Step 4 Baptism of Water

The Water

This step has many different meanings that are nonetheless synonymous with the death to Sin. On this step, our Faith, the Baptism of Repentance, the Passover, and the Day of Atonement come together to fulfill one ceremony for the spiritual Firstfruit of God. Even the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is involved once we emerge out of the water.

During this ceremony, The High Priest (The Spirit of God) presents the Lamb Offering to The Father, on our behalf, for the Forgiveness of Sins. ^{John 6:56, Matthew 26:26-28} The Baptism of Water is symbolic of the Blood of the Lamb that cleanses our Sin permanently. This is how we die to Sin to live for Righteousness. ^{Romans 6:5-7}

The seven Days of Unleavened Bread, that are intrinsic with the Passover, fulfill the following. We recall that before the Passover ceremony, we had to remove all the visible leaven from our homes. This Leaven is symbolic of the Sin that we remove from our lives before we eat the Passover Lamb. Then for the next seven days, which is symbolic of the rest of our lives, we are free from Sin.

Once we are dead to Sin, it would be redundant to mention that we cannot live in it any longer.^{Romans 6:1-3} Nonetheless, to make sure there are no more veils left on this matter, let us settle the obvious:

^{Romans 6:6} “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. ¹¹ Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. ¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This wonderful passage describes that as The Christ died once, man will also die to Sin once and, as death has no dominion over The Christ, Sin has no dominion over the man who died in Christ. ^{1Peter 4:1-2}

Another meaning of this event is similar to the commitment of being betrothed to marriage. Consider the deposit of The Holy Spirit similar to the engagement ring given as the promise of the Wedding to come. ^{2Corinthians 1:22} This is why Scripture records the following: ^{2Corinthians 11:2} “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

The analogy of a chaste virgin is expressed in human terms to help us understand the simplicity of this message. That is, much like chastity cannot commiserate with adultery, the Firstfruits cannot commiserate with Sin.^{1Corinthians 6:15} Understanding this, how do we know when we are ready to take the leap of Faith?

My experience is the best example of what you should not do. You see, even though I knew the Law for twenty-two years, I could not seem to enter the Baptism of Repentance. I had no one to blame since I was never a believer of Religion. ^{Revelation 2:2-3} But unlike most who are disillusioned with God once they become disillusioned with Religion, I sought God without Religion.

During this time, God had instilled in me that once I would enter my most important commitment, I could never Sin again. Unfortunately, after two decades, I could not seem to find the meaning of Faith. Regrettably, I was always being reminded that if I moved forward without my Faith, I would shame God by returning to eat my own vomit. Ironically, my heart also kept reminding me that without this important commitment, I would also keep eating my own vomit.

Notwithstanding, I kept thinking that, by practicing the Law, I would enter into enough discipline to end what I started. In hindsight, it was not the discipline that I was missing but the will to end what I started.^{Revelation 2:4-5} This became evident once my condition got to the point where the Law became my curse while my Blessing was nowhere to be found. ^{Romans 7:8-11, 8:3, Galatians 3:13}

Finally, the time came when my Shepherd went to look for me with such a loud cry that it gave me no choice but to listen attentatively. ^{Psalms 119:176} When I recognized my Shepherd’s call, I returned to Him with more than enough fear to end what I started. ^{Jeremiah 32:40, John 10:14} On my way to this momentous event, I still could not understand how all this was supposed to work out. How does Faith work within the Law to end Sin? What I did not know is that it is the other way around (1, 10, 10, 1).^{Galatians 3:12}

As I was walking towards the Baptism of Repentance, I was fully unaware that God was closing every door and every window just to make things easier for me. ^{Luke 15:4-5} On my last steps, I began to notice how right in front of me, my better half was the reversal of my puzzled trepidation. All I could see was that she was getting ready for her new life while I was walking to my certain Death.^{Mark 2:17} Bewildered by my predicament, I nonetheless kept moving closer while still wondering, “How am I going to open the gate without my Faith?”

Thankfully, The Spirit of our mighty God allowed my heart to see what my eyes could never see. ^{Ephesians 1:18} At once, the scene changes: there I am standing on a boat, aware of the enemy that was preventing me from taking the jump. At the same time, my heart sees The Spirit of my Savior motioning me to leave the boat. ^{Matthew 14:29} With this perfect understanding, I sought my Death over my hopeless life. ^{Luke 9:24} As I jumped, I cried, and I Died. Now I know that I believe because I have Faith.^{2Corinthians 4:13}

I have yet to understand why God chose to look for me after all these years. ^{Romans 9:11-15} Although I do not add up, all I can sum up is that God seeks the worst of us to call the best of you. ^{Luke 15:7, Romans 5:20-21, 1Timothy 1:16-17}

Brothers, now I know that if I had set the date of my rescue with my Savior, once I knew the Law, I would have been guided to end what I started long ago. As the good Jew often says, “It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” In the same way, it is not up to us to walk on water but neither are we at liberty to desist from leaving the boat. In all, the Leap of Faith is there to remind us what we are to do for the love of God, for The Love of God to save us.^{Matthew 26:41,Luke 14:33}

Dear brothers, now that you know what to do, show your commitment by setting the date of rescue with our Savior to ensure the end of your captivity. ^{Mark 9:23, 2Timothy 2:26} As for the good Jew, what are you waiting for? ^{Ezekiel 11:12, Acts 22:16, John 18:37}