REBORN IN JOHN 3

Early Jewish rabbis spoke of proselytes — gentiles converting to Judaism — as being “reborn.” Encyclopedia Judaica states, “ A proselyte terminates all former family ties upon conversion and `is considered a newly born child’ “ (volume 13, page 1184, article “Proselytes”).

The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible states:

The Jewish direction for developing theologically such an illustration as Jesus provided is evident in the somewhat similar rabbinic comparison of the new proselyte with a newborn child.... “ I make you a new creature, like a woman who is pregnant and gives birth” (Rabbi Judah bar Simon). (volume 4, page 27, article “Regeneration”)

Further discussion of these concepts is found under the subject “Baptism” in Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible and in chapter 6 of The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim. A summary of these points is also given in the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 1985 one-volume edition, pages 114-115, under the heading “gennao.”

New birth, as a figure of speech, is known to refer to proselyte conversion. It was understood to mean conversion of the mind and heart, beginning a new spiritual life with a new way of thinking, leaving one’s old ways and ideas completely behind.

The Life andTimes of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim: “ It is, indeed, true that a Gentile on becoming a proselyte—though not, as has been suggested, an ordinary penitent—was likened to a child just born…. The expression, therefore, was not only common, but, so to speak, fluid.”

The Talmud says , “A man who became a proselyte is like a child newly born.”

According to Jamieson, Fausset and Brown: “ The Jews were accustomed to say of a heathen proselyte, on his public admission into the Jewish faith by baptism, that he was a new-born child. But our Lord here extends the necessity of the new birth to Jew and Gentile alike—to every one.”

According to Adam Clarke’s commentary, “[The Jews] held that the Gentile who became a proselyte was like a child new born.”

The figure of speech ‘born again’ was not foreign to Nicodemus. It was a figure applied to a bridegroom on the occasion of his marriage, to the Chief of the Academy on his promotion, to the king on his enthronement, and to the proselyte on his entrance into Judaism. 72 The application of this expression to the entrance of a Jew into the kingdom of God left Nicodemus’ head reeling. (Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965, I, p. 384.)

Edersheim, in his “Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah”, mentions a number of circumstances to which this applied. Proselytes to Judaism were considered newly born. So too were the bridegroom in his marriage, the Chief of the Academy on his promotion and the king on his enthronement. It was a term used to describe a new beginning in an important circumstance of life, where the person took a new role as a beginner, like a child, having to start at the bottom and learn a role in life all over again.

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Alfred Edersheim 1883, Book III The Ascent: From The River Jordan To The Mount Of Transfiguration

Chapter 6 The Teacher Come From God And The Teacher From Jerusalem - Jesus And Nicodemus ( St. John 3:1-21.)

It has been thought by commentators, that there is here an allusion to a Jewish mode of expression in regard to proselytes, who were viewed as ‘new-born.’ But in that case Nicodemus would have understood it, and answered differently - or, rather, not expressed his utter inability to understand it. It is indeed, true that a Gentile on becoming a proselyte - though not, as has been suggested, an ordinary penitent 16 - was likened to a child just born. 17 It is also true, that persons in certain circumstances - the bridegroom on his marriage, the Chief of the Academy on his promotion, the king on his enthronement - were likened to those newly born. 18 The expression, therefore, was not only common, but, so to speak, fluid; only, both it and what it implied must be rightly understood. In the first place, it was only a simile, and never meant to convey a real regeneration (‘as a child’). So far as proselytes were concerned, it meant that, having entered into a new relation to God, they also entered into new relationship to man, just as if they had at that moment been newly born. All the old relations had ceased - a man’s father, brother, mother, sister were no longer his nearest of kin: he was a new and another man. Then, secondly, 19 it implied a new state, when all a man’s past was past, and his sins forgiven him as belonging to that past. It will now be perceived, how impossible it was for Nicodemus to understand the teaching of Jesus, and yet how all-important to him was that teaching. For, even if he could have imagined that Jesus pointed to repentance, as that which would give him the figurative standing of ‘born from above,’ or even ‘born anew,’ it would not have helped him. For, first, this second birth was only a simile. Secondly, according to the Jewish view, this second birth was the consequence of having taken upon oneself ‘the Kingdom;’ not, as Jesus put it, the cause and condition of it. The proselyte had taken upon himself ‘the Kingdom,’ and therefore he was ‘born’ anew, while Jesus put it that he must be born again in order to see the Kingdom of God . Lastly, it was ‘a birth from above’ to which reference was made. Judaism could understand a new relationship towards God and man, and even the forgiveness of sins. But it had no conception of a moral renovation, a spiritual birth, as the initial condition for reformation, far less as that for seeing the Kingdom of God . And it was because it had no idea of such ‘birth from above,’ of its reality or even possibility, that Judaism could not be the Kingdom of God.

