https___letthebiblespeak.tv_should-you-be-re-baptized-the-text_.xml
https___wordoftruth.com.np_what-is-baptism__1.xml
1.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 7.1 7.2 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 10.1 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 13.1 13.2 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9 17.1 18.1 18.2 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 19.8 20.1 20.2 20.3 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 22.1 22.2 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 23.9 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 24.8 24.9 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 27.1 28.1 28.2 29.1 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 30.8 31.1 31.2 31.3 32.1 33.1 34.1 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 35.7 36.1 36.2 37.1 37.2 37.3 38.1 38.2 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 40.1 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 42.1 42.2 43.1 43.2 44.1 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 46.6 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 47.5 47.6 48.1 48.2 48.3 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4
Click here to watch this sermon. Sometimes the question arises, Do I need to be re-baptized? On one hand, that sounds like a strange question; on the other, you will find there are many people who have been baptized more than once—in some cases many times. But is that ever warranted by the scriptures? In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul writes of seven things, each of which there is one. Ephesians 4:3-6 “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” The word baptism here simply means an immersion, an overwhelming and the word is used in reference to different types of baptism in the Bible. There was the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for example, which the apostles received on the Day of Pentecost. There was the baptism of fire, which the Jewish religious establishment received in AD 70, the destruction of Jerusalem because of their rejection of Christ. There is the baptism of suffering and so forth. But there is only one baptism commanded for men to obey and that is the one that Jesus commanded in the Great Commission; that is, baptism in water for the remission of sins. That baptism is commanded of all who believe in Christ and this is the baptism that all who have obeyed the gospel have in common. It is to only occur once and that is immediately when one believes in Christ and repents of past sins. It is in this one baptism that our sins are washed away, at which time we become children of God, born of water and of the Spirit, and we receive the washing of regeneration. So, would there ever be a need for one who believes they have been baptized to be baptized again? If so, why? That will be our study today: should you be re-baptized? Jesus commanded His disciples to go and teach or make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” In the book of Acts, we read how the apostles set out to fulfill the Lord’s commission by preaching Christ, and we read where multitudes of people were baptized when they came to believe the gospel. Baptism was never treated as an unimportant incident or optional thing in the New Testament, as some seem to treat it today. Rather, it is commanded of all who would be saved. I repeat, it is a command of the Lord Jesus Christ of all who desire to be saved (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21…) I suppose the overwhelming majority of religious people, denominations, and various religious bodies practice what they call baptism in some form or for some varied purpose. In fact, it would be difficult to find someone who professes to be a Christian who would say that they simply don’t believe in baptism in some way. I would venture to say that if you consider yourself a Christian, you have been baptized at some point along the way or you underwent something that you believe was baptism at some point in your religious life. I want to narrow