WATER BAPTISM (MATT. 3:5 -16; Jn. 3:23; Matt. 28: 19)

The regenerate at new birth by faith becomes spiritual member of the body of Christ. This is done freely by virtue of simple faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for man’s redemption. This integrates the believer into Christ and he is made partaker of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection through death to sin and a consequent vocation in newness of life. This act of faith is termed baptism for the remission of sins; (1^st Cor. 12:13, Acts 2 : 38, Rom. 6:3). Now, as Christ was physical dead, carrying the Sins of the world, buried and resurrected into victory over death, the believers in seeking to be fully identified with the lord and in keeping with his command to fulfill all righteousness have adopted the sacrament of water baptism to outwardly declare to the world about their inward purity. Water baptism serves to figuratively express the inward purity by the blood of Jesus and the word of God.

Water baptism is a symbol of Christianity whereby a believer is immersed into water to outwardly express the inward purity that has taken place at new birth, to fulfill all righteousness according to the Lord’s command. This is drawn from the Greek word BAPTIZO which means to dip into or overwhelm with flood.

It is also to figuratively express that the regenerate having renounced sin is identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ unto newness of life.

Water Baptism also shows an open declaration to the world, concerning the new vocation. It is a sign of genuine conversion and a declaration of new faith and commitment to Christ.

SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES FOR WATER BAPTISM

It is of prime importance to note that water baptism becomes effective only when one has actually believed since it is only a figure of inward purity.

Water baptism does not save but when the pure water of the word of God has sprinkled our evil conscience, we become clean to serve God, fulfilling all righteousness, (Matt. 3:15). Since the ordinance of water baptism does not save, there is no basis for infant baptism until such children have grown and believed; (Mk. 16:16).

Water baptism is very important because it is a declaration of new faith to the world and commitment to the Lord. Jesus Christ Himself was baptized by John in River Jordan; (Matt. 3:14-16, 5:17-18).

As much as keeping the command of God is very important, yet water baptism should not be conducted before a man attains the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ through new birth.

New birth should precede water baptism; therefore, infants who are not born again are only baptized in error. Salvation comes by grace, through faith in the blood of Jesus by whom we are redeemed (Eph. 2:8-9, John 3:15-18, Acts16:31).

CHRISTAIN BAPTISM AND JOHN’S BAPTISM

Whereas John was baptizing the Jews unto repentance to prepare them for the coming Messiah, the Christian baptism differs in the respect that it is only authorized for the believer, whose sins are forgiven and remitted by the blood of Jesus. The pure water of the word of God purifies the evil conscience of which water baptism symbolizes in figure (1 Pet.3:21). The Christian baptism is for those who have by remorse, turned away from sin and believed the word of God, symbolizing union and commitment to the Lord.

METHOD OF WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism according to the biblical injunction is only by immersion, symbolizing the burial with Christ (Rom.6:4-5, Col.2:12). It is not scriptural to baptize by sprinkling of water. The usual method is by single immersion conducted in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). This is the authority Jesus gave to the church.

New birth is the only requisite for water baptism, so that the regenerate having turned to God by faith is first baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit, before outwardly showing this purity in a figure by water baptism.

RESTITUTION (LK. 19:8-9, LEV. 6:1-5, EX. 22:1-7, 2 SAM. 12:1-6)

RESTITUTION (LK. 19:8-9, LEV. 6:1-5, EX. 22:1-7, 2 SAM. 12:1-6)

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, whose consciences are void of offence towards God and men with assurance of salvation at the Lord’s glorious appearing. God has called us out of darkness so that as children of light, we will walk blamelessly among the ungodly, for the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God; (Phil. 2:15-16, 1 John 3:19-22, 1 Cor. 6:8-9).

Restitution is the restoration of all ill or deceitfully acquired possession to the rightful owners to portray genuine conversion and new nature; (Lk 19:8-9).

It is also seen as the returning of the things which a man wrongfully or violently acquired by means of fraud or in a crooked way.

