“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE; for there is not distinction; for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift (not by works) by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicity as a propitiation in HIS BLOOD, through FAITH…..” (Romans 3:21-25a)
In Revelation 1:5 we read that Jesus Christ loved us and WASHED US IN HIS BLOOD .
This washing in His blood is a spiritual baptism. We are submerged or dipped in the blood of the Lamb and we are cleansed from ALL SIN. It is not merely a once in a lifetime cleansing, it is a day by day continued process. The Greek test reads, “And the BLOOD of Jesus Christ GOES ON CLEANSING from ALL SIN those who are walking in the Light. (I John 1:7)
The word Baptism cannot be found in the Old Testament, the reason why is because it is a Greek word and the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Chaldean (Daniel). However, the Greek words found in the New Testament are:
Baptismos = washing (Strong’s Concordance #909)
Baptizo = “Wash” Comes from the word BAPTO which means to COVER OVER WITH A FLUID. (Not necessarily water) (Strong’s concordance #907)
The equivalent for these words is the Hebrew words:
Rachats = to lave, to bathe or “to wash” (Strong’s #7364)
Kavac = washing (Strong’s Conc. #3526)
To be washed or to be cleansed In the name of Jesus simply means to be baptized In the name of Jesus by faith in Jesus Christ, as we read in Romans 3:22-25. To receive redemption and propitiation (restoration) through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD.
This baptism has NOTHING TO DO WITH WATER. It has everything to do with the WASHING OF REGENERATION. We have been WASHED from our sins by the blood of Jesus. (Rev. 1:5)
“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, BY THE WASHING(baptism) OF REGENERATION and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
This washing of regeneration, this washing of our sins in the blood of Jesus is exactly what Ananias told Paul that He needed to do. This was a baptism BY CALLING ON THE NAME OF JESUS. This would bring about a WASHING AWAY OF PAUL’S SINS.
“And now why do you delay? Arise, and BE BAPTIZED AND WASH AWAY YOUR SINS, (how?) by CALLING ON HIS NAME.” (Acts 2:38)
When Peter spoke about Baptism in this verse, He was not referring to water. If he would have been, then it would be necessary for everyone to be baptized in water in order to receive forgiveness of sins. But as we have previously seen the forgiveness of sins comes through the BLOOD and NOT through water.
“And corresponding to that, Baptism (In the Blood) now saves you (by calling on Jesus name) NOT THE REMOVAL OF DIRT FROM THE FLESH (water baptism) but an APPEAL TO GOD for a good conscience – Through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: I Peter 3:21 (See Romans 10:9-10)
The Baptism here referred to is obviously a baptism through the BLOOD of Jesus and not a water baptism. Redemption or salvation comes through the BLOOD and not in any other way.
“In HIM (Jesus) we have (present tense) redemption through HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. (Eph. 1:7)
Thus we can see from the following scriptures that the Blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL SIN and we have the following:
Redemption through the Blood. I Peter 1:18-19
Forgiveness through the Blood. Ephesians 1:17
Justification through the Blood. Romans 5:9
Peace through the Blood. Colossians 1:20
Loosing of Sin through the Blood. Revelation 1:5
Sanctification through the Blood. Hebrews 13:12
Access through the Blood. Hebrews 10:19
Victory through the Blood. Revelation 12:11
Through the Blood of Jesus we are all washed and baptized into the body of Christ.
“For by one Spirit we were (past tense) all (saints) baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:13)
To be baptized in the name of Jesus means to become a part of the body of Christ. The Spirit of God baptizes us all into one body, the Body of Christ. All you need to do is by faith call upon Jesus as your SAVIOR, believing that HE is the Son of God and that He was resurrected and is alive.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were (past tense) BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28)
We can all become the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Faith in the cleansing power of the blood. We have been baptized into Christ and have clothed ourselves with Christ.
The words “clothed yourselves” mean: To cover up, as when you put your clothes on. When you put on Christ, it means you are covered over with the Blood of righteousness that Jesus shed for all and you are thus covered with or by the precious Blood of Jesus.
The word “covered over” or “clothed” are the Hebrew words: Kapporeth = A lid or a cover (Strong’s #3727). This word was used in the Old Testament for the cover of the Sacred Ark. It was a blanket covering the ark.
This was a type of the blood of Christ as we can see in the following scriptures:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe DIPPED IN BLOOD and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD” (Revelation 19:11-13)
The Blood of Jesus is the Kapporeth or the Lid or robe which covers the Born Again Believer; and Christ wears this robe and Jesus being the Head of the body has no need to be covered by the robe. He is with out sin therefore needs no covering. Jesus became the believers KIPPUR (#3725 Strong’s Conc.) The Jewish celebration of YUM KIPPUR as a day to commemorate the atonement was a type of what was to be accomplished by Jesus. The Blood of Jesus was shed to atone for our sins ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Both of these words; Kapporeth and KIPPUR come from the Hebrew word Kaphar (Strong’s #3722) which means all of the following things:
To expiate, to condone, to pacify, to purge, to reconcile and “TO CLEANSE”.
The BLOOD OF CHRIST has done all of the above for us when we are baptized into the blood of Christ.
Few people realize that water baptism was performed by the Jews and that it was part of their atonement… That water baptism was a symbolic cleansing which in spite of the water required THE SPRINKLING OF THE ASHES OF A RED HEIFER which had been offered as a sin offering. This of course symbolizing the fact that IT WAS NOT THE WATER THAT CLEANSED but the BLOOD OF THE SIN OFFERING with which it was mingled. Likewise, water baptism does NOTHING for you unless you have received the CLEANSING BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS who was offered as a sin offering for us.
The very moment that you are born again something far greater occurs than the benefits received through water Baptism:
Redemption, Forgiveness, Justification, Sanctification, peace and cleansing are all benefits received as you are washed by His blood. You are free from the law and bondage to the law.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free. You are COMPLETE in Him.
We are to leave the elementary doctrines which include the doctrine of Baptisms and not entangle ourselves with the law.