this down very clearly and finely. The issue at hand is not do you believe in baptism?. I’m fairly confident that if you believe in Christ, then you believe that baptism plays some role in your life. And I will say that if you have never been baptized in water but claim to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, you should immediately know that something is wrong because baptism is a direct commandment of the Lord and His apostles. It is impossible to obey God and refuse to be baptized in water. John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” So, baptism plays a part in the conversion of the sinner to Christianity. We see that evidenced throughout the book of Acts. If you have not been baptized and you believe that Jesus is the Christ, and you are willing to change your life in repentance, you immediately need to be baptized into Christ without any delay. You need to be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). But usually the question is not, Do you believe in baptism? The questions are usually, What do you believe about baptism? What do you believe baptism is for? When and how were you baptized? What was the reason behind your baptism? There are many ideas and doctrines today concerning baptism. The role that it plays either in salvation or the Christian life is a subject of great debate, varying widely from church to church. But only one approach to baptism can be correct in the eyes of God because the apostle Paul said in our text that there is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Therefore, I believe it makes a difference what we believe about baptism and why and how we practice it. One reason I believe this is because of an account that we read about in Acts 19. Acts 19:1-3 “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.” This was in the miraculous age of the first century when in the absence of the completed scriptures, the apostles would lay hands on the new disciples from place to place and impart the gifts of the Spirit so that through those gifts, the church could be edified and learn and preach the truth in the absence of the written New Testament as we have it today. Paul wants to know if these believers at Ephesus have received these gifts since the time of their conversion. Their response was startling to Paul. It told Paul a great deal about where they were. They knew nothing about what had transpired on the Day of Pentecost or in the house of Cornelius, for example. They didn’t know that the Holy Spirit had come and brought the kingdom of God to earth. The immediate signal to Paul was that they had not been sufficiently taught about Christ and the fact that His kingdom had come. They were still relying on the preaching of John the Baptist and had gone no farther than that, even though what John pointed forward to had already been fulfilled. So, Paul asks them what they were baptized for if it wasn’t in view of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit as Peter had preached back at the beginning on the Day of Pentecost. Their answer was John’s baptism. Now, John’s baptism was not inherently wrong. After all, John the Baptist was a messenger of God sent before Jesus Christ to prepare the Jewish people for the beginning of Christ’s work and the establishment of His kingdom. John’s purpose was to be the harbinger of Christ and His kingdom, to point God’s people toward this kingdom that Christ was soon to establish after His death and resurrection. You see, the nation of Israel was a spiritually dead, corrupt nation at the time that Christ came into the world. Their hearts were hard. In order for Jesus to plant the seed of the kingdom there and have anything grow from it, He had to have the hardened soil broken up, you might say. He had to have the field made ready. That was John’s job. He went through the wilderness of Judea preaching a fiery sermon in which he told people it was time for them to wake up, to repent of their sins, to return to God. You see, he was preparing them for the preaching and the work of Jesus Christ so they would be receptive