Baptism  of Water

                                            into the death of Jesus
                    (the drowning of everything in us that is not in agreement with the spirit of God)

Matthew 3:1-3    John the Baptist (Jesus' 1st cousin) came preaching in the desert of Judea saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."  This is He (John) who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, "A voice of one calling in the desert.  Prepare the way for the Lord.  Make straight paths for Him."
Matthew 3:7,11-12    When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them,"...I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One who is more powerful than I, Whose sandals I am not fit to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matthew 3:13-15    Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John, but John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"  As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him.  A voice from heaven said, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."
Matthew 28:1-20    Then the 11 disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where (the resurrected) Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, AND of the Son AND of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.  Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 21:37 TPNT  37Later He (Father God) sent His Son (Jesus Christ) to them saying, "They will respect My Son (Messiah)."  38But when the farmers (spiritually blind/God's enemies/demons) saw the Son, they said among themselves, "This is the Heir; come let us kill Him, then we would have (take/destroy/sabotage/abort/invalidate) His inheritance (destiny as Savior/Messiah)." 
(Spiritual insight = See how this parable can be understood!  Water baptism is public testimony of our (each generation's) personal choice of Jesus as Messiah.  The above Matthew 21:37 capitalization & red letters are done by this web site & NOT by TPNT.)

Mark 1:8 TPNT    I (John) baptized you in water [for the forgiveness and removal of sins (original and those committed since age of reason)], but He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit (empowering you to overcome Satan).
Mark 16:16 KJV    "He that believes and is (subsequently water) baptized shall be saved. 
He that believes not shall be damned.
(Jewish tradition is baptism by immersion.  Mark 16:16 is not in TPNT.)

Luke 3:2-4    God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.  He came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the (water) baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet.

John 3:5-7    Jesus answered, "I tell you (Nicodemus) the truth, no one can enter (recognize/operate in) the kingdom of (mind of) God unless he is born of water (amniotic fluid and/or baptism) AND (his human spirit is impregnated with) the (Holy) Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the (Holy) Spirit gives birth (certificate) to spirit (sons/citizens).  You should not be surprised at My saying, 'You must be born again(into the spirit dimension/kingdom of God/mind of Christ).'"
John 3:16-18    "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

Acts 2:38 NIV  Peter replied, "Repent and be (water) baptized (immersed), every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of lour sins, and you will receive the (initial) gift (deposit/title deed/promissory note) of the Holy Spirit.  29The promise (of eternal life/engagement ring/wedding invitation) is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for whom the Lord our God will call."
Acts 9:17-18 KJV    Jesus, that appeared to you in the way as you came, has sent me (Ananias) that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.  Immediately there fell from his eyes, as it had been, scales.  He received sight (back again), arose, as was baptized (in water).
Acts 10:44-47 NIV    43Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.  44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who herd the message...46For they heard them speaking in in tongues and praising god.  Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water"...in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 19:2-5 TPNT    2He asked them, "Did you take the Holy Spirit when you believed?"  They said to him, "In  fact, we did not hear whether there is a Holy Spirit."  3So he said, "Then in what name were you baptized?"  4Then Paul said, "John did baptize a baptism of repentance to the people, saying that they should believe in the One Who was coming after him, that is in Jesus."  5When they heard, they were (water) baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Jewish custom dictates water immersion.)

Colossians 2:11-14    In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead.  You, being dead in your sins and the un-circumcision of your flesh, has He quickened (made alive) together with Him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses.  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.

Romans 6:3-6,11,14    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 (of water) into 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. Count yourselves dead to sin (hurts, wounds, disillusionments, disease) but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Sin shall not be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace (and mercy). 

1st Corinthians 10:1-4 TPNT    1I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, because all our fathers were under the cloud and all went through the sea. 2All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.  3All ate the same spiritual food.  4All drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from a spiritual rock, which was following them; the rock was the Messiah.
1st Corinthians 15:29 NIV     If there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead?  If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 
[Commentary from Father John H Hampsch's Healing Your Family Tree = "Original sin can be erased through (infant or adult) baptism...Personal sin, on the other hand, can be erased through repentance."]

1^st Peter 3:18-22    (Generations after the life of Noah, Christ, the Son of God came to earth.)  Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you (me/mankind) to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the (Holy) Spirit, through Whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  In it only a few people, 8 in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you (us) also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand-with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.       

