Baptism/Immersion

When you begin to study this subject it becomes apparent quickly that most of the teachings surrounding baptism/immersion come from Talmudic writings. We want to look at what the scriptures say about this important act. To begin the study on Baptism or Immersion, it is important to know the correct meaning of the original text that speak of this act in the scriptures.

Immersion – English: 2. baptism in which the whole body is dipped under water.

(New World Dictionary 2nd College Ed., p. 702 )

Baptism – Strong’s Concordance Greek #908 from #907 - fully wet.

Tevilah – Hebrew - the act of taking a bath, complete immersion in a natural water source.

(Shofar International Article “Mikvah-Immersion”)

Mikvah – Hebrew - a natural gathering of water, as in a spring, pond, or river. In Judaism Mikvah’s often refer to a man-made pool of water. Lev. 11:36

(Shofar International Article “Mikvah-Immersion”)

The only reference in the scriptures to a Mikvah is in Lev. 11:36

36 Nevertheless a fountain or a pit in which is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.

The first part of this scripture describes a mikvah. There is one other reference that uses mikvah in describing Yahweh as the mikvah of Israel. Jer. 17:13

We will look at what the Torah says about uncleanliness, washing, and bathing.

Torah Scriptures on Immersion and Washings

Ex. 30:19-21

19 And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet there: when they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they die not; 20 or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to Yahweh. 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

Lev. 8:1-6

1 And Yahweh spoke unto Moses, saying, 2 take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bullocks of the sin-offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3 and assemble all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting, 4 And Moses did as Yahweh commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the door of the tent of meeting. 5 And Moses said to the congregation, This is the thing, which Yahweh has commanded to be done. 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

Lev. 12:1-7

1 And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives seed, and bears a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days, as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying thirty-three days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are fulfilled.

5 But if she bears a maidchild, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days. 6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle dove, for a sin-offering, to the door of the tent of meeting to the priest. 7 And he shall offer it before Yahweh, and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that bears, whether a male of female.

Notice as we read this about the woman being unclean, we don’t see anything about her WASHING. In Messianic Judaism and Judaism, it is taught that a woman must take a ritual bath. After a woman finishes her monthly cycle or the given period after childbirth, she is taught to take a bath and cleanse herself and then to take the ritual bath (Mikvah).

Lev.14:1-8

1 And Yahweh spoke to Moses saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought to the priest: 3 and the priest shall go froth out of the camp; and the priest shall look; and behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed tow living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 and the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 and he shall sprinkle on him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the living bird into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all of his hair, an bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean; and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent for seven days.

The washing here is a speaking of bathing. They didn’t have bathtubs, so washing in a natural pool of water is where they may have begun using the term of Mikvah to relate to washing or bathing.

Lev. 15:1-6

1 And Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When any man has an issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh runs with his issue, or his flesh is stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. 4 Every bed on which he that has the issue lies shall be unclean; and everything on which he sits shall be unclean. 5 And whoever touches his bed shall was his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening, 6 And he that sits on anything on which he that has the issue sat shall bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

These scriptures are dealing with uncleanliness and the purpose of bathing and washing dealing with physical, fleshly, uncleanliness. Yahweh gave these laws to teach Israel how to be clean so sickness and disease would not spread. They had been living in slavery and had a slave mentality. Physical hygiene was probably not an important part of their lives.

Num. 19:1-7

1 And Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron saying, 2 This is the statute of the law which has commanded, saying, speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer on which never came yoke. 3 And you shall give her to Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth outside the camp and someone shall kill her before his face: 4 and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.

5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight, her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: 6 and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the middle of the burning of the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the evening.

The priest here had to wash his body and his clothes to become clean.

II Kings 5:14

14 Then he went down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of Elohim, and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Ezekiel 36: 25-28

25 And I shall sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean - from all your filthiness and from all your idols I cleanse you.

Read verses 25 through 28 to see the context for Israel in the future, the time of the New Covenant

This is the only passage that could be found that had someone dipping, sprinkling, or immersing themselves in water.

