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Click here to watch the sermon. Today, we’re going to be talking about baptism; more specifically, the blessings and benefits that the Bible associates with baptism. Baptism is a practice that is nearly iconic when it comes to Christianity. In fact, nearly all religious institutions, regardless of their origin or their platform of belief/faith, claim to baptize in one way or another and for some reason or another. But what does the Bible actually teach about baptism? What is it for? Who should be baptized and how does it benefit the person who submits to it? The Bible has much to say about that. We’ll take our text from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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.” Paul’s context is the unity of believers and he points to seven things of which there are each one, among which is one baptism. What he is simply saying is that there is one common baptism that unites those who are in Christ. That is a significant statement in view of the fact that the Bible actually mentions more than one baptism. For example, we read about the baptism of the Holy Spirit that was promised to the apostles and was poured out upon them as a sign unto those who witnessed it of God’s vindication upon them and their preaching of the gospel message revealed through them. In the same context where John promised that Jesus would baptize His disciples in the Holy Spirit, John warned of the baptism of fire. That’s a baptism that you don’t want. It is a warning in the Bible to those who would reject Jesus and His gospel message. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not applicable to all Christians; it was never promised to all Christians. The baptism of fire is something that no Christian wants to experience. But there IS a baptism that is commanded of everybody and it is a baptism in water. I know that it’s commanded of ALL because of what Peter said: Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” This is a baptism that is commanded, whereas Holy Spirit baptism was a promise, and baptism in fire was a warning. So, in our text passage Ephesians 4, Paul teaches that there is one baptism common to all believers, and it is the one commanded and demonstrated throughout the New Testament, particularly the book of Acts when the gospel was preached and obeyed. 1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” We are not baptized in the name of different religious leaders or into different religious bodies. Rather, there is but one baptism and it is a baptism into Christ Jesus, for a specific purpose that the Bible outlines for us. As I said, most groups practice some form of what they call baptism for one reason or another as it fits within their church dogma. But they don’t necessarily practice Bible baptism and there is a difference. That which men call baptism isn’t necessarily what the Bible refers to as baptism. You might be asking, What’s the difference? Baptism has long been a much-debated subject. There are numerous conflicting views today about what baptism is, what is it for, who is a candidate for it, and even what exactly constitutes baptism. I suppose the most dominant view in modern religion is that baptism is a church ordinance and nothing more than that. It’s just a symbolic ceremony that takes place within the church that people are encouraged to participate in for the purpose of outwardly demonstrating the former inward process of conversion. In other words, they say you are saved well before you’re baptized; you’re saved when you believe, then you are encouraged to later be baptized to outwardly demonstrate that you were saved. There are those who place baptism at the door to their church in the sense that to become a member of their denomination or church, you must submit to their form of baptism. Consequently, I know of people who have been baptized many times because they’ve gone from one church to another, each of which requires some form of baptism in order to be recognized as a part of that fellowship. Well, is that what the Bible says about baptism? I do think it strange that many feel at liberty to place baptism at the door of their church, but they don’t allow the Lord Jesus Christ to do the same with HIS church. Nonetheless, there are numerous ideas about baptism and I feel it safe to assume that if you are a member of a religious organization, if you view yourself as a Christian, then you at some point have either been encouraged to be baptized or you have submitted to something that someone called baptism for one reason or another. But was your baptism Bible baptism? Was it the same one that Jesus commanded, that the apostles and the early church practiced, and that we read about within the scriptures? How can you know if your baptism is right in the sight of God? We’ll notice ten marks of Bible baptism today, and if your baptism doesn’t bear these ten marks, then it is not Bible baptism. One: Bible baptism is an immersion in water. There is a lot of confusion about that today, because many religious leaders will tell you that baptism can be accomplished by sprinkling or pouring. Many times, babies are “baptized” by having water sprinkled on their heads. It is often left up to the candidate for baptism whether he’d rather have water poured on his head, be sprinkled with water or be immersed. But do we read about baptism under the preaching of the apostles taking the form of sprinkling or pouring? No, because the very definition of