John 1:17 NIV
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The law and Jesus Christ! As I continue to study the law and Jesus Christ, it is fascinating to learn how connected they are, yet different. I can see why certain religious groups teach doctrine that baptism, which is submersion in water as Jesus taught Nicodemus in John 3: 1-21 is viewed as human work. Nonetheless, as I study the Scriptures, I find that their doctrine is far from the true purpose of baptism. Yes, I do believe baptism alone doesn’t bring transformation and salvation.
If that was God’s final plan, then it would be work of the flesh as apostle Paul referenced in Galatians 3 to those who were relying on the law, which is the old covenant. Under the new covenant through Jesus, the Holy Spirit does all the work that mankind has repeatedly failed to accomplish according to the will of God. Jesus says “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63 NLT). If Paul was to teach baptism is the work of the flesh, he would contradict himself because he taught baptism is a symbol of burial with Christ into a new creation. Romans 6:2-4, "By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Before Jesus Christ, the law of God was what all mankind had to live by in attempt to get close to God, which was human work. In the new covenant, the Law of God is important but not our path to Him. Jesus Christ incarnated the law of God through the power of God, the Holy Spirit infused the word of God with flesh to become the perfect lamb to take the sins of the world (John chapter 1). Jesus is above the Law! Jesus is the only one who can set us free from the work of the law which relies on the flesh. In 1 Peter 3:21, it talks about this water of baptism which symbolizes a pledge of clear conscience toward God. Yes, in Acts chapters 10-11, Cornelius family received the Holy Spirit before baptism by the will of God with the sole purpose to help the apostles overcome their prejudice against Gentiles. Nonetheless, in obedience to Jesus’ commands they moved forward to baptizing the household of Cornelius. Another example is the thief on the cross with Jesus (Mathew 27:38-44). Many have used this example as means to disregard Jesus’ instruction on how a person can be born again. In our narrow mind, we can't fathom the norm and the absolute power of God. God has the power to do as he pleases for a purpose that we might not understand. On that note, we don't have the power or authority to override God's instruction as Jesus did. Let's spend time with Jesus through his commands and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you into his likeness through his grace and truth. There are lessons and personal experiences I have encountered that are the absolute power of God that no human can perform or do on their own but only by God’s power. Let us not get distracted with Satan’s voice and get out of the Norm of God to please our human ego which leads to the desire of the flesh.
