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M____ wrote:
We are to desire the sincere milk of the word, and part of that milk is the doctrine of baptisms. You said in one of your papers that water baptism is something that is not neccesary. Please clarify.
M____

Hi M____,
I said water baptism was not necessary, simply because “nothing without a man” either cleanses or defiles a man. It is what is within a man that baptizes and cleanses Him.

Mar 7:15  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mat 23:25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter [ with water baptisms], but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

I am not denying the need for baptism. I am merely affirming that neither Christ nor Paul baptized with water.

Joh 4:1  When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
Joh 4:2  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

Why are we told that Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples, if it is not to tell us that His disciples were “yet carnal” and in need of carnal rituals which in reality have no effect upon “the inside of the cup?” Paul was of the “same mind:”

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

That does not mean that they did not teach baptism. But the baptism they both taught was the kind that cleaned a man inwardly:

Mat 3:11  I [ John the water baptizer] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

That is how Christ baptizes to this day.
Christ tells us that His words are spirit:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

As with us all, Jesus’s own apostles included, we do not see this Truth at first. But eventually we come to see the futility of outward rituals, and as Paul, we come to see the Truth of Christ’s words that it is His words that clean us and burn out the “wood, hay and stubble” within. Then we finally see what Paul came to see really washes us of our sins. Here is the water that really baptizes us, and it is not physical water:

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it [ the church] with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Paul is not saying that he does not believe in the doctrine of baptisms. Note that it is in the plural. Paul taught the doctrine of baptisms in Eph 5:26. But he is here telling us that He was not sent to water baptize. If the apostle Paul is “not sent to baptize” with water, then neither am I.
There is not big sin in being water baptized. Like the apostle Paul, I too used to believe in water baptism. I can speak with authority on this subject because I was water baptized twice, and I was as carnal after both baptisms as I was beforehand. Rituals are indeed milk of the word. And it is this milk that is used by God as strong delusion. The masses of Christianity are deluded into believing that milk is really meat. The masses of Christianity are therefore stunted as “carnal… babes in Christ” and “heirs who are still babies and no better than a bond slave” (1 Cor. 3:1-4 and Gal. 4:1-2).
I hope this answers this question for you.
Mike>