Fulness of The Godhead Bodily": What's Next?

medium.
In the book of Acts, this method of recorded in the book of Acts12 show people being
baptism by “dipping,” or totally immersing a baptized in the name of Jesus only. As a result,
person in water and then bringing them out, is doctrines have come into being that unless water
the only one described. Later, and for a variety baptism is administered in the name of Jesus (only)
of reasons, different practices were introduced, combined with faith in that water baptism, a person
such as sprinkling or pouring water over the cannot be saved. This is not what the Bible teaches,
head. While various branches of the church have and it has actually damned many people. There is,
accepted and adopted these practices, there is no however, a simple explanation that harmonizes the
scriptural basis for changing the only method of commission of Jesus and the practice of the early
water baptism endorsed by both the Lord and the church. When we baptize in the name of Jesus, we
Apostles—total immersion. are baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost because “in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the
*** fulness of the Godhead bodily”13 (brackets mine).
In Matthew 28:19, we find Jesus on a Therefore, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son,
mountain in Galilee giving the Great Commission and Holy Ghost or in the name of Jesus is correct,
to His remaining eleven disciples, and there, He as long as Colossians 2:9 is understood. In practice,
gave further instructions as to how water baptism many branches of the church do administer water
should be administered: “Go ye therefore, and baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of Holy Spirit.
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
What’s Next?
The first thing to note here is that in the
same way as the commission to teach all nations We can send you a teaching resource catalog
is given to every believer, not just ministers, the that will give you more details of the many
command to baptize is also given to every believer, messages Andrew has available.
not just ministers. It is therefore perfectly proper
for any believer to administer water baptism.
Curiously, perhaps, although Jesus

commanded His disciples to baptize in the name
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, there
is no recorded instance where the first believers
did so! Instead, the examples of baptism that are
12. Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, and 19:5

13. Colossians 2:9
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Water Baptism the devil and acts as a witness, identifying us as why a person who has been through a baptismal
being one with Christ. ceremony as an infant and later becomes a
Water baptism is a command of the Lord Christian decides to be “re-baptized,” as the first
Jesus1 and is the response we should make to the The Greek word for “baptize” is baptizo, “baptism” was not a true baptism in accordance
Gospel once we have been saved.2 But it is not, and its literal meaning is to cause something to with the teaching of Scripture.
as some have taught, an essential requirement for be dipped into and then removed from a different
salvation. This is evident from Scripture, where medium. This word was used in various contexts in ***
it is quite clear that there were many people who classical Greek literature. For example, in the fourth The New Testament model for water baptism
were born again before they were baptized in century B.C., Hippocrates used the term to describe entailed that the event took place very soon after a
water—Cornelius and his friends, for example,3 sponges being dipped and people being submerged person was saved. The Ethiopian eunuch, to whom
and some disciples whom Paul happened upon in water. Later, in the first century B.C., the Greek Philip explained the Gospel as he was carried
at Ephesus.4 While water baptism is an important historian and essayist Plutarch used the term in a along in his chariot, was baptized immediately.8
act, both of obedience to God and as an outward similar way to describe a body being immersed in The Philippian jailor and his family, who were
witness of the inward change that has taken place, the sea. saved when an earthquake hit the prison, were
it plays no part whatsoever in obtaining salvation baptized before the next day dawned!9 When
for us. Salvation can only be obtained by faith in *** Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000
the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. It is The qualification that to be baptized in people were saved, and they were baptized that
faith in what Jesus has done that saves us, not faith water, a person must first be saved has important same day10—quite an undertaking. And there are
plus water baptism. consequences. To be saved, a person has to choose other New Testament examples11 that show that
to be saved. No one can be saved by accident, by the normal expectation was for water baptism to
*** someone else believing on their behalf, or because follow shortly after a person was saved and had
Just as circumcision did not confer another person (even God!) wants them to be. God received basic teaching in the faith. We do not find
righteousness upon Abraham5 but was simply a sign has given all people free will, and to be saved, any instances in Scripture where baptism occurred
that he had previously (over thirteen years earlier) they must exercise it by believing in their hearts more than a few days after conversion, and there
believed and been made righteous by faith, water and confessing with their mouths.6 If they are to is certainly no scriptural precedent to support a
baptism does not actually confer righteousness on believe in their hearts, they must have some basic lengthy delay before undergoing what should be
us but is simply a sign that we, too, have believed understanding of what they are believing. Babies an early response of faith to the ending of an old
and been made righteous by faith. When Jesus was and very small children are not able to do this. life and the beginning of a new one. That is not to
baptized by John, He explained that He did it to (They would nevertheless go to be with the Lord say, however, that if a person was born again many
fulfill all righteousness—which means, in essence, if they died because sin is not imputed to a child years previously and was not baptized at the time,
that He was baptized in order to demonstrate the who does not have the capacity to decide to go it is now too late! It isn’t—and it is certainly a step
righteous condition of His heart. In doing so, He against God’s will.7) It follows, then, that babies that should be considered very seriously.
established a blueprint for us all to follow. should not be baptized in water—since they have
neither the ability to believe in their hearts and As we have already seen, the meaning of
So, while water baptism cannot save us, it confess with their mouths nor the ability to decide the word “baptizo” is to cause something to be
does have great benefit as an action that both resists to witness to such belief by water baptism. That is dipped into and then removed from a different
1. Matthew 28:19 6. Romans 10:9-10 and Acts 8:37 8. Acts 8:36-38

2. Acts 2:37-41 and 8:35-38 7. c.f. Romans 5:13 and 7:9 9. Acts 16:30-35
3. Acts 10:44-48 10. Acts 2:41
4. Acts 19:1-7 11. Acts 8:12, 9:18, and 22:16
5. Romans 4:9-11

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Curiously, perhaps, although Jesus

12. Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, and 19:5

Andrew Wommack Ministries

www.awmsa.net 021 914 1110

Copyright © 2011 Andrew Wommack Ministries, Inc.

1. Matthew 28:19 6. Romans 10:9-10 and Acts 8:37 8. Acts 8:36-38

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