PRE-AUGUSTINIAN WRITERS AND BAPTISM Jack Cottrell, The History of Baptism Christian Standard, June 2004

The modern evangelical view of baptism is actually the new view, an interpretation of baptism that was invented only in the 1520s. It was created by the Swiss reformer Huldreich Zwingli (1484-1531), develo9ped further by John Calvin, and accepted throughout most of the Protestant world. Until Zwingli, the entire Christian world for the first 1,500 years of its history was in agreement: water baptism is the God-appointed time when He first gives saving grace to sinners. Exceptions to this belief were extremely rare, limited mostly to medieval dualist sects that rejected all physical forms of worship…

The pre-Augustinian writers were practically unanimous in their teaching that baptism is the point of time when salvation is given. Justin Martyr (A.D. 110-165) said that new converts “are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated… For… they then receive the washing with water,” as in John 3:5. “We have learned from the apostles this reason” for baptism: “in order that we… may obtain in the water the remission of sins” (First Apology, 61). I Tertullian (A.D. 145-220) said, “Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life” (On Baptism iii). Also “The act of baptism… is carnal, in that we are plunged in water, but the effect is spiritual, in that we are freed from sins” (ibid., vii). Cyril of Jerusalem (A.D. 315-386) said, “When going down… into the water, think not of the bare element, but look for salvation by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Catechetical Lectures III:4).

AUGUSTINE AND AQUINAS ON BAPTISM Jack Cottrell, The History of Baptism Christian Standard, June 2004

Augustine (354-430)… Baptism, he said, is nothing else than salvation itself (A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 1:34) it “brings salvation” (Letter 98, To Boniface 1). We are “saved by baptism”; “the salvation of man is effected by baptism” (Against Two Letters of the Pelagians, 1:55). The “apostolic tradition” teaches the “inherent principle, that without baptism… it is impossible for any man to attain to salvation and everlasting life” (ibid, 1:34).

Thomas Aquinas represents medieval Catholic thinking. He declared that “no on can obtain salvation but through Christ… But for this end is baptism conferred on a man, that being regenerated thereby, he may be incorporated in Christ… Consequently it is manifest that all are bound to be baptized: and that without Baptism there is no salvation for men (SummaTheologica, 68:1).

MARTIN LUTHER AND BAPTISM Jack Cottrell, The History of Baptism Christian Standard, June 2004

Many have assumed that because Martin Luther opposed the Catholic doctrine of the sacraments and championed the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith, he must have been the one who rejected baptism as a salvation event. Nothing could be further from the truth. Luther’s view of the meaning of bap5tims stands in direct continuity with the New Testament, the early church fathers, and the Catholic scholars who preceded him. He regarded baptism as a might work of God in which the Father, Son and Holy Spirit pour out the full blessings of salvation upon penitent believers.

Specifically, Luther asserted that forgiveness of sins is initially bestowed in baptism. In his Small Catechism (IV:6), in answer to the question “What gifts of benefits does baptism bestow?” he says first of all, “It effects forgiveness of sins.” This is part of the work of baptism; in it “the forgiveness takes place through God’s covenant” (The Holy and Blessed Sacrament of Baptism, 15).

Forgiveness takes place in baptism because that is where the blood of Christ is applied to the sinner: “Through Baptism he is bathed in the blood of Christ and is cleansed from sins” ( E. Plass, editor, What Luther Says 1:46).

According to Luther, baptism brings not only forgiveness of sins but also a new birth, a change in the inner man that actually eradicates sin. For “it is one thing to forgive sins, and another thing to put them away or drive them out… But both the forgiveness and the driving out of sins are the work of baptism (The Holy and Blessed Sacrament of Baptism 15). Thus it is appropriate to speak of baptism as the time when “a person is born again and made new” (ibid, 3).

In short, Luther clearly proclaimed that baptism is for salvation: “Through baptism man is saved (ibid, 6). In answer to the question of the purpose of baptism, i.e. “what benefits, gifts and effects it brings,” he gave this answer: “To put it most simply, the power, effect, benefit, fruit and purpose of Baptism is to save” (The Large Catechism IV:23,24). One is baptized so that he “may receive in the water the promised salvation” (ibid, IV:36).

