Today was Week 104 of Rightly Dividing the Word of truth…our study / overview of Paul’s epistles to believers in this dispensation of the grace of God. We were able to begin Philippians 3, with Paul’s encouragement to apply the doctrines that Paul has been writing in this great letter.
I felt it necessary to spend some time today dealing with how the “concision” – the mutilators of scripture today attempt to place false value of misapplied scripture into the belief systems of New Testament believers. In the first century it was all about circumcising all the male believers in the fledgling churches. This was why Paul warned us to beware of dogs, of evil workers, and the concision. That has metamorphosed into a monster of replacement theology teaching that the baptism of infants into the church is an obligation of the parents, just as God commanded Abraham to circumcise all the males of his household.
Genesis 17:10 (9-14): This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
We know that our circumcision is of the heart, and our baptism is a spiritual baptism!
Colossians 2:10-12: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
1 Corinthians 12:13: 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.
Romans 6:4-6: 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.For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
All of these verses point to the spiritual baptism that occurs at salvation! John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus Christ was going to baptize all who believe with the Holy Ghost!
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…
We went into great detail this morning of the two baptisms John spoke of – the first baptism of the Holy Ghost, which grants eternal life to all who are saved by grace through faith. The second baptism John spoke of in Matthew 3:11-12 was the baptism of eternal punishment of unquenchable fire awaiting all who reject the free gift of salvation.
If were not able to attend, please go to our class website and watch the video. It will clear up any misconceptions concerning what New Testament baptism really is – spiritual birth through circumcision of the heart, being sealed by the Holy Spirit, and the picture that water baptism provides representing what has already happened in the heart, but providing no salvation itself!
We will continue our discussion of Paul’s personal testimony and his focus on knowing Christ, and his resurrection power next Sunday.