the word that Bible writers used does not mean to sprinkle or pour; rather it means to dip, submerge, plunge, or immerse. When you read the word baptize in the New Testament, it is the transliteration of the Greek word baptizo. That’s the word the Bible writers used, which again means to immerse. King James, when he commissioned the translation of the Bible into English, his translators chose not to translate the word baptize, but to transliterate it from baptizo to baptize. What they did in so doing was to obscure the meaning of the word. Church tradition had allowed the word baptize to come to mean any number of things, but that is not the original meaning of the word baptizo. If we were to translate the word baptizo accurately into English, we would use a word like immerse. For example, Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” would be properly translated, He that believeth and is immersed shall be saved… So, by the very definition of the original word, baptism means to immerse, and the Bible always depicts baptism as an immersion. 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.” Baptism is a transaction in which we are buried with Christ and we rise with Him. We can read in Acts 8 of the Ethiopian nobleman who heard Philip preach the gospel to him and immediately decided that he needed to be baptized in response to hearing the gospel. Acts 8:38-39 “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.” So, the Bible consistently describes baptism as an immersion in water. Two: Bible baptism is preceded by belief and repentance. Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Consequently, that’s why baptism is not stated in the negative in the second half of that verse: baptism is predicated upon belief, and if a person does not believe, there is no reason for him to be baptized. Baptism doesn’t even come under consideration if he doesn’t believe. So, Jesus positively states that he that believeth and is baptized (or immersed) shall be saved. In Acts 2, Peter commanded those on Pentecost: Acts 2:38 “… Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” Those people had to repent before they could be baptized. Jesus said a person must believe before they could be baptized. That rules out baptism for an infant, who first of all has no sins of which to repent, and secondly does not have the mental ability at that point in his life to even believe in Jesus, know who Jesus is, or repent of any sins even if he had them to repent of. Therefore, infants and unaccountable children are not candidates for Bible baptism. Baptism is for the penitent believer. Three: Baptism is submitted to in order to receive the forgiveness of sins. In our King James translation of the Bible, that phrase is the remission of sins, which means the same thing. Acts 2:38 ““… Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” That little word for comes from the Greek word eis, which means in order to or in view of. Someone says, Well, what that actually means is that we’re baptized because Christ has forgiven us of our sins. Let’s just try that on. In Matthew 26, when Jesus was instituting the Lord’s Supper, the Bible says this: Matthew 26:27-28 “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Question: Was Jesus crucified and was His blood shed because our sins had already been forgiven? Did He die because God had already forgiven the sins of the world? Or did He die and shed His blood in order that we might be forgiven? We all know the answer to that question, and the very same language is used in Acts 2:38. Here’s another question: Can a person be saved without repentance? Can a person receive the forgiveness of his sins if he never repents of his sins? Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Jesus warns that I’ll be lost if I don’t repent. So, I must repent if I’m to be forgiven of my sins. Peter joins these two things with the conjunction “and” in Acts 2:38 when he said, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.” Friend, a person isn’t forgiven of their sins before they’re baptized, rather they are forgiven when they are baptized into Christ, according to the commandment of the Lord Jesus. Four: Bible baptism is a step that begins a new relationship to Christ. Baptism is not a step that comes after one has established a new relationship to Christ, but it IS the step that initiates a new relationship with Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” At that point, the Bible says we put on Christ. Not before, but when we are baptized. Every step in a sinner’s conversion to Christ is not only important, but essential. A person must believe in order to be saved; you can’t be saved without faith. A person must repent; you can’t be saved without repentance. A person is not saved at the point when they believe, nor at the point when they repent, but those steps ARE essential in getting to the point of salvation. For example, when I believe in Jesus, I change my mind concerning my sins, who Jesus is, and the will of God. When I repent, I change my will in regard to Jesus. I am not only sorry for what I’ve done and the life I’ve lived, but I resolve to change. I make a change of heart and will, and I now turn toward Christ and away from sin. That is repentance. But baptism is unique in that in baptism, it is not merely our mind and our will that change, but rather our state actually changes. We are baptized into Christ, according to the Bible. It doesn’t say that we believe or repent into Christ, but that we are baptized into