1st John 5:5-8    Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  This is the One Who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ.  He did not come by water only,
but by water and blood.  It is the Spirit Who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  There are 3 that testify: the (Holy) Spirit, the water (of birth & baptism) and the blood (of Christ on the cross). 
The 3 are in agreement.  (Without the atonement of blood there is no remission of sins.)
(TPNT footnotes, "Water refers to at least 3 things; amniotic fluid of His birth, baptism, & also to Torah,
for which water is a metaphor from Isaiah 55:1 & Exodus 14:22."  Blood refers to "the blood of our covenant.  The life is in the blood, Genesis 9:4  There are 2 ways by which the Father testified about Jesus: In John 5:36 Jesus says 'The works which I do testify'...Several times the Father Himself spoke,
such as at Jesus' baptism and at His transfiguration.") (Additional spiritual insight = This scripture can also refer to the water and blood that flowed from the side of Christ when pierced on the cross. 
Remember, the body is mostly water.  Also blood consists of 2 parts - white and red blood corpuscles.)
1st John 5:7-8 KJV 7.There are 3 that bear record in heaven - the Father, the Word (Jesus Christ Messiah), and the Holy Ghost; these 3 are one.  8.There are 3 that bear witness in earth - the (Holy) Spirit, the (Living)water, and the (shed) blood (of Jesus Christ Messiah); these 3 agree in one. (Deuteronomy 17:6 Harkavy   At the mouth of 2 witnesses or 3 witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.)

Water Baptism
Commentary:

Benny Hinn says that to BELIEVE is to do so with the heart rather than with the mind (intellect).  It is to yield, surrender or follow.  It is an exchange like a blood transfusion.  God takes away our sin and gives us His spirit.  That is the greatest miracle of the human existence.

Regarding the water baptism.  It is John, called the Baptist, who is know for implementing the Christian water baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (However, the Jewish community also has a similar ceremonial bath for washing away sin.)  Scripture indicates that John did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, until later in life.  A parish priest explains it this way:  John did recognize Jesus to be his cousin, but he did not recognize him to be the Messiah, until later.  That is true of all humans.  We first recognize Jesus as a living human  before we recognize Him to be God's son and our savior from sins.  This is when God removes the veil.  It is a spiritual awareness, not an intellectual understanding, perception, or insight.  The soul perceives with the mind.  The spirit perceives with the spirit.  Only when the spirit of God is implanted into us, can the newborn spirit cry out Abba Father, daddy.
Luke 1:13 KJV    The angel said to him, "Fear not, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard.  Your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son.  You shall call his name John.  You shall have joy and gladness.  Many shall rejoice at his birth.  He shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.  Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.  He shall go before Him in in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:80 KJV    The child grew and waxed strong in spirit and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.
Luke 3:15-16 KJV    All men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ (Messiah), or not.  John answered...,  "I indeed baptize you with water.  One mightier than I comes, the latchets of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.  He shall baptize you with the  Holy Ghost and with fire.
Luke 7:19 KJV    John sent 2 of his disciples to Jesus, saying, "Are You He that should come or do we look for another?"
Luke 7:22 KJV    Jesus answered, "Go your way and tell John (the Baptist, My 1st cousin) what things you have seen and heard, how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor.  Blessed is he who shall NOT be offended in Me."
Luke 7:24,27-28 KJV    He began to speak to the people concerning John, ..."This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before your face, who shall prepare Your way before You." (see Malachi 3:1) I say to you, "Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.  He that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (Meaning, Jesus the son of God is greater than the greatest prophet, John.)"

Commentary regarding baptism
into the Kingdom of God
ongoing infilling with the Holy Spirit
and
ongoing death to the flesh/self

The New Testament admonishes us to become less and less, so that Christ can become more and more in us.
Asking Jesus to forgive all our sins and to be the Lord of our lives, opens the door for the Holy Spirit to enter.
As we die to self and concede to God we are able to (like a sponge) absorb more of Him.  When there is less of me, myself and I, there is more room for Him.  The step after adult water baptism (signifying engagement to Christ) is the baptism of the Holy Spirit (signifying marriage to Christ), Who enables us to more readily operate in the invisible spiritual Kingdom of God.
Spiritual humility or denying self, not protecting/defending self from false attacks or even from danger/disease/harm is the model Christ set in the garden of Gethsemane and forward.  This allowing of abuse was part of God's spiritual plan for both Jesus and mankind.  It was His will at that time.  God revealed His will/plan/purpose to His son Jesus.  Jesus sweat blood in the garden during the time He had to make a choice to obey feelings, pain avoidance, shame avoidance, etc. or to obey Dad, His Boss.
Sometimes we have to NOT save face in order to further God's kingdom.  Sometimes, we have to apologize to a victimizer, when we are the victim.  It might be that we have hate in our heart or death wishes?  It might be that SOMETHING negative rises up in us when we hear the name of someone mentioned?  Obviously, it is a red flag, a warning that the flesh wants control.
Remember the story about the log in our eye when we are reprimanding a brother? 
Matthew 7:1-5 KJVer    1Judge not that you be not judged.  2With the judgment you judge, you shall be judged.  With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.  3Why behold the mote in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam in your own eye?  4How will you say to your brother, "Let me pull the mote out of your eye, (when) a beam is in your own eye?" 5Hypocrite, 1st cast the beam out of your own eye.  Then you shall see clearly to cast the mote out of your brother's eye.
Well, that log is a crumb to us, but a log to God.  Neither logs nor crumbs can enter into heaven.  Dead people do NOT feel.  We are to be dead to self.
Psychiatrists and counselors tout one's having a good self image, etc.  Well, going to confession is about one of the best ways to clear one's conscience AND self image.  However, if we are dead (to the demands of the mind and flesh), then there is NO guilt/pain/feelings/hurt.  If we are dead to self and alive to Christ and He is 99.9% inside us by way of the Holy Spirit, then we need to deny ALL yelling of the emotions/feelings and ALL yelling of accusing demons that contradict the Word and purposes of God.
We forgive self, God or another (NOT because our feelings agree with this act, but) because we walk by faith and not by feelings.  We walk in spiritual obedience to the Bible (NOT our pastor) and NOT in obedience to emotions or thoughts dumped into our minds by evil spirits or commands given to us by misguided individuals. 
God, help us daily hear and obey You.  In Jesus name, we pray.  Amen.

