17 The Baptism Of Death

17. THE BAPTISM OF DEATHRomans 6:3-5 (KJV) 3 Know ye not, that SO MANY OF US AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:Paul, in those few verses, speaks of the subject of 'baptism', and makes it clear that this is not 'water baptism' of which he speaks. Water baptism is a symbolic illustration of real baptism. Te 'baptism into death, is our experience of salvation by grace, where in unmerited favor, His death for sin became our death for sin. We, receive that baptism in the moment of salvation. It is not dependent on the pictorial illustration of being immersed in water, risen out of it, depicting what happened at salvation, to make us saved. Water baptism is an illustration of what salvaiton is, it is not salvation in the observance of it. When we surrender our wills, and give all to Him, then the 'will of Christ' is to live in our hearts, and our will is dead, buried with Christ. We are risen then to new life, with a born again experience, becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus.Colossians 3:3 (KJV) 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.The 'baptism into His death, means we do not count our own former aims and hopes as still being alive, we are new creations in Christ Jesus, because of the baptism of death into this new life.2 Corinthians 5:16-19 (KJV) Wherefore HENCEFORTH KNOW WE NO MAN AFTER THE FLESH: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.The outward, physical baptism symbolized the death of our earthly, sinful nature, buried in Christ's death, risen with Him spiritually into new life. The water baptism is merely symbolic representation of the baptism into Christ's death. John the Baptist's baptism was 'unto repentance', bringing the people into harmony with the Mosaic law, but Jesus Who knew no sin, was not baptized unto repentance, for He had no sin. His baptism was a consecration to do the Father's will, and renounce all human will. So, at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was baptized by John. Jesus was 30 years old at the time, and had lived those 30 years righteous and sinless. Jesus set an example, for His disciples, for us, that we, after salvation need a testimonial baptism in water, showing what has happened to bring us to sinless righteousness in Christ. It is an illustration of what already happened, and it is a dedication to bear this new risen life in ministering the good news of salvation to the world. Water baptism is a demonstration, witness, illustration, of what has already happened in our heart.Luke 12:50 (KJV) 50 But I HAVE A BAPTISM TO BE BAPTIZED WITH; and how am I STRAITENED TILL IT BE ACCOMPLISHED! Jesus has a baptism for us to be baptized with. It is not 'water baptism', but it is a 'death baptism' as we are immersed into Christ's body, experiencing new life in Him. Jesus had His own bloody baptism into death to do, for He had already been 'baptized into water', but He speaks here of a baptism yet to come for Him. It is that baptism we experience with Him in salvation, wherein we accept His baptism into death as our baptism. At 30, Jesus was baptized into water, in dedication to His ministry. At 33 years of age, He was baptized into death, and it is that 'baptism' we also have at our salvation, wherein His 'baptism into death' brings the remission of sins for us. Jesus' baptism was finished on the cross, and finished making a way of salvation, when Jesus uttered:John 19:30 (KJV) 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, IT IS FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Forum: GRACE

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