Restitution cannot be nullified through faith because it is in keeping with principles of righteousness as commanded by God; (Rom.3:31, Matt.5:20-21, Rom. 9; 1-2, 2 Cor.1:12, 2 Tim. 1:3, Heb.10:22).

As much as restitution is very important as commanded by the Lord, it becomes more important that a man be properly guided so that our good is not evil spoken of or be a stumbling block to another, (Rom.14:13, 16, 19).

RESTITUTION OF ITEMS ACQUIRED BEFORE CONVERSION

Eph. 4:28, 2:8-9, 2 Cor. 5:17. The greatest sin a man can commit against God is to reject the only begotten Son of God; (Jn. 3:18-19), but as one comes to God through faith in christ, he receives grace, all his sins forgiven by virtue of the atonement in the blood of Jesus Christ. It therefore implies that all those possessions acquired deceitfully and dubiously before conversion have been restituted by Christ death, the debt fully paid except in some outstanding cases where the Holy Spirit brings about the convictions to restitute items acquired in unbelief. Should there be such convictions, restitution can only be done under close supervision and counseling of an accomplished servant of God. Great care should be taken so that a man by restitution does not cast a stumbling block for another because God is not the author of confusion. Restitution should seek to glorify God alone and not out of self will and emotion.

CONVERSION (1 THESS. 1:9)

The depraved man is always a captive of the devil. He lost the glory and the domineering role God appointed him at creation. The helpless state of man is such that requires the mighty hand of God to deliver him from the power of darkness and satanic dominion.

God has ordained that salvation must be by grace seeing man’s inability to regain freedom through self effort. Again, it takes the supernatural power of God to open the eyes of men, turning them from darkness to light and from Satan to God. Since the grace that brings salvation ‘’FAITH’’ has appeared to all men. This implies that for a man to be made a partaker of this free gift of God, the man must exercise himself to obey God’s word and have faith in Jesus (Acts 3:19-23, Phil. 3:9, Rom. 9:31-32).

After repentance, there is need to fill the vacuum of the past life with the word of God by faith in Christ.

Conversion is the operation of God in man, turning or re-directing the man’s mind through exercising faith and obedience in the word of God unto righteousness (Ps. 19:7-9, Lam.5:21, Acts 3:19-23).

In the New Testament, conversion is seen as that work of grace in the subconscious whereby the Holy Spirit causes a penitent to heartily return to God in conforming to righteousness through believing the word of God and confessing faith in Christ, as basis for salvation and new life; (Rom. 10:1-4, 8-11; Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 26:18, 1 Cor. 12:3; Rom. 1:16-17

It is also seen as a deliverance from the power of darkness and Satan to be made righteous by grace, so that through faith man is exalted to the liberty of the children of God and made partaker also of Christ’s kingdom and inheritance; (Gal.3:36, Rom. 4:3-11; Col. 1:13, Rom. 5:17-19).

At conversion, a man through faith is baptized spiritually into Christ. This is an operation portrayed physically by water baptism, as symbol of genuine conversion; (Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16; 1 Cor. 12:13, Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27). It is this spiritual baptism that appropriates salvation to the believer in Christ, not water baptism which in itself is a figure (1Pet. 3:21)

Conversion is a non-renewal process. It is an instant experience as a penitent turns to God by faith. It is the basis and the very beginning of a changed life. Conversion and repentance are the basic essence in the new birth. In conversion, man plays a minimal role since it is the Holy Spirit that uses the word of God to convert a soul (John 16:7-11, 6:44-45, Phil.2:13, 1 Pet.1:2).

TYPES OF CONVERSION

1.    GENUINE OR TRUE CONVERSION: This is the conforming of the spirit man in a penitent to obeying God’s word and profession of faith in Christ, thus affecting the behavioral pattern in newness of life. It is an outward display of righteousness according to the word of God being rooted in the heart where this is imputed. It is a total deliverance from the power of darkness and Satan, being translated into the kingdom of Christ with a changed status and freedom accruing to God’s children. In a genuine experience, there must be deepness of the word of God, renewing the human mind with a corresponding walk in the new vocation. A genuine convert is actively committed to Christ and is consumed by the zeal of the Lord; (Ps. 69:9, Lk. 2:49, 1Pet. 2:5). Genuine repentance is the basis for fruitfulness; (Matt. 3:7-9; Rom. 6:17-20). Examples of those that had true conversion are Ruth; (Ruth 1:16-1-8, Naaman; (2 Kings 5:15-18), Zaccheaus; (Lk. 19:8-9), the Eunuch; (Acts 8:30-38), Paul; (Acts 9:1-20).

