What the Bible teaches about
WATER BAPTISM
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

A Complete Biblical study on Water Baptism. 
- unbiased, non-sectarian & non-denominational.

This is teaching for Pastors, Missionaries, Evangelists, Seminaries, Bible school students and Laymen

Is Peter the Foundation of the Church?
Is Sprinkling of Infants scriptural?
Must everyone be baptized to be saved?
What about Baptism in Jesus' Name?
Can children be baptized?
What does it mean, "to be baptized for the dead"?  
Was Water Baptism pre-figured in the Old Testament under Moses? 

THE HOLY BIBLE

The Holy  Bible is the unchangeable, inerrant, indisputable, indestructible, immutable, infallible, immeasurable, and feasible, indissoluble, authoritative, pure and perfect, inspired, absolute, positive complete Word of God

The Holy Bible is irreplaceable, indispensable, irresistible, irrevocable, and incomparable.  It is totally dependable, responsible, unassailable, impregnable, indomitable, never failing, always ready, profound, eternal and everlasting Word our our Lord.

The Holy Scriptures have no equal or even comparable competition!  The Holy Bible is the impeccable, unconquerable, unrelenting, indomitable Word of our Lord.

The Word of God is soul searching, mind renewing, spirit quickening, body healing, confidence building, faith creating, peace bringing, oppression lifting, guilt removing, demon exorcising, disease destroying, health restoring, fruit bearing and joy producing.

THE WORKS OF MEN WILL PASS AWAY

The words of philosophers, authors, scientists, revolutionaries, politicians and world leaders are often forgotten during their lifetime.

The teachings of professors, the writings of poets, the sculptures and paintings of 'men of art', the rhetoric of dictators, the unscientific, manufactured and sometimes deliberately fabricated lies of evolutionists, the archeological, astronomical and nuclear findings of 'men of Science', the journals of medical men, explorers and adventurers, together with the text books of both true and false theologians and religious men may be around for centuries and perhaps as long as this world stands.

THE HOLY BIBLE, however, will outlive and outlast them all, because the Holy Bible is the Divine Word of God and will continue to exist for both time and eternity.  Amen.      - Max Solbrekken, 1963

What the Bible teaches about 
WATER BAPTISM

PREFACE

Water Baptism is practiced by different faiths and religious organizations around the World.  Various modes and methods are used to administer this sacrament to the applicant and also various interpretations are placed on the meaning of the world baptism and what it represents.

It is not the purpose of this book to convert anyone over to the views and doctrines of a certain Church organization, denomination or religious order, but rather to present the clear teachings of the Holy Scriptures in the matter of Water Baptism. 

I am not concerned about what religious men have to say about Water Baptism, but I am vitally interested in what Jesus Christ had to say on the subject.  Many gifted men have written articles and books on the subject of Water Baptism and other Bible doctrines.  These may be good and fine, but they will never take the place of Christ's Doctrines and teachings.  Men can make mistakes, but Jesus Christ is never wrong!  He is The Way, Truth and Life. (John 14:6)

The Roman Pope, Joseph Smith, Judge Rutherford, Mary Baker Eddy, Martin Luther, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other writers could have made mistakes and many did, but God's Word, the Holy Bible is perfect, divine, authoritative, pure and void of error.

The Book of Mormon, Koran, Roman Missile and Prayer Books, Water Tower, Plain Truth magazines and other religious writings could be wrong and many such writings are erroneous!  The Holy Bible, however, will stand as a great tower of never failing strength and as a Great Lighthouse of Truth forever!

Therefore, in this message I present the words of Jesus: Not the words of a religious ruler, Holy man or Pope, but rather the words of the Son of God who alone lived an infallible and perfect before meeting the demands of Divine Justice on Calvary's cross to purchase Eternal life for all who believe on Him and by faith accept His pardon and cleansing from their sins.

I do not teach from the writings of men, but from the doctrines of Jesus Christ, as found in the 'Book of Books', the Holy Bible.  As you read these lines, do so with an open heart and mind.  Throw aside all preconceived ideas, traditions of men, dogmas and ritualistic beliefs you have formed in your mind regarding Water Baptism, and allow me to share with you some straightforward Bible truths on the subject!

THE GREAT COMMISSION:  Given by Jesus to the Church

Just before Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven and sat down at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High, He appeared to the eleven disciples and gave them final instructions concerning the work they had to do and the future ministry of those who would believe on Him.

The Bible states: "And He said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe."

"In my Name shall they cast out devils.  In My Name shall they speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them: They shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:15-18)

The charge that Jesus gave His disciples is commonly known as the 'Great Commission'.  In this Commission, which sets forth the ministry of the Church from the Day of Pentecost until the rapture, Water Baptism plays a very important and vital role.  Jesus defines salvation in very clear words: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.  He that believeth not shall be damned."

Then, He reveals the power of the Gospel, by identifying the exploits that believers would do in His Name.  His promise majors on the supernatural aspect of the Gospel, like miracles of deliverance, exorcising evil spirits, protection against venomous snakes and accidental poisoning, as well as the supernatural gift of 'speaking in tongues'!

Water Baptism, I repeat, must be very important and more than that, it is necessary because Jesus included it in His Great Commission.  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.  He that believeth not shall be damned."

The Holy  Bible is the 'GREAT LIGHTHOUSE OF TRUTH'

In Matthew 28:18-20, we read another account of Jesus' last words to His disciples in the Great Commission.  "And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All Power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth.  Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and The Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

In giving His disciples their charge, Jesus commanded them not only to, "Go into all the world to teach" but also to baptize those who would believe.  Thank God for the clarity of Jesus' Words in the matter also.

The Word of God is steadfast, unchanging, immutable, inerrant and life-giving.  You can depend upon His Word, and this book is based  entirely on God's revelation to man, The Holy Bible.  It is indeed the 'Great Lighthouse of Truth' that brings salvation to lost humanity.  Open your heart to Jesus Christ.  Believe His Word and you will be saved!

CHAPTER 1

WATER BAPTISM IS A DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

Not only do we find that Water Baptism is in the Great Commission of our Blessed Lord, but it is actually one of His Doctrines.  It is common for various churches and denominations to have doctrines that are traditional and ritualistic, but which are NOT Biblical.

"Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.  Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  For laying aside the commandments of God, ye hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do."

"And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:6-9)

The Book of Hebrews enumerates the Doctrines of Christ.  "Therefore leaving the principals of the Doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.  Not laying again the foundation of Repentance from dead works, and of Faith toward God, of the Doctrine of Baptisms, and of Laying on of hands, and of Resurrection of the Dead, and of Eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2)

JESUS CHRIST HAD ONLY SIX DOCTRINES

According to the scriptures, Jesus Christ has only six doctrines, which are the foundation doctrines of the Church of the Living God.  Other doctrines are only man made, and not recognized as doctrines by Christ.  We may call them doctrines, but Jesus calls them "traditions and doctrines of men".

1.  REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

You cannot be saved unless you repent of your sins.  This is the first Foundation Doctrine of Christ.  Jesus warned, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)  Again our Lord stated, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". (Matthew 4:17)

To repent of your sins means to be sorry for your sins and seek forgiveness.  It means to be sorry enough for your sins to forsake them.  To repent is to turn away from a sinful lifestyle and by the grace of God receive His mercy and pardon!

WHY IS REPENTANCE SO IMPORTANT?  Our sins have separated us from God: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that is cannot save, neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have separated between you and your god, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1,2)

The Bible says: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

"For when we were yet without strength (helpless), in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."  (Romans 5:6-11)

The bad news is that our sins had condemned us to separation from God but the good news is that through His vicarious, substitutionary death for us on the cross, Jesus has purchased our pardon and eternal life!

2.  FAITH TOWARD GOD

Just as you cannot be saved unless you repent of your sins, neither can you be saved unless you have faith toward God.  The Scripture states: "Without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that cometh to God must believe that God is: and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

The second ‘Doctrine of Christ’ is faith toward God. When you have repented of your sins, you have taken the first step towards God and His wonderful salvation! Faith in God is confidence and trust in God! If you have faith in God, you will believe His Word. In order then to have faith in God, you must believe in Him because believing is faith!

