Lynne Little Ministries - Higher Realm
This podcast features a wide-ranging concentration of subjects from Christian apologetics, to mankind's relationship with God and His with us, and exploring our roles within the contemporary church as well as society at large. We facilitate open dialogue with straightforward examinations of foundational Christian beliefs. Special focus will include recovering from, and moving forward through, any type of profound loss from the Christian perspective.
Lynne Little Ministries - Higher Realm
Little by Little - Part Four - Beyond the Ritual: Uncovering Baptism's True Purpose
Dive beneath the surface into one of Christianity's most misunderstood practices—baptism. Lynne Little skillfully navigates the seven distinct forms of baptism found throughout Scripture, revealing profound connections that many believers have never considered.
The journey begins with ancient symbolic baptisms—Moses leading Israelites through parted waters, John's preparation in the wilderness, and even Jesus's own baptism despite having no sin. These historical moments set the stage for understanding baptism's true spiritual significance beyond mere ritual. Lynne masterfully explains how baptism of fire represents both judgment and the Holy Spirit's empowering presence, while the baptism of suffering connects believers to Christ's sacrifice.
Water baptism emerges as the focal point—not as a path to salvation, but as a powerful four-fold declaration: an expression of faith, a symbol of renewal, an act of obedience, and a public testimony. With gentle wisdom, Lynne challenges traditional notions about infant baptism, guiding listeners back to Scripture's emphasis on conscious decision rather than ceremonial tradition.
"We need to align ourselves with scripture rather than tradition," Lynne reminds us, offering clarity that liberates rather than condemns. The episode concludes with a heartfelt salvation invitation that reinforces the message throughout—salvation comes through faith alone, while baptism beautifully declares that faith to the world.
Have you been confused about baptism's purpose? This episode offers the biblical clarity you've been seeking. Share your baptism story with us at lynnelittleministries@gmail.com or explore more resources at lynnelittle.org.
You are listening to Higher Realm with Lynne Little. Our program highlights biblical strategies for moving through life's difficulties and finding your path to healing. We tackle issues particular to those who have experienced painful loss in any form. Lynne is the founder and president of Lynne Little Ministries and the author of Missing Lisa, A Parent Grieves and Finding God in Death and Life: A Passage Through Grief. Now here's Lynne.
Lynne :Hello and welcome. Today is the fourth episode in our series entitled Little by Little. As mentioned before, this series is a brief introduction to basic Christian beliefs or doctrine, presented step by step. We have already dealt with these subjects: original sin and sin, nature, what it means to be born again and the meaning of the term salvation. Today we are covering the subject of baptism what it is, why do it, and what does scripture have to say about it.
Lynne :Now, most people are familiar with infant baptism, having been present at such ceremonies in the capacity of parent, grandparent, godparent and etc. But did you know there is more than one baptism mentioned in the scriptures? The word baptism and its variants appear over 100 times across both the Old and New Testaments. In the Bible there are seven that have the most significance, but not to worry, we will only just touch on six and spend more time on only one, specifically water baptism. The idea of multiple baptisms is referred to in Hebrews, chapter 6, verses 1 and 2, which reads: "Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let's go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of the doctrine of baptisms, baptisms plural. However, paul writes in Ephesians 4-5 that there is one baptism. This seemingly contradictory mention is not to say that there is only one baptism in existence. Instead, there is only one type of baptism the believer must take part in. So the seven most commonly referred to are these the baptism of Moses, the baptism of John, the baptism of Jesus, the baptism of fire, the baptism of suffering, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and water baptism. The first six we will discuss only briefly. Some of them represent a long and venerable imprint of symbolism that, taken together, all portend the act of water baptism.
