Water Baptism (Part 1 of 2)

Some Interesting facts ...

The technical word for Baptise comes from the Greek word “Baptiso”.

As the English language does not end with an “o”; we replace it with an “e”. The original Greek word actually means “to dip, to dip under, to bathe”.

So obviously if we are referring to water baptism; we are saying we should submerge under the water.

But that only answers the technical aspect of baptism.

To understand the meaning of Baptism; we have to understand how it all originated.

We read in Luke 3:3; that John the Baptist was travelling along the Jordan river preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and thereby fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah; that a voice in the desert would prepare the way for the Lord made more than 1200 years earlier.

But what was this baptism of repentance?

To understand this; we need to understand another technical Greek word called “Metandeo”. This word means to “Have another mind” or “A changing of the Mind”.

So, if you are asked to change your mind to view sin for what it is, what does it actually mean ?

John was calling the people around the Jordan river to repent of there sins as God was soon going to reveal to them how they are going to be restored to God.

So what were these people doing – The majority being Jews? ....

They repented of their sins and were taken under the water illustrating the death to sin and emerged out of the water with a change in there minds.
Now obviously many Jews were baptized; whilst many others were not.
You had the Pharisees and Sadducees that looked at this and thought “As the moral and priestly leaders, we don’t need to repent"; and consequently there was no changing of the mind and when Jesus came they could not understand His prophetic significance or fulfilment.

The baptism of repentance - "John the Baptists' baptism" was simply repenting and being dipped or submerged under the water showing your death to sin and your mental shift that you would no longer be a slave to sin; but would fight and turn from it.

We turn to Exodus 30:20 and read In the Tabernacle service, the priests were instructed to wash at laver of water before they went before the Lord in the sanctuary. So important was washing at the laver that the priest who neglected to do so would die.
In the 3rd book of the old Testament “Leviticus”; God shows us how under the old covenant, he had established strict laws for the Jewish Priests and in certain circumstances for there family to follow.
The book of Leviticus (chapter 22), details some of the things Aaron and his Sons, as Priests were to follow. These included :

If the priest had skin diseases; he could not partake in eating the sacred offerings until He was clean.
He could not touch a corpse, an unclean person, or have sex resulting in the emission of Semen and then partake in Gods ceremony. He would remain unclean until the evening.

Now obviously, there were different periods of exclusion based on the degrees of impurity – as they operated under the law; which thankfully, we are not. In many of these cases; it was the law, that if they were unclean, they would rendered unclean for a certain period; which would involve loss of privileges.

When the period was over; they would wash there whole bodies with water to signify that there privileges have been restored and they were cleaned of their impurities.
Similarly, a leper was pronounced clean only when he was cured of the disease and then he would wash his body down with water; once again signifying he was clean. Take note; the water did not make them clean. In other words, it was not Holy water. Nowhere in the Old testament or in the new testament; did this water ever become “Holy Water”. It was an outward sign that they were now free of sin – made righteous before God and had there full privileges bestowed back on them.

In Acts 2:38; Peter says to a crowd of 3000 or more people : “Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins”.

From these scriptures we see that the two essential requirements before one can be baptized is:
Repentance; i.e., a changing of the mind to wilfully turn away from your sinful nature
Faith | Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to the earth to absolve you of your sins.

That’s it – nothing more ...

Paul shows us how through baptism we have a symbolic relationship with Jesus Christ.
In the old testament, what was used as an outward expression that the Jewish race was Gods’ special people. Yes, they all had to be circumcised. In the new testament we have a blood covenant with Jesus Christ. We are washed free of our sin. This is outwardly symbolized by being baptized.

Romans 6:1 to 11 reveals the following information about our relationship with the Lord:

The symbolism of baptism is perhaps the most beautiful symbolism ever known to man. Paul refers to this special symbolism as being "in Christ".
We are assured by the scriptures on many occasions that when God looks at us, He sees His Son.
We are seen as one; and it is for this reason we can enter into His presence. Paul, in Romans refers to this when he says that we are covered in Jesus' robe of Righteousness.

Next Section - Water Baptism: Christening & Salvation questions!
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Scripture quotations marked " NIV " are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version.