We must believe the Scriptures and accept them at face value. In order to have faith in God and be saved, you must have complete confidence in God and in His Word. But, you may say, “1 cannot understand God, so how can I believe in Him?"

Here is where many stumble and fall. God has not asked us to understand Him! He has only asked us to believe Him: You and I will never be able to understand God. He is too great for us to understand! He Is God. If we could understand Him, He no longer would be God, but would be like one of us. The Creature will never be able to understand the Creator who made him. That is impossible!

The Scriptures say: “He that cometh to God must believe that God is.” We come to God in prayer, repenting of our sins. We come in faith, believing that God exists and that He loves us and desires to forgive and save us. We accept His word, therefore, we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead and offers us salvation through His shed Blood.

Then, by faith we receive the pardon that God offers and we are saved. We simply trust in Him, take Him at His Word and thank Him for His mercy.

3.  THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM

The third doctrine of Christ is the doctrine of Baptisms.  There are several baptisms spoken of in the Bible and they are all covered in this Scripture.  First, when we are born again we are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 3:27)  Secondly, there is the believer's baptism in water, by immersion (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41) and thirdly, there is the 'Baptism in the Holy Ghost and Fire', by Jesus Christ Himself. (Luke 3:16)

In this message, however, it is the believer's water baptism that we are considering. Here is the point I want to make clear.  Water Baptism is a Doctrine of Christ.  It is not a doctrine of the Lutheran Church, Roman Catholic Church, Baptist or Pentecostal Church, but it is a doctrine of our Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

4.  THE 'LAYING ON' OF HANDS

There are many spiritual and practical uses for this doctrine!  "Laying on' of hands for the healing of the sick (Mark 16:17), receiving the 'Baptism of the Holy Ghost' (Acts 19:6), to receive Spiritual gifts, power and the Holy anointing before going out on the field of service for the Lord. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 13:3).  And to dedicate little children (Matthew 19:13-15) and bring the blessings of God to His people in the name of the Lord. (Genesis 48:14-15)

5.  RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

There are two future resurrections spoken of in the Bible - the Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust! (Revelation 20:5-6).  "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2)

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil, unto the Resurrection of Damnation" (John 5:28-29)

6.  ETERNAL JUDGMENTS

This is the final and sixth ‘Doctrine of Christ’ mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Each human being is born with a living soul that is eternal. (Genesis 2:7) When your body dies, your soul will live on in Eternity (forever) in either Heaven or Hell.

The Bible says: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

"And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away...and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And Death and Hell were cast into the Lakeof Fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into theLakeof Fire." (Rev. 20: 10-15)

In conclusion, I would like to stress again that water baptism is not a doctrine of a church denomination, but is a Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER 2:  BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE

"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 Judaea and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:4-5)

"Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him, confessing their sins.  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." (Matthew 3:5-8)

John's baptism was a baptism of repentance! The people whom he baptized had to repent of their sins before he would allow them to be baptized. The multitudes heard John the Baptist preach a powerful Holiness message, condemning their sins and warning them of the Judgments of God.

Then he invited them to repent of their sins. They were so convicted by the Word and the Holy Spirit that they confessed their sins, repenting of them. Then to prove that they really meant business and were going to serve the Lord, they were baptized publicly as a testimony of their changed life and their new faith in God.

The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted to get some recognition and wanted to do as the others were doing, but John the Baptist stopped them because they had not repented of their sins. John's baptism was therefore an outward confession of a changed heart. Many today, like the Pharisees and Sadducees of old only are baptized because it is the popular thing to do, but that is hypocrisy! John the Baptist wouldn't allow it, and ministers today shouldn't either.

TO FULFILL All RIGHTEOUSNESS

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him saying I have need to be baptized of thee, and cometh thou to me, and Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered Him.

“And Jesus, when He was baptized went up straightway out of the water: and the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on Him: and lo a voice from Heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3: 13-17)

Jesus came not only as our Saviour but as OUR EXAMPLE! There is no one as great, perfect and good as Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life and kept the entire law, without sin. He is our great example and we would all do well to follow in His footsteps by the grace of God. If Jesus had to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, then I am sure that we who were born in sin and have been saved by God's grace and because of Jesus' shed blood on Calvary's cross, certainly also need to be baptized! It was necessary for Jesus Christ to be baptized to "fulfil all righteousness".

As John the Baptist was baptizing converts in the river Jordan, Jesus presented Himself as a candidate for baptism. After Jesus came up out of the water, the Heavens opened and the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove and settled upon Him.

The voice of God spoke: “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."  No wonder John the Baptist called Jesus, the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1: 29-37)

THE EARLY CHURCH AND BAPTISM

You have now become acquainted with the example that Jesus gave us, Himself being baptized in water by immersion. Earlier in this message I pointed out the command of Jesus to His disciples in the Great Commission. This commission included the baptizing in water of those who would accept the gospel message. (Matt. 28: 18-20) (Mark 16: 15-18) Now let us examine the Holy Scriptures to see what was the practice in the early church concerning water baptism?

WATER BAPTISM IS PART OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. Wherever the gospel message was proclaimed by theEarlyChurch, the doctrine of water baptism was also proclaimed. In checking through the Book of Acts I have found that there are ten distinct recorded baptismal services at which new converts to Christ were baptized in water (by immersion).

Wherever people accepted the message of Christ as Messiah and Redeemer they were baptized in water as a witness to that fact. According to the Scriptures all who believed were baptized; there were no exceptions; Water Baptism was a part of the Gospel. As soon as they had believed and accepted Christ they were baptized.

REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED

After the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the waiting 120 in the Upper Room, the multitudes came to see and hear this great phenomenon. Peter stood up and delivered this powerful message of the Resurrected Christ to the multitudes. When they heard the word they were pricked in their "hearts and cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)

Then Peter answered and said: “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

Peter commands the people to repent of their sins and be baptized in water.  He then informs them of the gift of the promised Holy Spirit which is poured out upon believes! In Peter's preaching, the doctrine of water baptism (for believers) went hand in hand with the Gospel Message, as did the message of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

It was all part of the Good News, that Jesus Christ had suffered, bled and died and was offering new life and spiritual power to all who believed. Let us now examine Scriptures again to see what the people did after Peter's powerful sermon to them.

Here it is: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

Jesus had preached it and later Peter declared the same message. Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned.” (Matt. 16: 16). Now, Peter continues by saying: “Repent and be baptized every one of you…" This certainly makes it very clear that water baptism is necessary for every born again believer in Christ.

CHAPTER 3:  Philip at Samaria

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with loud voice, came out of them, and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed, and there was great joy in that city.

“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” (Acts 8:5-8, 12-13)

The foregoing account is very plain. Philip, one of the seven deacons had to flee from Jerusalem because of the persecution, and became a mighty Evangelist for Jesus. He went to Samaria, where he had a city-wide revival. Multitudes heard the Word of God, saw the miracles of Christ and received the Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour! The Scripture says: “There was great joy in that city."

Here is the Key Verse: “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women."

After they had received the Gospel preached by Philip and were forgiven and healed, he brought them the glorious truth of ‘Water Baptism’, and the Scripture says: “They were baptized, both men and women.” In other words it was a Believers' Baptism. In this instance, there were no small children or infants baptized. I repeat, it was a ‘Believers' Baptism.

WHAT DOTH HINDER ME TO BE BAPTIZED?

"And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying; Arise, and go towards the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem, unto Gaza, which is desert.  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot reading Esaias the Prophet."

"Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot.  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the Prophet Esaias and said, 

Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

“The place of the Scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before His shearers, opened He not His mouth: in His humiliation His judgment was taken away: And who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth.

“And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the Prophet? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture and preached unto him Jesus.

“And as they went on their way. they came unto a certain water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.

“And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water: the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.' (Acts 8:26-39)

The foregoing is self explanatory. I would, however, like to point out a few truths. First, Philip preached Jesus at Samariaand to the eunuch (v. 35). The Bible says: “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5) The end result in both instances was also the same. As soon as they had believed and taken Jesus Christ as Saviour, they were baptized in water.

Philip must have done a good job preaching about water baptism wherever he proclaimed the Gospel.  He was an Evangelist and he preached water baptism and held water baptismal services for the new converts in Christ.