BAPTISM AND CULTURAL RESPONSE Watchman Nee

Any Jew who embraces the Christian faith in secret will not be persecuted. Many Jews believe in the historical record concerning the Lord Jesus. Their greatest hurdle is not in believing in Him but in baptism. Once they are baptized, they are cast out. Some sisters were poisoned by their fiancé after they were baptized. Such things happen even in civilized communities like London and New York. It is all right for a person to believe in his heart, but once he is baptized, others will persecute him.

In India, no one will do anything to a believer if he is not baptized. But once he is baptized, they will cast him out. It is all right for one to believe in the Lord, but he cannot be baptized.

The reaction of the Muslims is more violent. Someone once said that it is difficult for a Muslim believer to remain alive. As soon as he believes, he will die. Dr. Swema is the first person who succeeded in working among the Muslims. He said, “My work will never grow, because once a person believes in the Lord, he has to be sent away immediately. Otherwise, he will die within two or three days after his baptism.” This condition is prevalent even among Muslims today.

DIPPING WHITE INTO RED

“…all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27). If I could take a bowl of red dye and put a white cloth into it, then the cloth would be immersed in the dye, but the dye would be in the cloth. There would no longer be a white cloth; there would be a red cloth. The white cloth is in the dye, but the dye is in the cloth. We are in Christ and Christ is in us.

MIKVAHS AND SPIRITUAL PURITY from Jewish Internet site

Ritual Purity, known as the ‘Mikvah’, means a “collection of water”. It is a ritual bath used for spiritual purification. Going back to the old times, men used it to remove impurities before entering the Temple . Nowadays mostly Jewish married women have the Mikvah to sanctify the sexual relations of their marriage.

MIKVAHS AT THE TEMPLE MOUNT from Jewish Internet site

A series of public ritual bathing installations were found on the south side of the Temple Mount.  Because of the demanding laws regarding purity before entering holy places, demand for mikvot was high and many have been discovered from first century Jerusalem.  Larger mikvot have separate entrances and exits; this one would facilitate only one person at a time.

MIKVAHS TODAY from Jewish Internet sites

The practice of immersion in a “mikveh” unites all generations of Jewish women through the laws of family purity. Following the immersion ritual, three stars are seen in the sky indicating the onset of the Sabbath. Now the woman may return home to light the Sabbath candles and preside over her family gathering. The Mikvah teaches that a woman must always be related to as a person, not as a sex object. The husband is made aware by the mikvah procedure that his wife was not created for his pleasure alone, but for her own personal worth. Not having sex at specific times preserves condition, and enhances the relationship by reaffirming their love and devotion to one another.

  In preparation for the spiritual cleansing, the woman must bathe thoroughly. The bath should last about thirty minutes and must clean every part of the body. All foreign objects such as jewelry, nail polish and false teeth must be removed before the immersion. Hair should be cleaned, brushed, tangle-free and fingernails also trimmed. The woman must be completely free from anything that prevents water from reaching every part of her body. The preparation is usually done at home, and the woman showers before entering the Mikvah.

   The immersion in the Mikvah follows specific procedures. Do not enter the Mikvah before stars come out at night (45 minutes after sunset). Once in the water, the woman must completely dip cover herself from head-to-toe. The Mikvah looks like a small pool with steps and water about chest high. The natural source of rain is purified and circulated throughout the tubs. While not holding onto anything, every strand of hair must be dipped. After immersing once, the following prayer is said and the usual custom has the woman immersing two more times:

HEBREW: Baruch atah ado-nai elohenu melech haolam asher kiddeshanu b’mitzvotov v’tzivanu al ha-tevilah.

ENGLISH: Blessed art thou, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us by His Commandments, and commanded us to perform the ritual immersion.

   Although primarily taken by women, the Mikvah is also frequented by men. The major difference lies in the fact that men use the Mikvah by custom and women by commandment. Time of day is another difference in the use of the Mikvah: the men use it during the day, and women at night. Mikvahs sometimes have separate entrances and pools for the men and in some cases there are Mikvahs for men only.

    The Mikvah also plays a major role in the conversion process. This is the final step to become a Jew. It is also used for the immersion of dishes and other utensils, as a way of sanctification.

  Observant Jewish women immerse themselves in the Mikvah once a month, based on menstruation, to uphold Taharat Hamishpacha.

RITHUAL WASHINGS AND BAPTISM by Richard Robinson

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: Baptism of Purification. Old Testament washings were almost always for those of the already believing community. They symbolized cleansing from sin and guilt. Whereas sacrifices were to atone for acts of sin, washing or bathing seems generally associate with cleansing form a sinful or otherwise unholy condition.

