MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Gospel of Matthew: Chapter Fourteen
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Proverbs 6:16-18, “There are six sins which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him. Haughty eyes [pride], a lying tongue, and hands which shed innocent blood [murder]. A heart [soul] that devises wicked plans [conspiracies which attacks authority], feet that run rapidly to evil [socialism etc.], a false witness who utters lies [perjury], and one who spreads strife among brothers [gossip].”
Distinguish between Jesus paying the penalty of sins and individuals being punished for their sins.
1. The penalty for all sins was paid for by the humanity of Christ on the cross.
2. Some sins are worse than others as per this verse. So, the penalty of sins is different for all sins.
3. There is also punishment for sins which is different from the penalty of sins. When people are punished for their sins, they are not paying the penalty of those sins for the total payment for their sins were paid for on the cross.
4. Believers and unbelievers are punished for their sins for numerous reasons namely to discourage sinning, to hinder guilt and for the repercussions of their sins. Example: When a Christian gossips, he may destroy an entire church organization. So, that Christian will be punished to discourage future gossiping; he will be punished for the consequences of his sin namely the destruction of the church. Later when the Christian realizes what a horrible thing he has done, the punishment which he has already received will hinder any temptation regarding guilt.
Matthew 14:1
Ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἤκουσεν Ἡρῴδης ὁ τετραάρχης τὴν ἀκοὴν Ἰησοῦ,
At that time, Herod [Antipas], the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
At Herod the Great’s death, his kingdom was split into two tetrarchies and one ethnarchy. Antipas and Philip II both received a tetrarchy while Archelaus received an ethnarchy (half of the kingdom). Eventually, both Archelaus and Antipas will be banished. Only Philip II will remain on his throne until his death in 34 A.D.
Herod Archelaus, born 22 B.C. was the son and principal heir of Herod the Great. Known for his great cruelty, Augustus confirmed him in possession of the largest portion but did not recognize him as king over all, giving him instead the lesser title of ethnarch as ruler over Samaria, Judea and Idumea. Herod Archelaus ruled so cruelly that the Jews and Samarians unitedly appealed to Rome to request that he should be deposed. In 6 A. D. Archelaus after a trial in Rome was banished after ruling for nine years to Vienna, Gaul where he died circa 18 A. D.
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and Malthace, the Samaritan (so was Herod Archelaus). Antipas’ domain was composed of both Galilee and Perea. So, both the humanity of Christ and John the baptizer resided under the legal jurisdiction of Herod Antipas: Jesus Christ since He grew-up in Nazareth, a city of Galilee. (This explains why Pontius Pilot sent Jesus Christ to Antipas for trial and sentencing, but when the Lord would not entertain him with miracles, Antipas sent him back to Pilot.) Since Herod Antipas also ruled over Perea which was located on the east side of the southern portion of the Jordan River, Antipas also had jurisdiction over John the Baptizer.
Philip II benevolently ruled his lands north and east of Galilee and remained in power until his death in 34 AD. His tetrarchy consisted of Syrians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, and a few Jewish people. After Philip II died in 34 A.D. his tetrarchy was ruled by a Roman procurator until 37 A.D at which time, Caligula (little boots) became the emperor of Rome and being a friend of Herod Agrippa I, gave him the tetrarchy of the now deceased Herod Philip II. This decision incensed Herodias, the sister of Agrippa I. Herodias thought that her husband Herod Antipas should have gotten this tetrarchy since he has ruled well for over 40 years from 4 B.C. to 39 A. D. She then convinced her husband Antipas to go to Rome and seek a meeting with the Roman Emperor Caligula. The Roman Emperor granted a meeting, but as they were trying to persuade Caligula to give the tetrarchy to them, in walked Fortunatus, the trusted servant of Herod Agrippa I who presented a letter to Caligula from his master which letter documented the weaponry of Herod Antipas, enough weapons to man 70,000 soldiers for combat. In the letter, Agrippa insinuated that Herod Antipas was planning to link-up with the Parthians against Rome. Of course, this was pure nonsense, but the Roman Emperor Caligula being the arrogant fool that he was, believed it, and seized all the wealth of Herod Antipas and Herodias and banned them to a little town in Spain where they eventually died in poverty. Herod Antipas and Herodias sought the wealth and tetrarchy of Agrippa I, but instead, Agrippa was given the wealth and tetrarchy of Herod Antipas.