It is popular for many Evangelists today to by-pass important doctrines and only preach soft-sell, easy-believism, situational-ethics messages that will not offend people of any and all faiths.  Philip, however, who should be every Evangelist's example, preached the full gospel which brought forgiveness for sins, healing for the sick in Jesus' name and baptized converts in water by immersion.

The second point I would like to drive home to your heart is the CONFESSION which is necessary to become a candidate for ‘Believers Water Baptism.’ The Bible says: “And as they went on their way they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized? and Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

In the Early Church, only those who believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God could be baptized in water! This is the one confession every person must believe in his heart and make with his mouth if he wants to gain Heaven's portals. No one can be saved without making this confession.

Peter said to Jesus: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matt. 16: 16) Then Jesus answered Peter in these words: “Blessed art thou Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but My Father which is in heaven…” (Matthew 16:17-18)

Here Peter makes the confession that each individual must make if he is to be saved; that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God! The Lord Jesus then explained further by saying, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven."

In other words, Peter had received a Divine revelation by the Spirit of God concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Peter did not obtain this truth by studying theology or philosophy in a University or a Seminary. It was given to him by the Holy Spirit of God.

You cannot find God in a test tube, in a scientific experiment or in a laboratory. God is too big for that! (I Corinthians  2:14) You find Him in His Word and He is revealed to you by the Holy Spirit. God is Spirit and they that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)

Then, Jesus declared Himself the Rock (Petra - the Foundation Stone) upon which He would build His Church.  Simon, whom He called Petros - the little stone - had been given the Divine Revelation of Christ's identity and by this truth and confession Jesus Himself would build His Church.  (Not the Catholic Church, Greek Church, Lutheran Church or any other Church, but HIS CHURCH)/

This then would be the ‘Christian Platform’ or ‘Foundation Truth’ that would under-gird the work of Christ upon the earth! The truth that Jesus was Who He claimed to be, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Saviour of the world, the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

St. Paul makes it very clear that Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which the Church of Christ is built, when he says: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Then Paul goes on to say that we are all builders in God's House, Kingdom and Church, and we must therefore be careful how we build thereupon! (I Cor.3: 5-7)

OUR BODIES:  The Temple of the Living God

A glorious truth is brought to our attention here, as we realize that we are the Temple , Building and Body of Christ. (Colossians 1:18)

The Scriptures say: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1f any man defile the temple of God, Him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (I Cor.3: 16-17)

The Bible says: “Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands: as saith the prophet, Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord?” (Acts 7: 48-50)

Again the Scriptures state: “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” (Acts 17:24) l want to stress again, that God dwells in the human heart of His believers! Yes, our bodies are the temples of the Living God.

CHAPTER 4:  The Great Catholic Confusion

When people do not know the Scriptures, or have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they often get deceived and led far away from the truth. Jesus said to the Sadducees who were very religious, but were absolutely wrong in their doctrines and who claimed there was no resurrection, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." (Matt. 22:29)

For the same reason that the Sadducees erred from the truth, the Roman Catholic Church has erred from the Truth!  They do not know the Scriptures nor do they have the Power of God. They have allowed tradition to become more authoritative than the Holy Scriptures and they do not know or have the power of the Spirit of God.  The only power they know is temporal and physical.  HOW SAD.

Jesus warned about traditions: “Thus have ye made the Commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites well did Isaias prophecy of you; saying this people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips. But their heart is far from Me, but in vain they do worship Me; teaching for doctrines the Commandments of men.” (Matt. 15:6-9)

THE CHIEF CORNER STONE

When Jesus chose Peter to be His disciple, He gave him a new name: "And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." (John 1: 42) They erroneously believe that St. Peter is the foundation stone upon which Jesus Christ has built His Church. They also believe that their denomination is the true Church, and the only way to God.

The claim that they are the ‘only way to God’ is absolutely FALSE because Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by ME.” (John 14:6)

Here is the truth in the matter – Jesus Christ is the only way to God!!! Our Lord said: “I am the Door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” (John 10: 9)

Now to refute the erroneous doctrine that the big fisherman, ‘Simon the son of Jonas’, is the rock or foundation upon which the Church of Christ is built. As I have brought out before, St. Paul said: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor.3: 11)

Again he writes: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the Household of God: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone’, In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a Holy Temple in the Lord: In Whom also ye are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2: 19-22)

Now read what ST.PETER said: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand before you whole.

“THIS (Jesus) IS THE STONE which was set at naught of you builders: which is become the HEAD OF THE CORNER, neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.'

(Read also Isaiah 28: 16, Psalm 118:22-23, Matt. 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, and Luke 20:17-18)  ST. PETER rebukes false teachers and Roman Catholic scholars and sets the record straight about our position in the building of God and Christ's unique position of Chief Corner Stone, Elect and Precious, Whom we are to believe on for Eternal Life.

"If so be, ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To Whom coming as unto A LIVELY STONE, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a Spiritual House, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

"Wherefore it is also contained in the Scripture behold I lay in Zion a CHIEF CORNER STONE; elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore that believe He is precious: But unto them which be disobedient, the STONE which the builders disallowed, the same is made the HEAD OF THE CORNER, and a STONE OF STUMBLING, and a ROCK OF OFFENCE, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people: that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into this marvelous light." (I Peter 2:3-9)

We are all living stones in the building or household of God and Church of God - Jesus Himself being the Foundation Stone and Chief Corner Stone. We, who are born - again by the Word of God and the Spirit of God, are the Body of Christ. Every day we are building upon the foundation that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The prophets and apostles also built upon Jesus Christ, and we today are building upon the work they did. The foundation, however, is none other than Jesus Christ, Who is risen from the dead.

CHAPTER 5:  Peter - A Stone:  Jesus, the Rock

Now let me go a little deeper and unravel some more of ‘The Catholic Confusion’ concerning Peter and the Church. What did Jesus mean when He said: "Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone," (John 1: 42) and also when He said, "And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter (gr. petros- a stone) and upon this rock (gr. Petra – a rock) I will build my church: and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it:

  “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt lose on earth shalt be loosed in Heaven."

In His goodness, God revealed to Cephas the son of Jonas – a vacillating, temperamental and unlearned fisherman - who Jesus really was: The incarnated Son of God (God in human flesh) who had come to this earth to redeem fallen man and bring us back into fellowship with the Almighty.

Jesus said: “Thou art Peter (Gr. Petros - a little stone) and upon this ROCK (Gr. Petra – Chief Foundation Stone) I will build My Church and the gates of Hell (the powers, plans, strategies and designs of Hell) shall NOT PREVAIL against it."

First, He meant that Peter would be a stone in the household of God, like all other believers who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Matthew 16:16-17; 1 Peter 2:5). He directed His remarks to Peter because he was the one who had received the revelation from God of whom Jesus was.

Remember that all through the New Testament, you will find that this was the CONFESSION that everyone had to make (and still is) in order to be saved! Read the following Scriptures: Acts 9:20; Mark 14: 61-62; John 4: 25-26; John 1: 34, 9; John 11: 25-27; Acts 18: 28; John 6: 66-69; John 20: 28-31; I John 2:22)

Because Peter was a spiritual man, he became a leader among the disciples and Jesus rightly named him a stone (Cephas), because a stone is solid, and certainly Peter, after he was filled with the Holy Ghost became a mighty power for God in the Church.

He certainly was NOT perfect, infallible or the foundation of the Church as the Roman Church says!  Peter, however, seemed to take the lead after the ascension of Jesus Christ. The Scripture says: "And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said…” (Acts I: 15);

"Then Peter said silver and gold have I none (that's different than today’s papacy) but such as I have give I thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Peter brought healing to a crippled man in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ, and that's a lot different than the Roman Pope. (Acts 3:6)

Peter was a great preacher, who was filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues, cast out devils, raised the dead, commanded people to repent of their sins and be baptized in water by immersion, and that's sure a lot different than the Roman Pope. (Acts 2:38-39, Acts 3:19-21, Acts 2:4, Acts 5:5-6, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 9:40-41)

PETER WAS NOT INFALLIBLE

The Roman Catholic Church has made the statement that Peter was the Bishop of Rome for 25 years and that he was the first Pope.  This however, is utterly FALSE and has no particle of truth in it.  First, Peter may have visited Rome, but there is no evidence that he lived in Rome.  He never wrote from Rome nor wrote to Rome.  He was never a Pope.