Lynne :So let's begin with the baptism of Moses. This was a type or symbol of the baptism which was to come. Often events in the Old Testament act as foreshadowings or prophetic indications of future events. 1 Corinthians 10:1 offers a case in point, "or I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud he's referring here to the Israelites and all passed through the sea and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and the sea, into Moses in the cloud and the sea. The passing of the Israelites through the Red Sea is a type of water baptism. They embarked on the journey, god split the sea, they walked between the waters on dry land and therefore were rescued here. The phrase baptized into Moses is figuratively describing the Israelites' identification with Moses as their God-appointed leader. Moses never represented himself as anything otherwise, so there was no worship of Moses going on. The baptism was in the figurative sense only.
Lynne :Next, the baptism of John, was also a type and precursor of things to come. John the Baptist's mission was to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus. He baptized in water as a symbol that people had made a decision to turn from their sins. Mark, chapter 1, verses 4 through 8, tells this account. "John appeared baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized, him and the river Jordan confessing their sins. And he preached, saying after me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Lynne :Now, the Pharisees and lawyers rejected John's baptism, and so did Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, who had him murdered. They, after Christ had been resurrected, some of the apostles later came upon disciples of John, of whom many remained. Yet those under the baptism of John still needed to know Jesus. Acts 19, verses 1 through 7, reads, "So Paul asked Then what baptism did you receive? John's baptism? They replied Paul said John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Lynne :A third baptism was Jesus' baptism by water. This was also a form of type, because the Son of God had no need to repent of anything. Yet he underwent water baptism to demonstrate the will of the Father for future believers to be baptized. One of the several accounts of this event is found in Matthew, chapter 3: 13 through 17. "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying I need to be baptized by you. And do you come to me? But Jesus answered him. And do you come to me? But Jesus answered him. Let it be so for now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. And then he consented. As always, jesus is serving as our model concerning proper behavior and obedience to the will of God.
Lynne :Number four, the baptism of fire is unique in that it carries multiple meanings. In our culture, baptism by fire has become an idiomatic expression that means a rite of passage through a crisis. But the scriptures tell a little bit different tale. One meaning of this particular form of baptism indicates judgment. Matthew 3: 11 through 12,. It's John speaking and he said, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I. But he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I'm not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Again, in 1 Corinthians, 3, 13 through 15, the concept is reiterated their work will be shown for what it is, because that day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work.
Lynne :Another meaning of the baptism of fire speaks of both empowerment and purification through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Remember John the Baptist's words" he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Well, fire did fall at Pentecost, as evidenced in Acts, chapter 2, verses 3 and 4. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them. The idea of fire as a type of purification is in Hebrews 12.29,. For our God is a consuming fire. This indicates the purifying fire of God to burn away the dross. Also his awesome power and glory shining like a thousand suns. Like a thousand suns and something more. People talk about having a fire in their belly, another idiomatic expression which speaks of their zeal and the powerful motivation that fuels their actions. This is the effect that the fire of the Holy Spirit had on the early church and should have on us.
Lynne :Fifth is Jesus' baptism of suffering. "I have a baptism to be baptized with, he said in Luke 12, 50. Jesus is here referring to his imminent suffering as a baptism. In Mark 10, verses 34 through 40, jesus was asked by the apostles James and John if he would promise them specifically that one of them would get to sit on his right hand and the other on his left in his glory. Jesus asked them an all-important question Can you drink of the cup that I drink of and be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with? And they said unto him we can. If they only had a clue what our Savior was about to suffer.
Lynne :Christians experience a baptism of sufferings when they undergo persecution and sometimes martyrdom, or, more often, merely stand against the things that they've already been delivered from through Christ. Saying no to temptation comes to mind. 1 Peter, 4: 12 and 13 cites an example. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, although as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. And finally, the last of the six concerns the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I have recently completed and uploaded a new series entitled the Present-Day Ministry of the Holy Spirit, which is an in-depth study of this form of baptism. Without a doubt, those who have received this form of baptism truly experience a book of Acts Christianity. I would encourage all my listeners to learn about and to seek this crucial and empowering baptism. So this leaves only one more form of baptism to discuss, and that is water baptism.