Another issue is SELF absorption/focus.  Me, me, me focus.  It's all about me, my family, my job, my city, my state, my nation, my religion, my, my, my.  That dangerous self absorption in fact hints of Pride, which is what felled Lucifer - and all the human race, like dominoes, after him - plummeting down towards hell.  Our focus is to be heavenly, towards the Trinity - daily.  Holy Spirit and guardian angel, I enlist your help to steer me towards 24/7 focusing on Jesus.  Thanks, in Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

Water Baptism
Commentary on Protestant Christening and Catholic Infant Baptism and Baptism for the Dead

Sanctification (spiritual maturity of the mind and body) begins with salvation.  Salvation begins when one is "born-again (when the Holy Spirit unites with the human spirit)."  Sozo means the salvation of mind/soul, body, and spirit.  Christ died to fix all 3, not just the spirit.  Water baptism is the public proclamation of the personal acceptance of Christ as one's Messiah/savior/healer/forgiver/rabbi/priest/king/mate/best friend/deliverer.
John 3:5-7    Jesus answered, "I tell you (Nicodemus) the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at My saying , 'You must be born again.'"  The Jewish ritual bar mitzvah for children is age 13, when they are considered to be an adult in some capacity.  At least by age 13 most individuals should be able to discern between good and evil.  Thus it is spiritually imperative that each person decide if he/she will accept Jesus as Messiah or reject Him and what He did on the cross for them.
While the child is under the parent's guardianship or roof, they may have a spiritual protection, but once they are independent, they must choose to accept or reject the Trinity.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is just another step in the sanctification of the individual.  The Catholic church calls this confirmation.

                                   The Books of Adam and Eve from the Pseudepigrapha
                                                                    Written 200 BC

www.ccel.org/c/charles/otpseudepig/adamnev.htm
Adam and Eve 40:2    "When 5,500 years  have been fulfilled, then will come upon earth the most beloved king Christ, the son of God, to revive the body of Adam and with him to revive the bodies of the dead. 
He Himself, the son of God, when He comes will be baptized in the river Jordan.  Then He will anoint from the oil of mercy all that believe in Him.  The oil of mercy will be for generation to generation for those who are ready to be born again of water and the Holy Spirit to life eternal.  Then the most beloved son of God, Christ, descending on earth shall lead your father Adam to paradise to the tree of mercy."

                                                                       Commentary:

(Catholic) Father Hampsch in Healing Your Family Tree, says, "A predisposition for exercising...
deliverance power -'a sign that the kingdom of God has come to you' (Luke 11:20)-is repentance
(1st John 4:4; 5:18), being reborn in God's family.  This enables us to come against the negative family traits that that have been transmitted to us, and to prevent the transmission of our own negative traits to our offspring.  This is simply applying one's own 'baptismal rights' (or salvation rights) to restore the life of God to the deadened areas of the family tree. (The baptismal right (salvation right) is that by which we have access to God's family, for in baptism we become 'children of God' and part of His family tree.)

Instead of crediting infant baptism or purgatory as the ticket to heaven (which he passed out to the children during mass) a Boston Catholic priest in 2005 (wrongly) credits the ticket to heaven - to obeying the 10 commandments found in the Old Testament.  One little child ran to her parents shouting, "I have a ticket to heaven." 
Scripture says not to offend the little children. (Matthew 18:6 or Mark 6:3 "Who shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that he were drown in the depth of the sea.") 
This priest began beautifully to illustrate that Jesus is the ticket to heaven, but his punch line missed the mark altogether.  He showed wonderfully that we or a friend can buy a ticket to a movie, a ball game, a museum or heaven.  He failed to show that we cannot buy a ticket to heaven.  Only our friend Jesus can buy that ticket.  Jesus paid the full price of that ticket.  Jesus bought up all the tickets to heaven. 
Our ticket to heaven is free to us.  It did cost Jesus a lot, however.  When we accept the ticket from Jesus, we can get into heaven.  When  we acknowledge Jesus as our friend, savior, forgiver, lover and lord,
He gives us that ticket to heaven.  In gratitude we are baptized with water as a sign to the world that we pledge our allegiance to Him.  We follow Christ's example, for Christ was baptized in the lake by His 1st cousin John.
We can take NO credit for being born into or belonging to a family.  Neither can we claim credit for any adoption into a family.  It is the parents who do the choosing, not the child.  Likewise, when we are adopted into God's heavenly family, it is Father God Who chooses us.  It is Jesus His son Who made that possible.  Nothing we do can make God love us more, chose us above another, or make Him un-adopt us.  He did all the adoption papers 2000 years ago, before we were ever born!  All we need to do is say, "Yes."  At a marriage ceremony, all the paperwork is already done.  All we need to do is say, "Yes."