to it. When the people determined to repent of their sins, they were baptized by John in view of forgiveness of sins that Christ was about to bring to the world. There was nothing wrong with all of that. It was all according to God’s plan. That baptism was scriptural in mode; it was an immersion in water. It was even for the remission of sins in a prospective sense; that is, looking forward to Christ who would come to take away their sins. John was sent by God to preach that message and baptize for that purpose. The problem here in Acts 19 was that we’re past the ministry of John, but there were still some disciples of John, such as Apollos, who did not understand that the kingdom of Christ had now come and that the things that John’s baptism had pointed forward to had been fulfilled and had become reality. Apollos was preaching but knew only the baptism of John (Acts 18:25). These disciples of John were therefore preaching a baptism that was behind the times, you might say. It now served no valid purpose since Jesus by His authority had commanded the baptism of the Great Commission. Well, what was Paul’s response to them? Acts 19:4-5 “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” He didn’t say, Oh well, it’s all just a misunderstanding. It doesn’t really matter because you were baptized to obey the Lord. No, he explained to them that Christ, who John pointed forward to, had come. Then they were re-baptized, if you will. Notice that they had already been immersed in water and when they did so, they believed that they were obeying God and doing His will. But their baptism was not acceptable to God at that time. They were therefore baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, meaning by the authority or under the commission of the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. They submitted themselves to the one baptism of the New Testament age. Among other things, that tells me that there are cases where re-baptism is called for because the first is invalid for one reason or another. Let’s look at some reasons why a person would need to be baptized again. I hope you’ll think seriously about this in view of your past baptism. Let me clear up a few misconceptions first. A person doesn’t need to be re-baptized because as a Christian they’ve since sinned and they want a ‘do-over’ so to speak. The Bible never teaches that. If a person has become a Christian by being baptized into Christ and he sins, which of course we will from time to time, the answer to that is to confess our sins to God and as a Christian ask God to forgive us of our sins. 1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We don’t have to be baptized again simply because we’ve sinned or messed up since becoming a Christian. One should not be re-baptized in order to cover an unscriptural situation. Sometimes we get ourselves into very difficult spiritual conditions or situations and people think that the way to sort it out or get it all straightened up is to be baptized again. The Bible doesn’t teach that either. One should not be re-baptized for sentimental reasons. One should not be re-baptized because they know more now than when they were baptized. All of us who are Christians have grown, hopefully exponentially, in our faith and knowledge of Christ since becoming Christians. All it takes for one to be scripturally baptized is a simple, trusting, yielding, surrendering faith in Jesus and a willingness to learn of Him, follow Him, obey Him, and grow in Him. You’re not going to have all the answers when you become a Christian and that’s not a reason to be re-baptized because all of a sudden you know more about the Bible than you did at that time. There ARE reasons that I believe re-baptism is warranted and necessary. First of all, any person who was sprinkled or had water poured on them in place of baptism really has not been baptized at all in the eyes of God and needs to be baptized correctly, scripturally. That’s because neither sprinkling nor pouring are forms of scriptural baptism. Some denominations have replaced or substituted these