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Notes by the elders
RECAP, WATER BAPTISMS, FIRST BAPTISMS:
There are two types of baptisms, the first baptism (water) is always the SHADOW of the TRUE spiritual baptism into Christ, into His DEATH. We are to move beyond this first baptism to move unto maturity being baptized by Christ Himself. Shadows of the first baptism in the OT include; the flood of Noah; the crossing of the Red Sea; the crossing of the river Jordan. Crossing the Jordan, is the same as crossing the flood of Noah or crossing the Red Sea. The typical baptism of the OT (shadows) is done with water and do nothing to change our hearts within. Being baptized into Moses is being likened to “the festival of Passover” where we accept Christ, as the Son of God, as our Passover Lamb, and accept that He died for us. We still do NOT know that we have to die WITH HIM, bearing our cross daily.
Just on a side note, the Holy days or Festivals of the Jews are also spiritual shadows which points to “good things to come” and although all of these festivals are being fulfilled in Christ, it is wonderful “looking back” to see how they are being fulfilled in different stages of our walk and are still being fulfilled in our lives today as we mature towards the mind of Christ.
This first baptisms are a necessary baptism because we live by every Word of God (Matt 4:4) and all righteousness IS and must be fulfilled in us.
The baptism of John, the Baptist in the NT, is preparing the way to Christ. It is the baptism of repentance and is also a shadow pointing us to Christ whilst still under the schoolmaster. It is accompanied by signs and wonders (outward gifts) and have the appearance of a “spiritual baptism” but we still have many idols of the heart and our “tongue and doings” are against the Lord. It is likened as the “festival of unleavened bread “as we start putting sin, whether physical sins (our doings) or in our minds (our tongues) out of our lives but we still have many things we are not being able to hear and Christ IS NOT come yet.
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner (barn); but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
The doctrine of water baptisms whether it be the OT shadows as mentioned above or the baptism of John is: …… after we accepted Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, we begin to put sin out of our lives, our tongues and our doings. So we see that the festivals of Passover and the Days of unleavened Bread are being fulfilled during this season of our walk. These baptisms point to and prepare the way for Christ to come.
Later in the study, we will see how we MATURE/MOVE ON to “die with Christ”, our Passover Lamb and keep the “festival of unleavened” bread with sincerity and Truth from the HEART.
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
THE SECOND BAPTISM/THE FESTIVAL OF PENTECOST:
This baptism/washing cleanses the threshing floor of the HEART from all its secret, hidden faults and great transgressions within. It enters our hearts and judges us and change us from within.
Psa 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Isa 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
“The festival of Pentecost”, namely the feast of firstfruits, is the day we are being born again (ongoing) and is the beginning of the Church “is, was and will be” WITHIN and without. Pentecost typify us, who are the spiritual first fruit seed (Jas 1:18).
When the Holy Spirit is being given to us within, the work of Truth and grace begins. We are now progressing to the point where we are being capable to receive the chastening and tribulations which are being endured by every mature son of God (Heb 12:6-8).
It is the beginning of THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT in the lives of all who is being part of this “firstfruits of His harvest”.
Judgement begins at us and we are being matured through FIRE. This is the shadow of the “festival of trumpets”. We are being judged first out of our own mouths according to our idols (Ezekiel 14) since our “Day” begins and ongoing until the end.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
We are the “seven priests blowing the seven trumpets” in the battle against Jericho (Jos 6, Rev 8:11). Trumpets is calling us to make war, it is a spiritual battle against the man of sin within and without at the appointed time. It is the judgement of sin in our daily lives, we are the first to go to war., a struggle between life and death. The beginning of judgement is what this festival signifies.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Upon hearing the trumpets, we afflict our souls which is typically the next festival, the “day of atonement”, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice dying daily being impaled with Christ. It is a fast and our souls are afflicted because as He is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Our afflictions are for the Church (Col 1:24), His Body, and also for all of humanity.
2Co 1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
The death of the cross is being borne by both Christ and “His Christ” as an atonement for the people. Dying daily with Christ is the Good News and the message of the Gospel. It is the man child (Truth of Christ’s doctrine) within us that “is seated with Christ in the heavens”. This is symbolic of the first resurrection in down payment form.