(National) Exodus 19:10-11 Before God spoke to the Israelites from Sinai, he commanded them to consecrate themselves, was their clothes and be ready by the 3 rd day, when He would appear to them.

(Priestly) Leviticus 8:6-9: At the consecration of the priests, Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.

(Individual) Leviticus 14:8-9 A person who had recovered from an unclean skin disease had to wash his clothes, shave off all of his hair and bathe with water to be ceremonially clean.

INTERTESTIMENTAL AND RABBINIC JUDAISM: Baptism of Purification. The Jewish community at Qumran (probably an Essene group ca. 2 nd century B.C. - 1 st century A.D. that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls). Used washing as a rite of cleaning. From the Damascus Rule (translation from The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, Gez Vermes, tr.):

“No man shall bathe in dirty water or in an amount too shallow to cover a man. He shall not purify himself with water contained in a vessel” (From chapter 10).

“No man entering the house of worship shall come unclean and in need of washing (from chapter 11).

Baptism of Initiation: In rabbinic and earlier forms of Judaism, baptism (along with male circumcision and sacrificial offerings) was a requirement for full conversion. The dating of this practice is somewhat obscure, but it postdates the Old Testament and predates the Mishnah. The Soncino Talmud states:

“As your forefathers entered into the Covenant only by circumcision, immersion and the sprinkling of the blood, so shall they (the proselytes) enter the Covenant only by circumcision, immersion and sprinkling of the blood” (Keritot 9a).

Baptism of Purification: After the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., the biblical purification laws (see above, Old Testament) were confined to the purification of the niddah, the ritually unclean woman discussed in such passages as Leviticus 12:1-8 and 15:19-24.

The Jewish mikveh (immersion or t’vilah in a ritual bath) embraces both of the categories of purification and initiation and is practiced among Orthodox Jews to this day.

WATCHING HIS SINS WASH AWAY Dave Smith, St. Paul’s UMC, Harrison, AR

One of the teachers in my congregation cornered me on the way out of the church last Sunday.  She was giggling about something that happened the first week of school.  She said one of the little boys in her class proudly announced to her that he was being baptized the next Sunday.  She told him that was really great, and he told her he was going to take his swim goggles.
She was curious about why the youngster would want to wear his goggles during the Baptism service. When she asked, the boy replied, “So I can see my sins washed away!!!”

AFRICAN CUSTOM: To burn old clothes after baptism and then put on a new white robe to show our new position in Christ.

WANTED TO SEE JESUS

At a baptismal service, one of our friends was explaining the significance of what she was witnessing to her three-year-old daughter. “See that lady?” the mother asked. “Jesus is about to wash away her sins.”
The little girl sat up a bit straighter so she could see better and said with excitement, “Good. I’ve been wanting to see Jesus.”

BAPTIZE HIM AGAIN Dana Chau on sermoncentral.com

Someone told of a church that believed in sinless perfection once you trusted Jesus Christ into your life and were baptized. A visitor to that church heard this teaching and asked to be baptized. He was tired of dealing with his habitual sin without any success. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of winter and the river was near frozen.
The man with much persistence got the Elders to baptize him in the river. After the man and two Elders came out of the freezing cold water, the man was so excited, he said, “I feel so good, I’m not even cold.” One Elder turned to the other and said, “He’s lying, we have to do it again.”

BAPTIZE ALL DETROIT

William P. Barker tells of a machinist at Ford Motor Company in Detroit who became a Christian. He responded to the invitation and was baptized. As the Holy Spirit began renewing this man he became convicted of his need to make restitution for some parts and tools he had stolen from the company prior to becoming a Christian. So the next morning he brought all the tools and parts back to his employer. He explained how he had just been baptized and asked for his foreman’s forgiveness.
This was such an amazing turn of events that Mr. Ford, who was visiting a plant in Europe at the time, was cabled with the details of the matter and asked his response. Mr. Ford immediately returned a cable with his decision: “Dam up the Detroit River, and baptize the entire city.”

WHERE’S THE BEEF? Keith Todd in Sermon_Fodder

Thomas advocated family values and faith. “When I was 11 years old, my adoptive grandmother took me to Michigan’s Gull Lake to be baptized by immersion,” Thomas wrote in his 1995 book, Well Done! “I really felt that I was accepted by God when I was baptized. But what I remember most about my baptism was that my Grandma Minnie made it happen. For her, Christianity meant more than doctrine you talked about on Sundays.... It meant teaching her grandson about faith.”
Dave had it all -- fame, fortune and one of the best hamburgers in America. Who could want for more? But when Dave’s heart began to fail and finally cancer took his life it wasn’t who will get my money? Who will run the business? Who can I pass my fame on to? No it was his grandmother’s faith that he grabbed on to. The faith his grandmother exhibited to him is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that carried him from earth to glory.
Can’t you just see Dave knocking at the pearly gates and saying, Where’s the beef?

