The Truth About Baptism - Complete Small Book

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Prophetic Journal Publishing 2007. All rights

reserved. All Bible verse from KJV.


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Prophetic Journal

http://www.propheticjournal.net

This is a prophetic Ministry to the Church of JesusChrist in these last days. We believe that God is

calling his people out of division and is ready torestore the unity of the faith and the purity of theGospel. We as Christian disciples are called tohumble ourselves together before God. This is

where the last days Church begins. God is restoringthe foundations of his Church. In these pages you

will find many of the necessary understandings forthis to happen. These studies and audio teachingsare different from any thing you have heard beforeand you will see by the spirit of God through theWord that these things are true. We are callingthose who call themselves Christian to come to

humble ourselves before God that we may be oneBody so that the world will believe that God sent

Jesus.

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art inme, and I in thee, that they also may be one inus: that the world may believe that thou hast

sent" John 17:21

I


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The Truth about BaptismBy R.S. Neaville

Section One: What is Baptism? ..... Page 1

Section Two: Baptism of John ............... Page 2

Review Questions Section Two . Page 4

Section Three: Baptism of Christ Page 5

Review Questions Section Three . Page 11

Section Four: Baptism of Fire and of the Holy Spirit.... Page 12

Review Questions Section Four .. Page 18

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The Truth about BaptismBy R.S. Neaville

Section One: What is Baptism?Christian baptism is a sacrament of the

Church. Sacraments are sacred practices that carrya pictured meaning. It is one way we testify toJesus. Baptism represents a great meaning toChristians. In it is the essence of our faith andtestimony. Through this sacrament we as disciplesof Jesus proclaim our faith in his sacrifice as well asour hope in the resurrection of the dead. It is acommandment of Christ that we do so and is

important. Baptism however is not what saves us.There is no method, sacrament, activity, or formulathat you can accomplish that will save you. Baptismis merely one of many things that accompanysalvation. Let us look at the details from Scripture.

In approaching the subject of baptism wemust discern the differences and meanings ofvarious biblical baptisms. There are three of these.

Johns baptism

Jesus baptism

The baptism of fire, or the Holy Spirit.


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Section Two: Baptism of John

We will start with Johns baptism. John,

otherwise known as John the Baptist testified:

Matthew 3:11. I indeed baptize you withwater unto repentance: but he thatcometh after me is mightier than I,whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:he shall baptize you with the HolyGhost, and with fire:12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he willthroughly purge his floor, and gather hiswheat into the garner; but he will burnup the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Johns baptism as the scripture shows wasone of repentance. It symbolized the washing awayof sins. This baptism was different than that ofChrist for it was an outward cleansing according tolaw. These washings were detailed in Leviticuschapters 12-15. They made people only

ceremonially clean according to the ordinances ofthe Law of Moses.

Leviticus 14:7 And he shall sprinkleupon him that is to be cleansed from theleprosy seven times, and shall

pronounce him clean, and shall let theliving bird loose into the open field.8. And he that is to be cleansed shallwash his clothes, and shave off all his


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hair, and wash himself in water, that hemay be clean: and after that he shallcome into the camp, and shall tarry

abroad out of his tent seven days.9. But it shall be on the seventh day,that he shall shave all his hair off hishead and his beard and his eyebrows,even all his hair he shall shave off: andhe shall wash his clothes, also he shallwash his flesh in water, and he shall beclean.


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Review Questions

1. What are the three biblical baptisms?

2. Where did John get the baptism he practiced?3. What was the Baptism of John for? Discuss thiswith the class.

4. What is a sacrament?5. Who was Johns Baptism for?


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Peter tells us that the baptism of Jesus is notthe removing of dirt from the body, but the pledge ofa clean conscience (spirit) before God. It is about

going down into death with Jesus and coming upalive with him to live a new life.

Romans 6: 3 Know ye not, that somany of us as were baptized into JesusChrist were baptized into his death?4. Therefore we are buried with him bybaptism into death: that like as Christwas raised up from the dead by theglory of the Father, even so we alsoshould walk in newness of life.5. For if we have been planted togetherin the likeness of his death, we shall bealso in the likeness of his resurrection:6. Knowing this, that our old man iscrucified with him, that the body of sinmight be destroyed, that henceforth weshould not serve sin.7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8. Now if we be dead with Christ, webelieve that we shall also live with him:

This is too a baptism of repentance but adeeper and more true repentance of the heart. It isnot just a repentance of the flesh which is temporary

but also a repentance of the former life we lived insin once and forever. We through faith go down intothe deep of death with Jesus as Peter speaks ofhim by the Spirit going down into death. And then


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both spirit and body rise together in a newness oflife. This is a testimony before God and men thatnow we through faith have died with Christ and our

hope is to be resurrected with him. It is the sign ofJonah Jesus spoke of to the Pharisees.