2.    TEMPORAL OR MOMENTARY CONVERSION: This is the case of a genuine conversion short-lived. Here, the work of grace is lost through cares and pleasures of life or afflictions such that it becomes unfruitful. This results when there is no continued yielding and commitment, which always end up in lukewarmness or backsliding, (Matt. 13:20-22, Heb. 10:23-`29. After conversion, men ought to strive to perfect holiness in the fear of God continually. Examples; Orpah, (Ruth 1:1-14), Demas (Col. 4:14, 2Tim. 4:10).

3.    NATIONAL CONVERSION: God can turn a whole nation to himself. This instant national yield to God brings about blessings as long as they remain obedient to God’s word. Examples; Israelites, (Ex.33:1-10), Nineveh (Jonah 3:10).

4.    HYPOCRISY CONVERSION: This kind of conversion is counterfeit in nature as it tends to seek approval of men, an outward show without a hearty turning to the Lord. He goes about establishing his own righteousness by works in pretence without yielding to God. It is based on carnal principles and eye service, ill motivation and self-willed (double standard). Example; Gehazi , (2 Kgs 4:29-31, 5:20-27), Joab; (2 Sam.14:1-20)   

  

REGENERATION

All mankind degenerated from Adam the first man who through sin lost the glory of God. God’s love therefore brought us the second Adam (Jesus Christ) to quicken us who could not please God, being dead in trespasses and sin. For restoration, bringing us back to God through faith and by the indwelling Holy Spirit by whom we are adopted once again as sons unto God (Rom. 8: 9, 15).

Regeneration is God’s divine act by which new life is implanted in man and the governing disposition of the soul is made holy. It is also seen as the operation of God through faith whereby He cleanses the evil conscience of man by the blood of Jesus and the Word of God, recreating in him the right spirit in conformity to the acceptable standard of God (Ezek. 36-28; Heb. 9:22; Eph. 1:13).

By physical birth, we become partakers of human nature but by spiritual re-birth, we are made partakers of divine nature “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Regeneration is not an Improvement of the old nature (Matt. 9: 16-17); Membership of a local church (Lk. 10:20, Phil. 4:3, Eph. 1:13-14); or Water baptism (Jer. 4:14, 1Pet.3:21, 1Cor.12:13), but a new nature and a new life from God (Lk. 5:36-39, Gal. 6:15, John 1:12-13).

We are regenerated through (a) Believing the Word of God, whereby our evil consciences are sprinkled clean by the pure water of the word of God to serve the living God; (1 Pet. 1:22-23, Rom. 10:10, Eph. 5:26, John 3:5).

(B) Believing the word of God and openly confessing Jesus and faith in Him (Rom. 10:8-10, Joel 2:32, Phil. 2:11, Eph. 3:16-19).

(C) Being sealed with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9, Tit. 3:5, John 14:16-17).

AIDS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH

1.     Constantly studying the word of God; (2 Tim. 2:15,1 Pet 2:2).

2.     Constant prayer; (Phil.4:6-7, 1 Pet.4:7).

3.     Constant fellowship with the brethren; (Heb.10:25, 1 John 1:3).

4.     Bearing witness to the saving grace and power of Jesus Christ to others with one’s life as an example; (Matt.8:4, Acts 4:20).

5.     Separation from self and fleshly lusts; (Matt.16:24, Luke 9:23).

6.     Separation from sin and every appearance of evil; (1 Thess.5:22, Rom .6:12:19).

7.     Separation from the world and worldly associations; (1 Cor. 2:12, John  17:12-16).