Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiwi Christian
I have a question for you Bro. Tony, in light of your belief about baptism being part of OT law and not applicable to the body of Christ, why do you think Paul exercised it (though he only baptised a few) and spoke about it in the Corinthian church? When Paul said "were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" in 1 Cori 1:13 the implication is that those Corinthian Christians had been baptised.
1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
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Paul was not sent to baptize, he did in the book of Acts a few times. That I have never denied. He also circumcised Timothy without cause. He healed the sick, raised the dead, as did Peter.
Both practiced water baptism to Jews. Gentiles were not of the commonwealth of Israel and have no part in the "kingdom of priests".
This "kingdom" is restored Israel, an earthly kingdom that was about territory while our inheritance in in heavenly places. Paul was an apostle and had the "signs of an apostle", water baptism being the first as introduced by John. Every Jew that had a rudimentary knowledge of the OT Scriptures
knew the significance of water baptism.
In Acts 15 Peter, James and John relinquish the commissions given to them by Christ after the resurrection unto Paul and the gospel of the grace of God. With Paul's cessation of a ministry to Israel at Acts 28, the sings, water baptism included, ceased, as there was no more making of "priests"
Grace and peace brother
Tony