Paul and Baptism

[TrevorHL]

Paul was baptised by Ananias:
Acts 9:17–18 (KJV): 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Paul taught the Galatians that the way to be part of the body of Christ is by belief of the Gospel and baptism.
Galatians 3:26–29 (KJV): 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Paul gave us additional information concerning his baptism by Ananias. After his belief in Jesus it was necessary to be baptised to wash away his sins:
Acts 22:10–16 (KJV): 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[Pierac]

I just posted this 5 min ago... about the same subject.... So it seems to fit here too!

Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit,

Name - This word of course brings to mind an actual name, such as John Doe. But what does it mean to a Jew.

Name - 1. designates more than the external person; it tends to express his basic character, his personality. We might say it is an emanation of the person himself. 2. authority of, expressing attributes, in acknowledgment or confession of (NABD & VED).

This definition helps us in a verse like John 17:26:

"I (Jesus) made known to them your name and I will make it known."

Jesus obviously did not come to inform the Apostles that God’s name is YHWH. He came to explain God’s character, His attributes, His will, so that we could come to truly know God and follow His ways. This understanding of the word "name" along with the definition of the next word "baptize" will clear up this misunderstood verse.

Baptize - We always think of being baptized in water, either as infants or adults. Yes, this definition is used many times in the New Testament, but there is also another meaning that we must store in the back of our minds.

Baptize - 1. to unite together, to become closely bound to.

Now we will put together the definitions of "name" and "baptize" to get the true meaning of Matthew 28:19. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words has this commentary on this verse:

"The phrase in Matthew 28:19, ‘baptize them in the name’ would indicate that the baptized person was closely bound to, or became property of, the one in whose name he was baptized."

With these definitions we can safely paraphrase this verse as follows:

"Go out into the world and introduce or bring them into the knowledge of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Which is exactly what they did. The Apostles had to go into the world and explain to the Gentiles who God is, who the Son (The Messiah) is, and also about the power that they would receive from God’s Spirit. If we take it to mean that we are to water baptize people in the actual name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, then why is it that no one in the Bible ever uses this formula to water baptize believers?

Act 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 10:47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Act 19:3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Rom 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have Been baptized into His death?

As we share the gospel and make disciples, we’re not simply telling people to memorize a doctrine or repeat a prayer. We’re inviting them to be bound to the very essence of God’s presence and purpose. And we do this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—not just as a formula, but as a reflection of God’s ongoing work in the world.

So let us go out and introduce people not just to a title but to a living relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let’s baptize them into a community of love, grace, and transformation.

I like what The Complete Jewish Study Bible Insight for Jews and Christians.... has to say about Matthew 28:19

Mat 28:19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, and teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

As to water baptism… there is only one that truly matters!!!

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians settles this with characteristic economy. There is, he says, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:5-6). One baptism. Not one correct formula distinguished from incorrect ones — one reality into which every sincere act of baptism has been pointing across the whole history of the church. The infant baptized in a cathedral while a priest spoke ancient words over them. The adult immersed in a river while a congregation sang on the bank. The prisoner baptized in a prison sink. The deathbed believer baptized with a cup of water in a hospital room. All of them — imperfect vessels, varying forms, different words — all of them being incorporated into the one reality. The one baptism that is immersion into Christ himself.

That is what Jesus commanded at the end of Matthew. Not a formula to protect. A reality to enter. Go and immerse them into the reality of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The church has been doing exactly that — however imperfectly, however varied the forms — across every century since.

 

[Jack]

ONLY the Blood of Jesus washes away sins!

 

[Armour of God]

So what's the harm of being baptised.
I don't understand people's objection to it.
Jesus himself was baptised.
Aren't all Christians baptised.
It fullfils what the scriptures tell us to do.
One must ignore these parts of scripture in order to reject baptism.

 

[Jack]

So what's the harm of being baptised.
I don't understand people's objection to it.
Jesus himself was baptised.
Aren't all Christians baptised.
It fullfils what the scriptures tell us to do.
One must ignore these parts of scripture in order to reject baptism.

Who's rejecting water baptism? Not me. I was baptized in Jesus' Name as they did in Acts.

 

[Armour of God]

Who's rejecting water baptism?

Some people seem to want to criticise it in one way or another

 

[GRACE ambassador]

Who's rejecting water baptism?

Great question!

Some people seem to want to criticise it in one way or another

With God's Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided, we find This, eh?:

13 Bible baptisms

Thus, no criticism, simply determining Which One God Has For us Today, Under Grace?

---------
And, precious friend(s), Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Edified
In The Lord Jesus Christ and In His Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided:

The Bible: The BIG Picture

Amen.

 

[PeterAndroz]

Some people seem to want to criticise it in one way or another

Water baptism is a great public way of showing your faith in Christ but does NOT justify you nor is it a justification requirement today.
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: .....
If it was a justification requirement TODAY then Paul would have taught it in the Gospel that Christ taught to him :)
+++++++++++++
Gal 1:11-12
11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15:1-4
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Eph 1:13
13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 

[mailmandan]

Paul was baptised by Ananias:
Acts 9:17–18 (KJV): 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Paul had already believed in Christ when Ananias came to pray for him to receive his sight (Acts 9:17). It also should be noted that Paul at the time when Ananias prayed for him to receive his sight, he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17)--this was BEFORE he was water baptized (Acts 9:18). Verse 17 connects his being filled with the Spirit with the receiving of his sight. We know that he received his sight prior to his baptism.

