Baptism (#1085)
As taught by Bruce Mahone, 20240303. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Two churches, two administrations:
John 3:29; 14:1-4 – bride; Ephesians 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18 – body
Galatians 2:11-3:14, Romans 10:4 – Christ is the end of the law.
This never quite sunk in to the first century church. As in the days of Jesus Christ, there were always those who wanted to promote legalism at the expense of the truth of God’s Word. Matthew 15:1-9.
Baptism: ceremonial washing.
Mark 7:3, 4 – vs. 4: wash, washing – baptize; Luke 11:38 – wash – baptize
Church of the bride: water
Matthew 3:5, 6 in Jordan
Something greater soon to come:
Matthew 3:11 but in contrast, baptism of holy spirit is to come later.
Matthew 28:19 baptize in my name (earliest quotations of this verse): no water is mentioned. Water has been read in by those who want to promote legalistic practices, just as others wanted to promote circumcision in the early church. This phrase used throughout Acts (check in homework assignment!)
The coming of Pentecost:
Acts 1:4-8 talking about the gift of holy spirit (no water!) They already had water from the time of John — something greater was about to come.
Acts 2:1-4 Pentecost: no water.
So where do people get water in Acts?
Acts 10:47; 11:16 Peter was about to follow his legalistic habits, until he remembered the Word of the Lord.
Acts 19:2, 3 Two baptisms: they had only heard of John’s (water).
Acts 8:38 Philip: early in Acts, grace not fully revealed.
Acts 21:20 Zealous for the law: still true today.
Baptism in holy spirit occurred on the day of Pentecost. Since then, the gift of holy spirit has been available for anyone to receive by getting born again — being baptized in the name of the Lord, cleansed in everything that name represents. Gal. 3:27, 28; I John 1:7.
Homework: look up every place the word baptize is used in the book of Acts.
Teaching
Thank you Bruce 🩷