Why did Peter command baptism?

In ancient Judea, a person had to be in a state of ritual purity in order to enter into the Temple area. If a person had become ritually impure, he was required to undergo a ritual immersion in water -- t'vilah in Hebrew. The apostle Paul, and early Jewish Christians, participated in this ritual (compare Acts 21:23-26; 24:18).

Archaeologists have discovered almost fifty ritual baths called mikva'ot -- in the excavations around the southern wall of the Temple precincts.

The Judean ritual of purification by immersion, the mikva, is undoubtedly a forerunner of the practice of baptism. In ancient Judaism, a cleansed leper, a woman after her menstrual period, any ceremonially defiled person, and a Gentile convert to Judaism, had to undergo the mikva and be immersed in water, prior to being declared "pure" and able to enter the Temple, or reenter society.

The first mention of baptism, as such, was that of John the Baptist. He came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, calling upon people everywhere to repent of their sins, telling them the kingdom of heaven was at hand. "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins" (Matt. 3:5-6).

The Example Set by Yeshua the Messiah

Even Yeshua the Messiah came to John the Baptist to be baptized by him. "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad 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: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:13-17).

Yeshua set an example for each and every one of his true disciples and followers, to be baptized as he was (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). Baptism is a "type" of our complete "burial" of the "old man" who "dies" to the power of sin. As Paul wrote, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are BURIED with him by baptism into 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death [by being immersed in water through baptism], we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom. 6:3-6).

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When we come up from the watery grave of baptism, a type of "death," we are to live a new life to YEHOVAH God through the Messiah, even as Yeshua himself arose from the dead. As Paul continues: "For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but ALIVE unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Rom. 6:7-13).

Importance of Baptism

Physical baptism, as an outward "sign" of inward repentance toward YEHOVAH God and cleansing from sin, and the power of sin, is a requirement for salvation. It is no trivial matter. Although YEHOVAH certainly could save someone without baptism, if circumstances prohibited baptism being performed, nevertheless, YEHOVAH clearly commands baptism to be performed in all cases where it is possible! Yeshua commanded: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature [person]. He that believeth, and is BAPTIZED, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). On the first day of Pentecost, when YEHOVAH sent the holy spirit, and it came upon all the disciples, Peter preached to the assembled Judeans at the Temple during the Holy Day, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

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Luke, the early church historian, records, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (v.41). Thousands were added to the Ecclesia, even as YEHOVAH God the Father called them through the holy spirit, they heard the word, believed, and were baptized.

But how was this act of "baptism" performed? When Yeshua began preaching the gospel of the kingdom of YEHOVAH God, calling people to repentance (Mark 1:13-14), those who responded were baptized. We read in the book of John: "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Yeshua himself baptized not, but his disciples,), he left Judea, and departed again into Galilee" (John 4:1-2). Notice! Yeshua himself did not perform the ceremony, but he had instructed his disciples, and they were the ones doing the baptizing of new converts.

But again, how was this done? Obviously, it required an act of immersion or submergence under water -- like the ancient mikvah. However, although a ritual bath could have been used, at times John the Baptist, and Yeshua and his disciples, used the Jordan River as a place to perform baptism. In another case, when Philip and an Ethiopian eunuch came to "a certain water," the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts 8:36). Philip replied, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." He answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ [Yeshuah Ha Moshiah, in Hebrew, or, Yesou Christo, in Greek] is the Son of God." So they stopped the chariot, in which they were riding, "and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:37-39).

gatita

Apostolic Believer In One God, Jesus

Jesus Himself commanded baptism in Matthew 28:19.

Jesus told His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. He did not say to baptize in the titles. If this command literally meant to use the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, then there would be a great contradiction in the Bible, for the disciples never baptized in any way but in the name of Jesus. (See Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16.) But Jesus said to baptize in the name (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. These titles are not the one proper name of God, but terms that describe God’s relationships to humanity.

These three roles of God are revealed to us in the name of Jesus. The name of the Son is Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Moreover, Jesus said that He came in the Father’s name and that the Holy Ghost would be sent in His name (John 5:43; 14:26). The one saving name of God is Jesus, which literally means Jehovah-Savior. Jesus was the one God of the Old Testament who came in flesh to be our Savior. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:47). In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9), so to fulfill Matthew 28:19 we must baptize in Jesus’ name.

In Christ,

James - Apostolic Pastor

Importance of Baptism in Scripture

John the Baptist’s greatest purpose in his mission to prepare the way of the Lord was the introduction of baptism for the remission of sins. So why was baptism so important that it required Elijah to return in the flesh and preach it? Because it was part of God’s essential plan of salvation. The very fact that Jesus Christ was baptized in Matthew 3:13-17 proves baptism’s importance. Consider this: we know He was without sin, so why did Jesus Christ need to be baptized? After all, baptism is “for the remission of sins.”

Christ Himself provides the answer: “to fulfil all righteousness.” And in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life.” This is amazing, Jesus Christ being the way needed to fulfill the plan of salvation He had prepared for us.

So what happens in Matthew 3:13-17? First He is baptized, and then He receives the Holy Ghost. Apart from the repentance aspect considering He had no sins, Jesus Christ is perfectly fulfilling the message Peter would later give in Acts 2:38. So we have our answer as to what Jesus meant by fulfilling all righteousness, and can conclude that Acts 2:38 is surely God’s plan of salvation for those who believe on the Lord Jesus.

So … Acts 2:38 eh? I thought we were saved by only believing on the Lord? That is what Jesus Christ said in John 3:16-18.

