Once this decision is made and we consider
baptism into the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of our sins, there
is something we must do before we take this step. Baptism is not a matter to be
entered into lightly. It requires complete self examination and discernment of
the life one is entering.
Counting the Cost
We must prayerfully count the personal cost to us against
the benefits we will receive. Are the benefits worth the cost? Can we afford the cost? Are we willing to
pay it? Yahshua told us to count the cost. Luke 14:25 ¶ Now
great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, 26
"If any one comes to me and does not love less his own father
and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his
own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own
cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you,
desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether
he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a
foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30 saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’
31 Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit
down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him
who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the
other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace.
33 So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot
be my disciple.
Matthew 10:37 He who
loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son
or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and he who does not take
his stake and follow me is not worthy of me.
We all had to count the cost of what we
were entering at baptism. There can be nothing more important to us than Yahweh
and Yahshua. We must be willing to sacrifice all that we have and all that we
are if it is required of us.
If called upon to do so, would we be willing to give up
our parents, wife, children, brothers and sisters? Would we be willing to give
up our very lives, if necessary, to show our loyalty to Yahweh and Yahshua?
Without a mature mind we could not even begin to count the cost that might be
required of us. Yahshua's dealings with
us are eternal. Everything else is transient and will one day pass from being.
If we are asked to give up this temporary life He will give us eternal life
which never ends. If we must give up our families etc., it will only be a
temporary condition. We will one day be reunited with them in Yahweh's
kingdom. Then we can have the joy of loving them through all eternity with
the pure, untainted love with which Yahweh and Yahshua love us.
There is a parable about some who were called and did
not fully count the cost, and when called upon to pay it were not able, or
willing to. It is in,
Matthew 13: 1-8. Yahshua
explains it’s meaning in, Matthew 13: 18-23
Once we have counted the cost we can then
move on to understand the true meaning of baptism. This is not a light step. It
is not just getting wet. It is not a physical washing but a spiritual washing. The physical aspect of
baptism that we can see and feel when our bodies are being immersed in the
water is miniscule compared to what is going on behind the scenes in the spirit
world that we cannot see. Consider these scriptures. 1
Corinthians 6: 9 ¶ Do you not know that the
unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim? Do not be deceived; neither
the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, 10 nor
thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit
the kingdom of Elohim. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Sovereign Yahshua
Messiah and in the Spirit of our Elohim. 1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in
the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshua His
Son cleanses us from all sin.
This washing is what Yahshua alluded to
in; John 13:8 Peter said to him, "You shall never
wash my feet." Yahshua answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have
no part in me." Our sins separated us from Yahweh. Isaiah 59:2 --- but
your iniquities have made a separation between you and your Elohim, and your
sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear. King David understood the necessity of
this spiritual washing. Psalms 51:2 Wash me thoroughly
from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. The water we are immersed
in signifies the Blood of Yahshua. It is this blood that we are washed with. Hebrews 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to Elohim, purify your
conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim. 1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in
the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshua his
Son cleanses us from all sin.
Death of the Old Self
The washing is only the beginning of the
meaning of Baptism. This step also pictures the death of our old sinful
self. Romans
6: 6 We
know that our old self was impaled with him so that the sinful body might
be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:3
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Messiah Yahshua were
baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism
into death, so that as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, we too might walk in newness of life. This immersion
pictures our death with Messiah and being raised a new man, sinless and washed
clean, wearing a pure, sparkling white spiritual robe. Revelation
7:14 I said to him, "Sir, you know."
And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great
tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb. Before this time we were wearing filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Resurrection
It also pictures our future resurrection to eternal life with Him. Romans 6:5 For if we have been united with
him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a
resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self
was impaled with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we
might no longer be enslaved to sin. By Yahshua’s resurrection, He defeated death. He
not only defeated it for Himself but for us as well. 1
Corinthians 15:54 When
the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality,
then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up
in victory." 55 "O death,
where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of
sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to
Elohim, who gives us the victory through our sovereign Yahshua Messiah.
Yahshua’s
resurrection from the dead is crucial to our salvation. 1 Corinthians 15:17 If
Messiah has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your
sins.
The decision to answer Yahweh’s call to follow His Son Yahshua,
willingly obey all that He commands us, and commit totally to Him, is
circumcision of the heart. This circumcision of the heart is what Yahweh has
always wished from His people. Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise
therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. Deuteronomy 30:6 And Yahweh your Elohim will circumcise your
heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love Yahweh your
Elohim with all your heart and with all
your soul, that you may live. Romans 2:28 For he is not a real Jew who is one
outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29 He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real
circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is
not from men but from Elohim.
This internal circumcision of the heart takes place at baptism into the
name of Yahshua Messiah. Colossians 2: 11
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by
putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Messiah;12
and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the working of Elohim, who raised him from the dead. 13
¶ And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, Elohim made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our
trespasses, 14 having canceled the bond which stood against us with its
legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the stake.
We are now also reconciled to Yahweh. We could not bring about
this reconciliation. Yahweh did not separate from us, we separated from Him.
Isaiah 59:2---but your
iniquities have made a separation between you and your Elohim, and your sins
have hid his face from you so that he does not hear. Only Yahshua could bring
about a reconciliation. Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to Elohim by the death
of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his
life.
