As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
In the teaching of Martin Luther's Catechism of the Reformation, the Mystery of Baptism is addressed, for it is one of the great evolution of God's Covenant begun in Abraham.
The First or Old Testament Covenant was one established by blood, in the sacrifices of Abraham,which were consumed by the Holy Ghost in fire. That was a temporary payment in animal blood for the sins of the children of God. There was in lamb's blood, not any legal right for the regeneration from eternal death, which is what water was, the washing away of sin, for the regeneration of the dead.
This is what John the Baptist was sent to God to begin. To prepare the way of the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One of God, the Lamb Who would take away the sin and penalty of eternal death to the world.
"Dearest Jesus, We Are Here"
by Benjamin Schmolck, 1672-1737
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
4. Gracious Head, Thy member own;
Shepherd, take Thy lamb and feed it;
Prince of Peace, make here Thy throne;
Way of Life, to heaven lead it;
Precious Vine, let nothing sever
From Thy side this branch forever.
John explained when asked what he was instituting for a New Testament or Covenant. He was washing people with water for their repentance or for their changing. The water was outward, but the change was inward as people were washing their souls in obedience to the Law of God.
This is what John was involved in beyond the Jordan River in the time before Jesus appeared.
Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Jesus would come to Baptize all believers with not only water, but with the Spiritual flame of the Holy Ghost. At the advent of Jesus going to John to be Baptized, everything changed in Baptism, for it was no longer water only, for once Christ was Baptized the Holy Ghost descended upon Him, and by this the Holy Ghost was no longer only the Presence of God inside Prophets or Prophetesses, but the Holy Ghost inside of Christ as the God man, opened the door for this Precious Gift to be not Emanuel in Jesus being God with Us, but God in Us.
John was the Voice in the Wilderness, preparing the Way of the Lord or announcing the New Covenant was begun. Christ in His death would rip the Temple Curtain from top to bottom in the Holy of Holies which all were barred from except the High Priest. Christ became the High Priest at that moment and opened the Way for a direct connection to God, and what began with, Hearing the Word, Believing that Word, Stopping sinning, brought the Spiritual Regeneration of the Holy Ghost, in a Baptism which was not water only, but the Word of God, transforming that living soul to the Living Spirit inside of that human soul.
Cleansed by water in the Word of God, that soul was now the Garden beyond Eden where the Tree of Life was now planted Spiritually in the Holy Ghost.
John 1
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
This is part of the Great Mystery of God in the plan of God recreating Himself through humans transformed from the world to the Spiritual. Accepting Christ as Savior, living the Law, Baptized in being cleansed where the Blood of Christ was the payment for eternal death, the Regeneration is the Gift of Eternal Life.
Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Martin Luther summarizes Baptism as water and the Word, that Baptism was commanded by Christ, and that over your name, is laid the Name of the Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost in this Spiritual adoption. You are the family of God, not in blood brother scars on the hands of Covenant as Christ bore on the Cross, but inwardly in the Spiritual Covenant by the washing away of debts and enmity, in becoming a new creation in Christ.
As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household
First
What is Baptism?
Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.
Which is that word of God?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19)
In Baptism, one can hear the Word, one can confess Christ, but in Baptism there is an outward action, a physical demarcation of what was before in the person born into this world of earth and separation from God, to the Spiritual child, washed of this world, and transformed by water in being cleansed.
In marriage a wedding ring is just metal. It is a symbol of that which is consummated by an action. Baptism is that consummated action in which by Spiritual Covenant the human is transformed to the child of God.
Acts 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
It is the remission of sins, the absolving, for in Baptism every Christian is buried in Christ's death and arisen in His Life. Baptism is the symbol of Christ as the Living Water, the one time Drink where the person will never thirst again as they are Spiritually completed. There is no Moses striking the rock at Meribah twice, which brought God's fury, for there is only One Baptism, One Christ and One Time plants that Tree of Life into your soul which can never be undone.
Acts 2: 38
Then Peter said unto them, 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.
The warning in this is to never betray your Christ once you become Spiritual in condemning the Regeneration of the Holy Ghost by abandoning Life, for that spirit in you has become like the demons in eternal, and that sentence then is the torment of hell fires forever away from God, as the soul can be destroyed like the body in hell, but a spirit can not.
This is Baptism. It is a Spiritual birth from a womb of this world, washed and cleansed to become a Spiritual offspring of God.
Baptism is not water only.
agtG
