maybe someone would be so kind to tell me what baptism is for?
i have heard some say it’s a first act of obedience. i asked for chapter and verse - none are ever provided.
i have heard other say it’s a picture of the salvation which has already happened. i asked for chapter and verse - none are ever provided.
"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). This message was first proclaimed to ISRAEL by John the Baptist and was later taken up by Jesus Christ(Matt. 4:17) and His twelve apostles(Matt.10:5-7). The proclamation of this message and its results are what the "Four Gospels" record.
The fact that this kingdom was now proclaimed "at hand" indicates that it had been predicted and expected. Under the Old Covenant God had promised:
"Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, AND AN HOLY NATION. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL(Ex. 19:5,6).
Until they DID obey God's voice, only CERTAIN people in ISRAEL were set apart as PRIESTS, but in connection with the coming of Messiah and the CONVERSION OF ALL ISRAEL, God later promised that they would indeed become a WHOLE NATION OF PRIESTS THROUGH WHOM THE GENTILES SHOULD APPROACH GOD:
"But Ye shall be named the PRIESTS OF THE LORD: Men shall call you the MINISTERS OF OUR GOD..."(Isa. 61:6).
The FIRST RITE to be performed at the INDUCTION OF THE PRIEST into his office was his WASHING WITH WATER(Ex. 29:4). This spoke of his NEED OF CLEANSING BEFORE APPROACHING THE PRESENCE OF GOD. Hence, as John proclaimed the kingdom at hand, in which ALL ISRAEL SHOULD STAND BEFORE GOD AS PRIESTS, he demanded repentance and water baptism for the remission of sins(Mark 1:4). Under the MOSIAC LAW, the priests and those ceremonially "unclean" were both washed, or baptized. Thus under the KINGDOM PROGRAM the Jews and the "unclean" Gentiles alike had to be baptized(Matt. 28:19).
John's baptism was associated with the manifestation of Christ to Israel."And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water"(John 1:31). John baptized the people "for the remission of sins". This was not changed after the resurrection of Christ, for at Pentecost Peter offered Christ's return and the times of refreshing to ISRAEL, again calling upon them to "repent and be baptized...for the remission of sins"(Acts2:38). This was in strict obedience to the COMMISSION given to him BY THE RISEN LORD, in which it was expressly stated that "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"(Mark 16:16).
The departure from this Kingdom program came with Israel's REJECTION of her risen Messiah and the raising up of Paul to proclaim THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD. But it was NOT discontinued all at once. Even after the raising up of Paul God STILL continued for SOME TIME to stretch forth His hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people(Rom.10:21). This departure, however, did NOT begin until AFTER Saul's conversion. Then Peter was sent to the first Gentile family only to have his sermon interrupted while, to the astonishment of His companions, these Gentiles were saved and received the Holy Spirit APART from water baptism(Acts10:44-46). True, Peter THEN baptized them(Acts10:47) to keep the record straight, but the departure from the program of the "great commission" is clear. The practice of water baptism continued for some time after this, WHILE CHRIST WAS STILL BEING MADE MANIFEST TO ISRAEL.
But, in the ministry of Paul, with which the REST OF ACTS IS CONCERNED, water baptism IS NEVER REQUIRED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. Obviously then, another commission was replacing that given to Peter and the 11 before Christ's ascension.
It is significant that Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles and minister of the body of Christ NEVER ONCE, IN ANY OF HIS LETTERS, COMMANDS OR EVEN EXHORTS US TO BE BAPTIZED WITH WATER.
You would think that if it were still the mechanism for the remission of sins, Paul SURELY would have demanded it. Otherwise, all who heard him would have walked away unsaved, having not been baptized.
maybe someone would be so kind to tell me what baptism is for?
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If you’ve been paying attention to the links I’ve been posting, you’ll see they come from http://executableoutlines.com/home.htm
Mark A. Copeland is a Minister of the Gospel and has over 1700 sermons and lessonns on - well EVERYTHING related to Scripture. I encourage you - as does he - to use his outlines in your personal studies and in teaching others.
Anyway - THIS. This is the one of the best study guides out there on the subject of Baptism. 45 pages. Covers all the bases.
Baptism - A Very Special Study.
http://executableoutlines.com/pdf/ba_so.pdf