(Note: The whole article is to long to post so I have posted the beginning and the summary. Then when there are points of contention coming up I will post the sections of the article to refute your arguments with the truth.)
WATER BAPTISM Its Obsolescence
Obsolescence implies something being replaced by another thing that is better. A major difference between the Old and the New Covenant is that the new one is "a better covenant" (Heb. 8:6). In the Old Dispensation it was considered a manifest blessing of God to accumulate wealth (for example, Abraham, Job, Solomon, and others). But in the New it is more blessed to give away your money (Mk. 12:41-44; Lk. 12:33; 14:33; Acts 2:44-45; 4:31-37; 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:7; et al.). In the Old Testament there was the teaching of an eye for an eye, but in the New there is a better way. Under the Old Covenant God's males were to be physically circumcised. This was a type of a better circumcision under the New---a spiritual circumcision of the heart. Various baptisms of the Old Covenant (including the transitional ministry of John the Baptizer) were types of a better baptism in the New---a spiritual baptism into Christ.
We need to search the Scriptures to see the reason for the rite of water baptism and its significance---or rather, insignificance---for the saints since the hardening of Israel and Paul's ministry to the Gentiles.
SUMMARY
The concept of water baptism signifying spiritual cleansing was in the mind of the Jew throughout much of the Old Dispensation. The ritual of water baptism did not begin with the transitional ministry of John the Baptizer. Jesus' baptism by John was no more a precedent for the saints under the New Covenant than was His circumcision.
There is now only one baptism, the born-again experience of being spiritually baptized into Christ who is the fullness of the Godhead. The various washings (baptisms) and carnal ordinances were imposed on God's people only until the time of the Messianic reformation.
The handwriting of ordinances were taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. Those various baptisms and carnal ordinances were only a shadow of the things to come, the reality being found in Christ. We are complete in Christ without adding any ritual. We do not need to add water baptism or circumcision, they were only shadows.
Jesus, early on, did not send the Twelve to baptize with water; nor, later, did He commission the Eleven to baptize with water. When the Twelve were ordained by Jesus (Mk. 3:13-19), He did not ordain them to baptize with water, rather they were ordained that He "might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils." And when the Twelve were sent out by Jesus (Mt. 10:1-15) He did not send them out to baptize with water. He sent them to "preach...heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, [and] cast out devils." And when the Seventy were sent out by Jesus (Lk. 10:1-20) He did not send them out to baptize with water.
When the Gentile woman at the well was saved Jesus did not have her to get baptized; neither did He tell the Gentile demoniac of Gadara to get baptized after he was saved, nor Zacchaeus the Jew, nor any of numerous others whom He saved.
Jesus refused to water-baptize John the Baptizer. In fact, Jesus never water-baptized anyone, nor did He ever tell anyone, Jew or Gentile, to be water-baptized.
Baptizing into the Name of the Trinity was not a formula and was never mentioned throughout Scripture as being used as one. After the Book of Acts (which records the transition from Judaism to Christianity) water baptism is mentioned five times. In 1 Corinthians 1:13-17 Paul expressed his thanks to God that he water-baptized only a few, for Christ did not send him to baptize but to preach the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 15:24 Paul mentioned the heretical baptisms on behalf of the dead. In the epistle to the Hebrews (Jews) the writer urged those Jewish Christians to leave the principle or elementary teaching concerning baptisms (baptismos) (6:1-2), that teaching being that divers washings (baptismos) (9:10) were imposed only until the time of (the Messianic) reformation. And Peter wrote that baptism [into Christ] now saves us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh) that is, not water baptism.
In the last book of the Scriptures water baptism is not mentioned; not during the three-and-a-half-year ministry of the Two Prophets during the Great Tibulation, nor in the ministry to the 144,000 Jews who are saved.
Physical circumcision and physical baptism of the Old Covenant were types of a better, spiritual circumcision of the heart and spiritual baptism into Christ. We must conform our doctrines to the Scriptures, and not (even longstanding) tradition.
The primarily second-generation churches, as revealed in Revelation, were already departing from important truths, and one was almost totally apostate.
When true spirituality declines there is always among professing Christians an increase in ritualism to try to compensate. From early on, the Roman Catholic church has been the epitome of this.
According to Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles who was inspired by the Spirit of Christ, there is now one baptism which is spiritual, not two or more. Water baptism has been replaced by a better, spiritual baptism into Christ.
Quiz, do tell—how did I ever “twist” what you said⁉️⁉️
Seems you and your TeddyBug adviser/counselor are in the habit of shifting off the responsibility of what you say to someone else who you claim is twisting what you say.
BTW, when are you going to graciously thank the TeddyBug for all his counsel ⁉️⁉️⁉️ I’m thankful he’s “helping” you😂😂😂😂😇😇😇
Dave:Whiz, if you’re gonna use the “continuous” baptism argument, which is good one btw, you just proved water baptism is to continue along with the realities it symbolizes.
Quiz: I have said before, the Matthew 28 verses 18-20 is not about dunking a person under water, BUT to teach the names of Yahovah,and instruct in the ways of Yahovah.
QUOTE THE QUIZ: “Matthew 28 vrses 18-20, has nothing to do with dunking a person underwater.
It has everything to do with making LEARNERS of who Messiah is, and what He is like.
The word BAPTIZING,is in the present tense in the Greek text, even in the English the ending 'ing', places the word into the 'present' tense, meaning;something that happened in the past,yet continues into the present.
Baptize
Baptized
Baptizing
END QUOTE THE QUIZ
Quiz, once again, even with your false argument, at least you’ve revealed a little of something about the realities of true baptism but for some reason you just flat out wanna ignore its symbol, ie water baptism, that Jesus clearly commanded us to observe.
A symbol is a symbol. It represents the realities of what it was intended to represent.