HOLD YOUR NOSE Vonda P. -- Fort Scott, Kansas From “Life in Our House,” Christian Parenting Today magazine
A friend of mine took her 4-year-old daughter to a baptismal service at her church. Later that night, her daughter took all of her dolls into the bathtub with her and held her own “baptism.”
As she dunked each doll under the water, she repeated, “Now I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and hold your nose.”

THE ORIGIN OF INFANT BAPTISMChristianity Through The Ages Earle E. Cairns, Zondervan Pub.1981 p. 160

The early theological development of the doctrine of sin contributed to the importance of infant baptism. By the beginning of the 3 rd century, Tertullian and Cyprian considered infant baptism an accepted fact. Augustine especially emphasized the importance of baptism.

BAPTISM IS GOD’S WORK by Blair A. Yager professor of New Testament at Roanoke Bible college in Elizabeth City, NC in Christian Standard 4/22/01

“Baptism is a human work and has nothing to do with salvation!” Statements like this echo from Bible commentaries, college classrooms, television preachers and personal conversations. It has become a mantra to the “faith-only” groups.

(In answer) I described for my students the following scene. I asked them to picture Bill Gates – the wealthiest person – coming to our campus ( Roanoke Bible College). He would no doubt be impressed by the campus, by the important work that is being done, and by the lives that are changed as a result of the work of the students who graduate. Perhaps he would even be so moved as to seek out a poor student and offer to give a full scholarship to him. (All my students usually get real interested at this point). For whatever reason, Gates has no cash in his wallet and ahs a tight schedule to keep. But he says to this student, “Meet me at the bank downtown at 1:00 and I’ll make arrangements to have this scholarship available to you then.”

It was raining that day and this student didn’t have a car, so he had to walk downtown and he got soaked in the process. A few of the neighborhoods he had to walk through weren’t the safest, so he had to run away from a few rather dangerous characters. He had to cross a 4 lane highway, and had to be careful not to be hit by the cars. Finally, he arrived at the bank at the designated time – soaked, disheveled, and out of breath – but he received his scholarship. Did the student work for the money he received? Good discussion usually results at this point.

The answer quite simply is that he did not work to earn the scholarship. Gates had the money, and he chose to give it to him at the place he designated. The student didn’t develop the software that had made the money. Rather, he had simply believed that, if he could make it to the required place at the appointed time, he would receive what had been promised, the fruit of Bill Gates’ labor.

THEY DID NOTHING AT HIS CHURCH by Blair A. Yager professor of New Testament at Roanoke Bible college in Elizabeth City, NC in Christian Standard 4/22/01

In a classroom at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, I witnessed the following exchange. The professor asked the students how they did the “altar call.” One student, the preacher of a large Baptist church, commented that he didn’t do altar calls. He was asked if he asked people to stand, indicating they had received Jesus. He did not. By this time, all eyes were focused on the student and one asked him if people were directed to raise their hands if they had found salvation. They were not! He was finally asked, “Why not?” His answer was that anything they might do would be a work and he was convinced that salvation was not by works, so he refused to have them do anything! At least he was consistent, although (in my judgment) mistaken.

FINDING JESUS
A drunk stumbles along a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeds to walk down into the water and stands next to the Preacher.
The minister turns and notices the old drunk and says, "Mister, Are you ready to find Jesus?" The drunk looks back and says, "Yes, Preacher. I sure am."
The minister then dunks the fellow under the water and pulls him right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asks.
"No, I didn't!" says the drunk.
The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?"
"No, I did not Reverend."
The preacher in disgust holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time brings him out of the water and says in a harsh tone, "Friend, are you sure you haven't found Jesus yet?"
The old drunk wipes his eyes and says to the preacher..."Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

The practice of infant sprinkling was instituted by the Roman Catholic Church, as admitted by their own historians, and did not receive general acceptance until about the 12th century.

A Roman Catholic priest, Brenner, has made the following statement with regard to this matter - "For thirteen hundred years was baptism generally and regularly an immersion of the person under the water, and only in extraordinary cases a sprinkling or pouring of water; the latter was moreover, disputed as a mode of baptism, nay even forbidden" (Historical Exhibition of Administration of Baptism. Page 306.)

