The word "baptism" is NOT a translation of the original Greek word. It is, in fact, a transliteration of its original Greek word--the exact original Greek word was carried over and written in the English alphabet. There is no room for mistaking its meaning. The word in the original Greek language is baptizo, which is from bapto, meaning "to dip, to immerse, to submerge and then emerge (come back up out of that in which one was submerged, immersed, dipped)." This baptism is an immersion--a covering over--and a rising from the watery grave to a new life in Christ. Jesus called this being "born again" and being "born of water and the Spirit," and He also stated that "no one can enter the kingdom of God" unless he/she is born of water and the Spirit--unless he/she is born again. (Read John 3:1-7.) Jesus Himself commanded this baptism for the forgiveness of sins. "Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,'" (Matthew 28:18-20). (Notice that believers in Christ are to be baptized IN--also translated INTO--the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. See also 1 Corinthians 1:13. AND, being baptized in--into--the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit indicates that the baptized person is closely bound to, or becomes the property of, the Ones into Whose Name he was baptized. In essence, he becomes united with, becomes one with, the Ones with which he shared a death, burial and resurrection. The baptized person is in Them, and They are in him. Read John 20:17-26.) Jesus states that the act of belief demands the action of baptism. One cannot be claimed without acting upon the other. "Whoever believes AND is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned," (Mark 16:16). Carrying out the command of Jesus, "Peter replied, ‘Repent AND be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call,'" (Acts 2:38-39).
The following are examples of obedience by believers of the Gospel to Christ's command of baptism for the forgiveness of sins: "Those who accepted his [Peter's] message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day," (Acts 2:41). "But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News of the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women," (Acts 8:12). "The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?' Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?' And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the Gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea," (Acts 8:34-40). "Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized," (Acts 9:17-18). "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household.' Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized," (Acts 16:29-33). "Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized," (Acts 18:8). "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His Name," (Acts 22:16).
The following Scriptures clearly explain the significance of baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (You will see some repeats of Scripture for emphasis.)
We are baptized INTO Christ--into His death, dying to and burying the old person of sin. We are then raised from death to live a new life to the glory of God. "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin," (Romans 6:1-7). This baptism commanded by Christ puts us into His one body--the church. ALL in His church are clothed with Him. AND there is only ONE BAPTISM. "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink," (1 Corinthians 12:13). "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus," (Galatians 3: 26-28). "There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all," (Ephesians 4:4-6). This baptism commanded by Christ gives us fullness in Christ, and by Christ we put off our sinful nature. "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, Who is the head over every power and authority. In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead," (Colossians 2:9-12). Baptism saves one by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. "...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ," (1 Peter 3:21). All who are baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ--they are all one IN Christ. "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus," (Galatians 3:27-28). By obedience to these commands, one is said to be born into the church, the body of Christ, or the kingdom. Jesus characterizes baptism as being "born again"--a spiritual birth. This is what He means when He speaks of being "born again" in the following Scripture: "In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the Truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' ‘How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!' Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the Truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit,'" (John 3:3-5). Once one is saved, then he/she is added to the church, the body of Christ, by the Lord Himself. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved," (Acts 2:47b, KJV).
(The following were comments and Scriptures are used in a World Bible School course to help answer questions about the four baptisms. They begin with a discussion of the baptism of John the Baptist. These comments and Scriptures are added here because they may also be helpful as an expanded study of baptism.)
[WBS Study Helper's comments: In John 1:33, John, "the Baptizer," says, "I would not have known Him, except that the One Who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The Man on Whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He Who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'" Also, Mark 1:7-8: "And this was his (John the Baptizer's) message: ‘After me will come One more powerful than I, the thongs of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" John the Baptist's baptism was to the Jews only, for the purpose of cleansing sins and to prepare the Jews for the coming of Christ. Repentance always precedes baptism, and it was no different with John's baptism. But the Jews baptized by John were not baptized INTO anyone, they were not baptized WITH anyone, they did not DIE with anyone, they were not BURIED with anyone, and they were not RAISED with anyone. Jesus had not yet died--no death, burial and resurrection yet--and His blood was not yet present to make contact with at baptism. No, these Jews to whom John preached were baptized for repentance for forgiveness of sins and to prepare them for the coming Christ. Mark 1:4: "And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (See below for a further study about baptism.)
Some Extra Study About Baptism:
To continue the comments above, Jesus, by contrast, would baptize with the Holy Spirit. So what does THAT mean. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a promise to all nations. Joel 2:28: "And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." This prophecy was partly fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the apostles (Jews) were baptized with the Holy Spirit, (Acts 2).
The reason God baptized the apostles with the Holy Spirit was to enable them to perform miracles with which to confirm--prove--remove all doubt--that the words they were speaking were GOD'S Words, since the New Testament was not yet complete in its written form. What were those who received Holy Spirit baptism able to do? The Holy Spirit enabled them to speak God's Word without having studied it; to speak other tongues (known and understood languages) without having studied them; to raise the dead; and to heal all kinds of sickness WITHOUT A SINGLE FAILURE and to heal them IMMEDIATELY.