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of thescribes and of the Pharisees answered,saying, Master, we would see a signfrom thee.39. But he answered and said untothem, An evil and adulterous generationseeketh after a sign; and there shall nosign be given to it, but the sign of theprophet Jonas:40. For as Jonas was three days andthree nights in the whale's belly; so shallthe Son of man be three days and threenights in the heart of the earth.

As Jonah was in the belly of a whale or bigfish for three days after he was cast into the deep,

So Jesus was cast into the figurative deep of death.As Jonah was spit up alive on dry land so Jesusascended back from death. We picture this in ourbaptism by being immersed into the water which isfigurative of death and then we are lifted up asJesus was resurrected. In this way we identify with

Jesus and confess he paid for our sins. We are notjust cleansed on the outside as in Johns Baptismbut his death and therefore his blood cleanses ourinsides our consciences.


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Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come anhigh priest of good things to come, by a

greater and more perfect tabernacle, notmade with hands, that is to say, not ofthis building;12. Neither by the blood of goats andcalves, but by his own blood he enteredin once into the holy place, havingobtained eternal redemption for us.13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats,and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling theunclean, sanctifieth to the purifying ofthe flesh:14. How much more shall the blood ofChrist, who through the eternal Spiritoffered himself without spot to God,purge your conscience from dead worksto serve the living God?15. And for this cause he is the mediatorof the new testament, that by means ofdeath, for the redemption of the

transgressions that were under the firsttestament, they which are called mightreceive the promise of eternalinheritance.

You see what we do as a picture or a

testimony through baptism speaks of what alreadyhas occurred in our consciences when we receiveJesus as our savior. His blood cleanses our innerman the power of his death on our account. It is not


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just about the redemption of our body but theredemption of our spirits and even our entire soul.

Hebrews 10:1. For the law having ashadow of good things to come, and notthe very image of the things, can neverwith those sacrifices which they offeredyear by year continually make thecomers thereunto perfect.2. For then would they not have ceasedto be offered? because that theworshippers once purged should havehad no more conscience of sins.3. But in those sacrifices there is aremembrance again made of sins everyyear.4. For it is not possible that the blood ofbulls and of goats should take awaysins.5. Wherefore when he cometh into theworld, he saith, Sacrifice and offeringthou wouldest not, but a body hast thou

prepared me:6. In burnt offerings and sacrifices forsin thou hast had no pleasure.

So when we are water baptized into ChristJesus it is a figure for what has already occurred in

our hearts. It is a testimony that now we belong tohim who purchased us with his blood. We tell theworld of our faith in his sacrifice, our hope in hisresurrection, and our acknowledgment of him as our


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savior and God as our father. It is the testimony ofour adoption as his children through Christ Jesus.Whatever is demonstrated in the physical must be

first true in the spiritual. Whatever is righteous in ouractions or deeds must be first righteous in ourhearts. Faith is demonstrated in its works.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him inbaptism, wherein also ye are risen withhim through the faith of the operation ofGod, who hath raised him from thedead.13. And you, being dead in your sinsand the uncircumcision of your flesh,hath he quickened together with him,having forgiven you all trespasses;14. Blotting out the handwriting ofordinances that was against us, whichwas contrary to us, and took it out of theway, nailing it to his cross;


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Review Questions

1. What does it mean to be baptized into Christ?

2. Where did Jesus go by the Spirit when he died?3. What is the difference between John and Jesusbaptism? Discuss this with the class

4. What cleanses our consciences?5. What does Jesus mean by the sign of Jonah?


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Section Four: Baptism of Fire and of the HolySpirit

Christians need to understand that it is not theoutward baptism that saves them but the inwardone. Let us look at the famous verse concerning thethief on the cross.

Luke 23:39. And one of the malefactorswhich were hanged railed on him,saying, If thou be Christ, save thyselfand us.40. But the other answering rebukedhim, saying, Dost not thou fear God,seeing thou art in the samecondemnation?41. And we indeed justly; for we receivethe due reward of our deeds: but thisman hath done nothing amiss.42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord,remember me when thou comest intothy kingdom.

43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily Isay unto thee, To day shalt thou be withme in paradise.

