BAPTISM
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
During baptism, we celebrate that someone has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Another believer or congregation dips him or her under the water and then lifts him or her out of it. This is a beautiful biblical symbol.
What does baptism mean?
Acts 22, 16. Water symbolizes that our sins were washed away. The chapter 1 Corinthians shows well that the one who gets baptized expresses that they no longer want to live the way they did before they accepted Jesus as their Savior.
All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23.
It is not because our Heavenly Father would reject us that we do not sin. But we do not sin because we have been freed from sin! We know that the consequence of sin is destruction and that whoever commits sin is the slave to sin. John 8, 34. But we have come out of darkness and slavery and have been given new life. Col 1, 13. When we come out of the water, it symbolizes that we are clean, we can live in the power of God, we have received a new heart and a new life (Ez 36, 26.) – this spiritual truth is symbolized by immersion.
The importance of baptism
Jesus considered baptism so important that He was baptized even though he had no sin. Matthew 3, 13- Then John the Baptist and many of his disciples saw that the Holy Spirit had descended on Jesus. This also shows that baptism in Holy Spirit and water baptism are events that reinforce each other's meaning. Both show that we praise God with our whole lives, we give Him our whole life. We are united totally with Jesus and let His Spirit fully overtake our lives. Jesus began His ministry only after his baptism, so baptism is preparation.
Jesus' last words on Earth are of great importance and He ordered baptism:
Jesus came to them and said: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always until the end of the world." Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 16:16 is similar: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be damned.
So Jesus considered baptism so important that He connected it with salvation. Although we do not read that those who believe but are not baptized will go to hell. That wouldn't be true. But God's good plan for us is that people accept Jesus as their Savior, confess their faith to people (Romans 10:10), and then to act according to their faith, out of obedience: to get baptised as their Lord Jesus commanded. Because faith is always followed by actions (James 2:26), and this celebration can be one of our first acts of faith. This is how we experience salvation in its fullness.
WHAT CHANGES?
THE NAME
They baptize the believer in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yes, the original language says to be baptized into these names. (INTO!) And the name means POWER, strength. This is also proven by the fact that Jesus said in the same passage that all power on earth and in heaven had been given to him. Matthew 28, 18.
We also know from everyday life that when someone acts on behalf of his boss, they refer to his name, they act on his behalf. The name opens doors, it has power. The Pharisees also knew this well, which is why they asked them not to perform miracles in Jesus' name - and that is why they later forbade the disciples to preach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4, 18. Further Bible verses about the name of Jesus: John 10, 25. Psalm 128, 4. John 20, 31. Acts 3, 16.
NEW FAMILY
When Jesus was baptized, the Father from heaven said: You are my Son, with whom I am well pleased! Jesus was already His Son before that, of course, but He declared this to everyone then. Similarly, when someone is baptized, they celebrate that they have joined their heavenly family and their earthly family - the church accepts them and protects them, helps them, advises them so that they can remain in faith for a lifetime and finally go to heaven. (It's not for nothing that Jesus commanded baptism - just think about it, you can't baptize yourself, you need brothers and sisters for that!)
CELEBRATION
Celebrations are very important to God. Exodus 12, 14. This is also evident from the fact that when the prodigal son repented, his father held a huge celebration! Every time Israel experienced a deliverance, a celebration was held afterwards, which was then kept year after year, generation after generation. The purpose of the celebration is that the people do not forget God's deliverance and therefore always trust in Him.
A celebration brings joy, and the Lord's joy is our strength! So joy gives strength! Nehemiah 8, 10.
Maybe someone says that they don't want to be baptized, because they have known and loved God for years... They don't miss it... Holy Spirit, when I asked Him what I should answer to this suggestion - He reminded me of the wedding. Just imagine what it would be like if a wedding wasn't celebrated, and even their witness would only be invited in from the street... Wouldn't we suspect that the couple isn't really happy, is ashamed of their marriage - or doesn't understand how important marriage is? Of course, their marriage would be valid, just as conversion would be valid even without baptism. But if it is celebrated, it is an eternal memory, it reminds us of the importance of marriage in difficult times and the importance of our vows.
SPIRITUAL IMPORTANCE
Baptism is also important in the spirit world (the world of God and the devils). In this world, symbols are decisive. This is proven by many stories in the Bible, e.g. that of the bronze serpent. Numbers 21, 8. When the Jewish people were bitten by snakes, Moses set a bronze snake on a pole and it symbolized that God took away the poison of the animals. Whoever looked at the bronze serpent with faith got healed.
The cross meant that whoever hung on it - was cursed. Jesus also hung on the tree, so He carried and destroyed the curses. Gal. 3, 13.
The Bible compares baptism to Noah's flood. There were extremely wicked people in the old world and they were washed away by the flood. This is how the water washed away sins from the believer's heart during baptism. 1 Peter 3, 20, 21.
Who can be baptized?
God left this partly to the churches, whom they accept as righteous. John 20, 23. So they have a great responsibility not to be too strict, but not too lenient, either. Let the Holy Spirit and love guide them in this.
Of course, it is best if the matter is clear, when there is a visible change in the character of the person after conversion. John the Baptist also emphasized that the person who gets baptized should exhibit the fruits of faith- good actions. Matthew 3, 8.
I believe that only a person who believes in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior- should be baptized. Moreover, the person should believe that Jesus is God, believe in the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Word. They should not live in sins, but want to follow Jesus wholeheartedly for a lifetime. As for the "modern" lifestyle, I think it is important that those who get baptized do not live in an extramarital relationship. The apostles also highlighted this as an important point. Acts 15, 20.
