Some Only Get Wet, Some Are Forever Sealed: Part Three

Yield to God... and walk this Way.

There are examples of journaling and letter writing from the 1st through 3rd centuries that reflect the experiences journaled by the Apostles to the Church (the canon - Gospel and letters).

Not everything written beyond canon fully agrees with the canon (the Gospel message of love, submission to God and man, and peace), while some texts do fully agree.

Not every text that is in full communion with the canon is clearly understood by the passive reader.

But to the reader who lives out the faith, perhaps they can understand... and are edified when finding God's fingerprints elsewhere.

This understanding is evidenced every generation throughout the kingdom He has established on earth.

We can read how the faithful continued on the path of peace despite certain elements in their church administration calling for, or justifying, violence.

It is possible to hear the Spirit speaking through the writings of the faithful throughout the generations since Christ rose to heaven and left gifts in His wake.

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 

This is why God says: 

“When He ascended on high, He took many captives and gave gifts to His people.” 

- Ephesians 4: 7-8

[the 68th chapter of Psalms is a profound read regarding what God has established]

One subtle gift is the continuation of the Gospel expressed through first-hand journaling of the faithful in every generation.

For those whose God is the One revealed through the Messiah, these faithful view all things through love (even when considering, and praying for, and blessing those who call themselves an 'enemy').

Thus through love is the private instruction of God retained (and also shared) with the Church in every generation.

God's instruction is not solely administered through those beholden to high positions, but often times through the seemingly insignificant or unknown.

Although likely unknown while they sojourned on the earth, perhaps afterwards they are revealed to have reflected the heart and life of Christ.

This is how, and why, prophets arise not always within an established hierarchy, but from outside such circles of influence and weighty opinion.

Recall how prophets were called from among the laity under the previous covenant... to correct those who supposed they were 'right' according to their mind's interpretation of Scripture.

Such is the same Today.

Regarding water baptism (the theme of this article series), realize that infant baptism was practiced by all parts of the ancient Church prior to the canon being decided upon.

Water baptism, and its sacrament extended to children, was established as the Way.

Unfortunately, the Way was openly challenged during the reformation / rebellion (15 centuries after it had been established by God).

To consider that the Apostle's teaching, and their work, was somehow 'mistaken' is a ridiculous notion to ponder.

Sadly, those who do contend with the Way show their confusion and likely following of opinions rather than what God had established .

Heed the warning and encouragement expressed here when considering baptism:

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. 

You need milk, not solid food! 

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 

And God permitting, we will do so. 

- Hebrews 5: 11-14, 6: 1-3

Notice Hebrews 6: 2 mentions “instructions of baptism / instructions about cleansing rites”.

Understand a rite is a sacrament.

Here we find this rite to an elementary teaching.

Reflect upon Yeshua's teaching to Nicodemus, about being born of both water and Spirit.

Thus we find man has a role (to humbly submit to being baptized in water) and God's role (His election of baptizing with the Holy Spirit).

Here, as briefly expressed in part two of this article series, again is this reality mentioned:

“All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name.” 

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 

For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. 

Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. 

They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 

So he ordered that they be baptized in the Name of Yeshua Christ. 

Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. 

- Acts 10: 43-48

Surely a question (or contention) will be mentioned regarding these Gentile believers being adults, and thus an argument that excludes an infant / child from being baptized.

How is this answered?

Let us consider this passage mentioning the promise including children:

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: 

God has made this Yeshua, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Yeshua Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. 

And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 

- Acts 2: 36-39

In very explicit and clear terms, the promise is the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit... for you and your children.

Infant baptism is an important reality, albeit an elementary teaching, to be studied, evidently established by God through the Apostles.

Consider when Polycarp, a noted disciple of John the Apostle, declared prior to being martyred:

Polycarp was recollecting the fact that God had sealed him since youth.

“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

What is concluded about Polycarp when all things are considered, when contemporaries of his time recall hearing his testimony?

What can we learn from what they affirmed regarding the elementary teachings of the Apostles?

From the Oxford Dictionary of Saints:

“His admitted age of 86 years as a Christian makes it certain that he was baptized in infancy or early childhood. He is a most important link between the time of the Apostles and the earliest Christian fathers.”

This reflects what God had revealed via His Spirit to the Church in the 1st century through the Apostles.

This grants us evidenced insight about the further teachings given in person when certain Apostles visited the churches.

Similar to how a boy was circumcised on the 8th day under the previous covenant, under the new covenant a child is, by God's election, 'circumcised' by God's Right Hand when circumcised in their heart by His Spirit.

In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. 

Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 

- Colossians 2: 11-12

As we can see, this elementary teaching is quite clear when speaking of water baptism.

Just as a priest under the prior covenant conducted the physical act of circumcision (while God elected to circumcise the heart), so today a priest (our royal priesthood) conducts the physical act of baptism under the new covenant. 

And still, it is God who elects to baptize with His Holy Spirit.

So some only get wet, while some are forever sealed.

The Didache is an example of a 1st century Christian compilation attested to have been authored from the Apostle.

In that we read reflections of 1st century concerns and the development of early 'church' order.

Therein we find instructions of cleansing rites, and other elementary teachings.