Why We Do NOT Water Baptize Today?

Some preach three baptisms, some two and some one for the current Church Age.

Some sprinkle, some pour. Some immerse two times forward, once backward. Some baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit while others do so in the name of Jesus only. Some baptize infants while others baptize adults only. Some will say that you are not saved unless water baptized, while others say baptism is for a testimony only.

While none of these positions can agree with one another they all disagree with those who refuse water baptism today.

We do believe in baptism for today, just not water baptism. We do believe in water baptism, just not for the church, the Body of Christ but for the nation of Israel in time past.

Let me explain …

Water baptism belonged to the nation of Israel. It was their door, so to speak, into their kingdom. Water baptism was necessary for their salvation during the earthly ministry of Christ.

Please notice:

Mark 1:4-5 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them (Israel), Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Water baptism was a part of Israel’s salvation program BUT it is NOT a part of our salvation program today.

The apostle Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, writing in the dispensation of the grace of God says something in 1 Corinthians that Peter and the eleven apostles to Israel could never say when he said, “Christ sent me not to baptize…”

1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

This is something that Peter could never say! Why? Because water baptism was a part of Israel’s program.

There is a baptism for today. Paul again writes and says;

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism…

It is interesting and instructive to note that there are fourteen or more “baptisms” in the word of God. Baptism in the Bible does not mean WATER! It means identification.

Exodus tells us that the nation of Israel was to be a kingdom of priests (Ex 19:3-6) and the priests had to be washed. Water baptism is a Hebrew water rite designed to identify Israel with that kingdom of priests. So when the Lord Jesus Christ came to “set up the kingdom” he came, along with John Baptist and later the 12, baptizing with water.

Just as water baptism identified Israel with her King and kingdom so our baptism today identifies us with the “Body of Christ”.

Our baptism today is spiritual in nature. We do not feel it, see it or even get wet because it is an act of the Holy Spirit of God placing us “into” and thereby identifying us with and in the Body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

This verse tells us that it is the Holy Spirit, not a man, that does the baptizing. We are baptized into the “one” body, the body of Christ.

There is no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile today because Israel has been set aside for her rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will deal with Israel again after the “catching away” of the church, the Body of Christ but for today they get saved as we do and they receive the same DRY baptism that we do.

The reason for the Whole Baptism Question

The reason for all the confusion arising about baptism comes from a failure to follow God’s directions for bible study.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When we “rightly” divide the word of truth we give to Israel what belongs to Israel and we give to the Body of Christ what belongs to the Body of Christ.

It is an axiom that while all of the Bible is FOR us it is not all written TO us. There are some things in the Bible that do NOT pertain to us today. Water baptism is just one of them.

As you study your Bible, rightly-divided, keep in mind that it is within the Pauline Epistles ALONE that you will find the doctrine, duty and destiny of the Church – The Body of Christ. Do not be fooled by the teaching of religion, tradition and denominationalism.

Our desire is that you might learn to “understand and enjoy” your Bible the way God intended for you to. Why not find out more about “rightly dividing” the Word of Truth? It may save your soul.