Lynne :The image of water is used repeatedly throughout Scripture. The imagery is so appropriate because of water's wondrous properties. Water cleanses and purifies. It refreshes and sustains life and thus becomes a fitting medium for the deeply meaningful act of water baptism. The definition of baptism in the Greek, baptizo, simply means to immerse or to dip. In the New Testament, matthew 28: 19, Jesus commanded his disciples to "baptize believers in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts, chapter 2, verse 1, and Acts 8, record accounts of water baptism following the conversions of individuals to the Christian faith. So what does it mean and why do it? Before we discuss what it is, let's clearly establish what it isn't.
Lynne :Water baptism is not the way of salvation. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone. Ephesians 2: 8, and 9 state this. "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves. It's the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast. Not by works so that no one can boast. We are saved by grace and not by any act of symbolism or any ritual. So water baptism is instead basically four things it's an expression of faith, a symbol of renewal, an act of obedience and a public testimony. Again, none of these things are the way to salvation.
Lynne :Point one it's an expression of faith. This act is an outward expression of an inward commitment to live in accordance with the principles of the Christian faith. It symbolizes the surrender of one's life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our little grandson came out from Sunday school the other day and said to his mother," Mommy, I opened the gate. To which his mom replied Honey, what gate did you open? Honey, what gate did you open? And he said I opened my heart to Jesus today, and now I want to be baptized. Even a six-year-old boy had a conviction that he wanted to tell the world that Jesus was in his heart.
Lynne :Point two, it is a symbol of renewal, of spiritual birth. It symbolizes the putting off of the old man and putting on of the new. Through water baptism, individuals identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The immersion in water signifies the burial of the old self, while rising out of the water represents the new life that comes through faith. Consider this exposition found in Romans, chapter 6, verse 3. "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 unto 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? Baptism celebrates, memorializes the death of the old us. Point three it's an act of obedience and submission. By obeying the directive to be baptized, individuals acknowledge the lordship of Jesus and express their willingness to align themselves completely with his will. Completely with his will. This act is often the gateway to a person's decision to be discipled. And finally, point four, it's a public declaration of a commitment to Christ. It's an outward symbol of an inward change. Through baptism, a person is giving public testimony to the transforming power of the gospel. They are publicly aligning themselves with the Lord and the body of Christ, his church.
Lynne :One final point to make, and it concerns infant baptism. There are some who believe that unless a child has been sprinkled in baptism, they won't go to heaven if they pass away. First of all, every child who passes goes to heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 19: 14, "let the little children come to me, do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. They belong there. To believe that children must undergo a ritual as a criterion for heaven is to disbelieve the words of the Son of God. The second point, as has been clearly explained, water baptism involves a person's conscious decision to commit their life to Jesus. No infant, of course, has the capability of doing so. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to consider an infant baptism to be more a dedication of that infant to the Lord, with the consent of the family to raise the child in accordance with the principles of faith.
Lynne :We do not want to be among those who are in error. "In the words of Jesus in Matthew 22, 29,. In the words of Jesus in Matthew 22-29,. You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. Friend, we need to align ourselves with scripture rather than tradition. And in the scriptures, in every case, it was an adult who consented to be baptized. Please remember, it's always God's will to save you.
Lynne :Jesus said. "He that comes to me, I will never cast away. The word says if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead. Lord, and believe in your heart. God raised him from the dead. You will be saved. Pray with me right now, repeating the prayer and believing with your heart. . I believe he rose on the third day. Jesus, I receive you as my Lord and my Savior. Come into my heart, make me brand new and guide my life from this day forward. In your precious Name, amen. If you prayed that prayer, write to us lynnelittleministries@ gmailcom. See you next week and have a blessed day.
Lynne :Thank you so much for listening. Lynne Little Ministries is a 501c3 whose mission is to assist those who have suffered loss and to help them discover hope, peace and restoration. For books, resources or to make a tax-deductible donation go to lynnelittleorg.