in place of immersion, but these are not baptism according to the scriptures. In fact, these are not baptism according to the very definition of the word. The Greek word that has been transliterated into our English Bibles is the word baptizo, which simply means to immerse, submerge or plunge. It means to overwhelm. It never means to sprinkle. Regardless of what element may be specified or implied by the scriptures in any given context, the act of baptizing means to immerse or overwhelm a person in that substance or element. For example, the apostles were not “sprinkled” with the Holy Spirit; they were overwhelmed or immersed in power. The same is true with water in the case of Bible baptism. It is a complete covering in water. When the Ethiopian nobleman of Acts 8 heard Philip preach Jesus to him, he immediately wanted to be baptized. He obviously knew what the word meant when Philip used it in his discourse along the road because as they passed an oasis of water, he asked Philip if he could be baptized. Acts 8:35-39 “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Besides that, baptism is a form or likeness, a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3-4 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” How would sprinkling or pouring represent those events? The answer is that they don’t and they’re not an acceptable form of baptism. Sprinkling for baptism originated after the apostolic era for the sake of the sick and dying, and later when some came to erroneously believe that babies are sinners and need baptism, it was then used as a way to supposedly baptize them. The fact of the matter is that babies are not sinners and they are not in need of being baptized. They are not accountable before God. Baptism is for those who can believe (Mark 16:16) and for those who can repent of their sins (Acts 2:38). An infant can do neither. Friend, if you were sprinkled in place of baptism—no matter what the circumstance—you need to be baptized scripturally. Also, if you were not baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, you need to be baptized again. When the apostle Peter preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2, he was asked by his hearers what they needed to do in order to be forgiven and be saved. Peter had convicted them of their sins by preaching Jesus to them. Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Listen carefully now to Peter’s answer. Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The overwhelming majority of preachers and denominations today DO NOT believe that baptism is for the remission of sins. They do not. And they do not baptize people in view of that purpose although the vast majority of preachers will advise baptism at some point if asked, and most will acknowledge that it is an important step to some degree. But the question is, Is baptism for the remission of sins? Peter says it is. The question is, Can my sins be washed away without calling upon Christ in baptism? Ananias says they cannot and will not. Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Baptism is how you call on the name of the Lord and it is where the blood of Jesus washes your sins away. The question is, Can a person have a new life in Christ without being baptized? Paul said he can’t. Romans 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” When do we walk in newness of life? After we’re raised up together with Him in the waters of baptism. That’s what your Bible says. The question is, Can a man be “in Christ” without being baptized? Paul answers that question. He says you can’t. Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Verse after verse contradicts the popular, widespread views of baptism today, which means that most people are baptized for some other reason besides what the Bible teaches people should be baptized for. Most are taught that baptism is important but unessential. They are taught that it is in response to the forgiveness of sins already obtained and not FOR the remission of sins. The Bible says it is FOR the remission of sins. Friend, if you believe that baptism is a church ordinance, you don’t really understand what the Bible teaches about baptism. It is not an ordinance of the church for Christians to keep; it is an act of submissive faith that the sinner must submit to in order to wash in the blood of Jesus Christ and to receive God’s grace, to enter into a relationship with Him and come forth to walk in a new life. Finally, if you were baptized to join a denomination, you need to be re-baptized. The Bible teaches that baptism identifies us with the body of Jesus Christ… 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” But not in the way that most people think. You see, in baptism, we are forgiven of our sins and are therefore saved through faith in Jesus Christ. The result of that is that we are considered in the eyes of God and considered by the Lord to be one of His, which means to be part of His church. We become a part of His family, a member of His kingdom, His church. We have been called out of sin and added to the assembly of believers by God Himself. Our names have been written in the Lamb’s book of life and that makes us citizens of His kingdom, members of His church. What most denominations teach today is that baptism is merely an ordinance of the church to gain membership in their particular denomination. They think a person is saved well before they are ever baptized into their denomination. That’s not the sequence according to Acts 2 and other passages as well. In many cases today when a person believes he is saved, a church will vote and decide whether or not to receive him into their membership by the rite of baptism. But the Bible teaches nothing of the sort. It is strange to me that men think it’s alright to put baptism at the door of their denomination, but they won’t allow Jesus Christ to put baptism at the door to His church. Friend, baptism is not an ordinance of the church for those who are already saved merely to allow membership into some denomination. It’s not up to you, me, or anyone else to allow or disallow you a membership in the body of Christ. Christ does the adding and subtracting. He adds those who are saved at the very moment they are saved. The very fact that they have been saved makes them a part of the church and that is the connection that baptism has to membership in the church. When a man or woman is baptized for the remission of sins, the Lord then adds him/her to the church that you read about in the Bible (Acts 2:41,47). If your baptism was AFTER you thought you were saved, and it was to enter a denomination of your choice, you didn’t understand what baptism if FOR. I would implore you today to investigate this. If you’ve not been baptized scripturally, you need to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ©2019 BibleWay Media. All rights reserved. BibleWay Media grants permission to copy this material for personal use. Permission is also granted to distribute this transcript as long as it is reproduced in its entirety, used solely for its original purpose of spreading the gospel, and attribution is given to the author and Let the Bible Speak.
1.1 2.1 3.1 4.1 5.1 6.1 7.1 8.1 9.1 10.1 11.1 12.1 13.1 14.1 15.1 16.1 17.1 18.1 19.1 20.1 21.1 22.1 23.1 24.1 25.1 26.1 27.1 28.1 29.1 30.1 31.1 32.1 33.1 34.1 35.1 36.1 37.1 38.1 39.1 40.1 41.1 42.1 43.1 44.1 45.1 46.1 47.1 48.1 49.1 50.1 51.1 52.1 53.1 54.1 55.1 56.1 57.1 58.1
बप्तिस्मा बप्तिस्मा बप्तिस्माको अर्थ बाइबलले के भन्दछ? प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टले मण्डलीलाई दुइटा विधिहरू दिनुभएको छ। पहिलो, पानीको बप्तिस्मार दोस्रो, प्रभु-भोज। यहाँ हामी पानीको बप्तिस्माको अध्ययन गर्नेछौं। मानिसहरूलाई पानीको बप्तिस्मा दिनू भन्ने आज्ञा येशू ख्रीष्टकै हो। मृत्युबाट बौरिउठ्नुभएपछि स्वर्गारोहण हुनुअघि येशूले आफ्ना चेलाहरूलाई यो आज्ञा दिनुभयो: “यसकारण तिमीहरू जाओ, र सबै जातिहरूलाई चेला बनाओ, तिनीहरूलाई पिताको र पुत्रको र पवित्र आत्माको नाममा _____________ देओ” (मत्ती २८:१९)। यो आज्ञा येशूको हो। तसर्थ, यसलाई मण्डलीले पालन गर्नैपर्छ! बप्तिस्मा दिने ठीक तरिका कुन हो? छिट्काउद्वारा बप्तिस्मा दिने मण्डलीहरूले बच्चा वा वयस्कको टाउकोमा केही थोपा पानीको छिट्का दिएर बप्तिस्मा