Many today are regarding water baptism to be of little or no value, however it is God's word. Did Jesus ever speak an idle word? Never! Jesus said: "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Water baptism proceed out of His mouth as well as repentance and the baptism in the Holy Ghost.
Listening to the ministers and evangelists on radio, television, in churches and other Christian meetings, I very seldom hear about the water baptism, however, much is said about healing and the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Water baptism is as much God's word as is healing, repentance and the Holy Ghost.
The Apostle never failed to preach water along with repentance; they kept God's way of salvation in its proper order. They put repentance first, water second, and the Holy Ghost infilling last. This was the order that Jesus gave to them on the day of Pentecost and they never failed to keep this order. There was only one occasion where the Holy Ghost was given before water and that was God's doing - the Apostles had nothing to do with it. If God saw fit to baptized these peoples before water (Acts 10:47,48), we know He had good reason for doing this. If God sees fit to baptized some folks today before water, that too is His business. Because God has done this and is still on occasions doing it, man thinks he too can put the Holy Ghost baptism before water. Some think that they can skip water altogether while others postpone it; encouraging the repentant soul to seek for the Holy Ghost until he (the minister) is ready to baptize him.
Man was told to "Go teach" (preach) and "baptize" - this was and is his mission; only Jesus can save and fill with His Spirit. The face that Cornelius and his friends received the baptism in the Holy Ghost before water baptism did not change or reverse the order Jesus gave to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). They went on baptizing believers first and then praying that they might received the Holy Ghost.
Many today are receiving this wonderful gift of the baptism of the Holy Ghost before water. Why? Just look around, listen to the preaching; the ministers are giving instructions to believers - saying - "Now that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior I want you to do these things; read your Bible, pray, seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then go and confess Him" - no mention of water baptism.
When Moses smote the rock (contrary to God's word) that he was told to speak to - water came satisfying many thirsting souls. However, Moses was forbidden to enter the promise land due to his act of disobedience of God's word. By the same token, many of God's servant today are guilty of this same thing - putting the Holy Ghost experience before water or ignoring it completely which is contrary to God's word. Even so many thirsting soul are being satisfied; drinking of the LIVING WATER - the HOLY GHOST! If Moses was forbidden to enter the earthly promise land - Friend, what shall happen to the minister who is condemning God's counsel today - rebelling against His word? Read Psalms 107:10-11.
Many Holy Ghost filled believers haven't even heard of water baptism even as I didn't when I first ment Jesus some 25 years ago. It was about 3 years after I met Jesus that I heard about baptism in water.
Friend, we cannot preach "Repent" and ignore "be baptized" which is included in the same Scripture along with the promise of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). How can any true man of God even suggest that water is not essential to our salvation, when it is included in the great commission.
Paul warned Timothy "To take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee (I Timothy 4:16). We should take this warning to ourselves. Many Holy Ghost filled believers haven't heard of water baptism due to the fact God's servant aren't seeing to it that they "hear thee." If and when they do hear about water the ministers make it seem of little or of no importance that the convert of the Holy Ghost filled believers doesn't care if he is baptize or not.
I heard a Holy Ghost believer asking a minister about water baptism; he said, "Do you have the Holy Ghost?" She said, "Yes" - Then the minister said, "You can be baptized if you want to but it isn't necessary." Can you hear any of the Apostles say such a thing?
Water baptism cannot be ignored neither can it be regarded as worthless, when it is included in the great commission of Matthew 28:19. When Peter said, "Baptism doth also now save us" (I Peter 3:21); when Jesus said "he that beleiveth and is baptized shall be saved." In the light of these scriptures how can anyone say "All you need to be saved is to repent " or "believe in Jesus Christ?" The 3,000 in Acts 2:37were converted and believed in that Jesus was their Messiah. Peter was sell aware of this when they said, "What shall we do?" Why is it that Peter didn't say, "Now seek to be filled with the Holy Ghost," as many ministers are saying today? Why didn't he say just "Repent"? Well, in the first place this was not Peter speaking, saying - "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins" - but this was JESUS through the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:2) reaffirming Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16 by the mouth of Peter.
He who said, "Go teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." He who said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, also said: "Repent and be baptized" in Acts 2:38.
Jesus gave the great commission (Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16) after His resurrection, and Acts 2:38 after He was taken up. What shall we do with this Scriptures? All three of them contain water baptism; all three scriptures were spoken by Jesus. Knowing this can we neglect to teach and administer water baptism?
One minister wrote me saying that he believed the water baptism just like I did but that he did not make it a major issue. If Jesus made it a major issue; if the Apostle made it a major issue, why shouldn't we? If we are to continue in the Apostles doctrine, we will make it a major issue. We will not forbid water neither will we regard it with contempt - considering it low, worhtless or beneath notice.
I want you to see the importance that Peter put upon water baptism; Peter went to show Cornelius the way of salvation. Cornelius said, "We come to hear all things commanded thee of God." Notice - "ALL THINGS". Wasn't baptism included in the "ALL THINGS"? Peter dare not leave out anything commanded him of God. While Peter was still speaking the Holy Ghost fell on them (Acts 10:47,48). I would be a bit surprised that this shocked Peter who knew that water always followed repentance. Nevertheless it didn't stop him from giving ALL THINGS COMMANDED HIM OF GOD - he COMMANDED them to be baptized! He knew that he could not forbid these water. Would he have commanded this people to be baptized if it were a minor thing, low, worthless, or beneath notice? Peter never once thought of God's word (water baptism) with contempt - low, worthless, or beneath notice. If Peter had neglected to command this Gentiles to be baptized or even had failed to tell them about water baptism, he would have rejected, rebelled and condemned God's counselling against himself. If these Holy Ghost filled believers had refused; rejected Peter's command to be baptized they too would have condemed to be baptized they too would have condemned God's counsel by rejecting Peter's baptism. Friend are you a believer? Then you cannot neglect or reject water baptism in His precious name. Have you been baptized in the Holy Ghost? Then I COMMAND you to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. Preacher I admonish you to honour God's word and fulfill His command to you "Go teach" and "baptized" all believers in the name of Jesus Christ. We like Jesus and John must fulfill all righteousness - baptizing and being baptized (Acts 2:38).