found at the Masada Excavation. It
was composed of a complex of three
connecting pools. These pools were used
to meet the requirements of Talmudic law for ceremonial cleansing. First, the small pool was for cleaning purposes {washing feet, hands, body, etc.} The other two
larger pools were for the body and
were connected by a conduit for running water.
The ritual bathing pool was meant not
for hygienic cleansing, but rather for ritual purification. Normal dirt, such as
dust on the feet, was removed before entering the miqveh. Hence the need of the small pool for washing near, but unconnected to
the immersion pool. Ritual purity was required of a Jew before entering the Temple Mount,
before making a sacrifice, before receiving the benefit of a
priestly offering and for other similar purposes.
`Drawn' water, carried to the miqveh in a bucket or
vessel from a cistern-is impure according to Jewish law.
"Flowing" water or "Living" water-rain or spring or river
water that has flowed directly into the miqveh is ritually pure by Jewish law. What happens when `impure,' drawn water comes into contact with
the pure water? Mishneh Torah law,
"Flowing water, it is said, purifies `drawn' water." So when the `flowing water stored in thecollecting pool is allowed to come into contact with the
`drawn' water via the connecting pipe the `flowing water purifies the `drawn' water and makes the bath ready for
use in the ritual immersion. Complete immersion was required.
The Christian background for water
baptism has this ceremony in mind. John the Baptist was a Jew. John's
father, Zechariah, was a priest of the division of Abijah who served, according to his lot, in the Jerusalem Temple (Luke 1: 5,9). A delegation
from the Pharisees investigated John, asking him if he was Elijah or `the prophet' (John
1: 19-28; cf. Deut. 18:18). He proclaimed the presence of the
Kingdom of Heaven. (Mt. 3:1) We may therefore reasonably conclude
that John's baptism was not something new. It was something that grew out
of Jewish ritual immersion in miqveh.
What was the role of John and other
baptizers in Christian tradition? Were they administering the baptism,
immersing those who were being baptized? The evidence is technical and
inconclusive. It is possible and probable that John did not "administer the sacrament,"
but rather witnessed the rite. Jewish law required ritual immersion in the miqveh to
be witnessed, although it is clear that
the person immersed him or herself. The Mishnah uses
the words: 'tabal'
= immersed himself and `tabelu' = immersed themselves.
The major difference between Jewish
ritual immersion and Christian baptism has been mentioned by a number of
scholars who have considered the possible relationship between the two. Jewish ritual
immersion is purifying. Christian baptism is initiatory; it is a
one-time ritual that initiates the person into the Christian sect.
Initiatory baptism, however, has its
parallels in Jewish proselyte baptism. Three things were required of a
proselyte to Judaism: circumcision, the offering of a sacrifice and immersion in
the miqveh. After the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., the sacrifice was no longer required. While the Church confined its missionary
activities to Jews; circumcision was not an issue. When it decided to
reach out to Gentiles, the requirement of circumcision was discontinued.
This left ritual immersion in the miqveh as the ONLY
applicable Jewish requirement of conversion. Ritual immersion (i.e. baptism) became the central
Christian initiatory rite.
2. BAPTISM MEANS
The word 'baptizo'
means: to dip, or immerse. The secondary meaning is the idea of `influence' and
`identification.' Dale says: "When an object or person is strongly
influenced by an object or person, then it becomes identified in that
particular area of influence. Example: When a white cloth was influenced by a red
dye, it becomes identified with the red dye by taking on its color characteristics. Whatever is capable of
thoroughly changing the character, state or
condition of any object, is capable of baptizing that object.
Various Greek Lexicons give the
meanings: to dip, to plunge, submerge, and to wash, cleanse. To put into or
under water so as to entirely immerse or submerge. Washing and cleansing may
be performed by immersing, pouring, or sprinkling. Early Christian baptism
involved (1) immersion, or (2) effusion - pouring water from a
container over the person being baptized, or (3) aspersion - sprinkling.
Next time we will examine the power of
using the name of Jesus and its meanings. I strongly suggest if you have not
been baptized in water that you seek out a bible believing fellowship and get
connected. Until next time, God bless you.
(Dr. Terry L. Thompson can be
contacted for leadership training, seminars and weekend ministry.
Contact him to participate in his next missions trip to Mexico. PO Box
721 Montgomery, TX 77356. He may also be contacted through his website:
(terrylthompson.com)
