Read Hebrews 5: 11-Hebrews 6: 2.
“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment” Hebrews 6:1-2.
The basic of Christianity is faith in the finished work of Christ. According to the author of Hebrews, we need to move on from the basic teachings of Christianity and move on to maturity.
But what do the Jews believe about baptism? Baptism in the Old Testament means “washing”. Levitical laws required women who just had their monthly discharge to wash themselves as the “unclean” cannot enter the sanctuary to worship. This was what Bathsheba was doing when King David first saw her from his palace. This was done, not only for the hygiene but for ceremonial purposes.
WHAT BAPTISM IS NOT.
1. Baptism is NOT pouring. It means “to immerse.” Christian baptism involves the immersion of the whole body into the water. Pouring is done only when water is not available.
“People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” Matthew 3:5.
2. Baptism does NOT cleanse sin. It is the perfect blood of Jesus Christ that cleansed us from our sins. Jesus went through baptism as proof of his righteousness. He identified with our sins and became our substitute.
“Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented” Matthew 3:15.
3. Baptism is NOT a formula. Some people think of baptism as something with a right process of doing. Some think they need to be baptized in the “name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”, while some think that it has to be done “in Jesus’ name”.
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
1. Baptism of Repentance.
“And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” Mark 1:4.
Repentance has to precede baptism. Baptism is a public declaration of the Lordship of Christ. An infant cannot choose his eternal destiny. You need to have adequate understanding to decide on this.
2. Baptism celebrates the newness of life.
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3.
Baptism is not a manner of cleansing. For the Jews, it was an acknowledgement of a change of status.
When we go through baptism, we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. We identify with his death, burial and resurrection. We bury our “old self”. And when we are dead, there should be no more reaction to the “old sin”. We rise up to a new life.
3. Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit refers to the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us power. He gives us spiritual gifts so that we can be a blessing to others.
“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” Acts 1:4.
We were in a life of sin. God arrested us, changed us and convicted us to turn away from sins. When we receive baptism, we make a public declaration that we are now serving Jesus Christ.
SINCE WE BELONG TO CHRIST, WE MUST BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS
LAYING ON OF HANDS. We lay hands on other people so that we can be a conduit of the blessings of God. There is power transferred from the one who laid hands to the other person. Some of the reasons we lay hands on other people are:
a. To Ordain or Commission pastors. Laying on of hands is a sign or a stamp of approval for the ministry of men.
b. To minister the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus can fill us with the Spirit.
c. To impart spiritual blessings. As Moses transferred the anointing to Joshua (Deuteronomy 34:9) and the elders laid hands on 7 reliable men (Acts 6).
d. To impart family blessings. Fathers have the power to bless their children and their spouses. Jacob blessed his sons (Genesis 49). Our hands are used to nurture and protect our children, not to hurt them. Even in discipline, we use a rod not our own hands.
e. To minister healing. When we pray for the sick people, we lay our hands on them and believe that God will heal them.
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