What did Paul say about baptism on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea?
1Co 10: v1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
V2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
V3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
V4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Messiah (Our Creator was Yahweh of the Old Covenant).
What did Messiah require of Abraham in the Old Covenant?
Gen 17: v9. And Yahweh said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
V10. This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
V11. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
V12. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which [is] not of thy seed
I'm glad I was circumcised at 8 days old. I'm sure it was extremely painful for Abraham. Medically speaking, circumcision is a healthier option for a man and is a blessing from Yahweh.
But what about the New Covenant? What does Messiah through Paul say is the new circumcision?
Col 2: v11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of YahwehShua (Paul met Messiah on the road to Damascus when Messiah was in his resurrected spiritual body):
V12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of Yahweh the Father, who hath raised him from the dead.
V13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses (all sins);
V14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (sacrificial law is placed on pause until the millennium, but not the Royal Law or Ten Commandments which are now magnified in the New Covenant) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his stake (not cross);
So with the baptism all your sins are forgiven, says Paul. Our Creator was baptized by John. Did he sin? Yahweh forbid! So why did he get baptized? Matthew gives a clue.
Mat 3: v16. And Messiah, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Holy Spirit of the Father descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
V17. And lo a voice from heaven (an angel speaking for the Father since no one has ever heard or seen the Father except the Son), saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
So Messiah received the seed of the Holy Spirit of the Father Yahweh and was begotten. He was perfected by the things he had to overcome and the suffering he endures. He was born again as YahwehShua when he received his inherited name and spiritual body at the resurrection.
Heb 5: v5. So also Messiah glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
V8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
V9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Jhn 20: v17. YahwehShua saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my Father Yahweh, and your Father Yahweh.
Messiah does things in patterns, so what's the pattern for our baptism? Do we get a seed of Holy Spirit? Do we have to overcome? Like Messiah who received the seed of his Father's Holy Spirit when we're baptized, we receive the seed of Messiah's Holy Spirit.
Gal 4: v6. And because ye are sons, Yahweh the Father hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Rev 3: v19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 2: v11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Gal 4: v19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until YahwehShua be formed in you.
Well that's great now that you're baptized, you don't need to do anything else, right? Sorry, not sorry. You are just getting in the race and you're just getting started.
1Co 9: v24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
V26. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
V27. But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Php 3: v13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
V14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Yahweh the Father in YahwehShua.
What's the prize or the reward? Moses knew about the reward.
Heb 11: v24. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
V25. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of Yahweh, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
V26. Esteeming the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence (payment) of the reward (becoming a Saint with a spiritual body as part of the 144,000 at the 7th Trump).
John spoke of it in Revelation.
Rev 11: v18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Rev 22: v11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still (not much time to change!): and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
V12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
V13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
V14. Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Messiah was baptized when he was 30 years old.
Luk 3: v21. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Messiah also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
V22. And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son (an angel speaking for the Father since no one has seen or heard the Father except Messiah); in thee I am well pleased.
V23. And Messiah himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli.
Why did Messiah wait so long to get baptized? Luke gives a clue.
Luk 14: v28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it?]
V29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it,] all that behold [it] begin to mock him,
V30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
V31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
V32. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
V33. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath (forsake the ways of the world, have no idols before our Creator, even a heathen takes care of their family) he cannot be my disciple.
V34. Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (Mat 5: v13. Ye are the salt of the earth, Mrk 9: v50. Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another, Mrk 9: v49. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt).,
So why do you have to count the cost? Why can't we just go right ahead?
Luk 9: v62. And Messiah said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of Yahweh
There is no turning back once you're baptized in the right name and have hands laid on you by an elder, you have a big target on your back. The adversary will let the fiery arrows fly. A brother mentioned the following scriptures recently.
Eph 6: v11. Put on the whole armour of YahwehShua, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
V12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places.]
V16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
You thought your life was tough and difficult before baptism. Let the tribulation begin.
Act 14: v22. Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of Yahweh.
What about someone who's younger than 30 years of age who wants to be baptized? What does the Bible say?
1Ch 23: v24. These [were] the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; [even] the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from the age of twenty years and upward.
The Earth was baptized with water (Noah/flood) and will be baptized with fire (7 seals/trumps/vials) leading up to Armageddon and also again leading up to Gog/Magog. Likewise we ought to be baptized with water and then fire.
Mat 3: v10. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
V11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and [with] fire:
Baptism is done by immersion in water.
V39. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of Yahweh caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Mrk 1: v10. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
In summary, count the cost, read all the articles on this website, pray to Yahweh the Father in the name of his resurrected Son YahwehShua and consider taking the first step.
HalleluYahwehShua!