Well, since no one else wants to follow Scott, I will. Here goes. Our understanding of baptism is so limited and lacking. Not many Christians over the last 2000 years have wondered where John came up with the idea to baptize people in the Jordan river. I always read that knowing the end of the baptism idea and not thinking about the beginning. The word is mikvah. God's people had been mikvahing(if that is a word) from the time of Soloman's Temple. I don't know if the Tabernacle services required full immersion or if there were mikvahs available. Maybe some one could answer this(Scott or Teresa). Any who, according to Jewish law there were 3 requirements for converting to Judaism: circumcision, baptism and sacrifice. When I read this, somethings popped into my head. What things are required to become a Christian, the plan of Salvation?
Act 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 22:16 Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins calling on his name.
Romans 6:3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death?
Colossians 2:11,12 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Circumcision, our repentance, a circumcision of the heart Romans 2:29
Sacrifice, our confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
Baptism, our being purified and cleansed so His Spirit can live in us and we can draw near to God.
The requirements are the same when seen through the Messiah and how He provides a way for us to be included in His Kingdom. Just how God provided a way for non-Jews to be a part of His People.
Maybe this makes some sense.
Getting Dusty,
Sandi
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Regarding our sacrifice:
Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.
Not that it it pertinent but my friend Valerie Burman, nice Jewish girl, says that she has seen people fully immerse themselves in the mikvah. She has not ever done that and is not "fully" kosher.
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