Herodias was both vindictive and ambitious. These two weaknesses contributed to the destruction of Herod Antipas. In vindictiveness, she plotted the murder of John the Baptist. In her unrestrained ambition, she convinced her husband, Herod Antipas to seek the face of the Emperor Caligula. Both had dire consequences.
How John the Baptizer became the target of the vindictiveness of Herodias. On one occasion when having a discussion with Herod Antipas, John, questioned Antipas how he could rule the Jewish people and support the Laws of Establishment and at the same time be in violation of the Jewish laws regarding marriage. To Herod this was only a discussion, but this question offended Herodias who had eloped with Antipas (already married), while being the wife of Philip I. She became extremely angry and wanted revenge. So, she conspired to have John the Baptist executed.
Matthew 14:2
καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ, Οὗτός ἐστιν Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστής· αὐτὸς ἠγέρθη ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο αἱ δυνάµεις ἐνεργοῦσιν ἐν αὐτῷ.
And said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptizer. He has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at works by him.’
Even though Herod Antipas believed in resurrection, he never became a believer.
Matthew 14:3-4
Ὁ γὰρ Ἡρῴδης κρατήσας τὸν Ἰωάννην ἔδησεν [αὐτὸν] καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ ἀπέθετο διὰ Ἡρῳδιάδα τὴν γυναῖκα Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ· (4) ἔλεγεν γὰρ ὁ Ἰωάννης αὐτῷ, Οὐκ ἔξεστίν σοι ἔχειν αὐτήν.
For Herod had seized John, and had bound him, and had put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip, his brother. (4) For John said to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have [possess] her’.
In 27 A.D. three important events occur: Pontius Pilate is made the procurator of Judea, Herod Antipas elopes with Herodias, and finally John the Baptizer is beheaded.
Matthew 14:5-6
καὶ θέλων αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι ἐφοβήθη τὸν ὄχλον, ὅτι ὡς προφήτην αὐτὸν εἶχον. (6) γενεσίοις δὲ γενοµένοις τοῦ Ἡρῴδου ὠρχήσατο ἡ θυγάτηρ τῆς Ἡρῳδιάδος ἐν τῷ µέσῳ καὶ ἤρεσεν τῷ Ἡρῴδῃ,
And when he desired to put him to death, he feared [with all his power] the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. (6) But when Herod's birthday was observed, the daughter of Herodias [named Salome] danced before them and pleased Herod.
The daughter of Herodias from her husband Philip I was called Salome named after Herod the Great’s sister Salome. Just a tidbit on Herod’s sister. When Herod the Great died, he gave all his ranches to his sister, Salome who later gave them to Lydia, the wife of Augustus. (One of these ranches had a field that was 15 miles long.)
Matthew 14:7
ὅθεν µεθí ὅρκου ὡµολόγησεν αὐτῇ δοῦναι ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσηται.
So, he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
One reason why he made this stupid promise was because he was in his cups which was his custom.
Matthew 14:8-13
ἡ δὲ προβιβασθεῖσα ὑπὸ τῆς µητρὸς αὐτῆς, ∆ός µοι, φησίν, ὧδε ἐπὶ πίνακι τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ. (9) καὶ λυπηθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς διὰ τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ τοὺς συνανακειµένους ἐκέλευσεν δοθῆναι, (10) καὶ πέµψας ἀπεκεφάλισεν τὸν Ἰωάννην ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ· (11) καὶ ἠνέχθη ἡ κεφαλὴ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πίνακι καὶ ἐδόθη τῷ κορασίῳ, καὶ ἤνεγκεν τῇ µητρὶ αὐτῆς. (12) καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἦραν τὸ πτῶµα καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτό, καὶ ἐλθόντες ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ Ἰησοῦ. (13) Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν ἐκεῖθεν ἐν πλοίῳ εἰς ἔρηµον τόπον κατí ἰδίαν· καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ὄχλοι ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ πεζῇ ἀπὸ τῶν πόλεων.
And she, being instructed before by her mother, said, Give me John the Baptist's head here on a serving platter. (9) And the king was sorry [emotional reaction]. Nevertheless, for the oath's sake, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given her. (10) And he sent and beheaded John in the prison. (11) And his head was brought on a serving platter and given to the girl. And she brought it to her mother. (12) And his disciples came and took up the body and buried it and went and told Jesus. (13) When Jesus heard [about the death of John], He departed from there by ship into a desert place apart [from the crowd to a high, uninhabited, pleasant desert area near Bethsaida (Julia)]. And hearing [where Jesus was going], the crowds followed Him on foot out of the cities [these were the ones who were positive].
