Part 2 intro made without hands

what about water Baptism?

Water was never a mistake. It belonged to a program that was still running. Repent and be baptized.

John came baptizing unto repentance for the remission of sins. He was not starting a church. He was preparing a nation for her King. Israel had a covenant, a temple, a throne waiting to be filled, and John was calling her to get ready.

That baptism did what it was sent to do.

But notice what it could not do yet.

There was no death to be buried into. No resurrection to be raised with. The cross had not happened.

And after the cross, that same message kept right on being preached.

Read it. Peter is still calling the nation to repent. Still to that nation. Still with water. All the way through Acts, and God let it stand.

Think about what that means. He had every right to close the door. Instead He held it open, and kept calling the same people who had just crucified His Son.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

He meant it.

That door stayed open until Stephen stood before the council and made Israel's last appeal to her leaders.

They stopped their ears. They ran upon him. They stoned him.

And standing there, consenting to his death, was a man named Saul.

Nobody told the twelve to stop. They did not need to be told. What they carried was going to lay down with them, because the nation it belonged to had been set aside.

Not cast off. Set aside. God is not finished with Israel, and He will pick up every promise He made her.

But not now.

Now comes something no prophet ever saw. One new man. One body. Jew and Gentile with no wall between them, joined to a glorified Christ by a baptism no hand can perform.

Paul himself was baptized with water. He was. Right there in Damascus, in a moment when that was still the obedient thing in front of him.

And later, writing to Corinth, he says this.

"Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel." 1 Corinthians 1:17

Read that slowly.

The apostle sent to the Body of Christ says he was not sent to do it.

That is not water being scorned. That is water being finished.

Its work was real. Its work was holy. Its work is done.

The Spirit does the burying now.