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
As we mature and Christ increases in us, all of these festivals are being fulfilled in CHRIST. We start obeying immediately from the HEART as we gain dominion over our sins but at first, we also have the “festival of tabernacles” within us which is a spiritual shadow for the millennium where we are not obedient, knowing the Truth, our obedience is lip service. Satan is bound at this time, but yet we have hardened hearts and stiff necks, trying the Lord. It is the occasion the Lord seeks to judge us, the mixed multitudes of nations within and without at the appointed times. This festival symbolizes the millennium.
Jer 17:23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
As Satan is getting released to deceive us for a short period of time, we are typically trying to wrest the judgement of Christ away, this is typically the “last great day” following the feast of tabernacles and Christ COMES “is, was and will be” and destroys the man of sin with the brightness of His coming and destroys “death (state of disobedience)” within “is, was and will be”, a process until the end for us now and a future event for the world out there.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
When the Father is “all in all”, we are in the Lord’s REST and we enjoy the fruit of the Spirit which is:
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
As the Lord increases and we decrease, we OBEY from the Heart as being mature children in Christ. All shadows are being fulfilled in Christ as we move unto maturity.
We will Lord willing, look at these festivals in detail in weeks to come. We know we keep the spiritual Sabbath which is Christ (Heb 4) when we are DOERS of His Word.
WHO WILL BE DOING THIS BAPTISM OF FIRE?
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
As He IS, so are WE (1 John 4:17). We are doing this baptism of fire.
WHAT TYPE OF SINS IS BEING WASHED/CLEANSED FROM THE HEART?
Mar 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us … [what sins?]
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
ALL men will be cleansed and be baptised by the Lord in due time and in order (1Jn 2:2). Very few people are the chosen elect of God undergoing this baptism in the Spirit “this day”. If we are not being washed by the Lord at this time, He has no part with us, and we will not be heirs and partakers of His FRUIT or His RIGHTEOUSNESS until the appointed time of judgement to come.
Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
WHAT IS THE CLEANSING?
Soaps and hyssop are some of the Old Testament Words used to tell us of what washes and cleanses us (Lev 14:3-4, Jer 2:22). These are all pointing to the Holy Spirit of God, Fire, and Living Water, that is, the WORD of God.
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner (barn); but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
This prophetic Word from the mouth of John the Baptist is nothing but exaltation and edification [Luk 3:18] of the Spirit to those it is given to understand.
WHAT IS THE UNQUENCHABLE FIRE?
Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; [fiery baptism!] and what will I, if it be already kindled (happening now)?
Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
WHAT FORM ARE “MY WORDS”?
Christ Words are SPIRIT.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth (gives live); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
“My Words” are also WATER by which all is being made clean and white as snow.
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water [… by physical water? No… but…] by the word,
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY WE ARE BEING CLEANSED:
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
This Word is symbolic of His BLOOD, His Spirit, by which WE are being cleansed from our self-righteous filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
Heb 9:14 (NKJV) how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
HOW IS THIS BAPTISM OF THE LORD ACHIEVED?
It is the forsaking of all things of the flesh. This is the cleansing process, a death of the flesh process: the vessel that contains all sins, the BODY OF SIN is done away with, and we are attaining freedom from sin as He increases and we decrease.
Rom 6:6 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 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
As babes IN Christ, we become partakers of the Lord’s own baptisms. We saw earlier that in order that all righteousness be fulfilled, the Lord was first baptised by John the Baptist. The Lord however does not regard this as baptism in the Spirit, and HE later shows us His TRUE baptism, which we are being baptised with in “our day of the Lord”.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
The drinking of the CUP of baptism is seen in the deep distress and agony prior to the eventual death of the flesh of Christ:
Mat 26:37 (NKJV) And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Mat 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
Mat 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup [of baptism with Fire] pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Luk 22:42 (NKJV) saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup [of baptism with Fire] away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”
Luk 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
Luk 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Being “baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with” is what is scripturally known as “being baptised into His death. BAPTISM LEADS TO THE DEATH OF THE FLESH.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death?
Rom 6:4 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.
