Day #29: Two Different Baptisms

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19, NKJV

 

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Mark 1:4, NKJV

 

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Romans 6:3, NKJV

 

And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized? So they said, "Into John's baptism." Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:3-5, NKJV

 

One of the reasons that we not only read the Bible, but that we study it as well, is because of teachings like we find in the four passages above. Just reading from Matthew 28:19 to Mark 1:4, encompasses only six verses of Scripture so, if we are not careful, we might miss something very important. In this instance, the important thing to remember is that Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19 is made after the cross and after His resurrection. The events recorded in Mark 1:4, on the other hand, are written several years before the cross.

 

So, what's the difference? It is clear that both baptisms were baptisms of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and both baptisms were a full immersion in water (The very word "baptism" refers to an immersion, a submergence, and an emergence). However, this is where the similarities end, for Christ's baptism was a baptism into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and it was a baptism into Jesus' death. Why is that so important? We don't have to speculate, for we are told in Romans the following:

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 shall walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection."

Romans 6:4-5, NKJV

 

That is why the 12 men that we read about above in Acts 19 had to be baptized again. Even though they had received John's baptism (a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins) they had not been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus and, therefore, they had not been baptized into His death. And we are told in Romans 6 that all who have been baptized into His death will also take part in His resurrection.  

 

One other thing: Many people argue that baptism is not needed because "the thief on the cross wasn't baptized, and He was saved". Hopefully these few verses looked at today will reveal to you the fallacy of that argument, for the thief on the cross could not have been baptized into Christ's death at that time for Jesus had not yet died, and the commandment to be baptized into His death had not yet been given. Further, as to whether or not the thief had ever been baptized into John's baptism, we simply are not told.

 

Do you see, now, how important it is to not only read the Word, but to also study the Word and think about what it says?

 

Today's reading is from Mark chapter 1. I pray that God will richly bless your studies!

 

Day #28: This is Why We Read

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

 

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age," Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV

 

This message was spoken to Jesus' disciples upon His having risen from the dead. Just three days after the worst day of His disciples lives, after they had all witnessed Him dying a cruel death on the cross, these same apostles are now experiencing the best day of their life, for He arose! Now Jesus is giving what many have referred to as the Great Commission, with the Good News that all men can become followers of Christ if they will be baptized into His name and obey His teaching.

 

It's the obedience to His teaching that is the focal point of this 260 day study that will take us through the entire New Testament, one day at a time. It is the reason that we are encouraged not just to read the Word, but to take time each day to contemplate the meaning of the Word. Too many people just aimlessly wander throughout life without ever discovering that God has a plan for not only their physical lives, but especially for their eternity, if they will but obey.

 

This command to, "teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you", is the key to service for all those who will love Jesus enough to become His disciples. We cannot possibly observe all things that He has commanded, unless we have read all things that He has commanded. And once having read His commands, we then have the obligation to think deeply as to what they mean so that we can correctly apply them to our lives and live as disciples should.

 

This is indeed why we are reading!

 

Today's reading is Matthew 28, and it tells us all about the best day in the history of mankind, and how we are to respond to the call to become disciples of Christ.

Day #27: The Day Our World Changed

Now, I know what many will be thinking when they see the title of this article. Many will think back to the events of the past year when everything just seemed to go haywire. Many will think back to a day last week when the witnessed what they consider to be one of the greatest injustices in the history of this nation... but that is not what I want to talk about today - I want to talk about this:

 

And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews."

 

And they spat on Him,

 

And took the reed and struck Him on the head.

 

And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put on His own clothes on Him,

 

And led Him away to be crucified.

Matthew 27:28-31, NKJV

 

You see, this was the day that everything changed! Combined of course with the event three days later when He arose and snatched the victory that evil men certainly thought they had accomplished over Jesus, when in fact all they had accomplished was to usher in the greatest age that man has ever known. We must know that Jesus' followers were crushed by the defeat they felt certain had just occurred, but these terrible events were but the forerunners of the eternal purpose of God being fulfilled.

 

Maybe, on a lesser scale, the same thing has occurred today. I guess the only way to know is by whether we will react to the seemingly crushing disappointments of life in ways that accrue to God's glory, or to Satan's. Which way will you go? 

 

The reading for today is Matthew 27. It is all about the low point of human history, but will quickly be followed by the greatest day ever! It's why we are reading!

 

 

Day 26: Thy Will Be Done

Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."   Matthew 26:39, NIV

 

Perhaps no other passage within Scripture shows Jesus' absolute commitment to do God's will as does the one above. We are not told why Jesus wanted the cup to pass from Him, since He knew that His purpose in coming to earth was to die in our place that our sins might be forgiven. Perhaps He wanted to remain with His apostles a while longer. Maybe it was because He realized that there were still so many people who needed His help and His healing. Maybe it was because He knew that the moment He took our sins upon Himself that God would have to forsake Him.

 

But whatever the reason was, His overriding devotion to doing the will of His Father was more important than His personal desire to not go to the cross at that time. So He prayed that God's will be done.

 

There are so many lessons that we can draw from this event, but perhaps the most important is this: No matter what we are going through, and no matter what we would like to have happen, God's will is always best. His will may indeed be to grant us just what we are praying for, but, as in this instance in the life of Christ, we see that sometimes God's will is different from our personal desires.

 

And Jesus understood this so He asked for and received God's will. Can we do anything less?

 

Today's reading is from Matthew 26. I pray that God will richly bless you as you seek to  better understand His will.

Day #25: Shut Out of Heaven

Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom... at midnight there was a shout, "Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." Then all the virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, "Give us some of you oil, for our lamps are going out." But the prudent answered, saying, "No, there will not be enough for us and you too, go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves."

And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast;

and the door was shut.

Matthew 25:1, 6-10, NASB

 

I don't know about you, but for many years this parable of Jesus seemed mighty harsh. After all, aren't Christians supposed to share? And shouldn't God understand when we have unavoidable issues that are out of our control, and make allowances for us? What is the deal?

 

Of course, the "deal" is just this: No one can be righteous for anyone else! While we can influence others to become Christians, we cannot make them be righteous, nor can we cannot "give" some of our righteousness to anyone else. Furthermore, when we fail to prepare ourselves for God's service, it is neither out of our control, nor is it God's fault. He is not being harsh, He is warning us: Take care to live in the right way before Him now, because at the Second Coming and the Judgment, it will be too late!

 

A simple lesson, to be sure, but quite powerful - wouldn't you agree? If you find anything lacking in your life now, when will you begin to take care of it? The prudent will start today... but the foolish will likely procrastinate, and might possibly find themselves shut out forever on that final day.

 

It is something to consider, isn't it?

 

Today's reading is from Matthew 25, and it will help us all to gain the perspective that our Father in Heaven wants us to have.