A DISCIPLE
Jesus commanded us to teach the believers to follow Him and to baptize the disciples. Matthew 28, 19. So it is those who want to follow Jesus – who should be baptized!
Why is it important to follow Jesus every day? Because faith is permanent, it is not just a decision valid for one day, but every day we decide anew to live in faith.
A story illustrates this well. The Bible compares baptism to when the Jewish people left Egypt. As they crossed the Red Sea, the Egyptians went after them, but they were washed away by the water. After that, the Jews did not go back to Egypt, but went to the desert. They could only survive with God's help, relying on His guidance, miracles, and strength. This is true to us too. 1 Peter 3, 21. Our sins were washed away by the water like the Red Sea washed away the Egyptians, and we do not want to return to the Egypt of sins.
So there is no compromise. We cannot live as redeemed without God's power and Word - just as the Jews could not have survived the desert alone.
MIRACLE
I read about a miracle in Reinhard Bonnke's book, which also proves what a great thing happens at baptism. They were baptizing people in a river when a demonized woman approached them. They could see from her incomplete clothing, from her crazy behavior that she was mad - under the influence of demons. But when she ran into the river, her mind got completely healed, freed from demons. She regained consciousness and was able to continue living as a completely normal person.
How wonderful is God's grace! Even someone who suffered under such demonic oppression – a person who could not repent - was delivered in the presence of God's Spirit. I believe that demons fear and see if someone has the blood of Jesus on their life and also if they have been baptized. Water is a symbol of Holy Spirit and the Word in the Bible (John 7, 38. Revelation 1, 15), we can immerse into them completely, and we will be strengthened, refreshed and renewed by them. Amen.
Below you can read another article about baptism that already existed in the Old Testament and about the story of Naaman, who experienced a similar baptism and was healed!
The Miracle at Baptism
The practice of baptism already existed before the appearance of John the Baptist. When the Gentiles (non-Jews) became Jews and accepted the God of Israel, the ten commandments and other rules, this was expressed with a ceremony, water baptism.*
Naaman, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian king's army, experienced a similar event to baptism, when he bathed seven times in the Jordan - obeying the words of the prophet Elisha - and was miraculously cured of leprosy! His faith and this story are also mentioned in the New Testament as an example from which we can learn! Luke 4, 27.
Naaman was an influential and respected person of the king, and he came to Israel with the best letter of recommendation and rich gifts. When he met the prophet, Elisha did not go out to greet him or lay his hands on him, but only told him that if he bathed in the Jordan seven times, he would be healed. At this Naaman was offended, because he thought that this method and this river did not suit his rank. But in the end his servants persuaded him to believe the word of the prophet. That's how he was cured.
When he washed himself, he probably took off his clothes, armor, rank insignia and stood in the river of Jews like anyone else. When he took off his clothes, he left behind his previous successes, the esteem of people, his own ideas, human logic, the rich gift and the letter of recommendation, his hope in false gods and false methods. He and God were there one-on one. God, who had promised that he would be cleansed by the water of the Jordan -> so Naaman acknowledged that also needed to be cleansed. 2 Kings 5, 1-17.
But what did Naaman gain? The God of Israel declared him clean and he was healed, his skin became like that of a little child. He got converted to the God of Israel and realized that He alone is the true God and he no longer wanted to pray to anyone else. **
Before someone gets baptized, maybe they don't understand what it's for! But we leave the reasonings of the mind behind and obey Holy Spirit. We do something that may shock our unbelieving relatives at first, but eventually make them think. Because in white clothes, next to the baptism pool, everyone is equal, everyone is a converted sinner - then everyone is born again, a son of God, a royal priest, united with Jesus.
*I wrote this based on Pastor Dénes Bordi's study. (from Hungary)
** I wrote these paragraphs based on the sermon of Pastor Robert Baráti. (from Hungary)
NAAMAN AND HEALING
Luke 4, 27. Jesus: Many lepers lived in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them was healed, except for Naaman, who was not even from Israel, but from Syria.
But what was so special about Naaman?
Naaman accepted grace… For it was grace that Naaman's servants persuaded him to yield to the prophetic word.
These servants represent the great Servant, the Holy Spirit in the story, who by grace leads us into all truth. So let's not be afraid that we will fail or that our faith would be too little! He gives faith for everything!
Even if one were as far from God as Syrian culture and faith are from the truth, God can still convince a person of the truth. Just think it over: At first Naaman wanted to give money as a reward for healing, he was too proud to obey, he believed in false gods and stuck to his own ideas. But in the end he left it all behind.
I pray that you, my dear Reader get a personal revelation for your healing, obey His Word courageously, even if you have to leave your old ideas behind. I bless you with a thirst for deliverance and I bless your spiritual eyes to see that God's will for you is healing - and it is done! I bless you so that you know that through Jesus Christ you have received a new, clean heart and a new, strong body.
Witnesses
Let the word of two or three witnesses confirm every confession! 2 Cor 13, 1.
When I asked God why baptism is important, He pointed me to this Word above. If people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, they "authenticate" it to themselves and to God with two things. They believe in their heart and says it with their mouth. They confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that they believe in Him. Rome 10, 9.
These people witness their faith to other people by professing their faith and by being baptized. And of course all kinds of good deeds that come from the heart are witnesses, too.