Also see the teaching and video here.
The Messianic doctrine of Water Immersion
- The history of ritual water immersion
- The Greek word Baptidzo is actually the same as the Hebrew word t’vilah which means “to totally immerse.”
- The Scripture mentions several reasons for ritual immersion
- Israel washed their clothes before they met the L-rd at Sinai – Ex. 19:10
- Cleansing after Tza’arat has been cured. – Lev. 14:1-4, 7, 9
- A man or woman who has a bodily discharge was to wash their clothes and bathe completely as part of their cleansing. – Lev. 15
- Aaron and his sons were commanded to wash before they ministered to the L_RD – Lev. 8 & 16
- The Talmud shows that t’vilah was used for Gentile conversion to Judaism prior to the first century.
- Beit Shammai stressed the priority of circumcision
- Beit Hillel argued that the mikveh was more important because it symbolized repentance and spiritual cleansing.
- Maimonides built upon this analogy of the mikveh by linking it to Eze. 36:25 that speaks of new spirit
ual life (Birnbaum, Mishna Torah, Mikva’ot 11:12)
- Part of the walk of a Believer in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach
- Acts 1: 4-5
- Acts 10:43-48
- Acts 18:24 – 19:5
- 1 Cor. 10:1-4 (Refers back to the Exodus)
- Passover is the Beginning of a journey (Ex. 12:11)
- Israel went through the water of the Red Sea
- Israel was immersed in the Cloud, the Ruach HaKodesh
- Although it does not confer salvation, it gives us a wonderful symbol of what has already taken place. 1 Pet. 3:20-21 (Refers back to Noah)
- It is a direct command of Yeshua
- Matt. 28:16-20
- Mark 16:16
- John 4:4
- Immersion is for the Repentance and cleansing of Sin
- Matt. 3:1-12
- Mark 1:4-11
- Luke 3: 2-22
- Acts 2:37-41
- Matt. 3:1-12
- It demonstrates a total commitment and surrender to Yeshua. In it we partake in His Death, Burial and New Life!
- Matt. 20 17-23
- Mark 10:36-40
- Luke 12:49-50
- Rom. 6:1-11
- Col. 2:12-13