David Pawson --- New Testament Baptism Part 2

• Report rights infringement
• published: 08 Jul 2016
• views: 34

Thoughtful Thoughts 8.7.16--David Pawson’s interview on “Baptism” Part 2 This week we have part 2 of David Pawson’s interview on Baptism. To get straight into it, the Greek word, “Baptizo” from which we get our word “baptize”, means “to sink”. Greek newspapers still write of ships being “baptized” when they sink! The Greek Orthodox church will immerse the whole baby because they understand the meaning of the Greek word “baptize” as meaning to sink or immerse, when they christen babies. It is also used when referring to cloth being dyed, when it is dipped under water, (like sheep when they go through a ‘sheep dip’). Jesus set the example for His followers, by getting baptized, thereby setting the precedent for all of us to get baptized by immersion. We are supposed to follow His example. We are told that He Himself baptized more followers than John the Baptist. This means they were responding to the call for repentance. (So the Anglican argument that the baptism of John the Baptist was not Christian baptism is just man made religiosity.) Jesus also told a religious leader he had to be born again, and also it was to be by water and the Spirit. Peter gives us the order of events for us to receive the Holy Spirit in Acts2:38 which is to:- a) Believe, b) Repent, c) Be baptized, and c) Be Filled with the Holy Spirit. It is after we believe and repent that we are to get baptized. It shows that we have repented. Babies are not capable of believing and repenting and deciding whether to get baptized, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (But neither have babies sinned either and God said it is the soul that sins that will die. This makes the idea of sprinkling babies with water to save them is nothing more than man made religion. When Israel just turned everything into religious practice, God says, “I hate your sacrifices”. What we are told is that God wants circumcision of the heart. After reading the Anglican argument for what they call infant baptism, all I can say is, that is nowhere to be found in the Bible. It is unbiblical. The people I know who have had infant christening imposed on them, are often far worse people than those that the church has NOT YET got its hooks into, and I can say that having been an insider of the Anglican church. Paul was baptized by Ananias. Paul went on to teach believers to get baptized and although he did baptize some of his converts, he usually left it for others to follow up on. All the first believers were Jews who had been circumcised but yet were baptized anyway. In the first covenant, God dealt with people corporately. That corporate way of accessing God was shut down when the Temple curtain was torn in two. Paul condemned absolutely those trying to turn back the clock and return to it. In the new covenant, God now deals with people individually. (Peter said to Jews, “Repent and be baptised each one of you”). Peter says in 1 Peter 3 “…baptism saves you, not by washing dirt from body but by an appeal to God”. Acts 2.38 “Repent and be baptised”. Jesus commanded us to be baptised in water. He never told us to do what was un-necessary. Peter said whoever the Lord calls and whoever calls on Him will be saved. It was not just Cornelius and his household but also there was Lydia who had staff who were baptised in the river. The servants and slaves of those who listened also responded to being baptised as part of the household. Baptism is a response to the gospel message. “How can they hear without a preacher?”, we are asked, so they had to believe first. The gospels also differentiate between baptism in water and baptism in the Spirit. John 3.5 says “unless a man is born out of water and out of spirit…”, so the Anglican argument that they are both the same, is also shown here to be wrong. Let’s get back to being obedient so that God can fill us with His Holy Spirit as He did the early church. Believe, Repent, Be Baptized and Be Filled with the Holy Spirit. I’m John Dunning and that’s “Thoughtful Thoughts” for another week. (For more see www.inspirational.org.nz)