2018-06-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit commands that I write about baptism, which for a believer in Christ has two components-water baptism and Spirit baptism, to make the believer ritually clean. Both RO 6: 4 and COL 2: 12 express the same notion and help us to better understand this custom. “By our baptism, then, we are buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life…For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, Who raised Him from death.” When combined with 2 COR 5: 17 and 21, this notion of a “new creation” becomes clarified. “Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come…Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made Him share our sin, in order that in union with Him we might share the righteousness of God.”
It is Jesus Christ, Who makes us able to serve a new covenant, one sealed in His blood, which consists not just of a written law, but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit brings life. The written law was etched on stone tablets, but the glory of God appeared when the Spirit was given. The Spirit brings salvation, something the written law could never do. When Moses descended Mt. Sinai after seeing the Lord, his face reflected the glow of God’s glory. The close-minded Israelites were frightened, causing Moses to need to wear a veil over his face at these times. It was a veil that closed the people’s minds that would not be symbolically removed until a person is joined to Christ [2 COR 3: 6-16]. As for this new covenant, it reflected Christ’s priestly work, which was superior to that done by the Levite priests when they built the tabernacle in the wilderness. It is a better covenant than the Covenant of the Law [HE 8: 6]. HE 9: 28, “In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for Him.” Physical circumcision no longer matters; what matters is faith that works through love. This is a circumcision that is not accomplished by human hands, but one in which Christ that gives us freedom from the power of the sinful self. Our sins were nailed to the cross, as Christ is victorious over all other rulers and authorities. They are captives in His victory procession. This involves obedience to God’s commands [GA 5: 6; 1 COR 7: 19]. Believers in Jesus Christ have received the true circumcision, for we worship the Father by means of His Spirit and have joy in our lives in union with Him [PHIL 3: 3]. It is a privilege to be in union with Christ, because He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority. We can see many comparisons between RO 6: 1-11 and COL 2: 9-15. The same can be said of COL 2: 12, GA 3: 27, and PHIL 1: 21. Take the time to consult these citations for a better understanding of the subject of Spirit baptism. Having had a good, in-depth look at Spirit baptism, we should examine its roots in the kind of baptism that John gave people-water baptism. This has its origins in ancient Jewish practice.
Tevilah [pronounced the-vee-lah] is the Hebrew word used for immersion in water as a part of the ritual of cleanliness, purification, and separation. Even today, Orthodox and Chasidic Jews immerse themselves several times a year, e.g. before Shabbat (the Sabbath) and the fall feasts (Rosh Hashana -Jewish New Year, Days of Awe-10 days from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur, Yom Kippur-Day of Atonement, Sukkot-feast of the fall harvest, and Shavuot-the giving of the Law). Women in these devout denominations of Judaism immerse themselves before marriage and after their monthly cycle. In the OT, priests were required to be immersed. This was a spiritual cleansing, indicating a change in status as well as a separation unto the Lord. This outward act indicated an inward change. Immersion was a first step in the consecration of a priest. On Yom Kippur, the high priest experienced multiple immersions (washings), as he made atonement for the sins of Israel. I have more to share on this next week.
PRAYER: O Lord, we approach You today to acknowledge Your wisdom and generosity in sharing Your word with us. You are to be praised and thanked for this direction and deeper understanding You give us for our lives. PS 119: 24, 93, “Your instructions give me pleasure; they are my advisors…I will never neglect Your precepts, because by them, You have preserved my life.” You have commanded us to be sanctified, i.e. to find our sins, reveal them to You in prayer, and to stop the thoughts or behaviors that are sinful. PS 19: 12-13, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” It is our greatest need to learn to place our trust in You. Obedience to Your commands isn’t easy, but it is necessary for us, if we want to gain eternal life. Our study of the ancient Jewish practices and beliefs will help us to see the connections between the OT and NT, how OT practices foreshadow ones in the NT. 2 TIM 3: 16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction in right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” Your unconditional love for us is deeply appreciated and acknowledged. We know Your every word is for our best eternal interests. We ask that you never separate us from that love, wisdom, or Your Holy Spirit, Who dwells within us. We don’t deserve this grace but accept it with profound reverence and awe of You. In Christ’s holy/mighty name we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As promised above, I will respond to the Holy Spirit by continuing to write about the ancient Jewish roots of baptism by water immersion. It’s a great privilege to come from such as rich cultural and spiritual background as Judaism is. While I was reared in a Conservative Jewish home, I didn’t engage in many of the Orthodox and Chasidic practices mentioned in today’s devotion. However, I have been introduced to them through the research for these messages that I do. When I accepted the Lord Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) as my personal Savior, I became a Messianic Jew and was “completed.” This is not said to brag about myself, but instead to boast about my God, from Whose love I cannot be separated [RO 8: 38-39]. Traditionally Jewish people continue to search for their Messiah; Messianic Jews know He is Yeshua! There is yet another difference in that traditional Jews await an announcement from Elijah that the Messiah is coming after they have achieved world peace. Messianic Jews know that Yeshua is their life and that they can look forward to an eternal life of sweet, heavenly fellowship with Him. He will bring the New Earth and the new Jerusalem. My experience in knowing the Scriptures as I do is inner peace and confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ. My faith in Him gives me joy not available from any other source. I never have to feel alone or abandoned [PS 9: 9-10]. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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