Jesus Christ was ministering in Capernaum and the surrounding area. Upon hearing of this news, he leaves the tetrarchy of Herod Antipas and crosses the sea of Galilee to a desolate area near Bethsaida-Julia in Philip’s tetrarchy. Jesus left not because of security, but because Herod Antipas has just sealed the doom of Galilee. The people had already expressed great negative volition which was only compounded by what Antipas had done. Antipas was given one more chance to be saved. If he had taken it, he would not have died penniless and miserable (Luke 23:5ff). Herod Antipas was in Jerusalem for the Passover for he observed all the Jewish feasts. When Pilot had come to know that Jesus was under Herod Antipas’ jurisdiction, he sent Christ to him. This is the grace of God; he gets one more chance. However, all Antipas wanted was a little fun. He had no interests in hearing or gaining any facts regarding this trial. Furthermore, he had no interest in getting the facts regarding salvation. Like Herod and his descendants, they were very intelligent, but superficial with their focus only on the moment.
Jesus went by ship, the short way; the people went around the northern part of the sea by land, the long way.
Matthew 14:14
καὶ ἐξελθὼν εἶδεν πολὺν ὄχλον, καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπí αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν τοὺς ἀρρώστους αὐτῶν.
And Jesus went out and saw a great crowd, and He was moved with compassion toward them. And He healed their sick.
No one lives in this desert place. Thousands of people took this difficult trek around the sea to this desert place until they found Jesus. When he had seen the tremendous effort which they had made in getting there, he immediately had compassion on them. And he began to heal them, but his compassion was much deeper than the normal compassion. His compassion was for their souls. He knew that these people without salvation were going to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. His compassion was based on eternal suffering rather than temporal suffering. So, Jesus healed them that they would listen and have opportunity to respond to the gospel.
Many thousands were healed out of the 12,000 people approximately who came on foot. Healing was his credit card which established him as the Messiah. Their healing is secondary; the message of the gospel is primary. So, we are not given the details of these healings. Apparently, many of these people became believers.
Matthew 14:15
ὀψίας δὲ γενοµένης προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ µαθηταὶ λέγοντες, Ἔρηµός ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἡ ὥρα ἤδη παρῆλθεν· ἀπόλυσον τοὺς ὄχλους, ἵνα ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὰς κώµας ἀγοράσωσιν ἑαυτοῖς βρώµατα.
When it was evening, his disciples came to Him and kept on saying, ‘This place is desolate [not far from Bethsaida (Julia): a high pleasant area] and the hour is already late. Send [a command to the Lord] the crowd away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.
Jesus has two things in mind here: first, to evangelize the unbelievers; and second to teach his disciples the faith-rest drill. All day long these disciples had nothing to do, but to watch Jesus Christ heal people. Even so, it never occurred to them that He could manufacture miraculously a little food. Furthermore, they are implying that the Lord is out of touch with reality.
After this event, we hear nothing about the ones who had been healed because the real issue after this event is the spiritual lives of his disciples. Can the disciples maintain their focus on the Lord?
Matthew 14:16
ὁ δὲ [Ἰησοῦς] εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν ἀπελθεῖν· δότε αὐτοῖς ὑµεῖς φαγεῖν.
But Jesus said [stated it once] to them [to his 12 disciples], “They do not need to leave [after all, you just saw me heal thousands], give them something to eat.”
Jesus is challenging them to use the faith-rest drill. 1 Peter 1:7, “that [purpose clause] the testing [for approval] of your faith [faith-rest drill], of greater value [the testing of faith under suffering] than gold which is perishable [spiritual assets do not perish], even though tested through fire [testing under pressure] may be found [having passed the tests] to result in commendation and glory and honor [rewards] at the revelation of Jesus Christ [the Rapture];”
Matthew 14:17
οἱ δὲ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Οὐκ ἔχοµεν ὧδε εἰ µὴ πέντε ἄρτους καὶ δύο ἰχθύας.
And they [the disciples] kept on saying to Him, ‘We have here only five loaves and two fish’.
Even after his challenge, they did not catch on.
