First Corinthians 10 Past 2 Water Baptism Contrasted With Spiritual Baptism
Ignorance of spiritual truth breeds complacency and leads us astray.
1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
The Spirit of God directed Paul to use Israel's failures as an example to warn the Corinthians and all Christians.
He listed five blessings that God poured out upon the Jewish nation but possessing such great blessings is no safeguard against error such as apostasy.
Paul's point is reminding us all that even though we have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ we cannot be complacent (See Ephesians 1:3).
We must guard against seducing pleasures or doctrines of devils (See 1 Timothy 4:1). We must contend for the faith once delivered to all saints (Jude 1:3).
The words "I would not that ye should be ignorant" means that Paul is not speaking about the Corinthians being ignorant of the gospel.
He is showing them that they are ignorant of the meaning or application of the gospel.
He repeats the word "all" five times to show that though "all" received great spiritual blessings, most Hebrews fell in spite of having God's blessings.
He says, "our fathers" because he was a Jew and also because the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were spiritual fathers of our faith (See Romans 4:1-25).
Hebrew baptism to Moses pictures Christian baptism into Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
When the Hebrews passed under the cloud and through the Red Sea, it pictured their deliverance from bondage into freedom (See Exodus 14:19).
It symbolized their death to Egypt, and their birth to a new covenant relationship with Jehovah.
The moral lesson is that by this "baptism" the Hebrews accepted Moses as their Heaven-sent guide and teacher.
Paul shows that this historical event was a general type or shadow of Christian baptism.
This truth also reminds us that Moses is one of the Old Testament "types" or pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is worthy for any Christian to study and see how the life of Moses foreshadows the life of Christ.
For our edification, the following table shows some of the common points between Jesus Christ and Moses.
|
MOSES AS A
TYPE OR PICTURE OF CHRIST |
|
|
MOSES |
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST |
|
The
king of Egypt attempted to slay the infant Moses; Moses was hidden (Ex.
1:15–22). |
King
Herod attempted to slay the infant Jesus; Jesus was hidden. (Matt. 2:7–11,
17–18). |
|
Born
under remarkable circumstances (Ex. 2:1–16). |
Born
under remarkable circumstances (Luke 1:27–38). |
|
Performed
signs and miracles (Ex. 4:28–31). |
Performed
many miracles (John 20:30). |
|
Fasted
forty days and forty nights (Ex. 34:28; Deut. 9:9, 18). |
Fasted
forty days and forty nights (Matt. 4:2). |
|
Served
as a mediator between Israel and God (Ex. 20:19–22). |
Serves
as the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Tim. 2:5). |
|
Controlled
the sea (Ex. 14:21). |
Controlled
the sea (Matt. 8:26). |
|
Aided
by twelve tribal leaders and seventy men (Ex. 24:1, 9; Num. 1:4; 7:10–88;
11:16–17, 24–25; 17:2–9; Deut. 1:23). |
Aided
by twelve Apostles and seventy men (Matt. 10:1–7; Mark 3:14–19; Luke 6:13–16;
10:1–27). |
|
Sent
from God (Ex. 3:1–12). |
The
“Father hath sent [Jesus]” (John 6:57). |
|
Through
miraculous means, produced food for the people (Ex. 16:2–22). |
Through
miraculous means, produced food for the people (Matt. 14:15–21; 15:33–38;
Mark 6:36–44; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:5–13). |
|
Delivered
Israel from Egypt’s bondage (Ex. 3:1–12; 12; 14). |
Delivers mankind from sin’s bondage (2 Cor.
1:10; John 3:1-21; Romans 5:1-21; Colossians 1:12-14). |
|
King of Jeshurun (Deut. 33:5). |
King
of kings (Matt. 21:5; 2 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:6). |
|
Teacher
(Deut. 4:5). |
Teacher
(Matt. 5:1–2). |
|
Prophet
(Deut. 18:15–19). |
Prophet
(Deut. 18:15, 18). |
|
Lawgiver
(Ex. 31:18). |
Lawgiver
(Isa. 33:22; John 1:17). |
|
“Moses
was faithful in all his house” (Heb. 3:2). |
Jesus
was “faithful to Him that appointed him” (Heb. 3:2). |
|
Performed
great wonders and signs (Ex. 14:21–31). |
“Many
other signs truly did Jesus” (John 20:30). |
|
Moses willingly left his high
position in Egypt to help his people (Hebrews 11:23-29) |
Jesus willingly left His glory and
place with the Father in heaven to save us from our sins (Philippians 2:5-11) |
When the Hebrews passed under the cloud and through the parted waters of the Red Sea, Paul teaches us that this is a picture of what baptism means to the church.