दिन्छन्। खन्याएर बप्तिस्मा दिने मण्डलीहरूले निजको टाउकोमा पानी खन्याएर बप्तिस्मा दिन्छन्। चोपलेर बप्तिस्मा दिने मण्डलीहरूले निजलाई पानीमुनि पूरै डुबाइकन माथि उठाएर बप्तिस्मा दिन्छन्। कुन तरिका ठीक हो? बाइबलमा कुन तरिका सिकाइएको छ? सर्वप्रथम “बप्तिस्मा” भन्ने शब्दको अर्थ बुझ्न आवश्यक छ। यसको अर्थ “छिट्काउ दिनु” वा “खन्याउनु” भन्ने होइन। “बप्तिस्मा”(BaπtίZw) एउटा ग्रीक शब्द हो जसको अर्थ हो, “चोपल्नु, डुबाउनु, कुनै एउटा चीजलाई अर्को चीजभित्र पूरै ढाकिने गरीकन हुल्नु”। तरल पद्धार्थको कुरा गर्दा यसको अर्थ हुन्छ, कुनै चीज वा व्यक्तिलाई तरलले पूरै डुब्ने गरी तरलभित्र राख्नु (पूरै डुबाउनु)। प्रेरित ८:३६-३९ पढ्नुहोस्। पद ३८ र ३९ लाई विशेष ध्यान दिनुहोस्। फिलिपले नपुंसकलाई कसरी बप्तिस्मा दिए? ठीक उत्तरमा चिन्ह लगाउनुहोस्: - पानीको छिट्काउ दिएर - पानी खन्याएर - पानीमा चोपलेर मत्ती ३:१६ अनुसार प्रभु येशूको बप्तिस्मा कुन तरिकाले गरियो? ____________________। यूहन्ना ३:२३ अनुसार यूहन्नाले एनोनमै किन बप्तिस्मा दिए? “किनभने त्यहाँ _______ _______ थियो”। कुन तरिकाले बप्तिस्मा दिँदा “धेरै पानी” चाहिन्छ? _______________________। के पानीको बप्तिस्माले मुक्ति पाइन्छ? मुक्ति पाउनलाई पानीको बप्तिस्मा अनिवार्य छ भनेर सिकाउने मानिसहरू धेरै छन्। येशू ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गरेको व्यक्तिले पानीको बप्तिस्मा नलिएसम्म मुक्ति पाएको हुँदैन भनेर उनीहरू सिकाउँछन्। उनीहरू भन्छन्: “मुक्ति पाउनलाई ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गर्नुपर्छ र बप्तिस्मा लिनुपर्छ। विश्वास गरेको घडीमा होइन तर बप्तिस्मा लिएको घडीमा मुक्ति पाइन्छ।” के बाइबलले यस्तै सिकाउँछ त? निम्न पदहरूलाई होसियारसित पढ्नुहोस् र गल्ती भएमा सच्याउनुहोस् (पहिलो पदमा गरेर देखाइए जस्तै बाइबलमा नभएका शब्दहरूलाई धर्सो कोरेर काट्नुहोस्): यूहन्ना ३:१६ – किनभने परमेश्वरले संसारलाई यस्तो प्रेम गर्नुभयो उहाँले आफ्नो एकमात्र जन्माइएको पुत्रलाई दिनुभयो उहाँमाथि विश्वास गर्ने र बप्तिस्मा लिने कोही पनि नष्ट नहोस् तर उसले अनन्त जीवन पाओस्। यूहन्ना ६:४७ – साँचो-साँचो म तिमीहरूलाई भन्दछु, जसले ममाथि विश्वास गर्दछ र बप्तिस्मा लिँदछ, ऊसँग अनन्त जीवन छ। प्रेरित १०:४३ – उहाँमाथि विश्वास गर्ने र बप्तिस्मा लिने हरेकले उहाँको नामद्वारा पापहरूको क्षमा पाउनेछ। प्रेरित १६:३१ – प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टमाथि विश्वास गर्नुहोस् र बप्तिस्मा लिनुहोस्, र तपाईंले मुक्ति पाउनुहुनेछ। १ कोरिन्थी १:२१ – विश्वास गर्ने र बप्तिस्मा लिनेहरूलाई मुक्ति दिनु परमेश्वरलाई असल लाग्यो। माथिका सबै पदहरू अनुसार मुक्ति पाउन र अनन्त जीवन पाउनलाई एउटा व्यक्तिले गर्नुपर्ने एउटै कुरा के हो? ___________________। मुक्ति पाउनलाई केवल विश्वास आवश्यक पर्छ। ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गरेको तर बप्तिस्मा लिन बाँकी रहेको (वा बप्तिस्मा लिन नपाइकनै मृत्यु भएको) व्यक्तिलाई विचार गर्नुहोस्। के उक्त व्यक्तिले मुक्ति पाउँछ (प्रेरित १६:३१)? ____________। “मुक्ति नपाएको विश्वासी” भन्ने कोही हुँदैन! हुन त, पानीको बप्तिस्मा ज्यादै महत्त्वपूर्ण कुरा हो। यो आज्ञापालनको महत्त्वपूर्ण कार्य हो अनि यसले ज्यादै महत्त्वपूर्ण सत्यताहरूलाई चित्रण गर्छ (जसको अध्ययन हामी तल गर्नेछौं)। तर यो प्रस्ट होस्, पानीको बप्तिस्माले मुक्ति पाइन्न। मान्छेले कुनचाहिँ कुरा नगरोस् भनी शैतान चाहन्छ (लूका ८:१२ पढ्नहोस्)? - विश्वास नगरोस् - बप्तिस्मा नलेओस् - मण्डली सभामा नजाओस् - भजन नगाओस् प्रेरित २:४१, प्रेरित १०:४३-४८ र प्रेरित १६:३०-३४ पढ्नुहोस्। यी पदहरू पढ्नुभई विचार गर्नुभए पछि तलको सूचीलाई ठीक क्रम सङ्ख्या दिनुहोस् (१,२,३,४): ________ उनीहरूले बप्तिस्मा लिए ________ उनीहरूले मुक्ति पाए ________ उनीहरूले परमेश्वरको वचन सुने (सुसमाचार सुने) ________ उनीहरूले ख्रीष्टमाथि विश्वास गरे बप्तिस्मा मुक्ति पाउनलाई लिइने होइन; बप्तिस्मा मुक्ति पाइसकेको व्यक्तिले गर्ने काम हो। निम्न भनाइहरू ठीक छन् की बेठीक, सङ्केत दिनुहोस् (ठीक, बेठीक): ________ “मुक्ति पाउनलाई म पानीको बप्तिस्मा लिन चाहन्छु।” ________ “मुक्ति पाइसकेको हुनाले म पानीको बप्तिस्मा लिन चाहन्छु।” ________ “पानीमा बप्तिस्मा लिँदा मेरा सबै पापहरू पखालिनेछन्।” ________ “मैले ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गरेकै घडी मेरा सबै पापहरू पखालिए र क्षमा भए।” प्रेरित १०:४३ पढ्नुहोस्। ________ “बप्तिस्मा मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूले लिने कुरा होइन; बप्तिस्मा मुक्ति पाएकाहरूले लिने कुरा हो।” पानीको बप्तिस्मा प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टसित ठीक सम्बन्ध गाँसेकाहरू अर्थात् मुक्ति पाएकाहरूले