One cannot experience a reality in the flesh when it is in the mind as an idea.  God creates a human being just by thinking about him.  The infant does not experience "conception" in the female, but he does experience being born.  When we say yes to a wedding proposal we do not experience the consummation of the marriage until later.  Just  before we say yes to having the Lord Jesus as our forgiver and Lord, we do not have the experiential insight of our new birth into God's spiritual family as a sibling of Jesus Christ.  When we say yes, it is our spiritual conception, our adoption.  We become born, this time not in the flesh, but in the spirit.  Afterward we realize the glory of what has happened and we are grateful, but as a babe we cannot function on our own.  We  realize that we are plugged into God, but we also realize we are powerless. 

Perry Stone in Where Are the Weapons of the Mighty Men Hung  goes one step further.  He compares water baptism as a covenant sign of new birth to circumcision as a covenant sign of the Old Testament.  He illustrates this belief by mentioning a minister in India who baptizes all converts immediately after confession of belief in Jesus Christ as savior.  Upon water immersion in the river, many manifest demons which flee, leaving the new converts delivered, changed, and truly a new person in Jesus Christ. www.perrystone.org (1-888-21-BREAD)  (This reminds us of the story of a newly baptized fellow who came out of the river with his tattoos missing/washed away by God.)

Romans 6 says, "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism (of water) into death." 
This scriptural reality of being dead to our human nature takes a lifetime of imprinting into our psyche. 
If we are truly dead, then our buttons do not get pushed.  Our past hurts do not overwhelm us to the degree they did in the past. We are less and less co-dependent.  We are more and more autonomous. 
We are more and more safe being alone without having to check in with a safe person.  We are more and more able to forgive and forget, (but always keeping ourselves safe from persons dangerous to ourselves and our families).  We act out less and less, not hurting ourselves or others, as we did in the past. 
We laugh more and cry less.  

Derek Prince in they Shall Expel Demons contends that one needs to be water baptized as an adult;
that infant baptism is insufficient to ward off demons and heavenly evil daimons. www.derekprince.com

Benny Hinn teaches from Exodus 14 that Moses' with the Jewish remnant passing through the Red sea symbolized or actualized a baptism of water and spirit.  The water is obvious.  The cloud was before and after the Hebrew people.  Benny contends that they passed through the cloud, which he believes was a baptism in the Holy Spirit.  His concepts may be obtained on CD called the Holy Spirit.  www.bennyhinn.com 

David H Stern in Jewish New Testament Commentary notes that "the Baptist" was added to the name John.   "Baptizein" in Greek means to dip, soak, immerse into a liquid so that it takes on the qualities of the solution, for example: cloth in dye, or leather in tanning solution.  Thus, those who are baptized into Christ take on His nature; our impurities are washed away; we are restored to a right relationship to God.

A 77 year old lady at a Benny Hinn Singapore 2005 healing service shared what God spoke to her. 
"If you give Me your sins, I give you salvation.  If you give to Me your sicknesses, I give to you healing."
Water baptism is an outward sign of the inward act of God, the washing away of sin.  Water baptism is also an act of obedience.  Jesus, Himself, set the example for us to follow.  Nonetheless, let us not fail to give Jesus our sins and also our infirmities.  (The 77 year old lady was cured of asthma.)

AUDIO - VISUAL

David Ravenhill shares a unique way to view water baptism/salvation/the cross.  The front of the cross is our salvation in Christ Jesus.  The back of the cross is our redemption by Christ as an offering back to God without the sin.  This is a "back to the future" approach, where at long last Father God has us the way He intended us to be from the beginning of creation, perfect and wonderful in His sight, His awesome sons,
His delightful children.  6/3/2005 CD or DVD www.streamsminitries.com

INTERNET

Water baptism by immersion for Messianic Jews     http://sg.geocities.com/shenlan.geo/mikveh.html
Water baptism by immersion in Jerusalem by Benny Hinn  WATCH - 11/23/2007     SEND TO FRIEND
http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2009-12-10.asx
Jordan River baptism - Water baptism SEALS salvation + resurrection of the body, per Benny.