A quotation from Cardinal Gibbons, (1834-1921) another Roman Catholic authority, is also most illuminating. Cardinal Gibbons, an American, was the author of several books on Roman Catholicism. He stated, "For several centuries after the establishment of Christianity, baptism was usually conferred by immersion; but since the 12th Century the practice by sprinkling has prevailed in the Catholic Church, as the manner is attended with less inconvenience than baptism by immersion."

A father is in church with three of his young children, including his five year old daughter. As was customary, he sat in the very front row so that the children could properly witness the service.
During this particular service, the minister was performing the baptism of a tiny infant. The little five year old girl was taken by the whole procedure of pouring water over the infant's head.
With a quizzical look on her face, the little girl turned to her father and whispered, "Daddy, why is he brainwashing that baby?"

Nascar driver Jeff Gordon was baptized in October 1994. He had won his 1^st two Winston Cup races, which were great thrills; but following his baptism, he said "This is the happiest day of my life."

THE DISCIPLINED CHURCH Rod Cameron A Dummy Goes To Church Camp

This particular church had preacher problems in the past and went preacher hunting again. Somebody mentioned that he knew a fellow who was a very nice guy. Their last preacher had been something else, so they called Mr. Nice Guy.

He was too. I went to see him one night to see if he could help me with 3^rd Grade Camp. No, he told me, he was just preaching part time and wouldn’t be able to get off his other job to work in camp.

"OK," I said. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions about your faith?"

"Of course not," he smiled.

"Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God?"

"Absolutely."
"Do you believe in the virgin birth and the bodily resurrection?"

"I certainly do," he assured me.

Good answers! I liked this guy! I had recently talked to a liberal preacher who laughingly denied both the virgin birth and the resurrection. This was more like it.

"Have you been baptized?"

"No."

"No? Did you say NO?"
"That’s right," he replied calmly.

"What not?" I asked.

"I never thought it was necessary," he said. "I’ve had the Salvation Army ‘flag baptism.’"

"But don’t you realize Jesus commanded baptism, immersion in water? Every Christian in the New Testament was baptized."

"Was Paul baptized?" he asked.

"Yes, read Acts 22:16: Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord," I quoted.

"I don’t know the Bible that well," he explained.

"I’m sorry, but we wouldn’t be able to use you in camp even if you could come," I said sincerely. "I’d like to talk to you about this some more sometime soon." It was time for their choir practice to start.

I never got the chance. Some of the people at that church were very irate when they heard I had questioned him about his faith. After prayerful consideration, the camp directors sent them a letter stating that they could no longer be considered part of the camp because they had an unbaptized preacher.

It had a happy ending. One of the deacons started bugging the preacher about his lack of obedience. The preacher decided to search the scriptures to find proof that he didn’t need to be baptized. He was honest and sincere so when he found the truth, he obeyed it.

After his baptism, that church asked to be re-admitted to the camp fellowship. In their letter asking for re-admission, they thanked the directors for kicking them out in the first place. They are an active, supporting church in good standing now.

THE PREACHER’S TRYING TO DROWN ME William J. Murphy, Louisville, KY

My uncle told me this tale more than 70 years ago: in days gone by, it was common practice for the country churches to hold their baptizing outside the church. They used ponds, creeks, lakes, rivers, or whatever was convenient. It also was the practice to dip their new believers more than once.

One afternoon, a lady who had come forward, confessed her sins and asked to be baptized during the revival week was to be baptized that day. She was led out into the waist deep water of a creek. The preacher asked her, "Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?"

She replied, "Yes, I believe that."

The preacher dipped again and said, "Do you still believe?"

She said, "Yes, I believe it."

After dipping her the third time, the preacher said to her, "Tell this fine congregation what you believe."

She said, "I believe that if someone doesn’t rescue me, this preacher is going to drown me."

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU… SE Christian Church 5/99

One of SE Christian’s staff in the wedding department was privileged one day to baptize a new convert. Apparently tho’, he’d had a busy week and his mind was a bit distracted. On a Sunday morning in front of the entire congregation he took the man’s confession and then declared: "I know pronounce you…." And then stopped as he realized what he’d said. Undaunted he continued: "I now pronounce you… baptized!"

BAPTISM’S GIFTS William Willimon in Leadership

In baptism we are initiated, crowned, chosen, embraced, washed, adopted, gifted, reborn, killed, and thereby sent forth and redeemed. We are identified as one of God’s own, then assigned our place and our job within the kingdom of God.

