12-31-2006, 12:00 AM
What is Baptism a Symbol of?
Baptism is a symbol of repentance and the means by which we receive forgiveness for our sins.
"Peter [said] to them: “Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins, and YOU will receive the free gift of the holy spirit." - Acts 2:38
"owing to no works in righteousness that we had performed, but according to his mercy he saved us through the bath that brought us to life and through the making of us new by holy spirit." - Titus 3:5
"That which corresponds to this is also now saving YOU, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 3:21
If Jesus Was Sinless Why Was He Baptised?
Jesus answers the question himself at Matthew 3:15 "Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous"
In order to be sanctified as high priest under the old covenant Aaron had to be cleansed with water and anointed with oil. (Exodus 29:4,7)
Aaron as High Priest was a type for Jesus Christ.
In order to enter into his role as our High Priest Jesus too had to be cleansed with water and anointed with oil. (Hebrews 2:17) Both conditions were fulfilled at the time of his baptism, "After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove God's spirit coming upon him." - Matthew 3:16
As firstborn among many brothers Jesus set the example by which we too would be born again as Spiritual sons of God. (Romans 8:29)
In speaking to the Pharisee Nicodemus Jesus described the method by which one would be born again as a son of the Kingdom. "Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. What has been born from the flesh is flesh, and what has been born from the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel because I told you, YOU people must be born again." - John 3:5-7
At the time of his baptism he was born from water and as the Holy Spirit came upon him as a dove he was born from spirit and then the voice called from heaven declaring him, "my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved." (Matthew 3:16,17)
Into Who or What Are We Baptised?
"Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved" - Acts 4:12
The Scriptures show we are to be baptised in the name of Jesus alone.
"Peter [said] to them: “Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins ... " - Acts 2:38
"For it had not yet fallen upon any one of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 8:16
"With that he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to remain for some days." - Acts 10:48
"On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 19:5
Did Jesus Command that we be Baptised in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Many religions use a variation of the baptismal formula found at Matthew 28:19 which reads, "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,"
This has been called the trinity formula since it contains the three person of the Godhead. At present time we do not have any complete manuscripts of Matthew prior to the 4th century. All existing manuscripts written thereafter contain this phrase.
However there is some evidence that this reading was not original Early Church historian Eusebius appears to quote from a different manuscript then any we have presently. Eighteen times in between 300 to 336 he cited Matthew 28:19,20 as:
"Go ye and make disciples of all the nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you."
Thre traditional reading of Matthew 28:19 does not appear in Eusebius' writings until after the council of Nicea indicating it may be a later textual variation.
If these words are authentic in no other place in the Scriptures do we see individuals being baptised explicitly in the name of three persons of the "trinity". To the contrast the apostolic example of Scripture shows baptisms being performed in the name of Jesus.
Are We Baptised Under men or Into Man-Made Religions and Organizations?
"What I mean is this, that each one of YOU says: “I belong to Paul,†“But I to A·pol′los,†“But I to Ce′phas,†“But I to Christ.†The Christ exists divided. Paul was not impaled for YOU, was he? Or were YOU baptized in the name of Paul?" - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13
"Or do YOU not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" - Romans 6:3
"For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." - Galatians 3:27
Is the Baptism of Children Scriptural?
At Acts 2:37-38 we read of 3000 men being baptised, "Men, brothers, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins,"]
At Acts 8:12 in regards to the Samaritans, "they proceeded to be baptised, both men and women"
This follows the example of Jesus who was baptized as an adult.
At Luke 2:21,23 "Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized . . . Futhermore, Jesus himself, when he commenced [his work], was about thirty years old"
From the April 1, 2006 Watchtower page 27,28 "Regarding first-century Christians, historian Augustus Neander states in his book General History of the Christian Religion and Church: "Baptism was administered at first only to adults, as men were accustomed to conceive baptism and faith as strictly connected."
Baptism is a symbol of repentance and the means by which we receive forgiveness for our sins.
"Peter [said] to them: “Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins, and YOU will receive the free gift of the holy spirit." - Acts 2:38
"owing to no works in righteousness that we had performed, but according to his mercy he saved us through the bath that brought us to life and through the making of us new by holy spirit." - Titus 3:5
"That which corresponds to this is also now saving YOU, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 3:21
If Jesus Was Sinless Why Was He Baptised?
Jesus answers the question himself at Matthew 3:15 "Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous"
In order to be sanctified as high priest under the old covenant Aaron had to be cleansed with water and anointed with oil. (Exodus 29:4,7)
Aaron as High Priest was a type for Jesus Christ.
In order to enter into his role as our High Priest Jesus too had to be cleansed with water and anointed with oil. (Hebrews 2:17) Both conditions were fulfilled at the time of his baptism, "After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove God's spirit coming upon him." - Matthew 3:16
As firstborn among many brothers Jesus set the example by which we too would be born again as Spiritual sons of God. (Romans 8:29)
In speaking to the Pharisee Nicodemus Jesus described the method by which one would be born again as a son of the Kingdom. "Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. What has been born from the flesh is flesh, and what has been born from the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel because I told you, YOU people must be born again." - John 3:5-7
At the time of his baptism he was born from water and as the Holy Spirit came upon him as a dove he was born from spirit and then the voice called from heaven declaring him, "my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved." (Matthew 3:16,17)
Into Who or What Are We Baptised?
"Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved" - Acts 4:12
The Scriptures show we are to be baptised in the name of Jesus alone.
"Peter [said] to them: “Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins ... " - Acts 2:38
"For it had not yet fallen upon any one of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 8:16
"With that he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to remain for some days." - Acts 10:48
"On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 19:5
Did Jesus Command that we be Baptised in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Many religions use a variation of the baptismal formula found at Matthew 28:19 which reads, "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,"
This has been called the trinity formula since it contains the three person of the Godhead. At present time we do not have any complete manuscripts of Matthew prior to the 4th century. All existing manuscripts written thereafter contain this phrase.
However there is some evidence that this reading was not original Early Church historian Eusebius appears to quote from a different manuscript then any we have presently. Eighteen times in between 300 to 336 he cited Matthew 28:19,20 as:
"Go ye and make disciples of all the nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you."
Thre traditional reading of Matthew 28:19 does not appear in Eusebius' writings until after the council of Nicea indicating it may be a later textual variation.
If these words are authentic in no other place in the Scriptures do we see individuals being baptised explicitly in the name of three persons of the "trinity". To the contrast the apostolic example of Scripture shows baptisms being performed in the name of Jesus.
Are We Baptised Under men or Into Man-Made Religions and Organizations?
"What I mean is this, that each one of YOU says: “I belong to Paul,†“But I to A·pol′los,†“But I to Ce′phas,†“But I to Christ.†The Christ exists divided. Paul was not impaled for YOU, was he? Or were YOU baptized in the name of Paul?" - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13
"Or do YOU not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" - Romans 6:3
"For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." - Galatians 3:27
Is the Baptism of Children Scriptural?
At Acts 2:37-38 we read of 3000 men being baptised, "Men, brothers, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins,"]
At Acts 8:12 in regards to the Samaritans, "they proceeded to be baptised, both men and women"
This follows the example of Jesus who was baptized as an adult.
At Luke 2:21,23 "Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized . . . Futhermore, Jesus himself, when he commenced [his work], was about thirty years old"
From the April 1, 2006 Watchtower page 27,28 "Regarding first-century Christians, historian Augustus Neander states in his book General History of the Christian Religion and Church: "Baptism was administered at first only to adults, as men were accustomed to conceive baptism and faith as strictly connected."