Messianic Believer needs to be Mikveh Mayim (immersion in Living water)?
http://www.messianic-torah-truth-seeker.org/
Jewish water immersion http://www.apocalypsesurvivor.com/signs/JewsIsrael.html   
"7/2005 the Bnei Menashe community of Mizoram were completing the building of a mikvah, or a Jewish ritual bath under the supervision of Israeli Rabbi’s in order to begin the process of conversion to Judaism.  A similar mikvah is also planned for the Bnei Menashe community in Manipur. This step will allow a possible mass immigration to Israel under Israel’s right of return law in the coming years." 
"The Jewish baptism candidates were often immersed 3x. The idea of total immersion comes from the Scripture in Leviticus 15:16 when it says, "He shall wash all his flesh in the water." One reason it was customary to immerse 3x was because the word mikveh occurs 3x in the Torah. We know this to have been an early Nasarenes practice under Yeshua," or as Christians say, "In the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit;" the Trinity.  http://www.essene.com/B'nai-Amen/MysticalImmersion.htm

Cox, Paul L                               Living Water                                            http://www.aslansplace.com/insights/livingwater.htm
"The spring felt to me like the orbs, but now the orbs were moving in an upward direction. 
The spring of water is the river of God and the orbs are in the spring.  The orbs are living beings...
The river of God really is LIVING WATER...There is still much more to understand. 
Many have seen faces in the orbs.  Others have seen wheels within wheels. 
The orbs seem to appear when there is an anointing of evangelism and healing."

Pisegna, Father Cedric      12/23/2007 Catholic TV  broadcast      www.frcedric.org
Father Cedric tells that Jesus revealed himself to the nun Faustina with red light emitting from His side representing His blood  Healing through applying the blood of Christ plus a white light emitting from His other side representing being baptized with water for the removal of sins. After Jesus died, a soldier pierced His side with a spear.  Out came His blood and water.
John 19:34 TPNT  One of the soldiers pierced His side with his spear and immediately blood and water came out. (footnote - Blood represents life, while water represents Torah, the Word of God.)
(Other thoughts = Some medical people point out that blood consists of white + red blood cells.)

Zarit, Steven    Sid Roth radio 1/28/2008-2/1/2008 interview #1576 with Steven               http://www.sidroth.org
1/29/2008 interview shares that Messianic Jew Steven needed water baptism to contain the overload of (what he believes to be) the Holy Spirit baptism (or at least his born again experience and Holy Spirit download).  This immersion was done (in a private heated swimming pool) by another new believer, who believed God sent him to baptize Steven.

Taking a look at Teshuvah (spiritual cleansing), mikveh and Tevilah (immersion)
http://www.cryptojews.com/welcoming_back_the_anusim.htm   http://www.hearoisrael.org/uploads/MIKVEH_or_BAPTISM.pdf

PUBLICATIONS

Brim, Billye    www.billyebrim.org   http://www.billyebrim.org/sites/billyebrim.org/files/GloryWatch09Summer.pdf
"The angel told my father that the Bible teaches 3 baptisms. He taught Dad about them from the Word.Then he said, 'You, Willie, have all 3. Your dad has only 1. But he has the 1 baptism necessary to carry him across the Sea.'  The angel turned toward the glass doors overlooking Lake Hudson.  Daddy’s eyes followed. The glass doors disappeared. The wall disappeared.  The lake disappeared. And my dad saw the Crystal Sea and the Glory beyond. Through a veil he saw his mother, his grandparents, Isaac and Carrie Pickard, his Uncle Dan, and others.  The angel said, 'They’re waiting for Will. He’ll come soon.'  One of the 3 gifts the refrigerator had turned into became a boat and sailed across the sea.  'They’re waiting for you, too. It won’t be long till you come.' (That was in 1975, Daddy went home in 2001.)  Then myriads of beings which my father believed to be an angelic choir filled the heavens. They sang to him every verse of the hymn Blessed Assurance."

Chavda, Mahesh                 The Hidden Power of Healing Prayer    www.watchofthelord.com
Chapter 8 Breaking the Enemy's Grip shares that water baptism healed a woman of madness and  demonic oppression "in a land where many people are deep into witchcraft religions; sometimes they lose their faculties...Many of those who were baptized (in the crocodile infested Congo River) had also been divinely healed from some kind of sickness or injury...Many of those in the baptismal crowd had been released from demonic spirits which had possessed and bound them.  This was particularly true of the
mad woman who wanted to swim with us."  Psalm 107:20 NKJV   He sent His Word, healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.  Exodus 15:26  I am the Lord Who heals you.
Chavda, Mahesh                  Only Love Can Make a Miracle          www.watchofthelord.com
Shares an indepth autobiography of his being taken into heaven just before he committed his life
to Jesus and was subsequently baptized with water.

