10/06/2023
Here's a post that "sincere searchers" may find interesting...
In discussing the purpose of "water" in believer's baptism, I submitted the foolowing reply in another's post...
I appreciate your posting information on this somewhat "controvesial" subject. After discussing your material, I wish to add an observation. You are encouraged to consider these additional comments in the spirit in which they are intended. They are meant as a complement to complete or clarify your emphasis and not to criticize...
As you already mentioned, God often implemented the element of "water" to accomadate the misfortunes of mankind... For instance:
1) In the matter of the ashes of a red heifer, water was included "for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin." (Numbers 19:9)
2) In the matter of the blind man whose eyes were covered with mud from our Masters saliva; he was told to “go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is translated, Sent)." The Bible then says, that "he went and washed, and came back seeing." (John 9:7)
3) In the matter of Namaan the L***r who was told to wash himself in the Jordan River. The Bible says that "he went down and dipped ['baptized' in the (Greek LXX)] seven times in the Jordan... his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (2 Kings 5:14).
These three occasions represent only a few examples. We can agree and appreciate that on each of these occasions that God included "water" in each instance. But we emphasize that the healing power resided in God and not in the "water."
Similarly, some people understand that God included water in believer's baptism as described in the Great Commission. (Mark 16:15-16)
But let us not loose sight, that while there is "water" in believer's baptism, there is no power in the water... the power resides in God and not the "water." (Acts 3:12; 1 Cor. 6:14)
The baptismal water has no power (or efficacy) to cleanse or save... It is only a representation (or a figure) of the cleansing power (or efficacy) of being washed by the blood of Jesus. (1 Peter 3:21)
Since it is impossible that any person could ever be physically (literally or actually) washed in the blood of Jesus. It seems logical that the Gospel makes a connection with being physically (literally or actually) washed in the waters of baptism that "typify" (is figurative) of being washed in the blood of Jesus. (Romans 6:3-6; Acts 22:16)
The Bible says that Jesus "loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood." (Revelation 1:5)
I think it's only accurate to say that yes there is "water" included in in believer's baptism, but our sins ARE NOT washed away by the "merit" of just being dipped in water...otherwise we could hold a gun to everyone and force everyone to be dipped in water...
The water in believer's baptism "figuratively" portrays how that our sins ARE washed away by the blood of Jesus [of which baptismal water the is only a figure or "antitype" (1 Peter 3:21)]
The Bible teaches that our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. (Rev. 7:14)
The Bible teaches that "when" our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus, that we are "then" freed from sin. (Romans 6:7,18, 22)
The Bible teaches that "when" our sins are washed away and "when" we are freed from sin, that we are "then" raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-5)
Believer's baptism symbolically "re-inacts" the death, burial and resurrection of a newborn babe (in the same likeness of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ) where we "crucify" the old dead man of sin? (Romans 6:7-11; Galatans 2:20; 5:24)
As is seen in other Bible examples, there may be "water" in believers baptism, but the power is in the blood...the blood of Jesus. (1 Cor. 6:11; 1 John 1:7)
In a similar anaology, Paul says;
"You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
"when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead."(Colossians 2:11-12) [Christian Standard Bible]