In this clean state were are now righteous, saved from our past sins,
placed under the grace of Yahweh. We did not do this. Ephesians 2:
8 For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of
Elohim 9
not because of works, lest any man should boast. We are now ready to begin a
close, intimate life walk with Yahweh and Yahshua. Hebrews 10:22 let us
draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with
our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure
water.
In this clean, pure condition we are now ready for Yahweh to give
us the most valuable gift we will ever receive, His Holy Spirit. With this
Spirit of Holiness within us we can now grasp more fully what Yahweh's deep
love for us really means. We can also begin to understand His great plan for
us.
1 Corinthians 2:8 None of
the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not
have impaled the Sovereign of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what
Elohim has prepared for those who love him,"10 Elohim has
revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the
depths of Elohim.11 For what person knows a man’s thoughts except the
spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts
of Elohim except the Spirit of Elohim.12 Now we have received not
the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from Elohim, that we might
understand the gifts bestowed on us by Elohim.13 And we impart this in
words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting
spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. 14 The unspiritual man
does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of Elohim, for they are folly to him,
and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually
discerned.15 The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be
judged by no one.16 "For who has known the mind of
the Sovereign so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of
Messiah.
Eternal Commitment
With this great gift of Yahweh's Spirit comes a great responsibility.
We walk with Yahweh and Yahshua on a road that has no "U" turns.
There is no turning back. There are off ramps but they all lead to the lake of
fire. The decision that we make is an eternal decision, an eternal
commitment to Yahweh and Yahshua. We now carry within us, the most valuable,
precious commodity, and we must take great care to never deliberately devalue
or defame this Spirit of Grace. If we do, only death in the lake of fire awaits
us. Hebrews 6:4 For it is
impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the
Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word
of Yahweh and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they then commit
apostasy, since they crucify the Son of Yahweh on their own account and
hold him up to contempt. 7 For land which has drunk the rain that often
falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is
cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8 But if it bears thorns and
thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.
Note that those spoken of in this scripture have received the
Heavenly gift of the Holy Spirit. These are people who were called,
answered the call, repented, were baptized, and received the Holy
Spirit. They have made this gift as nothing and have held Yahshua's great
sacrifice on their behalf up to public contempt. Note verse 1, they can never
again be brought to repentance. Why? Because they do not care. Yahweh will not be where He is not wanted.
He removed His Spirit from these people and will not again offer it to
them. Notice their end is to be burnt up. These people have committed the
unpardonable sin. Matthew 12: 31 Therefore
I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy
against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32
And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but
whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age
or in the age to come.
Also notice
the following scriptures. Hebrews 10:26 For if we
sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no
longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful prospect of
judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 A man
who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or
three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think will
be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of Yahweh, and profaned the
blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of
grace? 30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I
will repay." And again, "Yahweh will judge his people." 31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.
Yahshua’s sacrifice, His shed blood,
covers past sins committed in ignorance, upon repentance and immersion into His
sacred name. When one receives the Holy Spirit, Yahshua’s sacrifice covers
present sins committed in ignorance, or inadvertently by wrong reaction to
temptation. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive
our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Yahshua’s blood does
not cover deliberate, premeditated sin once one has tasted of these Heavenly gifts.
Even under the old covenant there was no sacrifice for deliberate, premeditated
sin against Yahweh. Numbers 15: 30
But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native
or a sojourner, reviles Yahweh, and that person shall be cut off from among his
people. 31 Because he has despised the
word of Yahweh, and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly
cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him."
Judgment Begins
From this
point onward we will be totally accountable to Yahweh second by second of every
day for the rest of their lives? This is what is required of all who enter and
agree to the terms of the covenant Yahshua ratified. Are they ready to enter
their time of judgment? All who accept the terms of the covenant made through
Yahshua in this age are in their time of judgment. There is no future judgment
day for us. This life we are now living is our judgment day. Note the following
scripture;
1 Peter 4:17 For the
time has come for judgment to begin with the household of Yahweh; and if
it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of
Elohim?
Our time of judgment is now, in this life. We agreed to this and all of
the above terms of the covenant when we took the step of being immersed into
Yahshua’s name, and accepted the gift of Yahweh’s Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit
is the mind of Yahweh and Yahshua within us. 1
Corinthians 2:16 "For
who has known the mind of the Sovereign so as to instruct him?" But we
have the mind of Messiah.
Romans 8:11 If
the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, he who raised
Messiah Yahshua from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through
his Spirit which dwells in you. This mind of Messiah within us is
a mature mind. This is the mind that connects with ours to reveal the deep
spiritual truths of Yahweh. Consider this; 1
Corinthians 14:20 Brethren,
do not be children in your thinking;
be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature.
All who accept the terms of the covenant have this same Messiah living
within them through the Holy Spirit. Galatians
2:20 I
have been crucified with Messiah; it is no longer I
who live, but Messiah who lives in me;
and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of Elohim, who
loved me and gave himself for me.
We are not alone in this life walk to the Kingdom. It is not by our own
strength that we will safely arrive at New Jerusalem. We will close with the
following scripture. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things in him who strengthens
me.
HalleluYah. May Yahweh bless your studies. Elder Dave Ganton