Paul wrote to Rome. He was imprisoned in Rome, he wrote from Rome and he finally was martyred in Rome, but in all his writings he never once mentions Peter.  If Peter were Bishop of Rome, surely Paul would have mentioned him in his letters.  That is also part of the Great Catholic Confusion.

Nowhere in the Holy Bible can you find the word Pope, Archbishop, or Cardinal! Here are more Roman fabrications. Peter certainly was not infallible, as the Scriptures prove. Before he was filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter cursed, swore and denied the Lord Jesus, (Matthew 26:69-75), attacked a man with a sword and cut off his ear, (John 18: 10) and was rebuked publicly - before all the disciples - by the Lord Jesus.

After Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, he still made mistakes, proving he certainly was not infallible and certainly ‘Not Foundation Material’ for the Church of Jesus Christ St. Paul states: “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.” (Galatians 2:11)

NO, a million times NO!  Peter was never infallible and never was Pope!  Peter had no priority over the other disciples, and was even rebuked publicly by St. Paul, as I have already pointed out. The following Scripture CONFIRMS this fact out: “And when James, Cephas (Peter) and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.” (Galatians 2:9)

  In this Scripture, Paul made no differentiation between James, Peter and John. In fact, he mentions John before Peter in the line-up.

Peter:  Poor Foundation

What a foundation Peter or any man would make for the Church of the Living God. How absolutely foolish and ridiculous to even consider making such a statement!!

In verse 18, Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter (petros), and upon this rock (petra), 1 will build My church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”"

Then just four verses further in the same chapter (Matt. 16:22-23), we read, “Then Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee. But He turned, and said unto Peter, get thee behind me Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

Certainly, Jesus couldn't have meant for such a person to be the foundation upon which He would build His Church! The Roman Church is built upon a man (St. Peter) and it will fall: and be destroyed!  Read Revelation chapters 17 and 18. The Church of the Living God however, is built upon the Solid Rock, Christ Jesus and it will never fall. Hallelujah1

It was the revelation that God gave Peter that would be the great foundation both upon which the Church of Jesus Christ would build and grow!  This is the great truth that opens the Kingdom of Heaven for lost men and women.

Peter and all servants of God have in their possession, the keys of Heaven in declaring the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Who is the Son of the Living God!  Then Jesus went on to set forth the law of binding and loosing that we as servants of God have through the Gospel.

WE CAN BIND THE POWERS OF DARKNESS IN JESUS' NAME

We can bind the powers of darkness in Jesus' name and God's power in Heaven will come into operation to make ineffective the Devil's power: then we can loose people from the Devil's power in the name of Jesus Christ, and again God's power will come into operation, to set the person free.  Hallelujah.

You may say: “This was given only to Peter.” THAT IS NOT TRUE! In Matt. 18: 18-20 Jesus directs the very same promise to all believers! Peter made the confession that every person must make if he is to enter Heaven when he said to Jesus: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." The Ethiopian eunuch also made the confession that everyone that wants to be baptized must make, when he said: "1 believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37)

CHAPTER 6:  WHO CAN FORBID WATER?

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on alI them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God".

"Then answered Peter: "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Then, prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:44-48)

This story of God’s love and grace is certainly very heart stirring, as we see how the Almighty leaps across all barriers and boundaries to bring His salvation to a seeking soul.

Here is a man by the name of Cornelius, a Roman centurion living in heathen Rome, but who has a deep faith in the Living God. He had not been introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or to the Christian faith before, but he did have a strong faith in God and was a man of prayer. The Bible says that he feared God with all his house. He served the Lord the best he could, according to the light which he had received.

Here is a classic example of how God puts hunger in everyone's heart for “his maker”, and also of how God answers the prayers of a seeking soul and meets everyone desires truth.

Cornelius was devout, but he was not saved: he was a religious man but he was not saved:  he was generous, but he was not saved, and he was even a praying man, but he was not saved.  There are many devout, sincere, religious, generous and even praying people in the world today, BUT THEY ARE NOT SAVED.

Millions of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Shintoists, Papists, Modernists and others, are sincere, devout, religious, generous and even praying people, but they are not saved, because they have not received the Lord Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives as their personal Saviour.

St. Peter said: "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12); "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6); "I am the door by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved and go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9)

HERE IS THE AMAZING TRUTH

If a person will direct his prayers to the Lord God Almighty, the maker of Heaven and earth (not to a man, angel, image, statue, idol or animal) in sincerity, then God will some-how and in some way bring the Gospel to them, so that they can be saved.

Cornelius did not know the Gospel, but he prayed to God in sincerity and truth, and the Lord was compelled by His love to bring him the glorious message of Jesus Christ. God gave Cornelius a vision in which an angel came in unto him and said: “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."

In other words, you can move God by your praying and giving! Then he was instructed to send men to Joppa to fetch Simon Peter who would tell him what he should do, (Acts 10:6) and who would give him words “whereby he and his house could be saved.” (Acts 11: 14)

The angel told him that he would find Simon Peter at the house of Simon the Tanner who lived by the sea side. What a place to find one of history's greatest, most powerful and famous preachers. There he was living with a man who was a tanner. You can imagine the terrible smell at such a place, as the skins went through the various processes of tanning, and also remember a tanner was not a very high class or rich person, but was usually a lower class, and despised because of his occupation.

WHY AM I BRINGING THIS OUT?

Only for this reason: I do not believe we have the same brand of consecrated, unselfish, dedicated and completely sold-out-to-God preachers today, as there were in Bible Times.

In the EarlyChurchthey were willing to give up everything, go anywhere or do anything the Spirit of God asked of them. They stayed in the homes of the people and ate what was set before them. (Luke 10:5-9) They never had much of the world's goods, but they did have God's power.

But you may say: “Times have changed and Peter and his fellow disciples didn't have any money to work with.” YOU ARE WRONG! Peter and the Early Church Ministers had a lot of money at their disposal, but they did not use it on themselves. They used it to win a lost world for Jesus.

There will certainly be a reckoning day for Ministers, also, who have abused God’s money. The Bible says: “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the Apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” (Acts 4:34-35)

The Holy Record states that much money was given to the Apostles and yet Peter could say: "Silver and gold have I none." (Acts 3:6)  There is a story I heard some time ago concerning St. Augustine - the Bishop of Hippo - and the Pope.  It seems that St. Augustine was invited to see the Opoe and was shown by that man-made Pontiff all of the Vatican's Great Treasure and Wealth.  The Pope smiling said: "No longer do we have to say with Peter of old, silver and gold have I none, look at all our Treasures and Wealth."

ST. AUGUSTINE then answered the Pope thusly: "True, O Pope, no longer do you have to say with Peter, silver and gold have I none but no longer can you say with Peter of old to the crippled man, 'In Jesus name Rise up and Walk.' (Acts 3: 1-8) In other words the Pope had the riches, wealth and treasures, but he was lacking in spiritual power.

I would sooner be a poor man with God’s power in my life to bring deliverance to multitudes of sinful, sick and diseased people than to be a millionaire with no spiritual power to help people. In other words, I would sooner be like St. Peter than a Roman Pope!

    Then, the Spirit of God prepared Peter for the work He had for him to do in Caesarea . Up until this time the early Christians had taken the Gospel Message, only to the Jews. Now God, by a vision showed Peter he must share the Gospel with the Gentiles also.

     When Peter arrived at Cornelius house the Scripture says, “…and as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying stand up; I myself also am a man."  

     What a difference between Peter and the Roman Popes who claim to be his successors. Peter wouldn't let a man bow down before him and yet thousands have bowed before Italian Popes - and recently a Polish pope - kissing their rings and even kissing their feet. Such arrogance, pride and blasphemy God will judge.

