Posts Tagged "New Birth"

Spirit Baptism – Baptized by Fire

Posted by on Dec 7, 2009 in Salvation

When Jesus brought us the new covenant He had a plan that would allow us to have a closer walk with God. This ‘newness of life’ is a baptism of fire that is the Spirit of God dwelling in us, giving us power and strength to live an overcoming life. Spirit baptism is not just an extra benefit- it is part of salvation. Spirit baptism is as much as part of the new birth as water baptism. Several terms in scripture refer to Spirit baptism, including filled with the Spirit, born of the Spirit, filled with the Holy Ghost, and many others. Let’s look at scripture and see what Holy Ghost baptism is all about and see who it’s for.

John the Baptist taught about Holy Spirit baptism, referring to it as a baptism of fire.

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Water Baptism – Old Testament Typology

Posted by on Dec 3, 2009 in Salvation

Water baptism in the New Testament was not a new idea to those living at the time. It was not a foreign thought. They were already familiar with the concept of water baptism. How is this true, considering that John the Baptist is the first person mentioned in scripture that performed baptisms?

Water baptism was seen in the Old Testament in typology. In fact, there are many OT typologies of baptism.

We see the account of Noah in Genesis chapters 6 – 9. God told Noah to build an ark to save Himself, his wife, and his three sons and their wives, and two of every animal (and seven each of the clean animals) in whose nostrils was the breath of life. God destroyed the earth with water in a world-wide catastrophe. Noah was saved through the flood. Peter used this as a typology of baptism.

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Water Baptism – For the Remission of Sins

Posted by on Dec 1, 2009 in Salvation

Many Churches have practiced the act of water baptism over the years. Some believe strongly that baptism is essential, while others see it as something you should do. Some believe baptism is not necessary at all, claiming that it doesn’t apply to us today. Is baptism essential? If so, how are we to be baptized? By immersion? By sprinkling? In what name? What is baptism for?

What is baptism? Water baptism is a ceremony for those that have repented of their sins. It is an immersion into water in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. We see throughout the New Testament that we are commanded to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

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In the Name of – a Study in Greek

Posted by on Nov 28, 2009 in Salvation

The phrase ‘in the name of’, as applied to baptism, has sparked many debates over the years. The Popular view of the baptismal formula comes from Matthew 28:19, which uses the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. An argument that is used against the formula ‘in the name of Jesus’, as seen in the book of Acts, is that the phrase ‘in the name of’ means ‘by the authority of’. This study will look at the Greek words in this phrase to see what was meant when Jesus and the Apostles said “in the name of’.

One argument against baptism in the name of Jesus is that the phrase ‘in the name of Jesus’ only refers to the authority of Jesus. It is true that ‘in the name of’, and ‘in his name’, is in reference to the power and authority of Jesus (Bernard, p. 72). It is by Jesus’ authority that we use His name, because Jesus has all power.

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In the Name of Jesus

Posted by on Nov 26, 2009 in Godhead, Salvation

When God chose to manifest Himself in flesh as our savior He chose a name that would signify the essence of who He is. The name He chose would not only reveal who He was, but also what His mission on Earth was. The name Jesus means Jehovah-Savior, meaning that Jehovah is our Savior.

We are told in scripture that God would dwell with us.

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Matthew 1:21-23  21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

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