Baptism

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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This was Israel’s formal identification with Moses their leader. It brought them into a sphere of privilege with God, as verses 2-4 indicate. It was a baptism of a mixed multitude of people; many of them later proved to be unbelievers (Heb. 3:1919So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)).
This is a baptism in retributive judgment (of which “fire” is a figure) which the Lord will immerse the lifeless Christian profession in at the time of His Appearing (2 Thess. 1:88In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8)).
This is an initiatory Christian ordinance performed “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:2020Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)). In Christian baptism, a person puts on a new name—the name of Christ (Gal. 3:2727For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)), and enters a new position on earth—the sphere of Christian profession where the Lordship of Christ is owned (Eph. 4:55One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Ephesians 4:5)). Thus, he is placed formally on Christian ground. It not only identifies a person with the death and burial of Christ (Rom. 6:3-43Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3‑4); Col. 2:1212Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12)), but also with the resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 3:2121The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:21)). It was administered to Jewish believers (Acts 2:4141Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)), to Samaritan believers (Acts 8:1212But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)), to Gentile believers (Acts 8:38; 10:4838And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (Acts 8:38)
48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:48)), and to Christian households (Acts 16:15, 3315And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. (Acts 16:15)
33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:33); 1 Cor. 1:1616And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. (1 Corinthians 1:16)). Contrary to popular belief, Christian baptism is not a public act or testimony to the world of one’s faith in Christ. If it were so, Paul would not have baptised the jailor in the middle of the night, but would have waited for a convenient time to do it publicly (Acts 16:3333And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:33)).