14/11/09

Are you baptized in water or Lord Jesus Christ?

John 1:30,31 - This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.


One becomes a true Christian only when one is baptized in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some put water on their head and call themselves baptized. Others immerse themselves in water and consider themselves baptized.

It is very sad that people still do not know what baptism really is.

In Acts there were people who were baptized by being immersed in water yet Paul again gets them baptized in Jesus Christ. We also have record in Acts where people who were not baptized in water still receive Baptism of Holy Spirit. Acts also has records which state that those who were baptized in water were not automatically baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Paul clearly states that water is just a symbol and we need to be baptized in the truth of Jesus Christ. Also a Jew does not become a Jew by circumcision but by the truth.

It is time real Christians be born in the truth.

So let us be born again by shaking off all our worldly understanding and come into a new life in Jesus Christ like the Israelites did when they crossed the Red Sea, the generations of Abraham did by circumcision and the family of Noah did through the floods.

It is only after we are baptized in Lord Jesus Christ will we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

People in Acts were very sure that they were or were not baptized in the Holy Spirit although there was no symbolism like in baptism of water. Are all of us sure that we are baptized in the Holy Spirit. If not than we are not sure of entering Heaven.

Although Jesus again and again reiterated that water and Spirit baptism is a must, yet He himself did not water baptize anyone. He was not again immersing in water for His disciples did, but Jesus concentrated on the true water baptism.

Symbolism is not going to save you, but the truth will.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord God, You are Spirit. Your ways are not ways of flesh but of Spirit. Help your people Lord, to overcome the flesh so that they can see your Kingdom and enter...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
John 3:3-6
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 4:1-2
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

Acts 19:1-5
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Romans 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:
29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Acts 8:35-38
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
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?
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.
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.

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