Doctrines of Baptism Part 4
Beware of deceivers that
teach, you do not need to be baptized to be saved. They are
religionists and sectarians, the ministers of Satan and they
teach doctrines of devils and men. They use the wiles of
Satan to make the word of God of no effect, by wresting the word
of God into a lie. The lie used by the faith only saved by
grace deceivers to teach that baptism does not save, is in the
form of a question. What about the thief on the cross?
He was not baptized but yet he was saved! The question is a
cunningly crafted assertion used as their proof that you can be
saved without being baptized. Their lie and deceit is
easily exposed by asking them a simple question. Where in
the New Testament is the scripture that says, the thief on the
cross was not baptized? You could search the New Testament
for a thousand years and never find a scripture that says, he was
not baptized! Let's examine the account of the thief on the
cross to see if it records he was not baptized. The
accounts of the thieves also referred to as malefactors, that
were crucified with Messias Jesus. Can be found in three of
the gospels Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27 and Luke 23:32. I
will use the account in the gospel of Luke as it contains the
most of what is recorded in regards to the thief on the cross.
Luke 23:32-43
32
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with Jesus to be
put to death.
33
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary,
there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right
hand, and the other on the left.
39
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him,
saying, If you be Christ, save yourself and us.
40
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God,
seeing you are in the same condemnation?
41
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds
but this man has done nothing amiss.
42
And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your
kingdom.
43
And Jesus said to him, Verily I say to you, today shall you be
with me in paradise.
Not one word in this scriptural record states the thief
on the cross was not baptized. Such a statement cannot be
found in any of the gospel records of the crucifixion of Jesus Messias.
And without a scripture to prove the claim he was not baptized,
it is only a lie. But what can be said for certain is that
the thief knew who Jesus was. For the thief called Jesus
Lord and knew Jesus was going to receive a kingdom. The
faith only saved by grace ministers of Satan have no scriptural
proof that the thief was not baptized. But to the contrary
there is proof to infer that it is possible that he was baptized.
The knowledge that the thief had of Jesus had to have been taught
to him. Is it not also possible that he was taught the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins?
Indeed it is! All the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem went
out to the preaching of John Baptist and were baptized as
recorded in the gospel of Mark.
Mark 1:4-5
4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And
there went out to him all the land of Judaea, and they of
Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan,
confessing their sins.
God sent Jesus to this earth so that all of mankind
could know and believe in truth. Baptism is indeed
mandatory to being saved it is the gift and commandment of God.
Religionists and sectarians the ministers of Satan teach and
believe in lies. Consider the spiritual gifts of God which
are given in a faithful and true baptism. Forgiveness of
sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and being added to
the church of Messias. These gifts are essential to
salvation and there is more! The believer in Messias Jesus
must also be baptized for the dead. For without the baptism
for the dead there can be no resurrection from the dead! The
apostle Paul in a letter to the disciples of Jesus located in
Corinth. Writes of the baptism for the
dead when confirming to them that there will indeed be a
resurrection.
1Corinthians 15:20-22 & 29
20 But now is Christ risen from the
dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came
also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even
so in Christ shall all be made alive.
29 Else what shall they do which
are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are
they then baptized for the dead?
Paul teaches the disciples at Corinth that there is
indeed a resurrection of the dead. And asks them why they
were baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise. Paul
clearly shows here that in order to be resurrected from the dead
a believer must be baptized for the dead. It is also
obvious that the disciples of Jesus were indeed baptized for the
dead. If the baptism for the dead is necessary in order to
be resurrected from the dead what exactly is it? Paul
clarifies the subject of the baptism for the dead in a letter to
the disciples of Jesus located in Rome.
Romans 6:3-7
3
Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death?
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.
5
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
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.
7
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
In this epistle Paul writes that when he and the
disciples at Rome were buried in the waters of baptism. They
were baptized into the death of Jesus the Messias. The
baptism for the dead then is what occurs when a believing and
repentant sinner, is buried in the waters of baptism. He
also states that if a believer has been planted in the likeness
of Messias death. They will also be raised in the likeness
of his resurrection. But consider what Paul wrote, if a
believer has been buried with Jesus by baptism into death, then
they will be raised. Meaning anyone who has not been
baptized for the dead will not be resurrected to immortality.
Only the ministers of Satan would teach that you can obtain
resurrection without being baptized. The disciples of Messias
must consider their body crucified and the sinful flesh
destroyed. Having been made alive to
God in the spirit through Jesus Messias our Lord. They are no longer to serve sin in the flesh for they
have been freed from it by the baptism for the dead. Did
Jesus teach this same doctrine while he was here upon this earth?
John 12:24-26
24
Verily, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground
and die, it abides alone but if it die it brings forth much
fruit.
25
He that loves his life shall lose it and he that hates his life
in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
26
If any man serve me, let him follow me and where I am, there
shall also my servant be if any man serve me, him will my Father
honor.
In the very beginning of creation when only Adam and Eve
walked the earth. They sinned and brought the sentence of
death upon the bodies of our flesh. Jesus the son of God
reveals a man is as a corn of wheat, that he must die to this
flesh to bring forth fruit to God. He must hate the carnal
and fleshy life of this world and learn to love and walk a new
life in the spirit. From the beginning Jesus the Messias
taught belief in his gospel, repentance from sin, baptism for the
remission of sins and obedience to his commandments. He
made it very clear that no one can please God in the flesh, for
it is the spirit that becomes alive the flesh profits nothing.
Luke 9:23-25
23
And Jesus said to them all, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and
lose himself, or be cast away?
Here in the gospel of Luke Jesus teaches that a disciple
must take up his cross daily and follow him. The cross is
where Jesus sacrificed his flesh and shed his blood. Every
day that Jesus walked upon this earth he knew he was to suffer
death to his flesh upon the cross. He also knew that he
would be resurrected from death by God his Father. Disciples
of Jesus must take up their cross and die to the flesh daily.
Losing the carnal life and following the path of Jesus to save
their spiritual life eternal. As Jesus the Son of God asks
what is the profit in striving for that which only perishes?
Matthew 16:27
27
For the Son of God shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Being buried in the waters of baptism is a work of faith in Gods word. For God has spoken and has made it so, and therefore must be believed and obeyed. For if death comes first there is no more space given for this work of faith. You cannot be baptized for the dead once you have died in the flesh and left this world. Please take the time to study and examine his words.