Matthew 14:18-19
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Φέρετέ µοι ὧδε αὐτούς. (19) καὶ κελεύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνακλιθῆναι ἐπὶ τοῦ χόρτου, λαβὼν τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησεν καὶ κλάσας ἔδωκεν τοῖς µαθηταῖς τοὺς ἄρτους οἱ δὲ µαθηταὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις.
And He said, ‘Bring them here to Me’. (19) And He commanded the crowd to recline on the grass [that they might be comfortable]. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward Heaven He blessed and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples. And the disciples gave to the crowd.
The Lord attempts to teach the faith-rest drill to his 12 disciples which includes Judas Iscariot. Since the disciples had their eyes on the problem rather than on the solution, to the disciples there was no solution and no application of the Faith-rest drill. After the Lord blessed the loaves and fishes, he began handing the food to his disciples and he kept this up until all were fed, a hands-on class on the Faith-rest drill. With twelve waiters it probably took most of the night to serve all these people.
Possibly because they missed the point, they spend the rest of the night functioning as waiters. The Lord has a good sense of humor. If one cannot learn the easy way, then he can learn the hard way. Every time their baskets were empty, they would have to go back to the Lord. This was a constant reminder that Jesus was also deity.
Matthew 14:20
καὶ ἔφαγον πάντες καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν, καὶ ἦραν τὸ περισσεῦον τῶν κλασµάτων δώδεκα κοφίνους πλήρεις.
And they all [approximately 12,000 people] ate and were filled [satisfied]. And they took-up twelve hand baskets full of the fragments that remained.
When one is operating on grace there is no limitation to the assets. They had the best meal they ever had in their lives. It’s hard to find 12,000 who all liked fish and bread, but apparently since it was so delicious, they all ate to their fill and satisfaction.
When the waiters picked up the remnants of the food, each one had a basket completely full. With their (all 12 of them) full baskets, they will enter a ship to cross back over the sea. And with their full baskets, a reminder to them of the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 men, they will be tested again.
Matthew 14:21-22
οἱ δὲ ἐσθίοντες ἦσαν ἄνδρες ὡσεὶ πεντακισχίλιοι χωρὶς γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων. (22) Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς µαθητὰς ἐµβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.
And they who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children [so approximately 12,000 individuals]. (22) And immediately Jesus compelled His disciples to get into a ship and to go before Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
The banquet probably took all the night so that it would be early in the morning. The disciples are alone in the ship. This would be a picture of the Church age believer on the earth while Christ is seated with the Father.
Matthew 14:23
καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος κατí ἰδίαν προσεύξασθαι. ὀψίας δὲ γενοµένης µόνος ἦν ἐκεῖ.
And when He had sent the crowds away, He went up into a mountain alone to pray. And when evening had come, He was there alone.
The Lord Jesus Christ spent a lot of time in private prayer. On the earth we represent Christ; in heaven Christ represents us. Just as he prayed for the disciples so he prays for us now.
Matthew 14:24
τὸ δὲ πλοῖον ἤδη σταδίους πολλοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἀπεῖχεν, βασανιζόµενον ὑπὸ τῶν κυµάτων, ἦν γὰρ ἐναντίος ὁ ἄνεµος.
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea [halfway to Gennesaret], tossed with waves; for the wind was against them.
This is a picture of life. Sometimes it is smooth as a tranquil sea and sometimes it gets rough. The storm illustrates testing for believers. Will the disciples be able to apply the attributes of God to their upcoming situation? After all, all they needed to do was to look at their baskets of food to remind them.
Matthew 14:25
τετάρτῃ δὲ φυλακῇ τῆς νυκτὸς ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς περιπατῶν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea [an obvious miracle].
The previous day, the disciples saw thousands of miracles of healing and then the miracle of providing food for the crowd of around 12,000 people. Furthermore, the Lord gave them each a basket of food to remind them to keep their eyes on the Lord, to keep their eyes on the solution, not the problem. Now, the Lord is going to test them to see if they have learned anything regarding the application of doctrine. So, at the fourth watch which would be between 3 and 6 A.M. Probably, close to six since the Lord could be seen. (a watch is 3 hours) and Mark 6:48b tells us that it was just before dawn.
Matthew 14:26
οἱ δὲ µαθηταὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης περιπατοῦντα ἐταράχθησαν λέγοντες ὅτι Φάντασµά ἐστιν, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν.