New Covenant Writings on Immersion

Matt. 3:1-17

1 And in those days comes John the immerser, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying 2 Repent; for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. 3 For this is the that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of the one crying, in the wilderness, make ready the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight. 4 Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair and a leather girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 They went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region all around the Jordan; 6 and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many the Pharisees and Saducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: 9 and think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that Elohim is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 And even now the ax lies at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bring not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you in water to repentance; but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire; 12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor; and he will gather his what into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. 13 Then comes Yahshua from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be immersed of him. 14 but John would have hindered him, saying I have need to be immersed of you and you come to me? 15 But Yahshua answering said to him, Permit me now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Yahshua, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water; an lo, the heavens were opened t him and he saw heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of Yahweh descending as a dove, and coming upon Him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

In the Old Testament we saw immersing had to do with washing and cleansing the flesh. Here we see they are being immersed and confessing their sins.

Notice here that John is apprehensive about immersing Yahshua. Some teach in Judaism and Messianic Judaism that when you are immersed, no one is to touch you. If this were the case, Yahshua could have walked right down to the Jordan and just dipped himself under. Then, what would be the necessity of recording this conversation? It seems like John played an active role in Yahshua’s immersion.

 

Mark 1:1-9

1 The beginning of the good tidings of Yahshua the Messiah, the Son of Yahweh. 2 Even as it is written in the prophets, behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight; 4 John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance to remission of sins.

This immersion, which preceded the Messiah, had to do with the act of repenting when you were immersed. John was aware that Hebrew people were accustomed to cleansing/washing dealing with fleshly uncleanliness. He took it from the fleshly realm to the spiritual realm, dealing with their hearts.

5 And there went out to him all the country of Judea and all they of Jerusalem, and they were immersed of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair and had a leather girdle about his loins and did eat locusts and wild honey. 7 and he preached, saying there comes after me he that is mightier than I, the string of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I baptize you in water; but he shall immerse you in the Holy Spirit. 9 And it came to pass in those days, that Yahshua came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was immersed by John in the Jordan.

Here again we see that it seems that Yahshua was immersed BY John.

Luke 3:2-8

2 In the high-priesthood of Annas and Ciaphas, the word of Yahweh came to John the son of Zachariah in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance to remission of sins: 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice crying out in the wilderness, make ready the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight, 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of Elohim. 7 He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, you offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin no to say unto yourselves, we have Abraham as our father; for I say to you, that Elohim is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

John tells them to bear fruit of repentance. To truly repent there has to be change in your life. This is far from what most churches teach today. We need to realize that John was speaking to Jewish people, operating under the law, with the sacrificial system. These were people operating in the salvation of Yahweh according to the Torah or Old Covenant. Still, John says they are heading for the wrath of Yahweh. Obviously they weren’t living according to the law. John told them that they needed to repent. There are people today who live the same way. They live in the religious system and think they are doing good. They need to repent and bear good fruit.

John 1:23-37

23 He said, I am the voice of the one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of Yahweh, as said Isaiah the prophet. 24 and they had sent from the Pharisees. 25 and they said, why then do you baptize, if you are not the Messiah, neither Eliyah, neither the prophet? 26 John answered them saying, I baptize in water; in the midst of you stands one whom you know not, 27 even he that comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 On the next day he sees Yahshua coming to him and says, behold the Lamb of Yahweh, that takes away the sins of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, after me comes a man who has become before me; for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause I came baptizing in water. 32 And John bore witness saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it remained upon him. 33 And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, Upon whomever you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him the same is he that baptizes in the Holy Spirit. 34 And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of Elohim. 35 Again on the next day John was standing, and two of he disciples; 36 and he looked upon Yahshua as he walked, and says, Behold the Lamb of Yahweh! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Yahshua.

I John 5:5-9

5 And who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Yahshua is the son of Yahweh? 6 This is he who that came by water and blood, Yahshua the Messiah; not with water only but with the water and with the blood. 7 And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the spirit is the truth. 8 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water and the blood; and the three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of Yahweh is this, that he has borne witness concerning His Son.

