Hebrews 6:1-4 READ “the Doctrine of Baptisms”

• Every group has an initiation rite to join it. Being born makes you human. A ceremony makes you married. Filling out new employee forms makes you one. A vow to defend the constitution makes you a soldier. 

• You must be baptized into Christ and understand what it means for your spiritual life. 
• Scripture consistently shows that God never saves people without calling them to surrender, obedience, and transformation. 
• Water doesn’t save you, but salvation never remains unsubmitted. Baptism is the God-ordained response of those who belong to Christ. You must be baptized! 
• Here’s what we’re going to cover today- A brief history of baptism, Johns Baptism and then 4 baptisms of the NT that you should receive. Lots to cover in one day, but we can do it. 

The baptism of Immersion

• To understand biblical baptism is to understand full immersion. A person who was doing a ritual cleansing in the OT was fully immersed and a person in the NT was fully immersed as well. 
• It’s the idea that from the OT to the NT the ‘baptisms’ were full and complete. Never sprinkling
• The Hebrew verb rachats consistently refers to washing the whole body, not sprinkling.
• The Greek were baptizo is always full immersion, not sprinkling, sink ship, dye cloths, fully
• The logic of ceremonial uncleanness in the OT demands total cleansing, not symbolic drops
• The Logic of complete sinfulness in the NT demands a total cleansing from sin, not partial
• God has never demanded from his people a call to partway anything. This is no different

• Complete allegiance. Full submission. Total death to self. All or nothing. Not half way

• Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
• In the OT- the Mikveh was the ceremonial washing for ritual purity to draw near to God
• The Law required washings with water for ceremonial purity. You cant worship w/o immersion

• These were not about moral salvation but about fitness to draw near to God.

• Uncleanness barred access to worship, and this water symbolized restoration and cleansing. 
• Exodus 29,30 Priests washed before ministry, Lev 15, Nu 19, Ritual washing after uncleanness
• You couldn’t go into the temple without it and by the second temple period of Jesus time it was normal and everywhere in Jewish life. They had ‘living water’, Full immersion, Self administered, 
• From unclean to clean. The Jewish mindset was immersion= status transformation. I’m changed. 

• This is vitally important to understand baptism today, because there’s no American equivalent. 

• And so people reject the baptisms, the transformations, the change. They want to hold onto self

• This really is an Western phenomenon. Many people want to identify with Christ, but they don’t want to put on Christ. They want to be changed, they just don’t want to be immersed. They want to be washed and made clean they just don’t want to have to overtaken to do it. 

1. Spiritual lives suffer when People reject full immersion in any spiritual area of their life. 
2. You cannot somewhat get saved, kind of be baptized or occasionally follow Christ. No way. 
3. Give yourself over to the idea of the Fullness of immersion into all things Christ for the saved.

1. You must be baptized into Christ

• This is the supernatural transformation born again new creation experience of the spirit
• The point where The spirit of God enters you and you are transformed by his spirit
• The timing isn’t a mechanical footprint. What matters is transformation. You’re changed. 
• I got down to confess, but was changed as i walked fwd. Method not as imp. As changed. 
• Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ
• This is the language of Paul in Galatians refuting external actions as the entry into Christ
• Its justification by faith, not by external rites or actions. He doesn’t mean water or words
• Earlier- Gal 3:3 Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
• The ‘baptized into christ” is when you “put on christ” and that’s positional, not sacramental
• 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
• This spiritual baptism is the moment of the sealing of your standing with God where its over
• Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
• The Holy Spirit comes upon and in the body of the believer. Its real and experiential. It happens. 
• And its by FAITH. You believe unto this baptism. You believe that Jesus is Lord, that he can save you and has saved you. You are forgiven, set free, new in christ and redeemed from Hell.
  because Before you are baptized in anything outward, you must be baptized into Christ.
• Dating wife. Not sure. Was thinking to dump her. She showed up w lunch and hair. I’m all in
• Ask yourself- When did I stop just agreeing with Jesus and actually belong to Him?
• When was your moment of inner shift. Not just a hand raise. You walked forward, you decided, you surrendered. That instant when you knew that you knew that you knew. 
• Water baptism means nothing without this conversion. No internal no need for external. 
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
• You’ve “repented” as John commanded. Been “immersed” in the biblical model. You’re all in. 

2. You must be Baptized in Water
churches, people, theologians argue about baptism as a ‘requirement’. Does it save or not save, are you saved or not saved w or without water. Simply- Doesn’t save, but a requirement