This is actually taken from a conversation Jesus had with a man named Nicodemus. What is sometimes omitted is that earlier during this same conversation in John 3:5 the Lord also said you must be born of both the water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. The meaning is clear: water baptism, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Okay, that sounds a lot more like Acts 2:38! Now the plan of salvation is getting really clear: you need to be baptized in water, and receive the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t stop there, later in Mark 16:16 the Lord says that you need to believe and be baptized to be saved.

Much later in Acts 10:47, Peter, after witnessing the first household of gentiles receive the Holy Ghost with the sign of speaking in tongues immediately wants them to be baptized with water.

Some would think: you know they already have the Holy Ghost, so why should they be baptized? Peter the apostle never even hesitated. What is also interesting is this story makes clear that God is not particular about the order so long as you are baptized in both Water, and Spirit.

That is a lot of evidence for the essentiality of water baptism; but what about Acts 16:30-31, when the prison guard asks Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved. They simply answer “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” At this point it should be clear that believing on the Lord is not just saying “I believe.” but actually putting that belief into action; by fulfilling His chosen plan for salvation. Basically if you really believe in the Lord Jesus, then you will believe what He taught concerning salvation. In the next verses: Acts 16:32-33, Paul and Silas go home with the guard, preach him and his family a sermon, and then without wasting any time immediately they baptize the entire family.

Alright, but what about Ephesians 2:8-9, does baptism count as works based salvation? In Answer: Ephesians is an epistle written to those who were already saved, or those who have already received the gift of grace. As you can see in Ephesians 1:1 “to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” This is not addressed to those who have not yet received grace. But to those who have already been born again of both water, and the Holy Spirit.

If you are still not convinced, then you may ask: What about the thief on the cross he was more than likely never baptized, yet God accepted him into paradise? Well it must be remembered that it was still the Old Testament, and they were still under the law at that time. Christ had the power to forgive whatever sins an Israelite had committed right there on the spot, as He said to Zacchaeus in Luke 19:9-10; “son of Abraham.”

In conclusion, from John the Baptist to the book of Acts the importance of baptism should be pretty clear: as an essential part of God’s salvation plan: being born of both water, and Spirit. The emphasis that John, Jesus who was without sin and yet was baptized, and then the apostles put on baptism should be indisputable. The complete foundation of the church as told in Ephesians 2:20: the apostles, the prophets (represented by John the second coming of Elijah) and Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone, all put the greatest of importance on water baptism, as a vital part of salvation.

Matthew 28:19 replaced right into a command by applying Jesus to baptize in a recognition. The Apostles did no longer repeat the words of the command--they OBEYED the command. that's obvious interior of here Scriptures: "Then Peter mentioned unto them, Repent, and be baptized each physique of you in the call of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the present of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). "...they have been baptized in the call of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:sixteen). "And he commanded them to be baptized in the call of the Lord" (Acts 10:40 8). "neither is there salvation in the different: for there is not any different call under heaven given between adult men, wherein we'd desire to be saved" (Acts 4:12). "And in anyway ye do in word or deed, do all in the call of the Lord Jesus, giving attributable to God and the daddy by applying him" (Colossians 3:17).

John’s baptism was for Jews under the law covenant and indicated their repentance of sins they had committed against that law. Their being baptized by John’s baptism showed their repentance and God forgave them their sins. But this case at Acts 2:38 was different. Peter was talking to opposers. It is unlikely that they had submitted to John’s baptism in preparation to receive Christ; anyway, they did not receive him but opposed him and must bear responsibility for his impalement, being a part of the house of Israel upon whom the blood of Jesus came. When Peter’s hearers heard of their responsibility for Jesus’ death, either personal responsibility or community responsibility, they were stabbed to the heart, saw their error, and asked what they could do to correct matters. Peter said they should repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name to get their sins forgiven. These were not sins against the law covenant but were sins against Jesus. These were the sins they must repent of. How could they show this repentance and gain forgiveness?

This immersion in water did not in itself effect forgiveness of sins, washing them away like a bath does dirt. If that were the case, then one would have to be baptized again and again, repeatedly washing away new sins, just as we bathe to get clean, then later on have to bathe again. The animal sacrifices did not actually and effectively remove sins either, being merely pictorial and having to be repeated over and over again. It is Jesus’ blood that cleanses from sin, not water, and “unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place.”—Heb. 9:22

Acts 22:16 (NW) states: “And now why are you delaying? Rise, get baptized and wash your sins away by your calling upon his name.” Not by mere water immersion, but by calling on his name are sins washed away. Cornelius called on God's name and he accepted Christ Jesus and was baptized by holy spirit. For this to happen his sins must have been forgiven, yet it was all before he was baptized in water. If one repents and accepts Christ and trusts in His shed blood one’s sins can be forgiven. Water immersion in Jesus’ name is important, but only as a symbol and public demonstration of repentance of sins and acceptance of Jesus and dedication to do God's will faithfully, as Jesus did.

He didn't know that there is no god.

Christianity:

The idea that there is a incestuous jewish cultured water walking telepathic tyrannic zombie that plans on engulfing the universe in a big lake of fire, while saving his "favourite" children, and leaving the rest of his children to be in eternal pain and misery BUT, he loves you and respects your free will :/

The Evidence For The Big Bang In 10 Little Minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyCkADmNdNo

Birth of the Solar System

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1AXbpYndGc&feature...

Irrefutable Proof of Evolution- Part 1 (mtDNA, ERVs, Fusion)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1fGkFuHIu0

Abiogenesis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yet1xkAv_HY

Contradictions of the Bible:

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/iron....

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

http://godisimaginary.com/

yes he knew it is a symbol