The Scripture goes on to tell that when Peter began to speak the Word of God to them, the Holy Ghost fell upon them and they were filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues and magnifying God. As soon as this happened Peter said, "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Water baptism in the EarlyChurchwas not only common; but it was an established practice and a compulsory command for all believers. There was no such thing as a Christian who was not baptized. Water Baptism, following conversion was the mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

As soon as people accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in the EarlyChurch, they were baptized forthwith. In this case Peter commanded them to be baptized immediately after they had believed and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. (v. 48)

THE LORD OPENED HER HEART

"And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by the river side, where prayer was wont to be made and we sat down, and spake unto the women that resorted thither.

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us, whose heart God had opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

“And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." (Acts 16: 13)

Here is another account of how the Early Church preachers won souls to Christ and then brought them the wonderful truth of water baptism.

The Lord opened the heart of Lydia to believe and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then straightway she followed the Lord in the waters of baptism.  Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)

CHAPTER 7:  The Same Hour of the Night

  “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed, and the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

“But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying. Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

“And they said. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." (Acts 16:25-34)

This is one of the most gripping, stirring and thrilling accounts in the Book of Acts about God’s delivering power, manifest in the lives of his believing, trusting and praying saints.

Paul and Silas had been led by God, through a vision to go to Macedonia to preach the life-giving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God had given them an open door as Lydia the seller of purple in the city of Thyatira had been converted and baptized in water.

Now God was going to give Paul and Silas some more converts, even though they were going to have to suffer considerably in the process. Here is the Bible account of what happened:

"And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation."

this fortune teller girl had done this for some days, Paul became grieved in the Spirit, and spoke to the Evil Spirit to come out of her. Instantly she was set free and had no more power to tell fortunes.

When her masters learned of this they were angry, as they realized the hope of their gains were all gone. Therefore, they riled up the rulers of the people against them. Their clothes were ripped off them, they were beaten, their feet were made fast in the stocks and they were cast into the inner prison. (Acts 16: 16-24)

Bruised and beaten, Paul and Silas lay in the dungeon: no doubt their backs were bleeding and their heads were aching from the many stripes they had received, but they were not discouraged.  They were happy to suffer for the name of Jesus.

With the rats scurrying all around them in the darkness of their damp, cold and smelly dungeon, they began to praise the Lord. They praised the Almighty with a loud voice as they prayed and sang praises unto God.

The Bible says that their praises were so loud, that the prisoners in the entire prison heard them.  But that's not all.  GOD HEARD THEM, and sent a great earthquake that shook the prison and loosed everyone's bonds.  The glorious outcome of the whole thing was that the jailor was converted and baptized in water, together with his entire family.

The Holy Record states: "And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes: and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." (Acts 16:32-34)

CHILDREN:  Can they be baptized?

People have raised the question, "Can children be baptized?" They say that the Philippian Jailor's children were baptized, so what is wrong with children being baptized? You are absolutely right: if they are believers they can be baptized. If a child is old enough to believe, he is old enough to be baptized. It is not the age that makes the difference, it is the belief.

Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16: 16)

All through the New Testament and the Book of Acts you will find when it speaks about baptism, it speaks about a believer's baptism. There is none other! Now, let us examine the facts.

The Bible records that Paul and Silas spoke the Word of the Lord unto the Jailor and to all that were in his house (the children were old enough to hear the preaching of the Gospel). Then we read further, that the Jailor was baptized, he and all his straightway (all the children were baptized).

Don’t miss this: “And when the Jailor had brought them into his own house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (The children were old enough to believe in God) The Bible says “they were baptized, straightway.” Water baptism follows directly after conversion. In this Bible example, those who believed the Gospel message of Our Lord Jesus Christ were baptized the same night they believed.

CHAPTER 8:  Paul at Ephesus

"And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?

“They said, unto John's Baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism repentance saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus:

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came to them: and they spake with tongues and prophesied, and all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19: 1-7)

The foregoing is self explanatory, but I would like to enlarge a little on a few points. Paul, in his travels finds a group of about twelve men who were disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the city of Ephesus. He asks them if they have received the “gift of the Holy Ghost” since they have become followers of the Lord Jesus, to which they answer that they hadn't so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Then he questions them further concerning water baptism, and finds out that they have been baptized under John the Baptist’s ministry. Then Paul explains: “John verily baptized with the Baptism of Repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him, which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” (v. 4).

The Bible says: “When they heard this they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus." (v. 5) Notice, Paul did not hesitate to re-baptize those who had not been baptized the New Testament way. They were baptized immediately. The Scripture states that when Paul laid his hands on the twelve believers who had just been baptized in water, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (v. 6)

And Peter said to the multitudes on the Day of Pentecost: “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.” (Acts 2:38)

WHY TARRIEST THOU?

“And Ananias went his way and entered into the house: and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."

One of the most dramatic conversions recorded in the Book of Acts is the account of the conversion of the Apostle Paul.  Here was a man who was a persecutor of the Church, and one who hated the message of the Gospel.  He was a very zealous, religious Pharisee who actually thought he was doing God service by persecuting and putting Christians to death.

One day, however, Jesus stopped him in his tracks and knocked him to the ground so that He could speak to him:  The bright light that shone upon him in the way, blinded his eyes and the proud self-righteous Saul of Tarsus lay trembling in the dust of the Damascus road.  The voice that spoke to him said: "Saul.  Saul.  Why persecuteth thou me?"  Saul cried out: "Who art thou, Lord?"

The Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” Then Saul was instructed to go into the city and wait for further instructions from the Lord Jesus. He was led by the hand into Damascus because he had been blinded by the brightness of the countenance of the Lord Jesus Christ Who appeared unto him in the way. For three days he waited in the darkness, neither eating nor drinking: Saul of Tarsus was praying and, yes, waiting for The Lord Jesus to speak again. (Acts 9: 1-9)

HERE IS THE REST OF THE STORY: “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias: and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem and here he hath authority from the chief priest to bind all that call on Thy name.  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel : for I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.

And Ananias went his way and entered into the house: and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith and arose and was baptized.” (Acts 9: 10-18)

What a wonderful picture of God’s love, mercy and grace. Certainly God’s ways are not man's ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Here is the point I would like to make clear: As soon as Saul was saved, healed and filled with the Holy Ghost, he was baptized.

In rehearsing his great experience as he testified to the Jews at Jerusalem, he said, “And when 1 could not see for the Glory of that Light, being led by the hand of them that were with me I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, 

“Brother Saul receive thy sight, and the same hour I looked up upon him and he said, the God of our Fathers hath chosen thee that thou shouldest know His will and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth for thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

“And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."  Acts 22:11-16)

This portion of Scripture shows the urgency with which the Holy Spirit of God, speaking through Ananias, put upon him the need for Saul to be baptized immediately.

God has never changed, and I believe today, it is just as important for people that are saved to be baptized and seal their confession of Christ in the waters of baptism as soon as possible, as it was in the time of Paul.

Far too little is said from the pulpits of our Churches about water baptism. Far too little emphasis is placed upon this great doctrine of Christ in the Church today.

I believe if we had more water baptismal services, we would win more souls to Jesus because there is a strong testimony and Gospel appeal to the unsaved, in watching a ‘Water Baptismal’ service: Observing a ‘Water Baptismal’ service also strengthens the faith of the Christians that are present, and makes them more zealous to win souls for Jesus.

CHAPTER 9:  What is Water Baptism?

Water Baptism is actually a funeral service for ‘the old man’. It is a public confession of an inward belief and faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

By being baptized in water a new convert tells the world, the devil, the believers and God, that he has died to the old life having completely rejected the World, the Flesh and the Devil, and that his life is now under new management and new ownership.

