There’s not a Christian who hasn’t heard an appeal to be water baptized at some point. We’re all familiar with at least one mode of water baptism —be it sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Water baptism in some form is promoted by most all priests, pastors, preachers, deacons, bishops, or evangelist. Various word formulas are spoken over the supplicant being water baptized; especially “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” or “In the name of Jesus Christ.” Then there’s the question of who should be water baptized—infants and adults, or adults only?

Many local churches may not even accept believers who were water baptized in another assembly. They might even demand a re-baptism! Someone once called water baptism “religious TNT.” Doubtless, the title is fitting. It is an explosive topic, tempers flare. Frankly, the only agreement denominationalists have concerning water baptism is to agree to disagree!

So, water baptism is full of controversy and confusion! Yet, all of this misses the truth of the Scripture rightly divided dispensationally concerning the subject of baptism. Let’s see what Bible Scripture says about baptism

Water baptism is full of controversy and confusion! Yet, all of this misses the truth of Scripture rightly divided dispensationally concerning the subject of baptism.

Unfortunately, sinful man has needlessly complicated the Scriptures. No matter the topic, someone always has a denominational agenda and they will eagerly sacrifice Bible verses to achieve their end. Therefore, most of us, sadly, have never been told the plain truth concerning water baptism. Most all of us have heard the denominations and sects speak, but most have not heard the Bible speak about the one true baptism that is for today. This will be clear as we proceed.

There is a prevailing ‘myth’ among Christendom… that ‘water baptism’ is a New Testament ordinance for Christians. But this is Not True! It is assumed that water baptism doesn’t appear in Scripture until John the Baptist in Matt. 3. But God’s word in the Old Testament Exodus 29 easily dispels this as not true.

Exo 29:1, 4-8“And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow [sanctify] them, to minister unto me in the priest’s office: … “[4] And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt Wash Them With Water. [5] And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: [6] And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. [7] Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him. [8] And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.”

In Israel a special water ceremony was to be held when Aaron and his sons were ordained to serve in the Levitical priesthood. Two particular features involved with this installation were: (1) a washing with water to be followed by (2) an anointing with olive oil. Here then is the foundation for the ministry of John the Baptist. Water baptism is an Old Testament concept associated with washing Israel’s priests. As long as we keep this in mind, water baptism will be quite simple to grasp. It is only when man interjects his vain religious suppositions that we get baffled and stumble into denominational darkness.

Water baptism for Israel carried the idea of ‘setting one apart,’ as a sanctification. Israel’s priests, Aaron and his sons, were “hallowed [sanctified]” with a washing of water (Exo. 29:1). Earlier in Exodus, Israel had entered into a covenant or agreement with the LORD God. We read in Exodus 19, God’s words to Moses:

“[5] Now therefore, if ye [Israel] will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant [the Mosaic Law], then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

It was not God’s ultimate intention that priests in Israel be limited to the single tribe of Levi. Eventually, one day in the future all believing Israel will become a “kingdom” and every Jew would be a “priest” unto God. While under Moses, Israel was neither a monarchy nor a converted nation. In fact, even after Israel demanded her first king, Saul, some four centuries later, Israel is still ‘evil’ in God’s eyes. David is then king, followed by Solomon and various other royal figures, but pagan idolatry becomes increasingly widespread amongst the Israelites.

2 Chronicles 36: “[14] Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the Abominations Of The Heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. [15] And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: [16] But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.”

If God is to use Israel in the capacity that He originally intended for them, He must ‘wash them with water’ as their Levitical brethren had been water baptized. National Israel must be “hallowed,” separated from her heathen idolatry.

God the Holy Spirit declares through the Prophet Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 36:18-25 “Wherefore I poured my fury upon them [Israel] for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: [19] And I scattered them among the heathen, and they [of Israel] were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them….

[24] For I will take you [Israel] from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. [25] THEN WILL I SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER UPON YOU, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.”

As per the Mosaic Law (Lev. 26; Deut. 28), God instituted five [5] courses or phases of chastisement or curses for Israel disobeying His commandments. But as the Jews continued to worship and serve ‘pagan gods,’ so JEHOVAH God disciplined them to try to reform them. The fifth and final stage of judgment was Israel Exiled From The Land of Palestine and Scattered Worldwide Amongst The Gentiles. Ezekiel lived during the opening decades of that Babylonian Captivity. Yet, as the Holy Spirit promised to drive Israel from the Promised Land, so He would be faithful in bringing them back.

Approximately two centuries after Ezekiel, the Holy Spirit called Israel to repentance through the Prophet Malachi. In Malachi 3:7 we read:

“Even from the days of your fathers Ye Are Gone Away From Mine Ordinances, and have NOT Kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

But, how do they “return” to the God of Abraham? Many years later water baptism became the ministry and message of John the Baptist!

Ezekiel 36:25 “Then will I Sprinkle Clean Water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” How shocked we are to see this “water baptism.”

Personally, I was sprinkled as a baby in the Roman church, then being saved at age 22 as a Fundamentalist Baptist in 1968. I then heard about water baptism ‘by immersion’ as if it were the only acceptable mode of baptism. They kept saying; “Immersion” is the true Bible water baptism; it was and still is.” Yet, the type of Bible water baptism associated with Israel’s repentance was “sprinkling.” It was not pouring and not immersion (dunking)! Ezekiel 36:25a again: “Then will I SPRINKLE clean water upon you [Israel]…”

If the Bible is right, and it is, then the ‘baptism by immersion’ groups have greatly erred and thus misled us in many ways. They by this also missed the mark doctrinally. People who promote water baptism by immersion falsely insist on using John’s water baptism as a pattern, failing to realize, of course, that Ezekiel limited John’s ministry to sprinkling! Preachers today relentlessly appeal to new Christians saying, “Come, and follow Jesus in believer’s baptism. You must be immersed.” Yet, again, according to Scripture, that was not how Jesus was water baptized! John’s water baptism, to state it again and again, was by sprinkling, because the mode of water baptism in Israel’s program is always by ‘sprinkling.’

Yet, after all this, as we progress in this study of Biblical baptism for today we will see that actually there is no water baptism at all for genuine Christians today. Stay tuned for Part 2 & 3 to see to learn of “The One True Baptism That Is For Believers Today.”