And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and kept on saying, ‘It is a phantom!’ Then they screamed out from fear.
These disciples are making the same mistake that the Exodus Generation made and the same mistake that many growing believers make namely they concentrate on the problem, or catastrophe etc. and never consider the solution or just common sense. After all the miracles which they have seen in the previous day, who else could it be other than the Lord (common sense).
Their failure to make application was due to arrogance and some scar tissue. Mark 6:48-52, “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the sea. He was about to pass by them, (49) but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a phantom. They cried out, (50) because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ (51) Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, (52) for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts [mentalities] were hardened [from scar tissue in the soul].”
Matthew 14:27
εὐθὺς δὲ ἐλάλησεν [ὁ Ἰησοῦς] αὐτοῖς λέγων, Θαρσεῖτε, ἐγώ εἰµι· µὴ φοβεῖσθε.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Keep on having confidence [in the Lord], It is I! Stop being afraid.’
We might ask the question, why did the Lord pick such knuckle heads? Well, if the disciples were able to make it, so can we. It’s kind of encouraging.
Matthew 14:28
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν, Κύριε, εἰ σὺ εἶ, κέλευσόν µε ἐλθεῖν πρὸς σὲ ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα·
And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You and it is, tell me to come to You on the water.
Peter took the Lord seriously when the Lord told him to have confidence. Furthermore, Peter always took it to the next level. He was commanded to stop being afraid (use the Recovery Procedure) and have confidence (apply a problem-solving device). So, Peter in effect said, okay, I have done that. So, to prove it, ask me to come to you.
Matthew 14:29
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Ἐλθέ. καὶ καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου ὁ Πέτρος περιεπάτησεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν.
And He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
Peter initially had confidence and demonstrated tremendous courage. Peter eventually became a great believer because he always was aggressive to learn the Word, and he never gave up.
Matthew 14:30
βλέπων δὲ τὸν ἄνεµον ἐφοβήθη, καὶ ἀρξάµενος καταποντίζεσθαι ἔκραξεν λέγων, Κύριε, σῶσόν µε.
But seeing that the wind was strong [got his eyes on the problem], he was afraid [he got out of fellowship]. And beginning to sink, he yelled out, Lord, save me [help]!
If Peter had used the Recovery Procedure when he was sinking, he would have been okay.
Matthew 14:31
εὐθέως δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἐπελάβετο αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Ὀλιγόπιστε, εἰς τί ἐδίστασας;
And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him; and said to him, ‘O you of little-faith! Why did you doubt?’
Peter was walking by faith until he began to concentrate on the problem namely the strong wind rather than trusting in the integrity and omnipotence of the Lord. Once he got out of fellowship, he was no longer able to trust in the Lord since walking by faith only operates in fellowship.
Matthew 14:32
καὶ ἀναβάντων αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεµος.
And when they [Jesus and Peter] had come into the ship, the wind ceased.
The storm was only designed to test those believers. Would they remember the teaching aid, the basket which they were carrying? Once the test was over, the storm was over. The Eleven received an F, whereas Peter received a D-.
Matthew 14:33
οἱ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες, Ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ.
And those in the ship came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’
They didn’t say this when he healed the many nor when he multiplied the food. It’s amazing what impresses people and just how ridiculous believers can be. Possibly, some of the hardness in their souls was removed and so they were able to make some application.
Matthew 14:34
Καὶ διαπεράσαντες ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν εἰς Γεννησαρέτ.
And when they had passed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret [in Galilee].
Mark 6:53, “When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.”
Matthew 14:35-36
καὶ ἐπιγνόντες αὐτὸν οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου ἀπέστειλαν εἰς ὅλην τὴν περίχωρον ἐκείνην, καὶ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας, (36) καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα µόνον ἅψωνται τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱµατίου αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὅσοι ἥψαντο διεσώθησαν.
And recognizing Him, the men of that place sent to all that neighborhood and brought to Him all who were diseased. (36) And they begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His robe. And as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
They expressed the manner by which they wanted to be healed. This was not necessary and quite audacious. (They were very different from the Centurion who didn’t place any conditions on how the Lord should heal his son.) When you dictate to the Lord how you want it done, someone gets left out. So, only those who touched the hem of his garment were healed which means that a lot were not. You don’t tell the Lord how He should accomplish something. They thought of healing in terms of touching, a rather than trusting in the essence of God.
