"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
Some believe that being born of the water -- from our mother's womb -- is sufficient. Or, that water baptism (as performed by John the baptizer) is unto repentance, wherein the Jews were baptized in the Jordan, confessing their sins. As John said, "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." (Matthew 3:8)
To reach either of these conclusions, one would have to negate the instructions Jesus gave to Nicodemus. In that conversation, Nicodemus asks, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
Jesus had already given the answer when He told Nicodemus -- "Verily, verily, I say unto thee -- except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) "Marvel not that I said unto thee -- Ye must be born again!"
Did you catch that? We need to be "born again!" We must be born of water a second time. We have already been born of the water from our mother's womb and thus we are alive, but as Jesus so clearly states, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-8)
There needs to be a born again experience, wherein we repent and are water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The condemnation being that the light -- JESUS - is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. "For everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:16-21)
Before one begins thinking that through the water is only a new testament teaching, let's look at a couple of scriptures:.
Apostle Paul writes: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)
Even then, the Israelites were following Christ, the same Christ who was/is the Lord's plan of salvation. As Simeon said, when it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost (that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ) "For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." (Luke 2: 25-35)
But I digress. Washing our flesh in water is the answer of a good conscience toward God, and therefore, has a purpose within God's plan of salvation. (I Peter 3:21)
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just and the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit ... the like figure where unto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 3:18-21)
Sadly, however, there are those who reject water baptism also. We know this from John the baptizer's experience when he tried to get the Pharisees into the water. The Pharisees sending out some to John to as him, "Why baptizes thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet." (John 1:24-26; Matthew 3:11; Malachi 3:1; Acts 19:4) Those who did not believe preferred to stand on the bank. Remember, the Pharisees well versed in the scriptures would have known that the Lord did say in prophecy, "Behold, I will send My messenger and he shall prepare the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come," saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)
Jesus addresses this further in Luke 7, after John sends two of his disciples to Jesus, saying, "Art Thou He that should come? Or look we for another?" (Luke 7: 18-20)
Jesus responds to the two directly, and then speaks afterward to the people concerning John.
"What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled and live delicately are in kings' courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. this is [he] of whom it is written, "Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee." For I say unto you. Among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the baptist/baptizer; but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:21-28; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:7)
Herein the point -- "And all the people that heard [Him] and the publicans justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:29-30; Luke 3:12; Acts 20:27)
The Pharisees and lawyers did not get baptized because these rejected the counsel of God against themselves. Note that the counsel of God was for the nation to repent under water baptism by John, so that these could be saved by the Lamb of God - Jesus. However, as we read, the Pharisees and lawyers were too proud to repent, preferring instead the sidelines. These were not getting into the water under any circumstance. Still, it is noteworthy that Jesus emphasizes water baptism as the ultimate test -- whether we justify or reject God's counsel against ourselves.
Multitudes came to be baptized of John, including the publicans and soldiers likewise. (Luke 3:1-22)
Why? Because as John said, "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I come, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner, but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable." (Luke 3:16-17; Matthew 3:11-12; John 7:39; John 20;22; Acts 4:12)
There was more to be had, and these desired the One yet to come. Note that Jesus did not stop there. Jesus continues saying, "Where unto then shall I like the men of this generation? And to what are they like ..." (Luke 7:21-35)
You see, there will always be those who do not want to get wet -- buried in the water unto Christ, preferring to stand on the banks. And as we see in the modern day religious culture, there are those who refuse to be baptized into Jesus Christ -- buried with Him by baptism unto death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4) Preferring instead to make the Word -- Jesus -- of none effect.
Nevertheless, the Lord has instructed those who believe in Him by faith to be baptized -- "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)
There is so much more to be said here but my point today is to emphasize that we must be born "again" as Jesus told Nicodemus. Other scriptures which will help us understand water baptism and its significance follow. Study these scriptures and ask the Lord to reveal His understanding of Him to you. Stand in the offering plate.
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
"For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 8:16)
"And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:48)
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:5)
"And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His Name.’ (Acts 22:16)
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22; Romans 10:13)
"Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. (Acts 10:44-48)
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