THE BIBLICAL METHOD OF BAPTISM by PROPHET GOODNEWS ADOLPHUS

SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM 

Jesus told Necodemus "unless you are born of water and of the Holy Spirit you cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (John chapter 3). Baptism by water is a sign of repentance from sin and for accepting Jesus Christ as the true Messiah because John did baptize people in order to prepare them for the arrival of the Messiah as a forerunner; therefore he said that the one coming is mightier than himself who will baptize them with Holy Ghost and with fire(Luke chapter 3 and John chapter 1).

 Base on his teachings, the people came to him and were baptized confessing their sins and was referring them to the Messiah who also came and was baptized and then introduced Jesus to them of whom he said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world"(John chapter 1) so that he will be recognized by the people. Therefore, baptism is a sign of repentance and of accepting Jesus Christ as the true Messiah also called the "suffering Messiah" who will later return from heaven in a cloud on the great and terrible day of the Lord.

WHICH METHOD? 

Argument arises as regards the exact method used by John the Baptist during his baptism among various Christian organization; various methods apply include: sprinkling of the water, pouring of the water and dipping or immersion. This confusion arises for the fact that they feel the method is not quite specific in the bible so each of them carry on the baptism using any of the above methods. However the exact method applied by John the Baptist is indicated in the Holy Bible although it takes the wisdom of God to understand the mystery.

The most popular reason is that John Baptized where there was abundance of water like such places like River Jordan and other areas( John chapter 3) The truth is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the same method the water baptism was carried out. The water is a sign of santification while the Holy Spirit confirmed. The baptism of water was prophesied in the books of the prophets like wise the baptism of the Holy Spirit(Joel chapter 2;24 and Zechariah chapter 13:1) Prophet Joel said, "I will POUR out my Spirit upon all flesh......." Therefore, baptism both of the water and of the Holy Spirit has to do with "POURING".

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost is a clear manifestation of the way and manner the Baptism of John was performed which the Holy Spirit later confirmed. John said, ".. the one coming after me will baptize you with Holy Ghost and with fire" meaning they were baptized with Holy Ghost fire just like the water baptism. Question: How was the Holy Ghost Fire baptism manifested? Answer: .." and there appear unto them tongues of fire resting on their heads" (Acts chapter 2;3); Therefore tongues of water was first poured upon the heads of the Apostles and others first before the baptism of the Holy Ghost fire came which also confirm the baptism in the likeness of the tongues of fire resting on their heads on the days of Pentecost.

 Similarly, the Holy Spirit in the likeness of a dove rested on the head of Jesus Christ when he walked out of the water to confirm his baptism by John the Baptism for the fact that he was also baptized on the head (John chapter 1) In as much as sanctification is concern, the head of the man is the most important part carrying the rest of the body just as Jesus is the head of the Church, and the man is the head of the woman. If the head is disorganized, it will affect the rest of the body. Therefore the anointing of the prophets, kings and priests by anointing oil is on the head. The anointing of the Holy Spirit flows from the head to the rest of the body.

JESUS CAME OUT OF THE WATER 

Some who baptized in the days of John the Baptist could be taller than himself and to show submission to God during the confession of sin, they have to kneel down in the water where it was not too deep - say about ankle deep so that John hands could reach out by pouring the water on the head and after that they stood up and walked out of the water and they must be standing in the queue and he was baptizing one after the other until he came to the turn of our Lord Jesus Christ who was also baptized 
with others.

 DIPPING INTO THE WATER OR IMMESSION 

This method was not applicable as John was not performing healing assignment unlike in the case of Naman the Syrian but rather was baptizing each person by himself - one after the other. If dipping into the water was required then John would have ordered them to go and wash their sins away by themselves instead. Every body will rush into the water and make a swimming excise. Then the scripture will indicate that John ordered them to go into the Jordan and dip or swim but that was not the case . This was a special assignment to be carried out by John the Baptist himself.( 2 Kings chapter 5)

 ATTENDING TO THE GREAT CROWD

 In another development, if John was to personally dipping individuals into the water, how can he attend to the entire crowd rushing to be baptized? Have you performed water baptism as a preacher by immersion? Do you realize the energy you would require just to baptize say thirty persons standing in the river? Some are fat and some are slim in nature; now you hold the person and dip into the water and bring out for three times until thirty persons. You will get very tired at the end of the excise. Is that correct? But John was standing there alone attending to several thousands of people. Jesus attended to a crowd of four to five thousands which he fed and John has to baptized each one of them. Now dipping each one of them into the water and pouring the water on the head which one is quicker and easier? Answer it yourself!

BURIAL AND RESSURECTION 

Burial and resurrection has not connection with baptism since dipping and immersion was not applied by John the Baptist. The clear reason is that the baptism of John took place first before Jesus Christ's dead, buried and resurrected took place. Jesus took our sins and infirmities and died, buried and resurrected as to give us a new life is quite understood but is not applicable to the method of Baptism for the fact that his death and resurrection did not occurred first.

 Therefore if dipping into the water or immersion is applicable after the death of Christ then it is a new development or dogma observed later by the Christians but that has nothing to change from the original method of baptism which occur before the death of Christ base on the facts given above.
 
About the Author Prophet Goodnews Adolphus, a Nigerian Jew of Joseph's tribe received the angel scroll in 1981 at the aged of 21. The scroll contains the prophecies of the prophets written in the Holy Bible which are again revealed to him in both visions and dream which he uses a guide for his research and teachings. Email: adolphusgoodnews@yahoo.com