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| B. �The doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands� For some, �doctrine� is a dirty word. Doctrine is a �doing� word. How you LIVE is what you truly BELIEVE � everything else is just religious talk! JOHN 7: 15 � 17 �And the Jews marvelled, saying, �How does this Man know letters, having never studied?� Jesus answered them and said, �My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.� � Why is the word �doctrine� used here in relation to baptisms and laying on of hands? Because God knew that there would be much arguing and debate concerning these things. But He also knew that those who were intent on doing His will would not waste time arguing and fussing, but would go out and do it exactly the way He said to do it! The first time Jesus came across a debating society cum committee meeting of His disciples He wasn�t very impressed. Even way back then there were problems with people unable to accept resurrection power! MARK 16: 14 � 18 �Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, �Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptised (note the order) will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.� How did Jesus say to baptise? Matthew 28: 19 �Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.� |
| When speaking about �making disciples� Jesus referred to three baptisms. Disciples are �followers� � they are on the move. Disciples don�t get stuck in a rut � they �continue� in the Word of God (see John 8: 31). What are the three baptisms? 1. Baptism in the name of the Father �For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body� - 1 Corinthians 12: 13 �And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, �Abba, Father!� � � Galatians 4: 6 Our first baptism takes place when we are born again, as we become a part of the family of God. The Greek word which we have translated �baptism� is �baptizo�, which means �to dip, to immerse�. It was a word used to describe the dyeing of cloth, when it was dipped or immersed in the dye and came out a new colour. |
| When we are born again we lose our old identity and receive a new identity as sons of God! We are baptised � immersed, in the name of the Father! Just as the dye penetrates the cloth, even so this new identity is stamped in our inner man � in our spirit. The cry of �Abba, Father� doesn�t come just from the top of our heads, but from our innermost being! Hallelujah! The revelation of our �sonship� is foundational for a life which will continue to build in confidence and faith, knowing that God is our Father and that He responds to the cry of faith. �If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him� � Matthew 7: 11 |
| 2.. Baptism in the name of Jesus �Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life...knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin...For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon (consider) yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments (weapons) of righteousness to God.� � Romans 6: 4 � 13 |