Christ. It is the step that begins a new relationship to Jesus. Five: Bible baptism is the identification with the suffering and vindication of Christ. In other words, when I am baptized, I unite with Jesus in His death and in His resurrection and therefore, I participate in the benefits of that. Romans 6:3-5 “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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Notice that Paul does NOT say that baptism pictures our death and our resurrection, but he tells us that baptism identifies us with Christ’s death and His resurrection. It is not an after-the-fact symbol that a Christian participates in that depicts his former death to sin. Baptism is the point at which one identifies with the death of Jesus, and therefore, at that point, dies to his sins and is raised to walk in newness of life. Baptism is a symbol of the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. It’s not a symbol of something that we did in the past. It is the point at which we identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Six: Bible baptism is the point at which one becomes free from sin. Not before, not later. Bible baptism is the very point when one becomes free from sin. Understand that in and of itself, baptism is not a meritorious work wherein we earn salvation; that is not what is being suggested at all. It is an of obedience. It is a submissive act of faith where we claim and accept the promise and the blessing of the forgiveness of sins. We are made free from sin in that watery transaction. How do we know that? Listen to Paul: Romans 6:17-18 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Paul says, You were sinners, but now you’re not. When were you made free from sin? When you obeyed that form of doctrine delivered you. The word form means likeness and the doctrine refers to the teaching that was delivered them. If you look at I Corinthians 15:1-6, the apostle Paul shows that the gospel that he preached or delivered to them was the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, what Paul is saying in Romans 6:17-18 is that they were sinners, but they were made free from sin when they obeyed a likeness of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When, where, and how did they do that? We’ve already noticed earlier in that chapter: Romans 6:3-5 “5 “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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” That makes sense why Paul would say, being then (when you obeyed) made free from sin… If you’ve not been baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, you’ve not been made free from your sins. You remain in your sins. You need to be baptized in order to have your sins washed away. Seven: Bible baptism is where one washes in the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus is what remits our sins. Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” We’ve sung the hymn throughout the ages, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” How true that is! It is the blood of Jesus, the blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins that can wash away all of our sinful stains. But how do we contact the blood of Jesus? How do we avail ourselves of His precious cleansing blood? Well, His blood was shed in His death. When He died on the cross, the soldier pierced His side and the Bible says, “forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34). We’ve already noticed that Paul said that we are “baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3). Remember what Ananias told Saul? Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Do you want to wash in the blood of Jesus? Do you want to wash your robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb? You need to be baptized for the remission of your sins. Eight: Bible baptism is where and when one calls on the name of the Lord. Someone says, To be saved, all you have to do is call on the name of Jesus. The Bible surely does say that. Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That’s very true. The question is, HOW do we call upon the name of the Lord? Let’s go back to Acts. Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Calling on the name of the Lord simply means that we submit to the Lord’s offer of salvation, to His will and to His authority. His blood then remits our sins and we are saved. When? When we submit to Him in baptism. Nine: Bible baptism is an act of obedience to the gospel. It is NOT an act of obedience to the church. It is NOT a church ordinance; it is a gospel ordinance. It is a teaching of the gospel itself. For example, the Bible tells us that the gospel IS something to be obeyed—not just believed. It is to be obeyed. The Bible says that if we don’t obey it, we’ll be lost. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” So, how do you obey the gospel? You do so when you submit to the teaching of the gospel, and when Jesus put it this way when He commissioned His apostles: 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.” Ten: Bible baptism is the point of salvation. We conclude from our study that baptism is the point when one is saved. 1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” Have you been baptized with a Bible baptism? Is your baptism from heaven or is it from men? I hope you’ll give some serious thought to that today. ©2017 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.
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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)