by M DePaul

Created on: February 04, 2009

Baptism is taken from the Greek word baptizo; meaning immersion. Water in scripture is represented symbolically as the spirit. Even though Christ was baptized by immersion in water this was a symbolic act that was preceded by his immersion into scripture and culminating with the baptism as an acknowledgment of his knowledge and pureness of spirit in order to advance onto his ministry. Immersing one into the study of the Torah (Old Testament) was a prerequisite for a rabbi. Baptism was a purification rite which John the Baptist performed in the expectation of a Messiah.

It is by far more important to understand the symbolical nature of baptism, as immersing one in the study of scripture, than just being either immersed into water or simply sprinkled; which is of no real value; without the total immersion of ones mind, body and spirit in the study of God and his laws. Just the sprinkling or immersion in water without this becomes nil and void without the total understanding of why one is performing this symbolically. Symbols are meaningless unless understood in the context of ones' life. Jesus' life was the way, the study of scripture, the truth, seeking and asking for truth through the life, living scripture fully in all areas of life.

When one is baptized it is a symbol of excepting Christ and his teachings; but Christ taught all of his disciples and thousands of others on how to live their lives based on the teachings of scripture; the Word of God. Disciples were called disciples because they were disciplined in all aspects of their worldly appetites; in order to become more spiritually in tune with God; this is accomplished through prayer and fasting of physical pleasures; in order to purify ones' spirit, to allow God to indwell in a proper state of being and this can only be done through scriptural immersion of the word.

Christ stated" Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. KJV Matt 28:19 In other words teaching is a requirement and baptism is the symbol of that teaching; which entails the recognition of ones' sin; sin being anything that takes one away from truth and the path of God, the spiritual way, as opposed to the fleshly way of existence; the concern only for physical worldly needs. So the first step is recognition, then repentance, sincere repentance,

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