Baptism; Water and Fire
What is Baptism? Why is it important to Christians?
What is ‘Baptism’?
Why is it important to Christians?
‘Baptism’ (specifically ‘Water Baptism’) is an outward expression of a new spiritual belief and commitment.
Many children are baptized to introduce them into the ecumenical fellowship practiced by their parents or family. This ceremony is considered a "rite of passage," chosen and embraced by the family, allowing the child to become part of a specific denomination of spiritual or religious belief.
As stated and described in scripture, adult baptism pertains to an adult's voluntary recognition of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, making Him the conduit of spiritual reconciliation.
Spiritual ‘rebirth’ is described in John 3:3, when Nicodemus, one of the Jewish faith leaders in Jerusalem, questioned Jesus about what He (Jesus) means by being ‘born again’. This question reveals misunderstandings by those in authority (through Nicodemus) about spiritual rebirth, or 'refinement by spiritual fire.’
This is explained in all four gospel books and the book of Acts. To those he baptized, John the Baptist declared, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)
The essence of voluntary adult baptism is a turning away from the 'ways of the world' that the 'old us' embraced, making way for a new spiritual creation and a commitment to follow Christ Jesus. We are called to use His words and actions as an example of new moral and ethical behavior when interacting with people, events, and circumstances in our daily lives. We should reflect on how Jesus acted during His time on earth and consider how He would respond if He were standing beside us as we make our choices or decisions. Jesus demonstrated moral and ethical responses in every situation. As His believers and followers, we should strive to respond in the same way, upholding moral and ethical standards in all that we do.
Baptism describes washing away by ‘water’ our present physical life as an act of repentance, to be replaced by new, changed future behaviors culminating in purified 'spiritual fire' after our mortal passing. This description of fire pertains to our spiritual refinement.
Jesus is the refining crucible (God's Holy Spirit conduit) of spiritual purification. Again, an act of fellowship, but more importantly, it is recognition by the one being baptized as an act of turning from one’s previous life and becoming a “new creation in Christ”. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
God embodies pure truth and love in His essence as Spirit. Consequently, nothing that lacks spiritual purity can exist in His holy presence. Any form of moral or ethical disobedience, often referred to as "sin," cannot be in God’s presence. Therefore, every being that wishes to be united with God’s spiritual essence after their mortal life must undergo a process of purification or refinement to achieve that purity before rejoining Him in the state of 'Universal Consciousness.'
The process of purification or refinement is initiated and completed by each spirit through mortal death, as they pass through the refining crucible of the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus. Why the spirit of Christ Jesus? Because His spirit is the same Holy Spirit that has been and is God for eternity.
Had Jesus, as a human, turned from His voluntary obedience to His Holy Spirit by "sinning," He would have forfeited His role and mission as the Christ, the messiah, and the world's savior. His Spirit is God's Holy Spirit, so He chose to remain spiritually pure.
Like you and me, Jesus had 'free will' to choose His responses in every situation He faced as a human—the same and similar situations we each face daily. And like Jesus, we each have opportunities to respond morally and ethically or not. He chose to respond guided by His spirit, keeping him spiritually 'pure.'
Morals and ethics are God's character and nature in action. By responding to every situation in His spiritual essence, morally and ethically, Jesus is the element of spiritual refinement.
For His believers and followers, every deceased mortal body whose spirit is refined and prepared by the 'spiritual fire' of Christ can return to God's spiritual essence and presence. This is the 'fire' described in scripture for purification, which is acceptable to be in God's presence again. This process represents the essence of spiritual 'rebirth' or 'born again' status.
Many may contend that childhood baptism is enough. Perhaps. However, scripture describes voluntary adult baptism for a reason. That reason is that God leaves each of us the choice to actively believe and follow His Word or not.
Just as childhood baptism is an outward expression of a parental desire for their child's connection to God to be communal, so too adult baptism is an outward expression by the individual to show a willingness to be recognized as a new creation in Christ. A spiritually renewed 'prodigal' child of God. This outward reveal validates in the eyes of the world a desire to realign spiritually with God's Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus. Our 'Spirit of Origination' becomes 'reborn' by, with, and through baptismal acknowledgment of Christ Jesus as lord and savior.
At the same time, this action prepares our spirit for its future ‘refinement’ upon mortal death to become a child of God once again. (John 3:1-7)