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Acts 1:2 ... until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ...
The Great Commission and Baptism
On the day that Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His 12 apostles commandments, instructing them where to go, what to teach and what to do in order to continue the work that He started and the plan of God for Israel. The commandments in view here are a reference to, what we know today as, The Great Commission.
It involves: (1) where to go, (2) what to teach, (3) what to do, and (4) proofs to verify their message,
Matt.28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:...
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs [verifying proofs] shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
See also: Acts 1:4-8
Is this Commission for us today?
No. The Great Commission is not a commission given to us today. The Body of Christ, who is under a different dispensation, has a different commission today. Let's see what Paul writes regarding our commission,
2 Cor.5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit [that is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
There is a BIG difference between these two commissions. Our commission is one of reconciliation; to reconcile people to God through or testimony and lifestyle. We do not need to all be evangelists, preaching the gospel on the street corners. To reconcile people to God can come in many different forms. It is for you to discover how you can bring glory to God. What is your passion in life? What are you good at? What comes natural to you? Use these strengths to reconcile people to God, to bring the grace of God to others and to share with them the gospel of grace.
On the other hand, the "Great Commission" that Jesus instructed his 12
apostles to follow are instructions that are unique to the Kingdom
dispensation at that time and to the Jews under the Law. Let's look at what
this commission entails and why it is not for us today.
The Kingdom Gospel
The Kingdom Gospel has criteria that does not apply to us today. We are saved by a different gospel, the Grace Gospel, which contains different criteria for salvation. The grace gospel is a gospel without works, since Jesus has done ALL the work on our behalf! All we can do is believe that the cross work of Jesus, his death, burial and resurrection, is sufficient for our salvation. (For some examples of the grace gospel, see: 1 Corinthians 15:1; Romans 4:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; Romans 14:9; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Ephesians 1:13)
The Kingdom Gospel, which Jesus commanded his 12 apostles to teach, was a
works-based gospel which contained the following criteria,
- Repent (of their unbelief and their wayward traditions - Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Mark 1:15; 6:12; Luke 13:3, 5, Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19)
- Believe that Jesus what their Messiah and confess Him as Lord (John 20:31; Luke 12:8; Matthew 16:16; Acts 8:37; Acts 9:20)
- Get water baptized for the remission of their sins (Matthew 3:5-6; 3:11; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:3; John 1:33; 3:23; Acts 2:38)
- Obey the commandments (Matthew 5:20; Matthew 19:16-17)
None of the criteria above is applicable for us, the Body of Christ, in this
grace dispensation today. I'd like to expound on baptism in the rest of this
lesson, just to provide you some deeper evidence to support this statement.
Water Baptism: When, Why and for Who?
Baptism is not an ordinance for us today as we do not need to be prepared to function in a priestly role, (Ex.19:10; Ex.29:4-7). What do I mean by a priestly role? Well, this is the purpose and function that God determined for Israel to fulfil and baptism is part of that function, as we will see below.
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 Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Its interesting to note that a lot of people do not see the purpose of baptism in the above verse. The verse states that it is for the remission of sins! Baptism cleanses from sins? Yes! But this is in the context of priesthood within Israel's program. Today, it is certainly not water baptism that cleanses us from sin! Only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that today. (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 4:25). Baptism (washing) originated under the Mosaic law and was necessary for the separation and cleansing of the priesthood. A priest was to be washed and anointed.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you [Israel] shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." ... 10 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
It is Israel's destiny to be a kingdom of priests, to mediate between God and
the nations in the Millennial Kingdom. Priesthood is for Israel; it's part of
their identity and purpose. It is not a practice that we as the Body of Christ
needs to apply, since we are not called to be priests in God's service.
Let's look at the origin of baptism? Where did it start? Who started it?
It is interesting to note that there is not a single reference to the word 'baptism' in the Old Testament (in the KJV bible). The closest we can come to this is the word, 'wash', in the context of consecration; that is to be set apart and purified. Let's have a look at the scriptures,
God Consecrates Aaron and his Sons for Priesthood
Exodus 29:4 "And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall wash them with water. 5 Then you shall take the garments, put the tunic on Aaron, and the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the intricately woven band of the ephod. 6 You shall put the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban. 7 And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.
Leviticus 8:6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. ... 10 Also Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11 He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the laver and its base, to consecrate them. 12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him.
Notice how Moses was instructed to anoint Aaron AFTER he was washed.
The Cleansing and Dedication of the Levites
Numbers 8:5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 6 "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially. 7 Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purification on them, and let them shave all their body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
Washing (for purification) started with Aaron as he was separated unto priesthood. This ceremony was extended to the Levitical priesthood. But notice now in the scripture below that this ordinance is to be practiced on the entire nation of Israel according to the 'New Covenant' prophesied over them,
The New Covenant on Israel
Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you [Holy Spirit]; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
Notice the order of baptism again in the above verse. First washing, then anointing (of the Spirit). Washing in the Old Testament became baptism in the New Testament. Anointing in the Old Testament is the same as receiving the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.
With this in mind, let's just take a quick detour. Consider this. If washing was for the cleansing of sin, why was it necessary that Jesus, who was absolutely sinless, had to get baptized?
Matt.3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
We are able to find the answer in the preceding verse,
Matt.3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness [the law]." ...
In order for priests to come into their office, they needed to be washed and anointed. To meet the requirement of priesthood according to the law, Jesus, even though he was without sin, was required by the Mosaic Law to be washed (baptized).
Also notice that after Jesus was 'washed', the Holy Spirit came upon Him and He was anointed and 'separated for a holy purpose'.
This washing became the practice of baptism in the New Testament as Israel
drew nearer to their Kingdom purpose and to their calling as a nation of
priests. So, it is all about Israel. Washing, baptism, anointing, the gift of
the Holy Spirit, —it is all for Israel under the Kingdom dispensation.
Baptism and the Body of Christ
For us, the Body of Christ, under the grace dispensation, these ordinances have no purpose. We are never called to be priests and to serve God as a mediator between Him and the nations. We do not need to be anointed and be separated unto God as priests. Don't get me wrong, we are set apart, we are separated unto the gospel (Rom.1:1) and unto a holy purpose (2 Cor.6:17), to hear the call of our Head and do works according to His will (Phil.2:13). However, the ordinance of baptism is part of our dispensation and it is not a requirement in our purpose as the Body of Christ.
In our grace dispensation, no water baptism is needed, (1 Cor.1:17)! However, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit,
1 Cor.12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized [without water] into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (See also Gal.3:27)
Since we do not have a role of being priests, there is no need for water to be used to cleanse us from sin in order to perform a duty. We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus blood, not water, washes away our sin. Eph.1:7,Col.1:14.
We are not baptized with the Holy Spirit but by the Holy Spirit. The reason for the Jews receiving the Holy Spirit was for anointing in the office of priesthood (Lev.8:10-12; Rev.20:6), and to verify their message with signs. Today, signs have no role in verifying the gospel. Its only by faith!
As you can see, there is a vast difference between Israel's dispensation under
law and our current dispensation under grace. The two dispensations have
different actions under different conditions and applied to two different
people groups through different systems of law and grace. We have to recognize
this and change our thinking to line up with the truth of the Word of God. All
the confusion of signs, ordinances, and observances, come from taking doctrine
that belongs in the law dispensation for Israel and trying to apply it to our
system today. This is what causes the confusions and denominational
differences. Let us search the Word and align ourselves to the truth.
For more articles on baptism, see:
- The Meaning of Water Baptism in the Law and Grace Dispensations
- Faith and Works during the Law Program
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