Jesus Calls For Baptism

Jesus Ordained Baptism

Jesus' Baptism

Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. Then death entered the world as a result of sin. Therefore death came to everyone because all have sinned.[Romans 5:12] Sin and death has been passed down through all generations. We are all born into the original sin of Adam and Eve, inherited from our parents—our parents from their parents, etc…

God calls for a circumcising of our hearts[Deuteronomy 10:16]. God himself, by his divine love for us accomplishes this for us by his grace. He[God] will circumcise our hearts and the hearts of our descendants so we can love Him with all our hearts and all our souls and live.[Deuteronomy 30:6]

Abraham received a spiritual circumcision of the heart before receiving the physical circumcision. A faith covenant with God to be passed down to all believing generations due to his righteousness before the Lord. After his physical circumcision by faith, he became the father of all circumcised believers in Christ who walk in the faith.[Romans 4:9-12]

In Ezekiel God says He will gather us out of the nations and bring us into our own land. Then He will sprinkle clean water on us and we will be clean; we will be cleansed from all impurities and idols. We will have a new heart and a new spirit. The new spirit will move us to follow God’s laws and decrees [Ezekiel 36:24-27].

God will call us to him out of all nations and give us his spirit through a baptism by sprinkling of clean water. This is an example where God specifically calls for sprinkling of water for cleansing of the heart; a baptism.

Jesus loves children. [Luke 18:15-17] We must have faith like a child to receive the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a child to repent and receive Christ as Savior and Lord than for an adult. As we get older, our heart hardens. It becomes more difficult to surrender to the Holy Spirit’s callings.

When an adult receives Christ and the Holy Spirit enters their body, this person has the rest of their life to grow and serve Jesus—only perhaps a half-life, depending on age. For a child that receives Christ, Jesus has an entire lifetime to use this person for His glory. This is just one of the many reasons why Jesus loves children.

In Christ we were circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a physical circumcision but a spiritual circumcision of the heart done by Christ. We have been buried with Him in baptism and raised with him through our faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When we were dead in our sins and in the uncircumcision of our sinful nature, God made us alive in Christ. He forgave us all our sins.[Colossians 2:11-13]

Peter preached, to repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off. For all whom the Lord God will call.[Acts 2:38-39]

Children too young to repent must be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; a circumcision of their hearts so they will peruse God. When older, the children must still  repent of their sins and receive Christ as Savior and Lord through a salvation prayer. Infant baptism prepares their heart so their heart yearns for God.

One Lord, one Faith, one baptism.[Ephesians 4:5] This scripture could not be more clear.

John the Baptist, baptized for the repentance of sins

John the Baptist, baptized after a person repented of their sins. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”[Matthew 3:11-12]

When Jesus spoke to his disciples in Galilee, he gave them, and you and me, his Great Commission. He has all authority over heaven and earth. We are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit. We are to teach the new Christians[disciples] everything that Jesus has taught and commanded us. [Matthew 28:19-20] Therefore they can go out into the world and spread the gospel.

Jesus ordained baptism. He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and performs a circumcision of our hearts. He gives us the ability to love him with our whole hearts and to desire him above all things—to peruse him, his Lordship over our lives.

Since both, sprinkling and submersion for baptism are in the bible, we can conclude it does not matter to God which we do as long as we baptize. The important thing is to baptize in the name of the Father, and the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit as commanded by our Lord Jesus in His Great Commission.[Matthew 28:19-20]

Jesus also calls for children to be baptized—preferably infants. This means sprinkling as God spoke in [Ezekiel 36:24-27]. In this way, as an infant, Jesus will place His Holy Spirit in the child to circumcise their hearts so they have a longing so seek Jesus. The child is sealed until they are old enough to understand. This age is different for all children.

What happens if a person is saved by the grace of God and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit but was never baptized?  If that person dies, will they be escorted to heaven by angels as all Christians will be?

One example is found in Luke 16:22. The rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had all the comforts of life. Lazarus, a man of God was a beggar that lay at the rich man’s gate and begged for money and food all day. He was covered with soars from leprosy and unable to work. Upon his death, the angels carried him to Abraham’s side where he is being comforted for all eternity. There is no mention of a baptism in Lazarus’ life. The rich man died and is in hell where he is tormented.

The second example is found in Luke 23:40-43. The criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus at Calvary. Because the criminal believed, Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus did not mention the need of baptism. That says it all. Baptism is not required to go to heaven. Baptism will not achieve salvation, only faith in Christ will accomplish eternal life.

Jesus has ordained baptism. Infant baptism is preferred but not mandatory. Baptism is ordained by Jesus, but not required to enter heaven.

May we all follow the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ,

JA Ireland