DeGrandis, Father Robert with Schubert, Linda    The Gift of Miracles    Servant Publications
Chapter 10 Prayer section Renewal of Baptismal Promises 
"Heavenly father, I come before You now and renew the promises of sacramental baptism. 
I reject sin; I repent of all the the times I have not walked in the way of Your truth or obeyed Your will for my life. 
I ask Your forgiveness for the times I have hardened my heart to Your voice and not responded to Your call. 
Jesus, You are the Lord of my life.  I step down from the center of my life and turn control over to You. 
(Jesus,) I place every area of my life under Your dominion.
I now reject (you) Satan and all (...your) works, and all (...your) empty promises. 
(Lord,) I ask forgiveness for myself, my relatives and ancestors for calling upon powers that set themselves up in
opposition to (...You) Lord Jesus Christ. 
I renounce all false worship
& all (counterfeit/deceitful/sinister/selfish) benefits from magical arts (that give me power & control)
I renounce every power apart from (You) God & every form of  worship that does not offer true honor to (You) Jesus
Christ.  I specifically renounce  _______________   ________________  ________________ "(name individually).
Heavenly Father, let...(Your Holy Spirit and Your blood shed on the cross) flow back through the generations and
(forward through my descendants/seed to) purify my family (blood) line from contamination by Satan and sin." 
In Jesus name.  Amen

Ferrell, L. Emerson    Immersed in Him    www.voiceofthelight.com   also introductory video -http://www.voiceofthelight.com/VOTLM2009/ImmerseInHim/ImmersedInHIMFirstChapter.pdf 
Emerson gives his personal testimony + his understanding that there needs to be 3 water immersions (baptisms), in the name of the Father, the Son, AND the Holy Spirit.  Read chapter 4 The Reformation of Baptism for clarity. Emerson contends that salvation is our heritage upon repentance and request, but that it is water baptism that allows one to be born-again (immersed) into Christ.  The early Catholic and Greek Orthodox church practiced 3 immersions with 3 invocations.  Each immersion/invocation affects an individual's soul, body, and/or mind and it's relationship with the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:18 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations;
(baptizo/repeatedly) baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, AND of the Holy Spirit.  

Kelley, Earthquake    Order book #1122 "Bound to Lose, Destined to Win"   http://earthquakekelleyministries.org/books/   
Chapter 14 Questions and Answers 
Mark 16:16 KJV = He who believes AND is (water) baptized will be saved.
Earthquake believes this is water immersion for the adult or child who can choose Christ on his own, rather than infant baptism.  "God told me to be consistent in my spiritual life," to have a spiritual schedule and keep it.

Lake, Brian    Romancing the King    www.brianlake.org
Chapter 1 A King's Promise  Acts 22:16  "Although Saul had repented of his sins, he needed to be baptized into the death of Christ, where the cleansing blood was shed...in this God ordained way."

MacNutt, Francis                             Deliverance from Evil Spirits      www.christianhealingmin.org
Chapter 16 Spirits of the Occult references the need to renounce occult activities and to use the Catholic infant/convert water baptismal rite as a format/template.  This includes 1st in the name of Father God, 2nd in the name of Jesus Christ and 3rd in the name of the Holy Spirit, renouncing, (1) Satan, (2) all spiritual forces of wickedness, (3) all evil powers, and (4) all sinful desires; (5th) it includes accepting Jesus Christ as savior. 
Chapter 17 Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) adds that a SRA person being ministered to needs to repeat this rite/prayer/declaration THREE times (3x) in order to break any seals/legal strongholds (which may have come from one's own invitation or from dedication to Satan by another).  A common in utero/womb seal is a spirit of rejection that became lodged in him/her when the parent did not want the child and contemplated/ attempted abortion.   Subsequently the priest/minister/rabbi can pray, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I break every seal of Satan; in the name of Jesus Christ, I set you free by the double edged sword of the Holy Spirit."

(To break and dissolve all satanic seals, repeat the following paragraph 3 times in honor of the Holy Trinity
because satanic seals are placed 3 times to blaspheme the Holy Trinity.)
In the honor of the holy trinity and in the holy name of Jesus, I break and dissolve any and all curses, hexes, spells, snares, traps, lies, obstacles, deceptions, diversions, evil spiritual influences, evil wishes, evil desires, hereditary seals (known and unknown) and every dysfunction and disease from any source including my own mistakes and sins. 
In Jesus' name, I sever the transmission of any and all satanic vows, pacts, spiritual bonds, soul ties, and satanic works. 
In Jesus' name, I break and dissolve any and all links and effects of links with: astrologers; bohmos; channelers; charters; clairvoyants; crystal healers; crystals; fortune tellers; mediums; New Age Movement; non Christian/non Jewish religions; occult seers; palm, tea leaf, or tarot card readers; psychics; santeros; satanic cults; spirit guides; witch doctors; and, Voodoo. 
In Jesus' name, I dissolve all effects of participation in séances and divination, ouija boards, horoscopes, occult games of all sorts, and any form of worship that does not offer true honor to Jesus Christ.