मात्र लिने कुरा हो। यदि कसैका पापहरू क्षमा भएका छैनन् वा धोइएका छैनन् भने उसले बप्तिस्मा लिनु हुँदैन। पानीको बप्तिस्मा लिनु अगाडि मुक्ति पाएको हुनुपर्छ। मैले किन बप्तिस्मा लिनुपर्छ? १. मैले मेरो प्रभुको आज्ञापालनस्वरूप बप्तिस्मा लिनुपर्छ। बप्तिस्मा येशू ख्रीष्टले अह्राउनुभएको कुरा हो भनेर हामीले शुरूमै हेर्यौं (मत्ती २८:१९-२०)। प्रेरित १० मा प्रेरित पत्रुसले अन्यजातिहरूको एउटा समूहलाई सुसमाचार प्रचार गरे। यी अन्यजातिहरूले पत्रुसले प्रचार गरेका सुसमाचारलाई विश्वास गरे। प्रेरित १०:४८ मा हामी पढ्छौं कि “उनले तिनीहरूलाई प्रभुको नाममा ___________ लिनू भनी _________ दिए।” पत्रुसले यसो भनेनन्, “तपाईंहरूलाई इच्छा लाग्छ भने बप्तिस्मा लिनुहोस्, तर तपाईंहरूले बप्तिस्मा लिनैपर्छ भन्ने छैन।” होइन, पत्रुसले ती विश्वासी जनहरूलाई बप्तिस्मा लिनलाई आज्ञा गरे। बप्तिस्मा प्रत्येक विश्वासी जनले प्रभुको आज्ञा पालन गर्नलाई गर्नु पर्ने कुरा हो! बप्तिस्मा आज्ञा हो भन्ने अर्को उदाहरण प्रेरित २:३८ मा पाइन्छ। पत्रुसले यहूदीहरूका भीडलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै यो आज्ञा दिए (प्रेरित २:३८): “तपाईंहरू हरेकले येशू ख्रीष्टको नाममा ___________ ___________।” कुनै पनि आज्ञा पालन गरिओस् भनेर दिइन्छ। मुक्ति नपाएको व्यक्तिलाई परमेश्वरले कुन आज्ञा दिनुहुन्छ (१ यूहन्ना ३:२३ को पहिलो भागमा)? ___________________________________________ _____________। ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गरेपछि एक व्यक्तिले मुक्ति पाउँछ र त्यसपछि उसलाई परमेश्वरको अर्को महत्त्वपूर्ण आज्ञा छ: बप्तिस्मा लिनू! प्रेरित २:३८ र प्ररित २:४१ पढ्नुहोस्। के ती नयाँ विश्वासी जनहरूले बप्तिस्मा लिनू भन्ने आज्ञालाई पालन गरे? __________। २. मैले एउटा चित्र प्रस्तुत गर्नलाई बप्तिस्मा लिनुपर्छ। पानीको बप्तिस्मा मैले मुक्ति पाउँदा मलाई हुन गएको कुराको सुन्दर चित्र हो। मैले मुक्ति पाएकै घडी म “येशू ख्रीष्टभित्र बप्तिस्मा” भएँ (रोमी ६:३-४, गलाती ३:२७)। यसलाई तल चित्रमा उतारिएको छ: हरेक व्यक्ति या त मुक्ति पाएको हुन्छ (“ख्रीष्टमा”) या त मुक्ति नपाएको हुन्छ (“ख्रीष्ट बाहिर”)। बाइबलले २ कोरिन्थी ५:१७ मा बताएको छ, “कोही ___________ छ भने ऊ एउटा नयाँ सृष्टि हो।” जब एक व्यक्तिले ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गर्छ परमेश्वरले एउटा अचम्मको कार्य गर्नुहुन्छ। परमेश्वरले उसलाई येशू ख्रीष्टभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराउनुहुन्छ (अवस्थित गराउनुहुन्छ)। यसको मतलब विश्वासी जन येशू ख्रीष्टसित पूर्ण रूपमा ‘सम्मिलीकरण’ गरिन्छ। विश्वासी जन येशू ख्रीष्टको मृत्यु, उहाँको गडाइ र उहाँको बौरिउठाइमा पूर्ण रूपमले सम्मिलीकरण गरिन्छ (रोमी ६:३-५)। विश्वासी जन “ख्रीष्टमा” भएको हुनाले ऊ आफ्नो मुक्तिदातासित अचम्मसित सम्मिलित (एकबध्य) भएको कुराको चित्रस्वरूप पानीको बप्तिस्माले दिन्छ। ३. मैले मभित्र को हुनुहुन्छ भनेर गवाही दिन बप्तिस्मा लिनुपर्छ। लेबल नभएको शीशीभित्र के छ भनेर हामीलाई जान्न गाह्रो पर्छ। तर लेबल लगाएपछि भने सजिलै जान्न सकिन्छ। लेबलले शीशीभित्र के छ भन्ने सङ्केत दिन्छ। लेबलले बताउँछ, “म खोकीको औषधीको शीशी हुँ। सबैलाई थाह होस्, मभित्र खोकीको औषधी छ!” पावल, एक विश्वासी जन भएको हुनाले उसले यसरी भन्न सके: “म (मेरो पुरानो मान्छे अर्थात् पहिलेको पापपूर्ण जीवन) __________सित __________ _______________ ______, तरैपनि म जिउँछु; त्यसो भए पनि म (मेरो पुरानो मान्छे अर्थात् पहिलेको पापपूर्ण जीवन) ता होइन, तर ख्रीष्ट मभित्र _______________; अनि जुन जीवनल अहिले शरीरमा जिउँछु त्यो म परमेश्वरको पुत्रको विश्वासद्वारा जिउँछु, जसले मलाई प्रेम गर्नुभयो र आफैलाई मेरा निम्ति दिहाल्नुभयो” (गलाती २:२०)। तपाईं एक विश्वासी हुनुहुन्छ भने, तपाईंभित्र को जिउनुहुन्छ (गलाती २:२०)? _________________। पानीको बप्तिस्मा “शीशीमा लेबल लगाउने” सुन्दर अवसर हो जसद्वारा तपाईंले आफूभित्र को जिउनुहुन्छ र राज्य गर्नुहुन्छ भनेर अरूहरूले जान्न सक्नेछन्। सबै थोकमाथि राज्य गर्नुहुने प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टको इच्छा यो हो, विश्वासी, उहाँमा भएको जीवनमै पूर्ण रूपले खुशी हुनु, आफ्नो हृदयमा उहाँलाई परमेश्वर, प्रभु र मुक्तिदाता भनी राज्य गर्न दिनु। के तपाईं उहाँको जिउँदो उपस्थिति र उहाँको राज्यको सामर्थ्य आफ्नो जीवनमा अनुभव गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ? छ भने तपाईंभित्र को जिउनुहुन्छ भनेर अरूहरूलाई थाह दिन तपाईंले चाहनुपर्छ। बप्तिस्मा लिनुहुँदा तपाईंले आफ्नो गवाही सुनाउन सक्नुहुन्छ र ख्रीष्टले तपाईंको जीवनमा के गर्नुभएको छ भनेर बताउन सक्नुहुनेछ। बप्तिस्मा लिनुहुँदा तपाईंले आफ्नो मुक्तिको घडीमा सम्पन्न हुनगएको कुराको सुन्दर चित्र प्रस्तुत गर्न