DEATH BY BAPTISM On This Day by Robert J. Morgan

As Ulrich Zwingli preached in Zurich, he sought to bring reformation to Switzerland within the context of the established state church. In Zurich and throughout Europe, there was little difference between state and church. All babies baptized were thereby considered members of the church and citizens of the city. But Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz, impatient with Zwingli’s reforms, began holding Bible classes in private homes, and their investigation of Scripture raised question about state-sponsored sprinkling of infants.

When Grebel’s wife gave birth to a son the stage was set for conflict. On January 17, 1525, the Zurich City Council arranged a public debate on the issue. Zwingli insisted that all children be baptized by their eighth day, while Grebel and Manz argued that baptism symbolized a believer’s commitment to Christ. They lost.

Four days later under the cloak of darkness, a dozen men trudged through falling snow to Manz’s house. After kneeling in the prayer, one of them, George Blaurock, asked Grebel to baptize him in the apostolic fashion – upon his confession of personal faith in Christ. Grebel did so, then Blaurock, a former priest, baptized the others.

Zwingli was incensed, and these radical reformers were soon driven from Zurich. They a congregation in the nearby village of Zollikon, the first "free" church of modern times. But they weren’t free from Zwingli, who hounded them or from Zurich’s arm of persecution.

Grebel, his health failing in prison, died of the plague. Blaurock was burned at the stake. And Zurich officials decided that if Manz wanted baptism so badly, they would give it to him. Taking him from Wellenberg prison, they bound his arms and legs. As they rowed down the middle of Zurich’s Limmat River, his mother shouted over the splashing oars for him to remain true to Christ. After he sang "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit," he was rolled overboard, and the cold waters of Lake Zurich closed over his head.

In passing a Methodist camp meeting one day in September, Raccoon John Smith stopped to watch a young Methodist preacher baptize a howling, rebellious infant by sprinkling water on the squirming body. When the service was concluded, he stepped to the front of the crowd and, identifying himself, took the preacher firmly by the arm and attempted to lead him toward the creek a few yards away.

"What are you trying to, Brother Smith?" the young preacher protested. "Are you out of your mind?"

"What am I trying to do?" John affected deep surprise. "Why, sir, I going to baptize you by immersion into the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to His commandment."

"But I have no desire for such baptism. I know of you; you are called 'The dipper.' But you are not going to dip me. I'm a Methodist; let me go!"

John tightened his hold on the man's arm while the crowd watched, some in dismay, others in amusement. "That is a scoffer's blasphemy of a holy ordinance," he said sternly. "Are you a believer?"

"Of course, I'm a believer," the preacher said indignantly. "But I'm not willing to be immersed. It would do no good for you to baptize me against my will. It would be wrong."

"I don't understand," John said. "Only a few minutes ago, you baptized a helpless baby against its will, although it screamed and kicked. Did you get its consent first? Come along sir, we will have no more of this foolishness."

The crowd broke into open laughter, and John gave the young preacher a quick pull toward the creek, and then as suddenly released him. He waved to the people for silence.

"Brethren and friends, I shall be in the neighborhood for a little while visiting among you; let me know if this poor, misguided man ever again baptizes another without his consent. For you have heard him say that it would do no good, that it would be wrong."

MIKVEHS FOR BAPTISM Readers Digest - Jesus and His Times P. 132 ff.

When the family (of Jesus) first entered upon the Temple Mount, after having immersed themselves in a ritual bath, or mikveh, they would have found themselves in the broad Court of the Gentiles.... In each of the four corners of the Court of the Women was a separate walled enclosure that served a special purpose. One was for storage and inspection of wood, for no wormy wood was to be used in the altar fire. A 2nd held oil and wine for use in the services. A 3rd was reserved for lepers who believed themselves cured; here they were inspected by priests, and if they were found to be cured, they would purify themselves in a mikveh. Then to complete the purification, they would make a burnt offering in atonement for the time that they had spent outside God's service. The fourth enclosure was set aside for Nazirites, the "dedicated" or "consecrated" ones, who were forbidden to drink wine, cut their hair, or approach a dead body... The purpose of immersion in a mikveh, or a watertight ritual bath, was to cleanse the spirit, not the body. A mikveh could not be portable - many were cut from living rock - and had to contain free-running water, usually spring water or rainwater. The Temple had several mikvehs for priest, including at least two reserved for the high priest. Public mikvehs also existed near the Temple Mount; worshipers had to be cleansed before entering holy ground. (Shown in the book is mikveh found in Masada "built according to strict ritual requirements")....