In the honor of the holy trinity and in the holy name of Jesus, I break and dissolve any and all curses, hexes, spells, snares, traps, lies, obstacles, deceptions, diversions, evil spiritual influences, evil wishes,
evil desires, hereditary seals (known and unknown) and every dysfunction and disease from any source including my own mistakes and sins. 
In Jesus' name, I sever the transmission of any and all satanic vows, pacts, spiritual bonds, soul ties,
and satanic works. 
In Jesus' name, I break and dissolve any and all links and effects of links with: astrologers; bohmos; channelers; charters; clairvoyants; crystal healers; crystals; fortune tellers; mediums; New Age Movement; non Christian/non Jewish religions; occult seers; palm, tea leaf, or tarot card readers; psychics; santeros; satanic cults; spirit guides; witch doctors; and, Voodoo. 
In Jesus' name, I dissolve all effects of participation in séances and divination, ouija boards, horoscopes, occult games of all sorts, and any form of worship that does not offer true honor to Jesus Christ.

In the honor of the holy trinity and in the holy name of Jesus, I break and dissolve any and all curses, hexes, spells, snares, traps, lies, obstacles, deceptions, diversions, evil spiritual influences, evil wishes,
evil desires, hereditary seals (known and unknown) and every dysfunction and disease from any source including my own mistakes and sins. 
In Jesus' name, I sever the transmission of any and all satanic vows, pacts, spiritual bonds, soul ties,
and satanic works. 
In Jesus' name, I break and dissolve any and all links and effects of links with: astrologers; bohmos; channelers; charters; clairvoyants; crystal healers; crystals; fortune tellers; mediums; New Age Movement; non Christian/non Jewish religions; occult seers; palm, tea leaf, or tarot card readers; psychics; santeros; satanic cults; spirit guides; witch doctors; and, Voodoo. 
In Jesus' name, I dissolve all effects of participation in séances and divination, ouija boards, horoscopes, occult games of all sorts, and any form of worship that does not offer true honor to Jesus Christ.    Domestic-Church.Com: Sacramental: Spiritual Warfare Prayer 
Credits = Father Robert DeGrandis, S.S.J.                           Deliverance Prayers to Be Said Out Loud

I invite the Holy Spirit to occupy the space vacated by any evil.
In Jesus name, I close all gates/doors to the enemy.
In Jesus name, I lock all gates/doors to the enemy.
I thank and praise You holy Trinity for evicting the enemy and taking up permanent residence in my life. 
I invite/enlist my guardian angel and any available warrior angel to continually guard all my gates. 
In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.2.27.2009

Mikvah - Jewish immersion/baptism http://www.hebroots.com/mikvah.html   Normally a person would do this three times.

Sheikh, Bilquis (12/12/1912-4/7/1997) with Schneider, Richard H    I Dared to Call Him Father
God spoke to this Muslim mother, convert to Christianity, "It is time for you to be baptized in water." Muslim page

Eternal Life

Cornelison, Zona Hayes (daughter of Norvel Hayes) Autobiography   Avenge Me of My Adversary 
Chapter 2  The Authority of the Believer 
"Salvation belongs to the sinner, because Jesus already bought (paid for) it.  (We just need to take/receive it as our inheritance.  Do do this when we sincerely repent of our personal and family sins, plus ask Jesus' Holy Spirit to come live inside our hearts.) We are already saved (by what God through Jesus death and resurrection).  That is why He told us to go and tell the 'good news' to the sinners, so that they may be reconciled with God...God canceled out every devil (over 2,000 years ago).  The only way to claim this is to learn who you are in Christ Jesus.  You don't have to put up with the devil's torment."  www.nhm.cc
(Adult baptism is typically step #2.  Life long 'sanctification' typically begins with step #3 when we ask Jesus to baptize us with His Holy Spirit.  In Catholicism, this is called confirmation.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit typically gives us gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, at least as baby seeds which will mature as we recognize and use them.  More important is our intimacy/relationship with the Trinity and our frequency of worship and romancing of + praise to Him.)