Yahshua came by the water first, this speaks of the beginning of his ministry when he was baptized and the Spirit came upon him. The next witness is the Spirit, we can see through the Gospels all the things he did operating in the Spirit and under the anointing. He did things that were never and have never since this time been duplicated.

Matt. 28:18-20

18 And Yahshua came to them and spoke to them, saying All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go you therefore, and make disciples of all nations, immersing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; 20 teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Here we see Yahshua giving the order to baptize or immerse all believers. Notice he says in the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He doesn’t use a plural here.

Acts 2:38

38 And Peters said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah to the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Notice Peter teaches them to REPENT and then to be baptized, just like John taught. Then he goes on to tell them to be baptized in the name of Yahshua. How can this be right? When you use Yahshua’s name, you are actually saying Yahweh’s salvation. So, we are in actuality saying the name of the Father and the Son.

New Testament Immersion

John used the familiarity of the Jews to cleansing in the water to draw their attention to the need for a cleansing in their hearts. What does the act of immersion really mean? What should we associate with this act?

I Pet. 3:20-21

20 That before the time they were disobedient, when the long suffering of Yahweh waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which few that is eight souls were saved through water; 21 Which also after a true likeness does now save you, even baptism, no the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward Yahweh, through the resurrection of Yahshua the Messiah.

Peter says it’s not the cleansing of your flesh, it is having a good conscience toward Yahweh that’s important. When we break Yahweh’s laws we need to repent and only then can we have a good conscience toward Yahweh.

Peter brings us back to Genesis and the story of Noah. Noah heard Yahweh’s voice and he listened and obeyed Yahweh. During this time water was used by Yahweh to cleanse the earth of the sin that had filled it. The whole earth was covered with water. All flesh died, Gen. 7:21. Peter is using the Noah and the flood to show the symbolism of baptism as a cleansing of sin.

Heb. 11:6-7

6 and without faith it is impossible to please Yahweh, for he that comes to Yahweh must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that seek after him. 7 by faith Noah being warned by Yahweh concerning things not seen as yet, moved with holy fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world; and he became heir of the righteousness which is according to the faith.

We have to believe by faith in Yahweh. Immersion in water is a witness of our faith in Yahweh.

Matt. 22:23-33

23 On that day there came to him Saducees, they that say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, 24 saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife to his brother; 26 in like manner the second also, and the third, to the seventh. 27 and after them all the woman died, 28 in the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her. 29 But Yahshua answered and said to them, You err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of Yahweh. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by Elohim, saying, 32 I am the Elohim of Abraham, and the Elohim Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob? Yahweh is not the Elohim of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitudes hear it, they were astonished at his teaching.

The Saducees didn’t believe in the resurrection and were trying to trick Yahshua. He quotes the Torah from Exodus 3:6.

6 I am the Elohim of your Father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, the Elohim of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon Elohim.

When this was written these men had been dead a long time. Yahweh was telling Moses that they would receive the promise after the resurrection, that they would live again.

In Ezekiel 37 Yahweh tells Ezekiel to prophesy over the dry bones and after he did, breath came upon them, and they stood up on their feet.

Eze. 37:11

11 Then he said to me son of man these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off. 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them In this manner says the Sovereign Yahweh: behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people. I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall you shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and you shall know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it, says Yahweh.

Yahweh promises to bring them back, to resurrect them and He keeps His promises. We have this promise if we believe and have faith in the Messiah. Yahshua is our High Priest, our advocate. Even when we make a mistake, we can repent and be cleansed. This is the resurrection we want to be a part of.

Hosea 13:14

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, where are your plagues? O Sheol where is your destruction? Repentance shall be hid from my eyes.

Yahshua has the power over death and the grave. In conclusion, water immersion represents our identification with Yahshua’s death, burial, and resurrection. Since he died for us, we should now be dead to sin, meaning we should no longer practice sin. As he was the first fruit of the resurrection, we all also will follow him in the final resurrection at his coming as the Messiah, Ruler, and Prince.