Red Sea Baptism
By
Gary Primo
April 6, 2018
Many may have already associated the Red Sea crossing with baptism, but I haven’t. So on this, the Last Day of Unleavened Bread; I decided to utilize my time studying on the matter.
I am sure that we all know that water baptising represents the signing of a covenant agreement; that we, from that point on, would follow after Yahushua HaMashiyack and leave off following after HaSatan (the ruler of this age). In our pre-baptism life, it was we ourselves who gave power to HaSatan over us by our obedience to his proclamations.
Gen. 3:4 - And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die:
5 - For Elohim does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as elohim, knowing good and evil.
Taking the bite out of the apple represented signing a covenant agreement with HaSatan – that mankind would follow after HaSatan, instead of Yahuwah, making HaSatan the elohim that we really worship. Thus the very first humans made this covenant with HaSatan on behalf of the rest of the human race. They actually enabled HaSatan in becoming the elohim that mankind would worship (through obedience to his decrees) in place of Yahuwah.
Water baptism; therefore, represents taking back our divinely inspired purpose for being created – to follow Yahuwah’s plan of redemption through obedience to the Creator and restoring Him to His rightful seat as our Elohim and King. Yet, the counterfeiters who usurped the faith that Yahushua delivered, declare that the Law (obedience to Yahuwah) has been done away; and that we no longer have to live lives of obedience to Yahuwah. Well, I hate to tell those people, that in promoting such a concept, they have voided their baptism and returned to their former king, HaSatan.
This is also what the Israelites did when they murmured against Moshe and built for themselves idols from their former captivity to worship. Later, that same generation refused to enter the Promised Land because they did not trust enough in Yahuwah to drive out the inhabitants before them. Yet, Yahuwah, in His great patience and mercy, did not destroy them immediately. As punishment they were made to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that evil generation died.
So, if the crossing of the Red Sea can be considered a form of baptism, so can the crossing of the Jordan 40 years later. That generation did not experience the Red Sea baptism; therefore, a second baptism was required. Basically, the same thing happened – Moshe extended his arm (representative of the right arm of Yahuwah – which is Yahushua) and the waters of the Jordan parted, allowing them to cross on dry land. That generation crossed over willingly (without murmuring) with full faith and confidence, and proceeded in driving the occupants out from the land which Yahuwah had allotted to them. This generation did not personally remember the Egyptian captivity, as they were not a part of it; therefore, they had no desire to go back to it.
The Egyptian captivity, of course, represented satanic captivity. While we, today, never experienced the Egyptian captivity, we have experienced HaSatan’s captivity. Our baptism represents rejection of HaSatan’s authority over us, which we granted to him while we were in obedience to his decrees. Yet, with the earliest Followers of Yah, while the Apostles were still alive, there were those amongst the congregation who murmured against the Apostles and desired to return, through disobedience to Yahuwah (the doing away with the law), to spiritual Egypt. This conspiracy was made complete through Constantine, who cemented the doctrines of mainstream Christianity as we know it today. Obedience to Constantine is equal to obedience to HaSatan. Therefore, the baptism of mainstream Christianity is really the signature (re-affirming) of a covenant with HaSatan, not Yahuwah.
The crossing of the Jordan; therefore, may represent the future baptism by fire, by which there is no returning to our former state. The baptism by fire is a form of purification, whereby all that remains corruptible is destroyed forever. With this in mind, the Egyptian army (which represented the worldly form of worship) was completely and forever destroyed.
Now, I am sure that we all know of some, who following their water baptism, eventually returned to the world through lack of faith and obedience. These are represented by those Israelites who refused to cross over into the Promised Land (representative of Yahuwah Kingdom) and desired to return to Egypt. The lure of the worldly ways is indeed powerful; and we all have our “bad days” when dealing with this. However, our continued resistance will be rewarded in the end. It is like that cartoon where the guy has the devil sitting on one shoulder and an angel on the other, playing a game of tug-of-war over our minds. The temptation to return to the world is always present. But, just as Yahushua resisted the temptations of HaSatan, so must we.
