The Apostolic Doctrine of Water Baptism
Part 3
The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of sins according to Matthew 26:28 & Colossians 1:20-22
In the Old Covenant sacrificial system, when an offering was made by the priest for an individual’s sin. The recipient of the sin offering had to be directly identified with the death of the sacrifice.
The individual bringing the offering for sin, was required to lay their hand upon the head of the offering, symbolically transferring their own sin guilt onto the substitute, and through the death of that substitutionary sin offering, the blood of that sacrifice was applied, by faith, to the recipient for the atonement of their sin. Leviticus 1:1-5
The penalty of sin is death Ezekiel 18:4 & 20
Knowing that the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, God gave the substitutionary offerings of animals to make atonement for the people of the Old Covenant that they die not. Leviticus 17:11
The Old Covenant was the type and shadow of the New Covenant, and so it is in the New Testament that Jesus Christ became our substitute, our propitiation. Romans 3:25
Propitiation is the act of appeasing anger or wrath, to gain favour instead of punishment.
We too must also be personally identified with the death of Jesus Christ, our sacrificial substitute; so that the precious blood of His offering would be applied, by faith, to us for the atonement of our sins. This is not a symbolic gesture; this is a spiritual reality. Hebrews 9:12-14
• How do we receive the application of the blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins?
• When is the blood applied to our soul?
• Is it by simply believing that Jesus died for our sin?
Believing is absolutely necessary; you’re not going to receive anything without first believing.
The Bible tells us plainly to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
Reasoning Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Together with Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
His blood was shed for the remission of sins, and baptism in His name is for the remission of sins. We can conclude that the blood of Jesus is applied to the believer through faith in the act of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
If this statement is true, then the scripture will confirm it and if this statement is not true, then scripture will also expose it.
We briefly spoke about the sin offerings under the Old Covenant and how the one who was seeking remission was to be identified with the death of the offering.
1. First by laying their hand upon the head of the offering and then
2. by the killing of the offering. Leviticus 1:4-5
When are we identified with Jesus Christ our offering for sin?
What does the Bible say?
According to Romans 6:3-4 we are baptized into His death. Colossians 2:12 also says we are buried with him in baptism.
To walk with Him in newness of life and to serve Him in newness of spirit.
Revelation 1:5 says “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,”.
Colossians 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Let’s pay attention to the word wash used in Revelation 1:5.
In the last study we gave the definition of the word baptize translated from the Greek word baptizo (bap-tid’-zo) and one of the meanings was to wash, to cleanse by dipping.
Revelation 1:5 says, “unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”, and Ananias told Paul in Acts 22:16 “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’”.
Clearly, we can see the connection with washing away sins and baptism from Acts 22:16. And we can then also reason that the way that Jesus washed us from our sins in His own blood Revelation 1:5 is through baptism.
Why can we confidently say that?
Because scripture tells us in Acts 2:38 that baptism is for the remission of sin, remission being the removal. Paul told the Corinthian saints that they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthian 6:11.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
1 Corinthian 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Can anyone really say that the washing that is being described by the scriptures is taking a bath? We know that the scriptures refer to the washing or cleansing of sin.
Let’s recap:
• The blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28.
• Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is for the remission of sins. Acts 2:38.
In Acts 10:43 we read this: “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
This verse states that through the name of Yahusha HaMashyach/Jesus Christ, whosoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.
Some would say that this verse says you only have to believe in Him to receive the remission of sins.
As we mentioned in part 1 of this study, those that believed obeyed the preaching of John and were baptized, confessing their sin. You must believe in Jesus and be baptized in His name for the remission of sin.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
There are many scriptures that support this fact.
We read in Acts 4:12 And in Luke 24:47.
Now we can start to see why the Apostles baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. The blood of Jesus is in the name of Jesus, it is by the authority of the name of Jesus Christ our sins are remitted.
It was in baptism that the Apostles instructed us to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to wash away sins. Acts 22:16
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
These scriptures are not telling us to simply call upon the name of Jesus and you will be saved. But just as Ananias told Paul, be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
These verses are referring to calling on the name of Jesus Christ in baptism for the remission of sins. The salvation that Jesus died for was the salvation over the sin that held us in bondage.
1 Peter 2:24 healing of sin
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
The being dead to sins spoken of in 1 Peter 2:24, when did we die to sin?
Romans 6:4 buried with Him by baptism into death:
We said before, if you have not been planted together in the likeness of His death, then you will not share in the likeness of His resurrection.
It is by baptism that we are planted together in the likeness of His death Romans 6:5.
Why would the Bible say so much about baptism and make so many different references to baptism if baptism is not necessary for salvation?
Beginning at Jerusalem, when Peter said in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 tells us the who, how, and why of water baptism.
Who? – every one of you
How? – in the name of Jesus Christ
Why? – for the remission of sins
You must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; it is in the waters of baptism that the blood of Jesus is applied to the believer by faith.
If you have not been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ then there has been no remission, you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
In Romans 10:9-10 there are many believers that quote this scripture to justify their belief that baptism is not necessary for salvation. They say if you confess with your mouth and believe on Jesus in your heart, you will be saved.
When we ask the question again, saved from what?
These verses say nothing about the remission of sins, they speak of confession and belief. You can confess all you want; you can believe that Jesus rose from the dead all you want. But that will not remove your sins.
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In order for one to obey the command to repent and to be baptized they must first believe on the Lord Jesus with their whole heart and repentance involves confession.
What did Philip tell the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39?
After Philip explained the scriptures in the Book of Isaiah speaking of the death of Jesus, he continued to preach Jesus, and the first thing the eunuch wanted to do was to be baptized.
How did the eunuch even know about baptism? The Bible says that Philip preached unto him Jesus, and that preaching must have included water baptism in the Name of Jesus for the remission of sin.
The only condition of baptism given by Philip to the eunuch was belief.
Acts 8:37 “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
Romans 10:9-10 is in perfect harmony with Acts 2:38 because obedience requires belief, and repentance requires confession. Matthew 3:6, Matthew 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
What about all the scriptures that describe the Apostles baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin?
Do we ignore them?
Are they no longer applicable to us?
We cannot pick and choose which parts of the gospel we’re going to believe. By doing so, we make the word of God of no effect and actually diminish from the word of God.
Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Without receiving the remission of our sins through water baptism, the death of Jesus Christ is in vain, and our faith is vain.
His blood was shed for many, for the remission of sins, Matthew 26:28 and baptism is the method of receiving remission.
It is plainly laid out in the scriptures and yet there are millions of people believing you do not have to be baptized to be saved.
That means there are millions of people who sincerely think that they have obeyed the gospel but have not received the remission of their sins through baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
And because God hasn’t shown up with a couple of angels to discuss His expectations, they think everything is alright.
Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
