THE MYSTICAL NATURE OF BAPTISM

 

The following explains the mystical nature and spiritual efficacy of water baptism:

 

Few Christian denominations acknowledge that water baptism has the power to forgive sins rather than merely an act of ceremony. But it is written in the Bible that the primary purpose of water baptism is to forgive sins. Peter said to the people on the Day of Pentecost, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins," (Acts 2:38) and Acts chapter 22 verse 16 says, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name." Yet, unfortunately many denominations today have deviated from the Truth and have misinterpreted the words of God.

 

What exactly does water baptism have to do with the remission of sins? When baptism is administered in the name of the Lord Jesus by a qualified person, the precious blood of Christ present will cleanse the baptismal candidate of sins. The Bible says, "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Heb 9:22) and in 1 Peter 1 :18-19 we are told: "You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." Ephesians 1:7 also states, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses"; and Revelation 1 :5 testifies, "to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." But today, why can we still claim that the blood of Jesus Christ is present in the water where baptism is carried out, even though the crucifixion of Jesus took place in Golgotha more than one thousand, nine hundred years ago? This is where the mystery lies!

 

Our church members have seen signs on many occasions that water is changed to blood during baptism. This is indeed a wonderful testimony to the mystery of the sacrament. The Bible records that after Jesus had given up His spirit on the cross, "one of the soldiers pierced his sides with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water" (Jn 19:34). Usually a dead person will not bleed, but blood and water flow from Jesus side though he was already dead. Bible experts have failed to scientifically explain this unique phenomenon.

 

Some told that the heart of our Lord burst open and issued water and blood in bitter agony and unbearable pain, while others say that blood and water (the essence of the blood) ooze out of the heart of the dying person when pierced immediately after he is dead. Such explanations are not correct. There can be no better explanation than that it is a miracle.

 

The Apostle, John, who witnessed the incident with his own eyes, recorded in utter amazement, "He (referring to himself) who saw it has borne witness- his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth - that you also may believe;' (Jn 19:35). The fact that John stressed his testimony as true shows what he had witnessed was no ordinary matter.

 

There must be some mysteries hidden in the incident. Later John wrote to explain the mystery involved in water baptism, the mystery which he discovered in the cross. He wrote, "This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water and the blood; and these three agree" (1 Jn 5:6-8). In this passage Bible scholars have two different explanations:

 

* The first one, the water here refers to the Lord's baptism in the River Jordan, and the blood refers to the Lord's shedding of blood during His crucifixion.

 

* The other explanation says that the water refers to water baptism whereas the blood refers to the Eucharist.

 

But these explanations are groundless. If we read John chapter 19 verse 34, the meaning in these three verses becomes much clearer, for they are related verses. 1 Jn chapter 5 verses 6 to 8 is about the essential water and blood for water baptism while John chapter 19 verse 34 tells us about the source which supplies these two essentials. What a wonderful revelation of the mystery! In 1 John chapter 5 verse 6, "not with the water only but with the water and the blood".

 

Hence, during water baptism, the baptismal candidate is not only fully immersed in the water but also immersed in the blood of Jesus. The Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of the truth bears the witness. The fact that the baptized is able to receive the Holy Spirit after baptism is a proof that his sins have been forgiven (Acts 2:38). 1 John chapter 5 verse 8 says, "There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water and the blood; and these three agree". This means that these three are present in water baptism. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the water in which baptism is performed is changed into the precious blood of the Lord. Water baptism must be performed with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Hence, it is most essential that the person performing the baptism must have the Holy Spirit so that the sacrament will have the spiritual efficacy to forgive sins (Jn 21 :22,23).

 

The effect of water baptism for remission of sins is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 11 says of the water baptism, "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God". Another scripture also points out that, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit" (1 Cor 12:13). ''For by one Spirit we were all baptized" refers to the water baptism, while "to drink of one Spirit" refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit (i.e. the receiving of the Holy Spirit). The water baptism performed by our Church is not mere ceremony but has true spiritual efficacies. The evidence of this can be seen in the healing of the sick after baptism, the reformation of a sinner and the visions of water transforming into blood seen by members. The Apostle John continued saying, ''If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his son" (1 Jn 5:9).

 

As discussed earlier, water baptism symbolizes to die with Jesus, to be buried with Him and to resurrect with Him as a new born person. It is not only symbolical in this sense, it has the efficacy to forgive sins and also to bring about regeneration. That is why water baptism is known as 'washing of regeneration' (Tit 3:5). With such efficacy, anyone who has undergone water baptism will be saved and granted the kingdom of heaven (Jn 3:3-5; Mk 16: 16). It is our hope that those who have not received the correct mode of water baptism will come to the True Jesus Church to learn more about Christ. Accept Jesus as Savior, repent and be baptized, so that we may share this wonderful grace of salvation.