Of course, that generation of Israelites who crossed the Jordan, did (for the most part) enjoy great blessing from Yahuwah. Yet, eventually they did succumb to will of HaSatan and had to endure a second captivity (by the Assyrians and the Babylonians). By contrast, today’s Christian faith has also been made to endure a second captivity to Constantine (Satan), as they have wilfully rejected obedience to Yahuwah and again made HaSatan the god whom they worship. These will not and cannot survive the fiery purge that is to come. Nor can anything that remains corruptible. It is strict obedience to the Law of Yahuwah that leads to us having an incorruptible nature.
Yahuwah’s purpose, in creating the physical universe, was to provide an environment where the possibility of corruption is a prominent reality. It is our duty to put off that possibility through continued obedience to the Creator. “Practice makes perfect”; therefore, we are perfected by continuing in obedience to Yahuwah. Since modern-day Christianity preaches that the Law (obedience to Yahuwah) has been “done away”, they have removed themselves from taking part in the purification process. They prefer corruption to incorruption; and they will have to pay the price for that decision (destruction in the baptism of fire), if they do not repent and become obedient to Yahuwah alone. Now, let’s look at some verses that deal with this topic.
Ex. 14:5 - And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
This is the same thing HaSatan must have said of us, when we were baptised in Yahushua’s name. As far as he was concerned, we were his slaves and he wanted to gain us back so that we might serve him again. And those who began the exodus from this world through belief and obedience to Yahuwah, did the exact same thing when they saw the persecution coming, abandoned that journey to return to their former master, HaSatan, through obedience to Constantine. They loved not their lives unto death. They only wanted to save themselves from the more immediate threat from disobedience to Constantine/HaSatan.
11 - And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore have you dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 - Is not this the word that we did tell you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Did the Israelites have a choice whether to remain in Egypt or not? Of course they did. However, when the going got tough, their faith wavered, and they blamed Moshe for not leaving them where they were. Did not the same thing happen when some amongst the Messianic Believers saw the Roman threat (persecution) coming their way? Their faith wavered, and they blamed Yahushua and the Apostles for leading them out of their captivity. They turned, instead, to the one they hoped would save them from persecution, Constantine, and followed him instead. It was in this manner that Constantine hijacked the True Faith, and made Elohim over into his own image. Constantine succeeded where the Egyptians failed. Of course this was Yahuwah’s way of testing the faithful to see what their hearts were truly made of.
13 - And Moses said unto the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahuwah, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever.
14 - Yahuwah shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
The Christians, who made the free choice to follow the commandments of Constantine over those of Yahushua, would have done well to remember these words. Instead they crawled back to their former slave masters (the Romans) whimpering and begging to be taken back.
As with Adam and Eve, man does not have the confidence and patience to wait on Yahuwah to deliver them and guide them into their promised reward. They jumped at the opportunity HaSatan offered them to be as Elohim without waiting on Yahuwah. The ancient Israelites wanted the same thing – immediate salvation, as did the many of the early Believers. Such is the nature of man; and, it is much easier to succumb to our nature than to wait on Yahuwah.
Another example of this is the present space exploration and the quest to find other planets that may support human life. Some reports I have read actually claim that we will soon have the technology to transform a planet (like Mars) into a life supporting planet, to be used after we destroy our own planet. There is also research going on to pretty much allow humans to live eternally, without having to wait on Yahuwah. These madmen actually believe that we can become gods through technology.
19 - And the Angel of Elohim, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 - And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
It is my firm belief that this angel was, in fact, the pre-incarnate Yahushua. When He was in front of the Israelites, He guided them to the place which they were to go. When He moved behind them, it was for their protection. The cloud may have represented the spirit of Yahuwah, which brings enlightenment and truth to those who believe and blinds those who do not believe, so that they cannot see or know the truth.
The parting of the Red Sea opened the door of salvation to the Israelites (believers), but, at the same time, that door slammed shut on the Egyptians (non-believers). And, so it is with believers and non-believers today. If we follow after Yahuwah, the door to salvation is open to us; but if we follow after Constantine, that door will be permanently closed.