This promise made by God through the prophet Joel was completely fulfilled eight years later, when Cornelius and his household (Gentiles--non-Jews) were baptized with the Holy Spirit, (which did NOT eliminate the necessity of being baptized--immersed in water--for the forgiveness of sins), (read Acts 10). The reason God baptized the Gentiles (Cornelius and the believers in his household) with the Holy Spirit was to show to, and convince, the Jews that it was indeed the time for God's prophecy to be completely fulfilled that ALL NATIONS--all peoples--would now receive the Word of God. The Jews MUST now realize that Jesus meant what He said--"Go into ALL the world." Even Peter, who was with Christ when He gave this command, needed some convincing, so God sent him a vision, (Acts 10 and 11:1-18). After the conversion of Cornelius and the believers in his household, Peter traveled to Jerusalem to explain to the "circumcised believers"--Jews who had been baptized and were now followers of Christ--how God had demonstrated that His Word must now go out to ALL people in EVERY nation. The Jews in Jerusalem accepted this demonstration of God's Will, and praised God that He had "granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." (Again, read all of Acts 10 and 11:1-18.)
God had made His points VERY clear: The men proclaiming God's Word were truly speaking GOD'S WORD, and not their own ideas, opinions, traditions, etc., AND God's Word was to go out to ALL people. So, this promise (Holy Spirit baptism) was fulfilled, and not another promise or example of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is given in the entire Bible. It had served its purpose. It was finished.
But, God WOULD send the Holy Spirit upon all obedient believers, empowering them to live and to teach the message of salvation. This would be God's GIFT to an obedient believer. Acts 2:37-39: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.'" Again, some people believe that "baptize you with the Holy Spirit" eliminates water baptism. Not so! Immersion is an essential part of the process of obedience. The promise of Holy Spirit baptism would be fulfilled, and then taken away. Nicodemus learned of the importance of immersion from Jesus Himself, (John 3:5, 7)--"You must be born again." Obedient believers have the promise of the Holy Spirit Himself, but NOT of the baptism of the Holy Spirit with power to perform miracles. When a promise of God is fulfilled, it is taken out of the way. Again, here is what obedient believers must do to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38 says, "Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
There is one other baptism mentioned in God's Word, and that is the "baptism of fire." It is a warning and a threat to all nations, which will be handed out to the ungodly on the last day. Matthew 3:10-12: "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One Who is more powerful than I, Whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And here is what the future fulfillment of that warning will be like: Matthew 25:41-46: "Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.' They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?' He will reply, ‘I tell you the Truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Yes, Christ would baptize people with either the Holy Spirit, or with fire. For obedient believers, there will be the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the unbeliever, there will be a "cleansing by fire" for their disobedience--rejection--of Christ. There will be no second chances, and this "baptism of fire" will last for eternity.
The baptism Christ commanded is for all nations, and was given its power to save AFTER the resurrection of Christ. Matthew 28:18-20: "Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" Mark 16:15-16: "He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" The baptism Christ commanded is to be obeyed by the true believer to obtain the remission--full pardon--forgiveness--of sins. Acts 22:16: "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His Name."
Ephesians 4:4-6 says there is only ONE baptism. "There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, ONE baptism; one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all." We have seen above four baptisms. John's baptism was to the Jews only, and was nailed to the cross, and taken away. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a promise, which was fulfilled, and therefore is no more. The baptism of fire is waiting in the future for the ungodly when they shall be immersed in fire. Therefore, there is but ONE baptism for obedient believers--water baptism--the ONLY baptism man can administer.]
(See also Confess / Confession, Faith...Belief...,Repent / Repentance, Resurrect / Resurrection, Word....)
See Faith...Belief....
From the Greek word makarizo, meaning, "happy." The word means more than "happy," because happiness is an emotion often dependent on outward circumstances. "Blessed," as used in Matthew 5:3-11, in what is called "The Beatitudes," refers to the ultimate well-being and distinctive spiritual joy of those who share in the salvation of the Kingdom of God. Psalm 1:1-2 says, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night." "Blessed" here is the happy condition of those who revere the Lord and do His Will. Revelation 1:3 says, "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy [includes not only foretelling the future but also proclaiming any Word from God--whether command, instruction, history or prediction], and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." "Blessed" here means more than "happy." It describes the favorable circumstance God has put a person in. If a person listens to and obeys the Laws of God, that person is "blessed"--favored by God in his circumstances, well-being, spiritual joy and final reward.
The original Greek word is filadelfia, which is transliterated to philadelphos. Phildelphos is constructed from two Greek words: phileo, which means "to love--to have tender affection for"; and adelphos, which denotes a brother, or near kinsman, and in the plural (adelphotes), it denotes a community based on identity of origin or life, a community possessed of a brotherly relationship, and therefore called a "brotherhood". Believers in Christ have a community relationship based on the identity of having all originated from the same source--having all begun a new life in Christ the same way, and all walking in the same Way. We become a brotherhood of believers, being the Lord's body, His church. Adelphos is used in various ways, but regarding believers, it is used of the disciples, and so, by implication, all believers, and does not take into consideration male or female--all are brothers (or brethren) as in Matthew 23:8, "you are all brothers"; Acts 1:15, "brothers"; Romans 1:13, "brothers"; 1 Thessalonians 1:4, "brothers loved by God", and Revelation 19:10, "I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers". So, philadelphos is to be fond of one's brethren in the Lord, as in 1 Peter 3:8, "love as brothers." Philadelphia is "brotherly love": Romans 12:10, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves"; 1 Thessalonians 4:9, "Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other"; Hebrews 13:1, "Keep on loving each other as brothers". Philadelphia is also "love of the brethren": 1 Peter 1:22, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the Truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart," and 2 Peter 1:7, "and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love". To sum this up very simply, "brotherly kindness" is a warmhearted affection toward all who have been added by the Lord to His church--the family of God. It is a deep awareness and fondness for all who, like us, have been called out of the world and separated for holy use by God. It is the feeling of kinsmanship among like-minded believers, which places the brethren even above our earthly family relationships.
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