(In an article about the Essenes) Woven into the routine of life were two daily practices whose natures set the Essenes apart from other sects - the extensive ritual washings and the common meals. By long tradition, all pious Jews washed their hands before eating or praying, and they immersed themselves in mikvehs, or ritual baths. But the Essenes gave the practice a greater spiritual weight and made it more important in their lives, immersing their bodies daily before meals and requiring each new member to bathe himself in flowing water, a ritual of initiation that presaged John the Baptist's rite of baptism.

BAPTIZED TO AVOID ANTI-CHRIST Pulpit Helps 9/96 p.22

7000 were baptized in less than 6 hours in Bogota, Colombia, to beat a rumored appearance of the Antichrist on 6/6/96. Local news media reported a rash of "devout religious people" to churches to baptize their infants and young children, in order to "save their souls and prevent them from being marked with the number of the beast: 666." Al Maxey, the "Aloha Spirit"

HIPPOLYTUS ON BAPTISM Pulpit Helps 2/94 p. 7

The Christian writer Hippolytus, writing about 200 A.D., describes baptism at Rome. Candidates took off their clothing, were baptized three times after renouncing Satan and affirming the basic teaching of the faith, and put on new clothes. Then they joined the rest of the church in the Lord's Supper.

Baptism was not entered into lightly. First one went through an extensive period of preparation as a "catechumen." This lasted as long as three years, involving close scrutiny of the catechumen’s behavior. The church would only admit those who proved to be sincere in seeking a totally new life within the Christian community.

As a successful newsman, he seemed to have everything the world could offer. One bright Sunday morning in 1971 while he and his wife were vacationing, they slipped into a little white clapboard church in Cove Creek, Arizona.

The minister announced his subject -- baptism. The newsman yawned but became attentive as the pastor talked of giving one's entire life to serve Christ. The newsman mused, "Long years ago I had asked to be saved, but had I offered to serve? I began to realize how much of me I had been holding back." That morning the issue became clear and Paul Harvey, one of America's best-loved broadcasters, surrendered his life to Christ.

A year later, Paul Harvey said, "Though I had learned John 3:16 early in life, it took me till last year to learn John 14:15 as well: 'If you love Me, keep My commandments.' The Christian life is one of obedience, not partnership."

TWO CHRISTIANS RETURN Gene Dulin, August 89

A Romanian Christian told me of a communist government restriction on baptisms. One restraint was that proselytizing - baptizing someone from a non-church family - was forbidden.

Another required the names of all who were to be baptized several weeks before the baptism, thus allowing time for the Party to try to dissuade each person from being baptized. Baptizing children or young people was also forbidden.

My immediate question was, "What do you do!?"

"A sinner and a Christian go into the mountains, and two Christians return!" was the reply.

NO BACK OUT POLICY ON BAPTISM SE Christian Convention 3/94

A the SE Christian Church in Louisville, KY, Bob Russell tells of the time he had been entering the changing room with a candidate for baptism. As he opened the door, another man was in the process of taking off his coat preparing to baptize still another candidate. This man was a local police officer who carried a revolver in a holster beneath his coat at all times. When Bob's candidate saw the gun he gaped in astonishment, to which the policemen commented, "Oh, didn't they tell you. We have a 'no back out' policy with regard to baptism."

LET'S BAPTIZE EVERYBODY! Rod Cameron in Funeral Message for Faye Brown

Rod was approached by a leader from an African town in which he was ministering who wanted his 2 children's baptized. When asked how old the children were, the man responded "ages 3 and 5." Rod thought on that a moment and replied, "John, why do you want your children baptized?"

John responded "My wife and I have been reading the Bible and we believe that we need to have our children ready to go to Heaven."

"Oh," said Rod, "well then, why don't we just baptize everyone in the village? You're a strong man, we'll start with the oldest and work our way down, we'll drag them down the river one by one and put them under water."

Puzzled, John asked "Why would we want to do that? They may not want to be baptized!"

"That's right," said Rod, "you really need to want to become a Christian to be baptized, and your children aren't ready for that yet. Now, how about you and your wife? Are you ready to make that commitment?"

Some time later, John and his wife were baptized and raised their family to love God.

BAPTISM - THE GREAT EQUALIZER Sunday Evening Session - NACC 1995

Baptism is the great equalizer. No matter who you are, how successful you are, or who you know... all have to go under the waters alike. There are those who come forward in expensive suits, dangling gold jewelry, and $100 hairdos. But the suits are exchanged for a humble white robe, the jewelry comes off, and they may as well say goodbye to their $100 hairdo.