As we learned in our second study “Faith towards God”, this death process is not an instantaneous event in our lives that happens in a few seconds but is a “dying daily” process of baptism. Through this process, a new nature is being birthed and raised in us, a newness of life and we are being caused to come out of the dominion of inward, secret sins and many false doctrines so that the inside (our hearts and minds), and the outside (our works) are being cleansed day by day.
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
END PURPOSE OF BAPTISM
As Peter came to see after the issue with Simon, the Sorcerer, being physically water baptized does not convert the heart of any man. Simon was still as carnal as any Gentile of the land after John’s baptism. Peter came to see that true baptism that converts the heart is when “fiery trials” come upon us, the unquenchable consuming FIRE of God, the pure WATER, the Holy Spirit of God, all one and the same WORD OF GOD.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; [his baptism by fire] that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
This is the only baptism which saves us from our sins and produces a good conscience toward God.
1Pe 3:18 (MKJV) For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, indeed being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit;
1Pe 3:19 in which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
1Pe 3:20 to disobeying ones, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared (in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water);
1Pe 3:21 which figure now also saves us, baptism; not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
CONCLUSION
It is by means of death that the life of Christ is being manifested in us. This baptism from heaven is fulfilled in us by dying daily. It is the Spirit that profits. All earthly baptisms “without a man” (Mar 7:15-23) are of no value in the conversion of the heart and producing the fruit of the Spirit in us. The Father has no pleasure in those carnal ordinances imposed until Christ comes to us in the Spirit. The first earthy/ shadow in the wisdom and tradition of men is taken away so that the spiritual baptism by the Spirit of God can be established (1Co 15:46). The first has and produces no glory because there is a spiritual baptism which is more excellent in the sight of God. For this reason, in keeping the singleness and unity of the Spirit, there is only ONE BAPTISM:
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 5:26 That he [Jesus Christ] might sanctify and cleanse it [the church, his Body/ wife… you!] with the washing of water by the word,
The end purpose of that one baptism is …………
Eph 5:27 That he might present it [the church, his Body/ wife… you!] to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Unless we are mature we are not able to bear the “meat” of the Word.
Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
SUMMARY:
Physical water is “without a man”, and does nothing to a man’s heart, either good or bad. This is what Christ tells us concerning things that “are without a man”:
Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Likewise, “there is nothing from without a man” that can cleanse a man, but “the things that come out of a man, the fiery Word of God “from the heart” (Mat 18:35)], those are they that [cleanse] the man”. Here is how God’s fiery Words cleanse us from within:
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The fire are the trials that God puts us through to cause us to obey His Word, which is also symbolized by fire.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Jer 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
The Spirit of God is given to us that we may understand the Truth of God through our daily TRIALS and His WORD.
Joh 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
It is only through God’s Spirit opening our eyes to the Truth that we come to see the Truth. It is God’s Spirit that makes us a “spiritual man” and gives us the mind of Christ more and more as we mature in the Spirit.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
BEARING MUCH FRUIT IN THE DAY OF THE LORD:
Maturity is not being achieved when we hear the Word of God only. Our old man has to continue to decrease, and Christ in us has to continue to increase. This is by the will of the Father (Eze 36:30).
Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Our understanding has to bear fruit, but we are not able to do this unless we abide in Him. We abide in Him by meditating on His Words day and night (Jos 1:8).
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
We also abide in Him through fellowship with His Body (1 John 1:3).
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Knowing the members of the Body of Christ and serving them is the same as knowing and serving the Lord Himself (Joh 13:20).
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
No matter how much we know, or how much fruit the Lord has produced through us, as long as we are in this flesh and blood which cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Co 15:50) and we should never think that we are already perfected, we are being perfected.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We are only given the down payment of the Spirit unlike Christ, who has been given the Holy Spirit without measure (Joh 3:34). We still live in this corruptible body (1Co 15:53) that we need to die to daily, enduring to the end, “being saved”.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Growing up into Him includes the growth of our love for His Body (Joh 13:34).
1Th 3:12 (GNB) May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow more and more and become as great as our love for you.
1Th 3:13 In this way he will strengthen you, and you will be perfect and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all who belong to him.
Hos 6:1 “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. Hos 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.