• If you refuse the waters of baptism you are refusing public confession and identification
• It says to you, God, and others- The old man is dead in the waters of baptism, I have new life
• I have been forgiven, I have put on Christ, I Identify with Him. This is historic and orthodox
• It does not prove your salvation, but every Christian does it. Embarrassment is modern idea
• This is obedient identification, not regeneration. And it was always full immersion when possible
• Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• Its what Jesus did, the disciples did and Christians did for ages. Not this modern, my hair, my clothes, my image, the water, and why do I have to? (Thief on cross argument)
• Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
• What hinders you if you haven’t? Do you not believe? Have you not received? Are you not ready to die to self and identify with his death burial and resurrection? Christ has saved you! Proclaim!
• I’ve seen many people who’s lives were changed after they publicly declared to the world- I’m a Christian. Come see me die to self. I’m no longer ashamed. I’m done living for myself. 
• Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
• If you haven’t been baptized you haven’t completed the process of becoming a Christian and member of Christs holy church. You’re walking in disobedience against historical Christianity
• Early church didn’t treat it as flippantly as modern church. Not rushed to water. Instruction and formation for 1-3 years. Life examined. Repentance tested. Allegiance to Christ made clear
• Men and women prepared separately. Fasting, removal of old garments, white garments on
• Public renunciation of sin, loyalty to christ, renouncing satan. Clear crossing of a line old to new
• Early Church saw this as sacred and irreversible. The question wasn’t ‘will you get wet’ it was “are you willing to die and live differently’. Not the superstitious Instagram moment of today. 
• Just as the Mikveh of the OT prepared people for worship of God, the NT application and transformation of the Mikveh is a final one time washing by the Spirit of Jesus
• It identifies you with the death burial and resurrection of Jesus- Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
• Water baptism is the visible, public submission that follows being baptized into Christ.
• Baptism and immersion doesn’t make salvation valid. It makes the work of Gospel visible on you
• Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. you must be Baptized in the Holy Spirit
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not about a momentary manifestation, but a permanent indwelling that produces a transformed life. The spirit of God takes over.

• We’re not baptized with an experience. We’re immersed in the Spirit of God himself. 

• Jesus reconciles us to the Father, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God coming to dwell within us, empowering us to live the Christian life
• John the Baptist- Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. JESUS IS THE ONE WHO BAPTIZES US. “He Will” it comes from him
• Jesus- John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
• So what we see- Jesus goes, and then The Helper (the Paraclete) comes. 
• The early church preached this- Acts 1:4–5 Wait for the Promise of the Father, which you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
• And then the Result- Acts 2:1-4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• In acts we see people receiving  By hearing/believing: 2 times (Acts 2, Acts 10) and By laying on of hands: 2 times (Acts 8, Acts 19). Tongues are A manifestation, not THE manifestation- Tongues : 3 times (Acts 2, 10, 19) Spirit received without tongues: at least 2 times (Acts 8, 9)
• I don’t want to get caught up on tongues this AM. Its biblical and must be orderly. No fakery
• Paul Said- 1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all speak with tongues? (the answer is no)
• So the litmus test of baptism IN the Holy Spirit is not tongues (you can seek tho) is life change
• When baptized IN the HS We are promised Power, abiding presence of God, Assurance of Salvation, Transformation, Holiness and victory over sin, Guidance, Prayers, and Boldness
  The substance of the Holy Spirit isn’t ecstatic charismania and praise breaks- Its CHANGE 
• The question isn’t, “Did I have an experience?” but “Is the Spirit producing His work in me?”
  confess Jesus as Lord, feel conviction,  see real change over time? the Spirit is at work in you. 
• Can you identify in your own life that you had desires that were contrary to God that now you feel different about them? A sin that used to satisfy that you now feel repulsed about it?
• Holiness increased, desires changed, actions different. Someone in your life that noticed?
• Have you ever been around someone who did a life change? Carnivore? Vegan? Ice plunge? Crossfit? Some of the most annoying people. It comes out of them. But they do it forever
• Desires different, allegiance different, Life choices change because something “took over”
• The Spirit isn’t proven by a moment you remember, but by a life that’s being reshaped.
• When the Spirit truly fills you, isn’t not just a moment, not just power, not just a changed life- He leads you into obedience, even when it costs you. He draws you into obedience by his spirit

4. You must be Baptized into His Death So you can walk in new life

• If you’re going to be a Jesus follower- You have to be baptized into the death of Christ
• Christ saves you, water reminds you, the spirit fills you and then you lay down your life
• This is the ‘full immersion’ of living for Jesus. No half way. Living all the way, or not at all. 
• Mark 10:38-39 ..Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?… You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; (speaking about his death, burial and resurrection)
• Paul said it – Rom 6:3-5…we were baptized  into His death… buried with Him through baptism into death just as Christ was raised from the dead… we also should walk in newness of life.
• The baptism of his death is that we die to ourselves, bury our old life, and walk in new life
• This is discipleship baptism, explicitly taught by Jesus, but never meant to end in despair.
•  What did following Jesus cost you that you didn’t get back? Something that died forever
• A door that stayed closed. A path you didn’t take. A version of life you buried. Where obedience hurt, but life came out of it. I’m living this right now. Obedience costs. Hawaii is warmer. 
• That’s the suffering. That’s the baptized into his death. Your plans died and his came alive. 
• Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

• This is the baptism of living the Christian life. The suffering of following, obeying and living

• Where Joy is found in obedience, and the abiding presence of God, where you you’re willing to to pay any cost and be conformed into the image and likeness of the son and walk in victory! 
• The final baptism isn’t suffering, its life. Real life. True life. Victorious life. Life everlasting.