Paul taught the Galatians that the way to be part of the body of Christ is by belief of the Gospel and baptism.
Galatians 3:26–29 (KJV): 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:26 - For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Period.) Not through faith and water baptism. Also read John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. *Received Him, given the right to become children of God, through believing in His name, not through water baptism.

Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on/clothed yourself with Christ. The Greek word for "put on" is "enduo" and means to enclose oneself in, as when one "puts on" clothes or armor or some other item. Involved in this is the idea of "imitation" and "identification." Just as 1 Corinthians 10:2 says that all (the Israelites) were "baptized into Moses" in the cloud and in the sea, but this does not mean that the Israelites were literally water baptized into the body of Moses. We are Spirit baptized into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) and the only sense that we are water baptized into Christ would be in the same sense that the Israelites were baptized into Moses. (1 Corinthians 10:2) There is little dispute that being "baptized into Moses" signified the open allegiance and public identification of the Israelites with Moses as their leader. Moses was formally recognized as the leader of the covenant people. Water baptism signifies our allegiance and public identification with Christ as our Savior, so it would only be in that sense.

Paul gave us additional information concerning his baptism by Ananias. After his belief in Jesus it was necessary to be baptised to wash away his sins:
Acts 22:10–16 (KJV): 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Kind regards
Trevor

*Excellent article on Acts 22:16 - WHAT IS TRUTH: Acts 22:16--Baptism Essential for Salvation?

 

[TrevorHL]

Greetings mailmandan,

Galatians 3:26 - For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Period.) Not through faith and water baptism.

Both you and the article go to great lengths to avoid the simple and clear teaching that both an affectionate belief in the Gospel of the Kingdom and Name AND water baptism is all part of the process of salvation and the start of a life which is crucified and resurrected through the love of Christ Galatians 2:20. This is the method of introducing a believer into the fellowship of the body of Christ, the Ekklesia.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[sondring7]

Paul had already believed in Christ when Ananias came to pray for him to receive his sight (Acts 9:17). It also should be noted that Paul at the time when Ananias prayed for him to receive his sight, he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17)--this was BEFORE he was water baptized (Acts 9:18). Verse 17 connects his being filled with the Spirit with the receiving of his sight. We know that he received his sight prior to his baptism.

Galatians 3:26 - For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Period.) Not through faith and water baptism. Also read John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. *Received Him, given the right to become children of God, through believing in His name, not through water baptism.

Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on/clothed yourself with Christ. The Greek word for "put on" is "enduo" and means to enclose oneself in, as when one "puts on" clothes or armor or some other item. Involved in this is the idea of "imitation" and "identification." Just as 1 Corinthians 10:2 says that all (the Israelites) were "baptized into Moses" in the cloud and in the sea, but this does not mean that the Israelites were literally water baptized into the body of Moses. We are Spirit baptized into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) and the only sense that we are water baptized into Christ would be in the same sense that the Israelites were baptized into Moses. (1 Corinthians 10:2) There is little dispute that being "baptized into Moses" signified the open allegiance and public identification of the Israelites with Moses as their leader. Moses was formally recognized as the leader of the covenant people. Water baptism signifies our allegiance and public identification with Christ as our Savior, so it would only be in that sense.

*Excellent article on Acts 22:16 - WHAT IS TRUTH: Acts 22:16--Baptism Essential for Salvation?

No WATER IMMERSED BAPTIZED = NOT enter Heaven for believers 'today' ?

 

[Jack]

No WATER IMMERSED BAPTIZED = NOT enter Heaven for believers 'today' ?

Are you baptized right, in the Name of Jesus?

 

[mailmandan]

No WATER IMMERSED BAPTIZED = NOT enter Heaven for believers 'today' ?

Jesus Christ drew the line in the sand. John 3:18 - He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who (is not water baptized? - NO) does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (been water baptized? - NO) because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

[sondring7]

Jesus Christ drew the line in the sand. John 3:18 - He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who (is not water baptized? - NO) does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (been water baptized? - NO) because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Please list the verses where JESUS VIA PAUL TAUGHT that water immerse baptize is a requirement for you to enter Heaven .
ps Gal 2:7-9 - Who did John agree teaches you the Gospel ? :)

 

[mailmandan]

Please list the verses where JESUS VIA PAUL TAUGHT that water immerse baptize is a requirement for you to enter Heaven .
ps Gal 2:7-9 -

NONE.

Who did John agree teaches you the Gospel ? :)

John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John later reinforces this in 1 John 2:27.

 

[sondring7]

NONE.

John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John later reinforces this in 1 John 2:27.

+++NONE
Correct & agreed :)

Gal 2:7-9
All the Apostles agreed that Paul was teach the gospel to the gentiles/heathen and they the rest
Which audience do you believe or understand you are ?