It is easy to see here that salvation was notbased on being dunked under the water. It was and

is a matter of faith first and foremost. The power ofGod hits in our hearts first always. It can bedemonstrated or manifested or testified to throughthe outside but is first a matter of the Spirit. What


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you do demonstrates who you are. Look at what theApostle Paul had to say concerning baptism andsalvation as far as the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that Ibaptized none of you, but Crispus andGaius;15. Lest any should say that I hadbaptized in mine own name.16. And I baptized also the household ofStephanas: besides, I know not whetherI baptized any other.17. For Christ sent me not to baptize,but to preach the gospel: not withwisdom of words, lest the cross of Christshould be made of none effect.18. For the preaching of the cross is tothem that perish foolishness; but unto uswhich are saved it is the power of God.

The power of God was in the message. TheGospel message we receive in our hearts. That is

where the true baptism takes place. When Jesuscomes into our hearts he cleanses them. It is thebaptism of fire. It is the baptism of Christ. The oneportrayed in water is only a picture of the truespiritual one.

Matthew 3:11. I indeed baptize you withwater unto repentance: but he thatcometh after me is mightier than I,whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:


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he shall baptize you with the HolyGhost, and with fire:

Notice John referred to the baptism of Jesusas one of fire and the Holy Spirit. He did notmention two water baptisms any more than Jesustold Nicodemus of two physical births. Both spoke ofa physical one and a spiritual one. There is onebaptism in Christ, and it is the Spirit who performs it.He comes and cleanses our hearts and thenindwells them. This is the true baptism of which thewater is only a figure. This is why Peter did what hedid at Cornelius house: He saw the proof that theyhad received in the heart the truth and so had themwater baptized.

Acts 10:38. How God anointed Jesus ofNazareth with the Holy Ghost and withpower: who went about doing good, andhealing all that were oppressed of thedevil; for God was with him.39. And we are witnesses of all things

which he did both in the land of theJews, and in Jerusalem; whom theyslew and hanged on a tree:40. Him God raised up the third day,and shewed him openly;41. Not to all the people, but unto

witnesses chosen before of God, evento us, who did eat and drink with himafter he rose from the dead.


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42. And he commanded us to preachunto the people, and to testify that it ishe which was ordained of God to be the

Judge of quick and dead.43. To him give all the prophets witness,that through his name whosoeverbelieveth in him shall receive remissionof sins.44. While Peter yet spake these words,the Holy Ghost fell on all them whichheard the word.45. And they of the circumcision whichbelieved were astonished, as many ascame with Peter, because that on theGentiles also was poured out the gift ofthe Holy Ghost.46. For they heard them speak withtongues, and magnify God. Thenanswered Peter,47. Can any man forbid water, thatthese should not be baptized, whichhave received the Holy Ghost as well as

we?48. And he commanded them to bebaptized in the name of the Lord. Thenprayed they him to tarry certain days.

The power was in the message. It was done in

their hearts first. Then Peter said:

Acts 10:47. Can any man forbid water,that these should not be baptized, which


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have received the Holy Ghost as well aswe?48. And he commanded them to be

baptized in the name of the Lord. Thenprayed they him to tarry certain days.

This is the Baptism that saves. It is when Godsends his Spirit to you after you have believed. Hegives you this Spirit as a seal of your faith in Christand the hope of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 12:13. For by one Spiritare we all baptized into one body,whether we be Jews or Gentiles,whether we be bond or free; and havebeen all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13. In whom ye alsotrusted, after that ye heard the word oftruth, the gospel of your salvation: inwhom also after that ye believed, yewere sealed with that holy Spirit of

promise,14. Which is the earnest of ourinheritance until the redemption of thepurchased possession, unto the praiseof his glory.

This is the truth about baptism from thescriptures. It is right to be immersed in water in thename of Jesus before men, but that would beuseless if it were not true in your heart first.


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Matthew 10:32. Whosoever thereforeshall confess me before men, him will I

confess also before my Father which isin heaven.


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These booklets willhelp anyone to laythe proper Christian

foundation of faith.They are for anyoneserious about thepurity of what thegospel message

truly is. If you are new to Christianity or if you are aChristian and unsure of your foundations these arethe basic studies you need to start with. Just clickon the picture above. Free to download!

Additional teaching and Bible Studies can be

found at the Prophetic Journal web site.http://www.propheticjournal.net

You can contact R. S. Neaville with any questionsor comments by e-mail at:

[email protected]

Or by mail at: R.S. Neaville P.O. Box 1541

Greenville, Texas 75401


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This book and its contents were reprinted

with the authorization of the author. R. S.

Neaville.

You can contact R. S. Neaville withany questions or comments by e-mail

at:

[email protected]

Or by mail at:

R.S. NeavilleP.O. Box 1541

Greenville, Texas 75401

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The Truth About Baptism - Complete Small Book