The baptism unto Moses was a historical event involving the cloud of Jehovah going with His people.
He sent a powerful wind to part waters of the Red Sea so that they could cross on dry land.
Thus, they went through the waters of death and emerged on the other side, to begin a brand new life of following Moses.
Israel's forty years of wandering in the wilderness following Moses pictures a Christian following Christ as a pilgrim and stranger in this world.
Water baptism pictures an outward profession of an inward change.
1 Peter 3:21-22 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Peter teaches us that water baptism by immersion cannot put away the filth of the flesh, It cannot remove our sins.
Only putting our full trust in the atoning work of Christ can save us.
What is the value of water baptism? It is often called believers baptism, because it is for those who have called upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
Believers baptism is simply our willingness to publicly identify as a follower of Jesus Christ.
We want to do this because Jesus commands it. Water baptism pictures our total trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as a commitment to obey Him.
We want to do this because of the Spirit of God's regenerating work in our heart.
We are baptized because our Lord commanded it.
Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ”
Those who are born again make a public profession of their faith.
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Just as we make a public confession with our mouths testifying of God's saving work in our heart, so baptism is a public testimony that we have been changed by the power of the gospel.
Christian baptism is twofold. First is that it shows Christ's death as our death, so that we can walk with Christ, be in Christ and begin a brand new life (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Spiritual realities of being baptized into Christ.
Romans 6:3-6 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Baptism is a symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It shows that each Christian died with Christ on His cross, because He died for us. He received the wages for our sins which is death.
He is our sinless substitute, the perfect Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.
Jesus had no sin but He voluntarily took the punishment for our sins because death and the grave had no hold upon Him.
The first Adam was created without sin and placed in a perfect environment, yet he sinned and every person born since Adam, is born a sinner.
The second Adam, Jesus Christ, did not sin and by taking on our sins upon Himself, His death becomes our death.
His resurrection means we will be resurrected to be with Him.
Christ was raised up from the dead to the glory of God the Father.
Those who are immersed by baptismal waters symbolically die with Christ.
When the believer comes up out of the baptismal waters, he or she pictures resurrection with Christ.
Our old man or sin nature we inherited from Adam is considered crucified with Christ.
The body of sin is considered destroyed so that we can walk with Christ in newness of life.
We are freed to serve our Lord Jesus Christ instead of serving the lust of our flesh and sin.
The Spirit of God baptizes each believer into the body of Christ.
Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
The perfect fulfillment of baptism is the regenerating work of the Spirit of God. As many have pointed out, oceans of water cannot wash away any sin.
Water baptism does not save us, nor can it regenerate a sinners heart and transform that person's life forever.
It is the work of God's Spirit who puts each Christian into the body of Christ and this is a spiritual baptism not a water baptism.
Baptism by God's Spirit into Christ's body is the spiritual baptism we need.
Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This beautiful regenerating work of the Holy Ghost is compared to flowing waters that wash us clean from the filth and contamination of sin.
The life giving waters of God's Word.
Deuteronomy 32:1-3 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2) My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3) Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
It reminds us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Many times in scripture, water is a picture of the Word of God (See Isaiah 55:6-11; Ephesians 5:26).
God told Moses that His Word was like the gentle long lasting rains which replenish the soil and promote a bountiful harvest.
It is compared to the morning dews that freshen all growing things.
Therefore, Paul uses the term "washing of regeneration" to reminds us that God's Word is living truth that saves the lost, strengthens the weak, and revives the contrite heart.
I pray for the Holy Spirit to help us grasp the magnitude of what our Father has done for all who are in Christ.
The Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ. This is a spiritual baptism not a water baptism.
He puts each new convert into this living organism as He deems best. We no longer have to serve sin.
Our Father has a new life for us to pursue and He ordained good works for us to do.
Because of all these things, a believer in Christ should have a desire to make a public identification with Christ by water immersion.
Water baptism is outward evidence of an internal transformation in our heart.
Bob
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