MEET THE REAL BAPTISM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST!

Bob Thompson

Forward:  Many Baptists are under the mistaken notion that the baptism they practice is identical to the baptism of John. Many believe they are spiritual descendants of John the Baptist.  The Mormons, Watchtower Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists and the so-called Church of Christ are likewise persuaded that the baptism they follow is very similar to John’s.

JOHN’S RIGHT TO BAPTIZE IS QUESTIONED! 

            “And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, [John] and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet.” John 1:24-25.   

            NOTICE, the Pharisees did not take issue with John as to his method of baptism.  They merely questioned his right to baptize! This means that John’s baptism adhered to the law of Moses. Had it not, the Pharisees and Sadducees, whom John had so untactfully labeled as a “generation of vipers,” would have welcomed the opportunity to stone him to death—had he wilfully violated the Mosaic law by his method of baptism..   

             This basic fact of John’s baptism led me to more carefully examine the law of Moses on the subject of baptism.  And, I discovered, to my surprise, that sprinkling was the only means by which people were baptized under the law of Moses.  

            But I was in for an even greater surprise!.  As I continued on my journey through the Bible on the subject, I could not find one, single, solitary instance where one man unmistakably baptized another by immersion. That there was “much water” (as in John 3:23) and that both baptizer and baptizee “went down into the water” and “both came up out of the water” (as in Acts 8:38-39) we cannot deny. But immersion in water can be denied for it is nowhere in Scripture. Why not be a Berean, friend, (Acts 17:11) and find out for yourself. 

            I could only conclude that baptism by immersion has been assumed as Biblical due to tradition, personal preference, and a failure to rightly divide the Word of truth.  

            Consider the enormous body of water salvationists who have assumed that the Bible teaches water by immersion. And the millions of factionalized, professing evangelical Christians who have been (as they say) “symbolically” immersed in water as “an outward form of an inward work of grace”? (whatever that means)  But the Bible cries, “foul,” and invalidates each and every one of their baptismal services.   

            Approx. 99% of organized religion practices a modified form of Judaism, Israel’s ceremonial religion that was made obsolete on the cross nearly 2000 years ago, though not revealed as obsolete until Paul wrote Eph. 2:14-15 and Col. 2:14.. This explains why, during the Acts period, thousands of believing Jews observed the law of Moses with God’s blessings.(Acts  21:18-25)  But, today, there is no Biblical reason for either Jew or Gentile Christians, who have been “made one new man in Christ,” to engage in physical ordinances. Why? Because all were abolished at the cross. Thus, ceremonial religion is dead, so far as God is concerned. Christians, therefore, who engage in water baptism (and we could add the Lord’s supper, tithing, day keeping, and temple worship) are, figuratively speaking, living among the tombs of Judaism, celebrating death.  

            ”HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH (i.e by his death) THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES”   Eph. 2:14-15        

CHRIST’S BAPTISM AT THE HANDS OF JOHN

             “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest thou to me?”  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now:[John]  for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.  Then he suffered Him.” John 3:15. 

             I have a very important question.  Before asking it, however, I’d like us take a moment to look at Matt. 5:17-18.  Christ is speaking to the multitudes and He says, “Think   not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:  I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all [the law] be fulfilled.” 

             Yes, the perfect Son of God fulfilled it all at the river Jordan!  The last act of law-keeping righteousness required of Him was His baptism at the hands of John. As He told John, “thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.”

             MY QUESTION IS THIS: HOW COULD CHRIST HAVE FULFILLED ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS BY BEING BAPTIZED OF JOHN UNLESS JOHN’S BAPTISM WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE (MOSAIC) LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT CHRIST CAME TO FULFILL??  PLEASE READ THAT AGAIN! 

            It was by asking myself this question over and over that it finally dawned on me that John’s baptism was actually a continuation of the law of Moses!  Therefore, all who follow the example of John the Baptist, with the misconception that he baptized by immersion, are helping to keep Judaism alive and well on planet earth.

         After the book of the Acts period closed, the apostle Paul was led of the Holy Spirit to reveal to the church, for the first time ever, that the middle wall of partition (physical ordinances that kept Jew and Gentile believers apart in their walk) had been abolished at the cross. They could now walk as one new man in Christ, with all racial and national distinctions removed.  It was a glorious deliverance from the burden of the law, which Peter said, “neither we nor our fathers were able to bear...” Acts 15:10.    

                        In closing, allow me to point out that because the middle wall of partition of physical ordinances between Jew and Gentile believers have been erased, you will search Paul’s seven closing epistles in vain for any indication of water baptism, the Lord’s supper, Sabbath keeping, tithing, temple worship, tongues, interpretation of tongues, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophesying, etc. etc..

             Yes, “the Jews require a sign” (1 Cor. 1:22) and God gave her thousands of such signs and wonders that Israel was not able to gainsay it.  These signs and wonders were Christ’s “calling card” to His people, showing that He was, indeed, their long-awaited Messiah. But Israel would not hear, and turned a deaf ear.  Consequently, that tiny nation was cut off from God’s favor, one town, city and hamlet at a time. Acts 13:46; 18:5-6; 28:25-28.

            But the worm will turn, and one day Israel will be miraculously saved from the armies of the North who would tear her to pieces and mourn for Christ “as one mourneth for his only son.”

              This explains why you will not find one, single, solitary incidence of immersion in water by another, anywhere in the Bible. You will, however, find John’s baptism being practiced in the book of Acts as late

             John’s baptism was, as you can see, a continuation of the law of Moses. Therefore, all who regard John as their spiritual father in the matter of baptism, are unwittingly helping to keep Judaism alive and well on planet earth.   
        

 Return to Navigation