सक्नुहुनेछ (पृष्ठ ३ को चित्रलाई हेर्नुहोस्)। यसरी “शीशीमा लेबल लगाउने” काम गरेजस्तै आफूभित्र कोहुनुहुन्छ भनेर बताउन सक्नुहुनेछ। ४. मैले म येशूलाई पछ्याउन चाहन्छु भनेर देखाउन बप्तिस्मा लिनुपर्छ। बप्तिस्मा एउटा गम्भीर कुरा हो। बप्तिस्माको बारेमा हामीले राम्ररी विचार गर्नुपर्छ। आज धेरै मण्डलीहरूमा बप्तिस्मा एउटा ‘अर्थ-न-व्यर्थको’ धार्मिक रीतिमात्र हुनगएको छ। हामी त्यसो नगरौं। बप्तिस्माको अति महत्त्वपूर्ण अर्थ छ जसलाई हामीले कहिल्यै भुल्नुहुँदैन। पानीको बप्तिस्मा, म दाम तिरेर किनिएको हुँ त्यसैले म पूर्ण रूपमा प्रभुको भएको छु भनेर आफूलाई र अरूलाई सम्झना गराउने कुरा हो (हेर्नुहोस्, १ पत्रुस १:१८-१९, १ कोरिन्थी ६:१९-२०)। साथै म यो बुझ्दछु, यस संसारमा म उहाँको साक्षी हुनका लागि उहाँको जीवन मद्वारा प्रकट गर्नु परमेश्वरको योजना रहेछ (प्रेरित १:८)। पानीको बप्तिस्मा येशू ख्रीष्टलाई पछ्याउनेहरूले लिने कुरा हो (हेर्नुहोस्, लूका ९:२२-२६)। लूका ९:२३ मा येशूले भन्नुभयो, “जसले मेरो पछि आउने इच्छा गर्दछ, उसले आफैलाई ___________ गरोस्, दिनहुँ आफ्नो क्रूस उठाऔस् र मेरो __________ ____________।” ख्रीष्टलाई पछ्याउनु भनेको दुइटा कुरा हो: १) इच्छा (“मेरो पछि आउने इच्छा गर्दछ”) २) निर्णय – दिनहुँ आफूलाई “हुँदैन” भन्नु र प्रभुलाई “हस्” भन्नु (आफूलाई इन्कार गर्नु)। शुरूका ख्रीष्टियनहरूले बप्तिस्मा लिँदा आफूहरू ख्रीष्टका चेलाहरू भएको गवाही दिइरहेका हुन्थे। फलस्वरूप प्रायः उनीहरू संसारको घृणाको पात्र बन्न पुग्थे, दुर्व्यवहार, गिल्ला र खेदोको भागीदार बन्न पुग्थे। कहिले त आफ्नै परिवारबाट बहिष्कार गरिन्थे। तर उनीहरू जुनसुकै मूल्य तिर्नु परे पनि येशूलाई पछ्याउन इच्छुक थिए र उहाँलाई पछ्याउने निर्णय गरेकोमा उनीहरू खुशी थिए। अन्धो भएर पनि तपाईंले दृष्टि पाउनु भयो भने तपाईं अवश्य खुशी हुनुहुनेछ। तर अरू अन्धाहरूले दृष्टि पाएका छैनन् र उनीहरूले तपाईंलाई बुझिदिएनन् भनेर के तपाईं फेरी अन्धा नै हुन रोज्नुहुनेछ र? ________________। तपाईं देख्न सक्नुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरा तपाईंका अन्धा मित्रहरूले नरुचाउलान् तर यसो भन्दैमा तपाईं अन्धा बन्नु राम्रो होला? _____________। त्यस्तै, परमेश्वरले विश्वासी जनलाई आत्मिक दृष्टिदिनुभएको छ, उसलाई अनन्त जीवन दिनुभएको छ। मुक्ति नपाएकाले यो नबुझ्लान्, मन नपराउलान् पनि, तर त्यसो भन्दैमा हामी अन्धकार र मृत्युमा फर्कनु अर्थहीन कुरा हो। आज पनि येशूलाई पछ्याएर मूल्य चुकाउनु परेका व्यक्तिहरू छन्। संसारमा त्यस्ता राष्ट्रहरू छन् जहाँ ख्रीष्टियन बन्न सजिलो छैन। पानीमा बप्तिस्मा लिनेहरूको गवाही यस्तो हुनुपर्छ: “मैले येशूलाई पछ्याउने निर्णय गरें, म अन्धकार र मृत्यमा फर्कनेछैनँ! मेरो इच्छा, मेरो निर्णय यस्तो छ कि म येशूलाई पछ्याउनेछु, बाँकी जीवन प्रभुकै निम्ति जिउनेछु, उहाँकै सेवा गर्नेछु। परमेश्वरको मदतले म एक ख्रीष्टियनलाई सुहाउने जीवन जिउनेछु। जतिसुकै कठिन होस्, म येशूलाई नै पछ्याउने निर्णय गरेको छु। बेठीक संसार (समाज) को बीचमा म ठीक नै गर्ने, ठीक बोल्ने निर्णय गरेको छु। ख्रीष्टको कारण मैले मेरा मित्र (भनिने) हरू गुमाऊँला, दुर्व्यवहार र गिल्लाको पात्र बनूँला, मलाई अरूले नबुझिदिएला र मैले कष्ट भोग्नुपर्ला, तर त्यस्ता कुराहरू आइपरे पनि म सहन तयार छु, यो कुरा स्मरण गर्दै कि म शत्रुको इलाकाभित्र छु र एक समय मेरो समझ पनि उनीहरूको जस्तै अन्धा थियो। क्रूसमा मेरो मुक्तिदाताले भोग्नुभएको कष्टको तुलनामा मैले चुकाउनु पर्ने मूल्यलाई केही ठान्दिनँ।” के शुरूका ख्रीष्टियनहरू आफ्ना मुक्तिदाताका निम्ति दुःख भोग्न तयार थिए (प्रेरित ५:४०-४१)? _______________। उनीहरूले खुशीसाथ दुःख भोगे कि बेखुशी भएर? ________________। के तपाईंले मुक्ति पाउनुभयो? के तपाईं येशू ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गर्ने व्यक्ति हुनुहुन्छ? मुक्ति पाउनुहुँदा के तपाईं येशू ख्रीष्टभित्र बप्तिस्मा हुनुभयो? के तपाईं पानीको बप्तिस्मा लिनुभयो? किन लिनुभयो? वा, किन लिनुभएको छैन? के तपाईं येशूलाई पछ्याउन चाहनुहुन्छ? “चेलापनको मार्ग” असजिलो मार्ग हुन सक्ने भए तापनि के तपाईं सो मार्गमै हिँड्न चाहनुहुन्छ, यो जानेर कि प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्ट तपाईंसितै सो मार्गमा हिँड्नुहुनेछ (मत्ती २८:२०; हिब्रू १३:५)? मुक्तिदातालाई पछ्याउँदा मूल्य चुकाउनु पर्ला, कठीनाइ आउलान् तर यो पूरै सार्थक छ! बप्तिस्मा लिने बेलामा प्रायः निजलाई आफ्नो छोटो गवाही बाँड्ने मौका दिइन्छ। आफ्नो मुक्तिको बारेमा र पानीको बप्तिस्माको अर्थको विचार गर्ने क्रममा, तपाईंको बप्तिस्माको समयमा गवाही दिँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो भने तपाईंले के-के कुराहरू बाँड्नु राम्रो होला? (पानीको बप्तिस्मा लिने बेलामा तपाईं के भन्न चाहनुहुन्छ, तल लेख्न सक्नुहुन्छ)