It depicts a complete changeover from the old life to new life in Jesus Christ. In other words, baptism is a testimony and a witness that the new convert has embraced the truth of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel message is the truth that Jesus Christ - the Son of God - came from Heaven, died on the Cross for our sins, that He was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day and now lives to offer us eternal life by receiving Him into our hearts and lives by faith. (I Cor. 15: 1-4)

Again, ‘Water Baptism’ is the burying or immersing of a believer in water as a sign and a seal of his receiving the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Funeral Service for the Old Man

  Bible says: “God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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 should we walk in the newness of life." (Romans 6:2-4)

Baptism describes the Gospel message in a nutshell. As Jesus Christ died on the cross, we die to the old man. As Jesus Christ was buried, we are buried in the waters of baptism. And as Jesus Christ rose from the dead and received all power in heaven and earth (Matthew  28:18), we come up out of the waters of baptism to live a new life and are candidates to receive the power of the Holy Spirit into our lives. (Acts 2:38-39; Acts I: 8)

Furthermore, when a new convert is baptized in water by immersion (which is the only Bible method of baptism) he makes a public confession that he believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who died for his sins, was buried and rose again from the dead.  (Romans 10: 9-10)

He testifies to all present and those who will learn of it later, that he has chosen the Christian life. From that time forward he will serve the Lord wholeheartedly, denying himself, forsaking worldly lusts and taking up his cross daily and following Jesus. (Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26)

A CHANGED PERSON

The Bible says: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold all things become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)  HE HAS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.

Jesus said: "Verily, verily. I say unto you, He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me. Hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: But is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

The one who is baptized also testifies of his solid, unshakable faith in the resurrection of the human body, which is the Christian hope. One day the dead in Christ shall hear the voice of the Son of God and shall come forth from the graves, at the last trump. (I Thessalonians 4:15-17; John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:20-23)

The resurrection of the human body is the Christian hope, and baptism by immersion also portrays and proclaims this great truth

WHY ARE BELIEVERS IMMERSED IN WATER?

FIRSTLY, because it is the only way they baptized anyone in Bible times. In all the Bible examples I have shared with you in this message, there is not a single one that gives us any other method than by emersion: in other words, if we are going to do it, let us do it right and of course the right way is the Bible way.

Any other method is man's way and the wrong way. John the Baptist used the method of immersion, and Jesus Christ was baptized that way. Early Church leaders baptized by immersion, so why should we settle for anything less today?

SECONDLY: Immersion is the only way you can proclaim the full meaning of the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ). As Christ was buried, so we are buried with him in the waters of baptism. (Romans  6:3-5) Any other method employed, is not Bible-originated but rather the doctrines, rituals, ceremonies and traditions of men. They have absolutely no spiritual value whatsoever and are rejected by God. (Matthew 15:6-9)

Sprinkling an infant or pouring water on a person symbolizes nothing, portrays nothing and proclaims nothing: It is only a dead form, ceremony and ritual, with absolutely no life, power or Bible truth. The very word baptism means to submerge or dip.

The following article is copied from Dr. Martin Luther’s ‘The Complete Church (fullstendige kirke) – pastille 1, pages 440 – 442. Copied from Maranata Bladet (1979), Oslo, Norway,  Translated from the Norwegian language to English by the writer - M.S.

MARTIN LUTHER SPEAKS ON BAPTISM:  No. 1

Out from Mark 16: 16; Romans 1:17 and 18, Martin Luther says, "These are clear and plain words because each one must believe for himself and that no one can help him with an unknown faith, where he does not believe for himself.  This language must no-one go away from or deny, whatever happens, and one shall rather let the world go down before he changes this divine truth..."

"If any seemingly contrary situation occurs, which you are unable to answer, one shall rather confess that you do not understand it and give it over to God, before you speak anything against this clear language.  Let the pagans, Jews, Turks, small children and all, whatever, remain as they are: These words should and must be right and be true!"

He goes further in his case with the Roman Catholic Church, who baptizes upon their father’s faith and the ‘Waldenses Brethren’ who do not believe that children should be baptized, but yet baptizes them.

Martin Luther states: “If you cannot give a better answer and proof on this question, that small children themselves believe and have their own faith, then it is my faithful counsel and knowledge that one immediately refrains from, yes, and rather never again baptize any children, so that we do not blaspheme and mock God’s Highest Majesty with such empty foolishness and deceptive trickery!”  

CHAPTER 10 - My Experience

As a little baby I was sprinkled with a few drops of water in a ceremony called “baptism”, in the Lutheran Church. All through my early life, I was convinced that it was the right way. Many times I defended this "baptism" in serious and vigorous arguments. I contended that it was the proper way because it was the ‘Lutheran way’ and Martin Luther could not be wrong.

Of course, I never consulted the Holy Bible for any clarity on the subject. Like an ostrich I buried my head in the sand with the ‘Martin Luther argument’, and weren't all of my relatives and forefathers Lutheran, and hadn't they received the same baptism? Of course they had, and if it was good enough for Martin Luther and my forefathers and parents, it was good enough for me.

NOTE: I did not know that Martin Luther himself was against infant baptism, but because of outside pressure from the Roman Catholic Church - which was seeking to wrest Germany back into its evil grasp - he did not want to divide the German Nobles over the issue of baptism.

Then in June of 1957, I was gloriously converted to Jesus Christ and received the mighty ‘Baptism of the Holy Ghost’. My life was changed completely and I was very happy and overjoyed. I began associating with Pentecostal Ministers, because I heard that they also had this wonderful experience of the infilling of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.

We began to share our experiences and I soon found out that they spoke of being baptized in water by immersion. We clashed at once, because 1 was a Deacon in the Lutheran Church and was not about to change my doctrine on water baptism or my Church. While discussing the subject one evening with Pastor David Rathjen of the Pentecostal Church in Burns Lake, British Columbia, he said: “Let's not argue about it, why don't you read everything you can in the Bible on the subject."

To this I quickly agreed, because I had been brought up to believe that the Bible is the Word of God and the truth. I was employed as a commercial traveller and had some free time in the evenings, which I used to study the Bible and prepare myself for the ministry. I went to my hotel room that night and began to search the Scriptures concerning ‘Water Baptism’.

Before I began my search, however, I fell to my knees and I prayed for guidance. This was very important to me and I had to discover the truth for myself - one way or the other - from the Holy Bible. I prayed, "Dear Lord God Almighty, in the name of Thy Son Jesus Christ, come to my assistance now and show me the truth. Lord, lead me into all truth; open Thy Word to me and illuminate it to my heart and soul. In Jesus Name, Amen."

Then began the long search for truth! I looked up every Scripture I could find in the Bible on the subject.   With the aid of a concordance I searched for more Scriptures, scrutinizing them very carefully and studying diligently to gain further information: The end result was, however, that I could not find a single verse in the entire Bible where they ever “baptized infants or where they ever baptized by sprinkling”.

In every instance where there was a ‘Water Baptismal’ service, only believers were baptized. And the only method employed in the Early Church to baptize was by immersion. At first, I was disappointed because I was so sure I had been right.  I sought again and again trying to find at least one verse to reassure me, but to my dismay, there wasn't even one.

On the other side of the ledger, however, I had found numerous Scriptures to substantiate the claims of the Pentecostal pastor who believed in water baptism of believers only, and that by immersion.

As I continued to study further on the subject and as I read church history, I soon discovered where my pet doctrine had come from. It was a Roman Catholic doctrine. The Early Church had always baptized by immersion and only believers were baptized, but the Roman Church had changed that and had brought in the sprinkling of infants to take the place of the Biblical baptism.

1 was glad that I had searched the Scriptures and found the truth and I was prepared to throw out this man-made tradition and receive the real thing. The sprinkling I had received as a baby was made by my parents in honest but misguided faith. It wasn’t the Bible baptism, but rather a Roman Catholic ceremony that had not been removed from the Church at the time of Martin Luther.

Naturally, I felt cheated but also free to follow the Lord through the ‘waters of the baptism’ for believers in Jesus Christ.

Instead of removing all the old traditions, ceremonies, and rituals when they left the Roman Church, the Lutherans had allowed some of them to stay in the Church. It did not take me long to make up my mind; I would exchange this man-made doctrine for the doctrine of Jesus Christ. It wasn't long before I had joined the glad number of Bible-Baptized-Christians who had followed the Master into the watery grave of water baptism.

When I wrote this book into 1968, I sent it to my Father. He said that since he had been filled with the blessed Holy Spirit he was comfortable with the baptism he had received as an infant. I could understand his position since the Bible is clear that water baptism does not save anyone, but a changed heart through the New Birth by the Word of God, the Blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit does.

If a pool of water could save us from our sins and eternal damnation, we would not need the blood of Jesus!  And I also knew that when we receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, He teaches us all truth.