Ferrell, Emerson and Ana Mendez    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOYzn9wcUfc&feature=channel_page
Each human needs to be "born again" into God's kingdom.
Ferrell, L. Emerson    Immersed in Him    www.voiceofthelight.com
Emerson contends that salvation is our heritage upon repentance and request,
but that it is water baptism [that parallels the breaking-of-water (amniotic fluid/birth)] that allows one to be born-again (immersed) into (the mind and kingdom of) Christ.  "Those who are 'born into Christ' must be baptized into the (triune) Godhead to complete the transition designed and modeled by Jesus Christ."
One can have a legal family or marriage and yet be emotionally, financially, and socially divorced from it due to a lack of relationship.  Likewise, those of us who have NO relationship with the Trinity may be in danger of not having a passport to heaven (eternal life).  Consider a seed.  We or God plants it, but if it is never watered and fertilized, it dies.  Relationships (social and spiritual) tend to be like that.  They need DAILY tending.  A newborn baby needs care.  Every relationship needs pampering!  Baby monkeys will die without love!  Even God wants/covets/needs our love!  Love is a 2 way street!  We must DAILY chase God until He catches us, so that we will be over-filled with Holy Spirit oil when He comes again. 
Yet, the contract/deed/passport/ticket to heaven must be obtained TODAY.  Prequalification is needed and does NOT reside in our church memberships/degrees/certificates.  Sometimes spiritual credentials are evidenced in the gifts in which we walk AND the fruit (peace, love, joy, kindness, mercy) in which we operate.  If our life does NOT line up with the example of Jesus, then we may need to read Emerson's book + realign ourselves to Christ's Word and NOT rely on the church's doctrine or pastor's word.
We can't contradict Peter at the pearly gate and insist, "My pastor (denomination) said I could get in!"
Genesis 1:2 Harkavy The (Holy) Spirit of God moved upon (hovered over/incubated/brooded over/ fertilized/hatched) the face of the (Living) waters (of God/River of Life/Jesus).
Emerson explains, "Our (human) spirits are awakened through the impregnation of the Holy Ghost.  The womb is Jesus and the (fetus'/spirit man's) birth (entrance into God's spiritual kingdom) culminates in Christ consciousness (and empowerment)."
[Apparently we can abort God's plan and our spiritual birth by failing to have our spiritual fetus (baptized) immersed in the Father for the forgiveness of sins, immersed in Jesus as our Messiah, and immersed in the Holy Spirit Who equips us for defense and war.  Even so, ongoing DAILY maturity is needed for any fetus (physical or spiritual) and does NOT stop at birth!]

Hinn, Benny http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2009-12-10.asx  Jordan River baptism by immersion -
Adult water baptism SEALS salvation + resurrection of the body, per Benny.

Weymann, Dorothy Mason    Thus Saith God's Word - Scripture Aids for Counseling    MD Productions, Greensboro, North Carolina
In section Second Coming, author cites the Matthew 25:1-13 story of the 10 maidens waiting for the bridegroom, where 5 had extra oil and 5 did not.
The extra oil symbolizes the baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Dorothy. 5 born again virgins did have oil (the Holy Spirit and adult water baptism), but not extra oil.  5 of the 10 virgins were refused by the bridegroom.

Wilkerson, David    Teen Challenge founder    http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/eternal_life

Jewish Reform Conversion

in the Boston area  http://www.interfaithfamily.com/spirituality/conversion/Standards_and_Ceremonies_Involved_in_Reform_Conversion
_in_the_Boston_Area.shtml
Author indicates that the convert to Judiasm MUST renounce Christ as Messiah.  This would NOT be true for a Messianic Jew, who embraces the Trinity, as understood by both Catholics and Protestants.

       Can I lose my salvation, my eternal life, and end up permanently separated from God?

Matthew 13:32 + Mark 3:29 + Luke 12:10 (KJV)
Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man (Jesus Christ), it shall be forgiven him,
but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost, it shall NOT be forgiven
Matthew 26:24    "It had been good for that man if he had not been born."

Hinn, Benny    Historic Anointing in Kansas #1    http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2009-8-17.asx  8/17/2009
Benny says yes and reminds us of King Saul who lost God's Holy Spirit, Who was replaced with an evil tormenting spirit.  Part of the problem is self-importance.  [Remember, Lucifer (who was exalted above all heavenly host by God Himself) became self-important, resulting in his permanent eviction from heaven.
Benny continually reminds us that God's Holy Spirit is NOT an it, but a person, a personality of God,
equal with God in the Trinity.]
Hinn, Benny    Historic Anointing in Kansas #2    http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2009-8-18.asx  8/18/2009
The Holy Spirit is the outer-court/gate/door-way to the inner court (Jesus) to the holy of holies (God). Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are separate persons, spiritual equals (at least in worship, respect and honor)
Hinn, Benny    Historic Anointing in Kansas #3    http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2009-8-19.asx  8/19/2009
There is great danger in daily neglect of fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit.  The human spirit is sustained by the breath of the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is man's medical respirator/lungs for the spirit man. 
God's holy Words are unprofitable without the Holy Spirit giving them life/breath/revelation.  God requires that we radically pursue deeper levels of intimacy with Him, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly - until death.
Hinn, Benny    Historic Anointing in Kansas #4    http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2009-8-20.asx  8/20/2009
Hinn, Benny    Historic Anointing in Kansas #5    http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2009-8-21.asx  8/21/2009
Hinn, Benny     CD entire teaching  Fellowship with the Holy Spirit - The Master Key to a Deeper Walk

Infant Baptism

Ferrell, L Emerson    Immersed in Him    www.voiceofthelight.com
"The (Jewish) Law required male children to be circumcised on the 8th day.  (In lieu of circumcision) Infant baptism was subsequently ordained in (many Christian) Churches around the world as a result (as a substitute for circumcision)."