FAQ: Is Baptism Necessary?
BAPTISM
Many people think you don’t have to get baptized, and it is not a part of the salvation process. The same people say baptism is a work and we are saved by grace, therefore we must not need to be baptized. I say…this is all confusion. The Bible has something else to say. Baptism is not a "work" that you do to "earn" your salvation. It is the way, instituted by Y’shua Himself, that we accept His free gift.
First of all…is it wrong to lie?
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16 KJV)
The answer must be yes, it’s wrong to lie. Well what about Rahab?
And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. (Joshua 2:3-5 KJV)
She bore false witness, and was blessed…
And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. (Joshua 6:25 KJV)
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31 KJV)
Does this story in the scriptures tell us that it is alright to lie, and subsequently nullify the 9
th commandment? Elohim forbid! It is simply an exception to the rule. We cannot say that since Rahab lied, it must be alright to lie. What happened with her was an exception to the rule; exceptions don’t change the rule.The same can be said of baptism. Just because Y’shua said to the thief on the cross,
"Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43 KJV), that doesn’t mean now no one needs baptism… It’s simply an exception to the rule.But don’t take my word for it; see what the Bible has to say.
What Did Y’shua Do?
Then cometh Y’shua from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Y’shua answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Y’shua, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:13-17 KJV)
This is when His ministry started…He got baptized first. What righteousness was He fulfilling? He didn’t need to be baptized; He was doing it as an example to us.
Y’shua tells Nicodemus, "Y’shua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim." (John 3:5 KJV)
Born of water? Baptized.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15-16 KJV)
This is what is called the Great Commission…go out and BAPTIZE!
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Y’shua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37-38 KJV)
The first believers to hear the gospel on this historic day said, "now what do I do?" Peter told them to get baptized. They already believed, that’s why they were pricked in their hearts. All that was left was for them to repent and be baptized. I don’t hear anyone saying that repentance is a" work", but it is something that you MUST do.
The same thing happened with Phillip…
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of Elohim, and the name of Y’shua Messiah, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of Elohim, they sent unto them Peter and John: (Acts 8:12-14 KJV)
Same thing with Paul…
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Y’shua, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:17-18 KJV)
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify Elohim. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:44-48 KJV)
One could ask, "why did they need to get baptized, they already received the Holy Spirit?" Peter, however, thought it was pretty important because he commanded them to be baptized.
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Messiah Y’shua. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Y’shua. (Acts 19:1-5 KJV)
Paul finds these believers, and he wants to make sure they have the Holy Spirit and are baptized. He wants to make sure they are born of water and Spirit.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Y’shua Messiah were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah 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: (Romans 6:1-5 KJV)
For ye are all the children of Elohim by faith in Messiah Y’shua. For as many of you as have been baptized into Messiah have put on Messiah.
(Galatians 3:26-27 KJV)
I don’t see how anyone can deny these verses. Y’shua gave us a formula, and His disciples [Paul included] followed that same formula. That formula being:
Believe, Repent, and be Baptized
We are so far removed from the pure faith in this day and age, we tend to forsake the original teachings of Y’shua and replace them with the doctrines and interpretations of men.
…Let Elohim be true and every man a liar.
-My Master is YHWH