In 1975, my Dad together with my sister Astrid and my brother Emil attended our crusade at the Holiday Inn in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.  During that beautiful time together, my Dad told me that he had studies the Scriptures in my book and was convinced that he should be baptized.  I answered that we could do it there at the hotel and that I would request permission to use their how swirl pool for a private service, to which my Father agreed.

During that short baptismal service, the blessing of God came down upon us and as Astrid and Emil witnessed the event, I baptized my Dad unto Jesus Christ and His death and raised with Him to newness of life, through His glorious resurrection from the dead. My Dad was so blessed that he asked me to put him under the water once more, which I did gladly. Hallelujah.

CHAPTER 11 - Sprinkling Infants

You may ask me, "What is wrong with sprinkling infants with water and calling it baptism?" First, I could answer your question by asking one, "What is right with it?" The answer of course is, "Everything is wrong with it and nothing is right with it."

No. I - It is a man made ritual, ceremony and doctrine, and is not according to the Scriptures.

No. 2 - It had its birth and beginning, not in the Early Church (of the Book of Acts) but rather in the deceptive, corrupt and wicked dark ages of Roman Popery.

No. 3 - It bears no testimony, portrays no truth, and proclaims no message; while Water Baptism of a believer by immersion bears the testimony of a changed life. It portrays the truth of the Gospel (the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ) and proclaims the full message of the Gospel together with the glorious Christian hope of the resurrection of the dead.

No. 4 - Infants are not capable of believing. Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16: 16) Since infants are not believers, they cannot be considered candidates for water baptism.

No. 5 - Sprinkling is not water baptism: it is only sprinkling! Nothing is mentioned in the Bible about sprinkling water on infants, but a great deal is written about water baptism. Sprinkling is ordained of man, while water baptism (immersion) is ordained of God. Sprinkling infants is a man-made ceremony, while water baptism by immersion is a Doctrine of Christ.

The only mention of sprinkling in God’s Word refers to the Jewish Sacrificial System where the blood of an innocent animal was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies on the Great Day of Atonement! This of course, was a type of the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Lamb that was shed for us on Calvary's cross.

WHY BAPTIZE BY IMMERSION?

John the Baptist always used the river when he baptized converts. Most of his baptizing took place in the river Jordan. (Matt. 3:6; Mark I: 5) Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan: “And straight - way coming up out of the water" (Mark 1: 10); “And Jesus when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water.” (Matt. 3:16)

THE EUNUCH WAS IMMERSED IN WATER – “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water; both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:38)

MUCH WATER: “And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there.” (John 3:23)

THE BIG WHIP IN THE PRIEST'S HAND

The Roman church, together with some others who sprinkle infants have a whip of fear they use to persuade the parents with, so that they will bring the infants for baptism (sprinkling):

Here it is: They claim that if the baby dies before he is sprinkled, he will go to Hell. This is a cursed doctrine of fear. By the Scriptures I will prove to you how absolutely erroneous this statement is:

"…And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. And whoso shall receive one such in my name receiveth Me." (Matt. 18: 1-5)

Jesus’ disciples wanted to know who was the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus answered their question by using a child as an example of one who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. He admonished His disciples to be converted and become as little children.

Again we read: "Then were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them and pray: (not sprinkle with water, but pray) and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me. For such is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 19: 13)

I am sure the two foregoing Scriptures have clearly proved the falsity of the statement that children who die un-sprinkled will go to Hell. If anyone is fit for Heaven it is the little ones who have not had the ability to commit sin.

It is true that: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23); “Whereby, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom.5: 12)  According to Jesus' words, however, little children cannot be held accountable for their inherited sin until they have reached an age of accountability.

The Bible says: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16: 16) Since only those who believe can be saved and those who do not believe will be damned, it goes without saying that little children who are unable to believe or disbelieve cannot be held responsible.

Explaining to Jonah, why He spared Ninevah when the king and the people repented, the Lord said, “And should not I spare Ninevah, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons (infants) that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand…?” (Jonah 4: 11)

When a child is old enough to understand between righteousness and unrighteousness, then he must decide for himself to serve the Lord. After he has made his decision to follow Jesus, then he is baptized by immersion, as a believer.

We who are Christian parents bring our little children to the Church and dedicate them to the Lord. The ‘prayer of dedication’ is offered on the child’s behalf by the Pastor (or the one who is officiating) asking God's hand to rest upon the child all through his early life, keeping him from harm, danger, sin and all that is evil.

In faith, the Pastor prays a “believing prayer” claiming that child for the Lord, trusting that his parents will bring him up in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Prov. 22:6), and that when he comes of age he will receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour! Thank God that we can bring our children to God's House and to God's Servant and that God does hear and answer our prayers. Praise God Forever.

WHAT IS CHILD DEDICATION?

What is child dedication?  In the Old Testament we have a classic example of child dedication where Hanna brought her child, Samuel to the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:22-28)  In the New Testament we have the example of the Lord Jesus Christ taking children in His arms, blessing them and praying for them. (Mark 10:13-16) (Luke 18:15-17)

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS

The parents, in bringing little children into this world have a great responsibility in not only giving food, raiment, love and care, home and education, but in giving the child a spiritual upbringing as well.

The Scripture says: “Thou shalt not bow thyself down to them (idols), nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6)

THIS SCRIPTURE TEACHES A GREAT LESSON: “And the woman that hath an husband that believeth not and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children un- clean but now they are Holy.” (I Cor.7:13-14)

I want to warn every parent; by your life and your example you are leading your children either on the right road or wrong road; either to Heaven or to Hell. Seek the face of the Lord, now. Repent of your sins, be baptized in water and bring up your children to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

BAPTIZING FOR THE DEAD:  Totally unbiblical & wrong

The doctrine of baptism for the dead was first given to the Mormon church by Joseph Smith in 1836 and is found in his Doctrine and Covenants.

The cult of Mormonism has many weird doctrines and among them their teaching that living people can be baptized for those who are deceased, thereby bringing them into the kingdom of heaven. What you have here is the equivalent of the recently debunked Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory or worse.

They base their teaching on First Corinthians 15: 29 which states: “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?"

The danger of ‘cherry picking’ individual passages of Scripture without studying the entire context – the verses before and after the passage – is what the Mormon cult fell into, with all their other weird unbiblical teaching.

False teachers had come into the Church who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, even though they believed in Jesus Christ. In his excellent apologetic, St. Paul proved from Holy Scripture and common sense that there will be a resurrection for the saved as well the unsaved who die without faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

He argues that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ Himself could not have risen from the dead and therefore the entire Gospel would be worthless! If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, why baptize in His name? is His His name would then have no more power than any other man who had lived and died.

WATER BAPTISM conveys the Gospel:  As Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose from the dead, believers in Christ die to their carnal nature, are buried in water and rise with Him in the “newness of life”. And as Jesus said: “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth, baptized believers become candidates for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 1:8; 2:4).

Unger’s Bible Handbook puts it this way: “If Christ’s resurrection is not a fact and therefore ours not a living hope (12 -19) then what purpose is there for the rite of Christian baptism? Why should we continue being followers of a dead man (Christ) if He did not rise from the dead and why continue the rite of baptism if those who went before us and are now dead have no hope?  “If there is no resurrection and really no divinely authorized Saviour and gospel of salvation, might they not better give up a rite that portrays their identification with such a saviour?"

Below are several interpretations of this isolated text on ‘baptism for the dead:

“Mormons infer that in 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks approvingly of living Christians receiving baptism on behalf of dead non-Christians; however, the context and construction of the verse indicate otherwise. The Greek phrase rendered by the King James Version as "for the dead" is huper ton nekron. This phrase is as ambiguous in Greek as it is in English. The preposition huper has a wide semantic range and can indicate "for the sake of," "on behalf of," "over," "beyond," or "more than",  Like the English preposition "for," it does not have a single meaning and does not require the Mormon idea of being baptized in place of the dead. Such a reading would be unlikely given the more plausible interpretations available, and even if huper were taken to mean "in the place of," it doesn’t mean Paul endorses the practice.