Matt. 3:11 - I 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 spirit, and with fire:
We were first baptized with water, which imbued us with Yahuwah’s sanctified spirit and brought us to a point of repentance. We then received the spirit of Yahuwah to dwell in us and lead us into all truth. In the end, we will be baptized with fire, be made pure, and continue on for all of eternity as sons of Yahuwah. As with the early Israelites, their water baptism alone did not bring them to salvation. As their history reveals, they did eventually return to sin; which culminated in the murdering of Yahushua. The followers did not receive the spirit of Yahuwah at that time. Neither did the disciples until after Yahushua received His glory. And, none of us can boast that we are now saved, as we have not passed the final test yet; which will be the baptism of fire.
Mark 16:16 - He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
This verse does not, necessarily, imply that salvation comes immediately following baptism. The word “shall” could also imply “at some point in the future”. There are two conditions we must meet before we can even qualify to be saved. The first is the most important. We must believe Yahuwah. The second is baptism, and it is worthless without the first. And, if we believe, it naturally follows that we obey. Yet the counterfeiters proclaim that they are once saved, always saved. Naturally, since they believe that the Law and obedience to Yahuwah is done away with, they can skate right into the Kingdom without a care. This is simply not so. Following baptism, we are to be about changing our nature, and following Yahushua’s example, which was total obedience to Yahuwah. This is what qualified Yahushua to become the Saviour. This is what will qualify us to enter the Kingdom. This is how we change our nature to one that is one with Yahuwah. When we have achieved this oneness, even the thought to sin will no longer dwell in us.
John 3:5 - Yahushua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim.
6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Baptism is merely a symbol of consenting to the covenant agreement with Yahuwah. It is an entirely physical act. It is the receiving of His spirit, and the feeding and the nourishing of that spirit that really leads us into salvation. We must never, ever invite the spirit of HaSatan back into our lives. We are no longer to be living in the flesh, but in the spirit; and growing in the spirit until we fully take on the nature of Yahushua.
Rom. 6: 6 - Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 - For he that is dead is freed from sin.
What is sin?
1 John 3:4 - Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
8 - He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 - Whosoever is born of Elohim does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim.
Matt. 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 - For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 - Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Sin IS the transgression of the Law. He who commits sin is of the devil. Yahushua did not come to destroy, but to fulfill the Law. Till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or tittle will pass from the law, until all is fulfilled. Whoever breaks the Law and teaches others to do so, will be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven (if he makes into heaven at all). How can any rational person with even an ounce of intelligence, read these lines and come away with a doctrine declaring that the Law is done away with? The answer is, they are not of Yahuwah, but of the devil. This clearly and unequivocally brands all who follow traditional Christianity, and believe that the Law is done away, are of the devil. We are not to believe them or follow after them.
The apostle, Paul, is often accredited with “doing away with the Law”. The Jewish leaders hated him and the Christians loved him for it. There were also some Messianic Followers that hated Paul because they got the same meaning from his words; and called him a false Apostle. The following is what Peter said of Paul and the way people perceived his words.
2 Peter 3:15 - And account that the longsuffering of our Master is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
16 - As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
The other Apostles did know and understand what Shaul was talking about. They stood beside Shaul not against him in any way. They had the spirit of Yahuwah dwelling in them, granting them knowledge and understanding of spiritual things. The Shaul-haters did not.
Just as when Nicodemus did not comprehend what Yahushua meant by being born again (John 3:3 – 7), neither did either the Jews or Christians understand what Paul was saying concerning the Law and grace. Thus they twisted Paul’s words to suite what they wanted them to mean. Embracing the doctrine, that the Law is done away, will only lead one to “their own destruction”. So, let us now examine (what I perceive might be) some of the verses the counterfeiters would likely use to support their argument. In my comments, I will interpret them as I understand them. I simply cannot see the other apostles keeping Shaul in their company and praising him before the congregations if they did not fully agree with what he was saying.
Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 - But now the righteousness of Elohim without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
The purpose of the law is to teach us what sin is – lawlessness. Once we internalize the Law and make obedience to it an integral part of our nature, we will be forever lawful by nature. Therefore, there will be no further need for the law, because we no longer have a lawless nature.
We are going to be sorely tested before reaching that state – whether it be personal, as in one spouse a Believer and the other not; or, a social situation, like living through the 7 year Tribulation. Before our final dirt nap, Yahuwah has to know of a certainty, that we will never again return to, or even desire to return to, our former slave master. Once qualified to enter the Kingdom, the thought will never again even enter our minds. A sorely tormented mind tends to see (if facing death) their tormentors as gods, as they have the power of life and death over them. Just think about what Yahushua went through. Not many of us could survive what he did. We have absolutely no way of knowing whether or not we will break, renounce Yahuwah, and swear to serve their gods, just to escape death. If we do, that is it for us. There will not be a second chance for salvation.
What did Yahushua have that got Him through His ordeal? Yahushua had a FULL MEASURE of the Father’s spirit in Him. Did He always possess it? No! He grew up beside His Father, who taught Him all things and prepared Him for His role as future King. It is my understanding and belief that Proverbs 8:22-36 is speaking about the Son, who is the Power and the Wisdom of Elohim.
1 Cor. 1:24 - But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, HaMashiyack the power of Elohim, and the wisdom of Elohim.
(Some versions capitalize the words Power and Wisdom to show it is a person they are talking about)
Yahushua’s ordeal might also be a type of baptizing which the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan represented. However, it seems to be more like the baptism of fire; for when He emerged from it, He was the Firstborn of the New Creation, or Kingdom, as pure as the Father.
5:13 - (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
6:6 - Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 - For he that is dead is freed from sin.
So there it is – do away with the Law and you do away with sin. Or so the counterfeiters think. Are we saved by the law? Of course not! The Israelites had the Law, but that did not save them. We are saved by Yahushua’s sacrifice, not our own. We are saved by the Father’s grace. What does “grace” mean?
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/grace?s=t
Grace
4.
a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior:
It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.
Synonyms: forgiveness, charity, mercifulness.
Antonyms: animosity, enmity, disfavor.
It is an indisputable fact that we are only saved by the grace of Elohim. The Law, of itself, saves no one. However, until we absorb it completely into our nature, which will only truly be changed when we graduate to eternal life, the Law remains with us as a teaching tool and as a matter of faith. We demonstrate who we worship (Yahuwah or Constantine) by which one we obey.
Romans 5: 21 - That as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Yahushua HaMashiyack, our Master..
Rom. 6: 1 - What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 - Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom. 7: 8 - But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Sin cannot exist without the Law, because the Law defines what sin is. Without the law, we would not know what is sinful (against the Law) and what is not. How then could we make obedience to the Law the core of our nature? How can we be come eternal-living elohim if we don’t have that nature in us? It is simply impossible.
And so the Red Sea crossing, the Jordan crossing, water baptizing and resurrection baptizing, all represent the same thing – the burying of the old (sinful) man and the resurrection of the new (sinless) man. The water baptism, which I presume we have all experienced, represented the signing of a contract with Yahuwah – which we will love and obey Him only in all the things that we do. The baptism of fire, which lies before us, represents us having fulfilled that contract and receiving our reward for having done so – eternal life.
The counterfeiters, like Adam and Eve, love to skip all of that and believe they are already elohim. I have heard them preach at funerals that the dead person is already in heaven. Some of those dead people I knew quite well and know that some did not believe in Yahuwah at all. How then can that lying minister declare that they are in heaven? As long as the person’s name appears on some baptismal certificate, they count the person as saved. That is just a bunch of nonsense!
There is only one way that anyone is going to be able to pass through the fiery baptism awaiting us – to become one with Yahuwah and Yahushua; and we can only do that by writing His Laws on our minds and hearts to the degree that we by nature obey. None, who yet harbor any inclination to return to their former slave master, will ever enter into eternal life. And that is all there is to it!
Yahuwah Bless
G.P.