What Baptism?

True Baptism is neither a ritual, nor a formal ceremony. It is the spontaneous declaration act of faith with deep reverence to the True Jesus Christ and His salvation for ALL humanity. True Baptism is NOT to serve as a spectacle. And also, in true Baptism, only a true believer can baptize a true believer. The Baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch and of Paul are two illustrations that follow below. Acts 8:36 “As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?"” - New International Version Acts 22:14-16 ““ 14 Then he said: 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'” - New International Version Is Baptism required for salvation? YES Mark 16:16 “The one having believed and having been baptized will be saved, but the one having disbelieved will be condemned” - Berean Literal Bible This verse clearly states that faith in the first place and Baptism in the second place are prerequisites for salvation. What faith? The righteous faith in Romans 4:5 (mentioned below). What Baptism? The spontaneous Baptism out of gratitude with the verbal declaration of faith in the Christ who has saved the WHOLE world with His Blood ( John 4:42 ). “ Saved ” here represents “ sṓzō ” in Greek (#4982), meaning “healed”, “preserved”, “rescued”. “ Condemned ” represents “katakrinó” in Greek (#2632), meaning judged worthy of punishment). To be baptized (like billions do) out of fear for an everlasting hell, is SO missing the mark and for certain NOT a qualification for salvation! This verse pertinently says the unbeliever will be condemned. It doesn’t even mention “Baptism” in this last part, because Baptism of the unbeliever is not even reckoned. And the symbolism of true Baptism? 1 Peter 3:20-21 “ 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people , eight in all, were saved through water , 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God . It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ ,” - New International Version ‘Christian’, what do read here above? Do you see that the WHOLE WORLD , because of disobedience , died by way of drowning in Noah’s days? People drown when under water and not when sprinkled with water on the forehead. Few people (eight) were saved, because of obedience. The baptism water Peter is referring to here above symbolically serves as cleansing the conscience around all one’s previous-, present and future sins and it serves as a declaration of faith that Jesus’ resurrection sealed not only our salvation, but… and most importantly… the salvation of ALL mankind as well ! 1 Timothy 4:10 “That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” - New International Version Can you see the interwoven obedience reflected in this symbolic event here, ‘Christian’? Obedience of what? Obedience of faith in the Jesus Christ, who has saved ALL mankind already with his death and resurrection on the cross. Utmost important and imperative is the “ salvation of ALL mankind ” part in this Baptism declaration, because this is the validating power of Baptism at its core. Baptism is ALL about Christ! Baptism isn’t primarily about salvation, but the glorification of Christ for that salvation. Everyday cleansing the body from sweat and dead cell debris does not mean cleansing only a foot, or an arm for argument’s sake. No the whole body is cleansed by covering it with water. The B aptism cleansing here reflects the symbolic cleansing of the debris of all sin, into a clear conscience and into one’s new birth through the vivification of Christ… therefore by way of RIGHTEOUS FAITH . Righteous faith? Who has righteous faith? The one who believes that the wicked is already justified by God! Romans 4:5 “However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked , his faith is credited as righteousness.” - Berean Study Bible What did Jesus say about the second destruction of the world? Matthew 24:37 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” - New International Version Like in Noah’s time, the few obedient believers in this era will be the first to be rescued from death. 1 Corinthians 15:22-26 “ 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. 24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” - Berean Study Bible But, and thank God, all the rest will follow in their own order, having turned from unbelievers to believers in Christ and thus vivified into eternal life with Him! If this is not good news, then what is? There will be no death anymore… only life! Matthew 7:14 “But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.” - Berean Study Bible Does the current 2.3 billion (let alone all the historical hell-believing ‘Christians’) sound like a few to you, ‘Christian’? A third of the current world population is a lot! And what’s more, why has this third not changed the current world in a visibly-positive manner yet… by way of example? Did this third reflect the love of Christ? No, not according to Gandhi. You know the significance of the law of probability, don’t you? Why did a soft-spoken- and kind-hearted Hindu man, like Mahatma Gandhi NOT recognize Christ within the Christians in his time? Why would he have said the following: “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ”? Moreover, WHAT did the Christians in his time believe in? Everlasting hell, not so? Like father like son. Who was their father? Think about it. Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail because of Him. Yes! Amen!” - Berean Literal Bible So, to recap, ‘Christian, if you have NOT been baptized with all the criteria in place, then your baptism has no validity. If your declaration of faith before your baptism only reflected a Christ of limited atonement, then you have not been clothed with the Christ of the Bible at all. If your conscience is constantly haunting you, you are not free. Earnestly seek the TRUE Christ of the Bible. Being clothed with HIM gives a clean conscience. The proof is in the proverbial pudding. Galatians 3:27 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” - Berean Study Bible May the TRUE Jesus Christ clothe you.