“First Corinthians 15 is a key chapter for Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of the body. He makes no statement on baptism for dead persons except to note that some unnamed "they" practice it. While the rest of his teaching in chapter fifteen refers to "we," his Christian followers, "they" are not further identified. Who this group was may not be known with certitude today, but there are some reasonable interpretations:

“Another interpretation envisions the baptism of catechumens who have witnessed the persecution and martyrdom of their Christian predecessors. With their belief that the dead do rise, the Christian candidates come forward boldly and accept both the faith and its consequences.

“Others advance the possibility that Paul was referring to the practice of a heretical cult that existed in Corinth. On this theory, Paul was not endorsing the practice of the group, but merely citing it to emphasize the importance of the resurrection. Rather, his point was: If even heterodox Christians have a practice that makes no sense if there is no resurrection of the dead, how much more, then, should we orthodox Catholics believe in and hope for the resurrection of the dead.

A Flat-Out Contradiction

“The case against baptism for the dead is also made by the Mormon scriptures themselves. The current Mormon doctrine on baptism for the dead is quite unlike what Joseph Smith first taught. As in other cases, the Book of Mormon becomes an important tool for the Christian apologist. It contradicts much Mormon theology, and baptism for the dead is no exception.

“In Alma 34:35-36 we read: "For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he does seal you his. Therefore, the spirit of the Lord has withdrawn from you and hath no place in you; the power of the devil is over you, and this is the final state of the wicked."

“In other words, those who die as non-Mormons go to hell, period. There’s no suggestion of a later, vicarious admission into the Mormon church. We also see present-day Mormon doctrine contradicted in 2 Nephi 9:15:

"And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel, and then cometh the judgment and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God. For the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy . . . shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end."

“It is unfortunate that Smith abandoned his own, earlier doctrine. It would not have made the Mormon scriptures any more authentic, but it would have prevented millions of futile Mormon proxy baptisms from being performed.”                      Author unknown

THREE KINDS OF BAPTISMS

There are three kinds of baptisms mentioned in the Bible, as well as the ‘baptism of suffering’ that Jesus spoke about just before going to the cross! (Matt.20: 22-23). The first baptism is “being baptized into Christ” through the New Birth: “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.” (1 Cor.12: 13; Gal.3: 26-27)

The second Baptism is ‘Water Baptism’ by immersion for believers. The third baptism is the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire!  (Luke 3: 16; Acts 1: 8; 2: 4)

The belief that water baptism has been pre-figured in the Old Testament is dubious. St. Paul writes: “Moreover, brethren, I would not have you ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for the drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them; And that Rock was Christ.”(1 Cor.10: 1- 4)

Greek Scholar Spiros Zodhiates, in his Hebrew-Greek Study Bible states: “Here the meaning of the word ‘baptizo’ is demonstrated in its more general implications. It means “to be identified with”. These were identified with the work and purposes of Moses and they were said to be “baptized unto” Moses. When the preposition eis “in. into or unto” comes after the verb “baptize” as in Matt.28: 19, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” it means “in identification with” that name and all it stands for. Other Scriptures where the preposition is eis used after the verb “baptized” are Acts 8:16; 19:3,5; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor.1:13; 12:13; Gal.3: 27)."

CHAPTER 12 - Baptismal Formula

There is only one Scripture that tells us what formula to use in water baptism, and that formula is found in the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ! HERE IT IS: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 28:19)

  In the book of Acts however, we find that the Early Church used the name of the Lord Jesus in their baptizing: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:38; “And He commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 10:48; “When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 19:5)

In some parts of the world, there has been a certain amount of confusion caused by some good, well meaning preachers and teachers who have not been true to the Word, but gone off on “a revelation” and caused much heartache. They were partly right, but they didn't stay with the WORD of God, so they fell into error, taking others with them.

HERE IS THEIR TEACHING:  Since Early Church leaders used the name of Jesus in their baptizing, they have eliminated the use of the 'baptismal formula' which our LORD gave us, and they only use the name of JESUS in their baptismal formula.

THAT IS NOT WHERE THE GREATEST ERROR HAPPENS, since it is recorded that the Early Church baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, Jesus Christ and the Lord, but a tragic error has come about as a result of their trying to make the Scriptures fit their doctrine.

In trying to explain away the use of Father, Son and Holy Ghost in the Baptismal Formula some (United Pentecostals are a good example) have taught that Jesus Christ is Father, Son and Holy Ghost - all in one! Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses they reject the Godhead! They do not believe in the Triune God! In other words, there is no Father or Holy Ghost! There is only Jesus. This of course is gross error and one error opens the door to other errors.

THEY REJECT THE GODHEAD

Jesus Christ emphasized: “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you ANOTHER COMFORTER (gr. Parakletos – One sent alongside to help) that He may abide forever; Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

“Neverthless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin because they believe not on Me; Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world (Satan) is judged.

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.

“All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 14: 16, 17, 23, 26; 16: 7-15)

They contend: The Name of the Father is Lord (true), and the name of the Son is Jesus (right) and the name of the Holy Ghost is Christ (wrong)!

There is only ONE Christ and He is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Saviour of the World, the Christ of God and His name isn't the Holy Ghost. His name is JESUS! When they call the Holy Ghost, Christ - they are calling the Holy Ghost, the Saviour and that is not true.

Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) The Holy Ghost draws men and women to God. (John 6:44). The Holy Ghost reproves people of sin. (John 16:8-1I). The Holy Ghost GLORIFIES JESUS (John 16: 14), but the Holy Ghost cannot save anyone. Only Jesus CHRIST the Son of God can save lost souls.

The message of the Earlyweapon he had against Satan and his forces, and the name of Jesus to us today is just as important.

Jesus said: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14: 13-14); “In My Name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with other tongues…they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 17-18)

The Scripture record that the Scribes, Pharisees and High Priests were so afraid of the name of Jesus that they forbad the early Disciples not to use His Name any more. They were beaten and threatened repeatedly because they would not discontinue using His Name (Acts 4:2-3; 4:17-18; 5:2-28) They said: “We ought to obey God rather than man.” (Acts 5:29

Paul says “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him.” (Col. 3: 17)

The Jews did not believe in Jesus Christ, and even despised His Name, but the Disciples and early followers of Christ certainly knew the power attached to His Name, so it is no wonder that they used His Name in baptism also.

They preached Jesus Christ, prayed in His Name and saw miracles in His Name, so it was natural for them to include His Name in the Baptismal Formula.

They had, however, received the direct command of Jesus Christ Himself as to the Baptismal Formula which they were to use: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost,” (Matt. 28: 19) so 1 am sure they would not disobey that.

They baptized believers in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and it was done in Jesus’ name, for the glory of God! Upon the confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they were baptized into Jesus Christ, in the name of the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

In 1968 during our 3 1/2 month crusades across Norway, we were baptizing so many people that many Pastors of the Pentecostal Assemblies asked me to write this book.

Here is an appropriate model used by many pastors and missionaries of the Evangelical and Pentecostal Movement, whom I consider the most zealous for Jesus Christ in many parts of the world.

The Candidate should be given the opportunity to give a short testimony of his living faith in Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and Lord. He must give articulate his trust in the shed blood Jesus Christ through our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection, for the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation. The candidate must then declare his intention to serve Him faithfully until the Coming of Christ or the hour of his death.

When the Candidate comes up out of the water the Minister usually says: "Risen with Jesus Christ unto a New Life."

The words a Minister says may vary with the different Pastors and churches, but they must always use the baptismal Formula that Jesus Christ gave to His disciples and to the Church in (Matt. 28: 19). Then, it should be stated that the Candidate is being baptized unto Jesus Christ and His death.

The Bible says: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death.  Therefore we were buried with Him in baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)

The above model is used by the Pentecostal Assemblies in Norwayand I believe is the most Scriptural I have ever encountered.  In closing, if you are not born again by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, then I would admonish you with these words:

"Receive the Lord Jesus Christ today as your personal Saviour, be baptized in water, seek God until you are filled with the Holy Spirit.  Join yourself with a group of praying Christians in a Full Gospel, Bible believing Church, become an active soul winner for Jesus and you'll never be sorry.

"Live a godly life and use every opportunity you have to be a blessing to your family, the Church and you fellowman."  AMEN.