Lesson 2565

(Lesson 2565)(12-29-18) Luke 49-50
    “ I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!”
    Today’s lesson is a continuation of yesterday’s and concerns the gross misunderstanding of the term “baptism”, as is generally applied in the New Testament.

   As is established by the following quote, baptism was written into the Law of the Jews in the days of Moses: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.”
    That part of the Law of Moses established water cleansing (baptism) as essential ONLY to intering into the temple of God or, before practicing any holy ritual. Water cleansing was NEVER seen as having anything to do with one’s eternal salvation.
    As John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11, “ I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” Therein, John made it very clear that water baptism has nothing to do with the saving grace of God through faith in His only begotten Son. ~
NOTE: There will be much more discussion of this subject as these lessons progress.