It’s less about the physical aspect of getting in water and more about having faith in doing what one is told to do per 1 Peter 3:21 and others.
As far as I can tell if someone refuses to get water baptized then they won’t get a resurrected body later on. They’ll remain a disembodied soul, though fully saved, and possibly lose some rewards for disobedience. Or maybe nothing. Maybe it depends on what God thinks. I think if we have commands to do something we need to do it.
When God gives a command in the kingdom and we say “No.” how well do you think that’s going to fly? It won’t fly and that individual will lose that fight. I don’t know what happens, but probably wise to not test it.
Hello sir,
First of all, I really appreciate phrases like, "As far as I can tell." When you, or any person, write in this way, to me it says that you are being honest in what you believe, that you're not intentionally pulling the "wool" over anyone's eyes. Second, I will admit that there [is] a possibility that your position is True. My Spirit within tells me that your position is inaccurate, but I am NOT God. What's more, I'm human and could absolutely be wrong (as I have been wrong in the past). Therefore, I am not here to convince anyone of anything [beyond a shadow of a doubt). And perhaps this is why I am not the arguing type. I have felt the Raw, Almighty Power of God, so I hesitate to be the "speaker" for the Lord. I am not nor will I ever be Moses. The Lord does [not] require me for anything.
Again, I appreciate that you have shown a sense of flexibility in your words and phrasings. Much respect to you.
I agree, that we do seem to be "commanded" to be Baptized. However, I'm not entirely convinced that Jesus is commanding this act in order to procure any sense of Purity. However, Christ [could] very well be commanding such an expectation. However, such a command would tend to lean towards legalism and "works" (in my mind).
In answer to my question of "What happens if we reject Baptism," you graciously responded with, "I don’t know what happens, but probably wise to not test it."
Well, we actually have the answer through the Lord's discussion with Abraham. Check this out:
Genesis 17:14 NLT - "Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant."
I realize that you may disagree, but physical circumcision is equated to post-Christ water Baptism. Physical circumcision represents the Spiritual Circumcision of the Heart. The hidden Mysterious Plan of God (as Paul states it in Eph chapters 2 and 3) is that if a person rejects physical circumcision, they are rejecting the Purity of life that God expects. To refuse physical circumcision equates to refusing to pick up our cross and bear it. Or, it is the rejection of the idea of giving up a sinful life and the multitude of remarkable pleasures that comes with it. For example . . . sex, alcohol, sex, and more alcohol. To bring this back to Baptism, it is easy to say, "I believe in Jesus, therefore, I must be a Christian . . . but I refuse to be baptized (and scoffed at by my friends)".
Today, many believe that water Baptism saves just as much as the Jews thought that their physical circumcision saved them, or, brought them Eternal Life. Check this out:
Acts 15:1 NLT - "While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: "
Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved."
The Jews were so close to understanding, but being close to the gates of Heaven does not grant entrance. Why? Because the fulcrum of Salvation depends on Circumcision of the Heart . . . which is what was instituted in the life of Abraham per Genesis chapter 17 (which I referenced above).
Romans 2:27-29 NLT - "In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it. 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And
true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it
is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people."
So what is True Circumcision of the Heart according to Old Testament Scripture? We have it clearly written many times, and here is one clear example of what Circumcision of the Heart:
Ezekiel 36:25-27 NLT - "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations."
This is what was instituted in the life of Abraham. When God said, Genesis 17:1a KJV - ". . . the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God;
walk before me, and be thou perfect" God was asking Abraham to do these things, rather, God was sprinkling him with Holy Water, giving him a New Heart, perhaps giving him a New Spirit SO THAT he would follow the Lord's decrees and sense of obedience within him to a degree that Abraham had not had before. This is Spiritual Circumcision of the Heart. And more, this IS THE PROMISE that God made to the offspring of Abraham. This is the True Promise; the Promise of being Chosen by God; the Promise of being given a new Heart, Soul, and Mind (of Christ).
So what is Circumcision of the Heart? Paul makes this Mysterious Plan of God ultra-clear. Paul gave us this remarkable Scripture:
Colossians 2:11, 13 NLT - "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure.
Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature." ... 13 "
You were dead because of your sins and
because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins."
Yes, I left out verse twelve which discusses water baptism, but this baptism is for those AFTER the Day of Christ. But make no mistake about it, this is True Spiritual Circumcision which was taking place at least with our first True Prophet, Abel. For, no True Prophet who is the spokesman for God can remain under the Curse of the Lord. So we know for sure that Christ, who WAS before Abraham was born, was Circumcising Hearts well before He lived in the flesh.
All who the Lord loves will receive Circumcision of the Heart. Here is another reference:
Deuteronomy 30:6 KJV - "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."
So if we reject physical circumcision, we are cut off from the Family of Circumcision. And if baptism is the exact same reflection as that of physical circumcision, then rejecting water baptism will result in the same, which is to be cut off from the Family of Water Baptism. But again, what do these two acts represent? They both are stating that they have been Baptized by the Spirit, and anyone who has been Baptized by the Spirit will long to do as the Lord says, such as become physically circumcised or for us today, to become water Baptized. Those who are saved will risk their lives to perform this outward, Spiritual reflection of what has taken place on the inside, which is Circumcision of the Heart.
On the Day of Pentecost, men left their wives and children to fend for themselves, for they had recanted on Judaism and were murdered for it. For recanting on the Law of Moses and accepting water Baptism, for many, this resulted in death. After the Eunuch accepted Christ after the lengthy teaching from Phillip, he said, "Look! There is some water. Why shouldn't I be baptized right now!" And so he was. A True Christian will be willing to die to perform such a demonstrative act, just as I am willing to die simply for saying the name Jesus.
And this is why
don't recommend that a person reject water Baptism. Not because it contains some sort of Power, but because of what it reprents in terms of True Faith and becoming a New Man who now possesses the Divine Nature and the Mind of Christ.
1
