DOWN IN BAPTISM

Nothing is more contentious today in religious circles than the topic of baptism. I think that is because most Bible scholars, the Christian educated folks, and the pew sitters of the day do not understand the direction of baptism which is down. Most Christians do not want to go down they want to go up, but the condition to go up in God is to first go down and die. Ah there is another reason why many Christians do not understand what baptism is they do not want to die to their self-life nor their self-seeking nature and ways. John shows us this way downward and the spiritual death we must experience to be able to walk with the LORD in newness and resurrection life. John writes, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." (John 12:24-26) Verse 24 starts out "Verily verily" now this is a double imperative (strongest implication for truth) that means this is the only way there is no other way we can do what is being asked of us. John tells us we must "fall into the ground and die." "No I do not want to die I want to live, live, live I want to enjoy life after all in John 10:10 Jesus tells us, "I have come so that you may have life and life more abundantly."" Sadly most Christians can recite John 10:10 (backwards and forward), but they do not know John 12:24 which describes the process in our lives to become fruitful in God. My friend to be fruitful in God we must die. And why, our self screams to be satisfied and fulfilled, but in God fulfillment and completion is only satisfied by the death of our selfish character and ways. This is what Jesus was telling us here. The next verse (v25) tells us if we love our life we will lose our life, but if we hate (word means hate as we know it) or lose our life we shall keep or find our life for all eternally. Losing comes first then secondary we find. Jesus then asked the disciples to "follow me and where I am" well, where was Jesus? He was on His way to the cross to die. We will never be able to follow Jesus in any type or form of ministry if we do not desire to die spiritually to our fleshly appetites. We cannot kill our flesh we do not have the will power or ability within us to deal with our flesh, thus if our flesh is to receive a death blow we must give God permission into our lives to lay the axe to the root of all that grows forth (that stems from our selfish flesh) in us that is not of God. My friend down is the direction in God if we desire to go up. Spiritual death is the direction in our life if we desire to rule and reign with Him now on earth and in the ages to come. Paul knew this truth well. We see this in 1 Corinthians and in Romans when he was trying to help the Christians work through all of the wrong teaching (like about baptism) that was infecting the "church." Wrong teaching in the church has been more of an obstacle to the truth than sin and the devil. From the start, the church in Jerusalem (I believe) they got it wrong. For example all though out the New Testament we read where disciples were directed by leadership to bring money to the Church in Jerusalem. I wonder why? Now this is the right model one local body of believers bringing money or support to another local body of believers and not one local body of believers giving their money to a headquarters who divvies up the money according to their likes, dislikes, or if someone is playing ball with them. I have seen this all of my life (around the world) this denominationalism is a form of socialism. In Acts we read where, "And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," (Acts 2:44-46) Now I believe they got verse 46 right (not called a church, but "house to house"), but verses 44 and 45 is nothing more than socialism and a form of social justice. No wonder they were poor, had no money, and needed support. No wonder all of the disciples had to bring money back to the "mother church." Sadly I have seen this around the world, especially in Africa. Collectivism and /or socialism does not work. Alarmingly socialism is being considered by the United States of America today, well the only problem with socialism is at some point you run out of somebody else's money. America take heed it did not work in the Bible and it will not work today. Looks like I drifted somewhat, well I guess the LORD wanted me to throw that in. In Romans Paul told the Body of Believers, "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:" (Romans 6:3-5) Now let me stop here and make a statement, baptism in water is NOT as a big deal as most churches today make it. Are we to get baptized yes! And why? Because Jesus asked us to. (see Matthew 29:17) It is an outward sign of an inward work of the heart from tradition, but you can get baptized all day long (even get your name on the church role) and still go to hell. Baptism will never save us from our sins nor will it lead us into greater spiritual development it is all about obedience. Many denominations (like the UPC and other Pentecostal groups) will put you in a devil's hell if you are not baptized in Jesus name, utter foolishness. We can see John the Baptist got into trouble because he would not stop baptizing God had to put him in prison a place where there was no water. Here Paul continues the theme in John 12:24, "many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" What we are baptized into the death of Christ and not His life? Well that is what Paul said. Paul went on to say, "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." Did you get that? Verse five, " For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" How clear do we need it to become? If we want resurrection life we must be "planted together in the likeness of his death." We have to be dead to be resurrected. And that way is down. To have life we first must die, dying comes first then resurrection. Not too many churches teach this deeper truth they seem to glaze over these verses looking for verses that tell us of our power and authority in God, our destiny, well the only destiny we have in God is to follow Jesus to the cross and die so He can live through us. Paul all too well knew this truth because it has been worked into his life from the time he held the coats of the men who stoned Stephen, when he was called into service on the Road to Damascus, ship wrecked, naked, almost starved to death, in the deep (sea) for days, stoned through all of these and more Paul learned this truth. Paul also knew that there was only one Body. Let me say that again, Paul also knew that there was only one Body. There are many local bodies not churches because we are the church Jesus is not trying to build buildings or denominations to save the world, oh no the world is lost Jesus has come to save those who are lost in the world. My friend we (the people) are the church never forget that and never let some religious person tell you otherwise. There is only one Body of Christ in which we are baptized into. Paul in 1 Corinthians tells the local Body of Believers in Corinth, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 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." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) Though many members (people) yet one Body! One Spirit! We are NOT baptized into a denomination or a church, oh no we are baptized into the Body of Christ. Did you get that? And the way in Christ is down into His baptism into His death so that He can live though us. Written by David Stahl