We are told that we are buried with Yahshua the Messiah through baptism to the end that we walk in a new life, Romans 6:4. That means that we undergo a unique transformation. Before you take the important step of immersion, you must understand all its ramifications for your present and future life.
This brochure is written with the hope that you will come to know what baptism means and how serious and permanent a decision it is for your life. Be sure that you are completely ready to commit your life to Yahweh and to be faithful in all things before you submit to the waters of immersion. When a person is called to the Truth, he or she is convicted to do all that Yahweh requires. A desire wells up inside to be obedient in everything that the Scriptures demand.
The question becomes, how necessary is baptism? The New Testament Scriptures teach baptism; the Apostles performed it; Yahshua Himself submitted to baptism to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15) and His example is for us. The Holy Spirit is given as a direct result of baptism, Acts 2:38. Whether or not to submit to baptism into Yahshua’s Name to become a son or daughter of Yahweh Almighty is the most important decision you as a Bible believer will ever make.
To think of immersion as a mere formality or just an outward sign of an inward change is to minimize what is a critical act of salvation for every True Worshiper seeking the Kingdom. Neither is the rite of baptism like some incantation that automatically changes your life. Baptism results from deep faith, sincere repentance, and a total commitment to real change in the life you live by learning and applying Yahweh’s truths.
Baptism is a prerequisite for salvation itself. Therefore, to submit to baptismal waters is no small matter. We read Yahshua’s words in Mark 16:16: “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.” He also said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim,” John 3:5.
Are You Willing to Permanently Change?
A principal truth of Yahweh’s Word is the simple fact that Yahweh will bar those from His Kingdom who are still in their natural, sinful condition. We must first be changed in heart to take on the mind of Yahshua. He told a parable of the man who was ejected from the wedding of Yahshua and His chosen bride because he lacked a wedding garment. The spiritual message is that we cannot approach Him unprepared and unchanged in heart (Matt. 22:12-14).
In order to be considered one of Yahweh’s sons or daughters a dynamic transformation in your very thinking must first occur. That change includes the sincere desire to put sin out of your life by leaving behind the old nature in the burial waters of baptism. You come out of the water a new person, a new creation with a different goal in life and a transforming way of living it. See Ezekiel 18:31.
As a result, instead of living to satisfy personal wants and ambitions, you as a converted child of Yahweh desire above all else to obey Him and live for Him for the rest of your life.
What was once important to you as a carnal individual now takes a backseat to pleasing Yahweh in everything. It means nothing less than surrendering your very heart to your Creator. It comes down to saying, “All that you have said in your Word I will do and be obedient.” Paul describes it as “putting on Messiah,” Galatians 3:27.
Yahshua now rules your thoughts and your actions. His life becomes the pattern for your life. Through Yahweh’s Spirit you see the world and look at your life through His eyes. You see your earthly existence as nothing less than training for an everlasting Kingdom.
Before you commit to baptism and submit to the cleansing waters of immersion, you must be absolutely sure of your decision. You must be aware that there are severe consequences if you do not following through in your new obligations to Yahweh after your baptism. The irrevocable promise you make at immersion includes complete obedience to Yahweh.
No Turning Back
Through immersion you enter into a unique New Covenant promise with Him. You make a commitment to Yahweh to be faithful until death.
A vow in Yahweh’s eyes is a binding pledge that carries an extremely high price for going back on your promise. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 warns, “When you vow a vow unto Yahweh, defer not to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools: pay that which you have vowed. Better is it that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.” The language of Numbers 30:2 is very clear: “If a man vow a vow unto Yahweh, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”
Immediately after Yahshua was immersed by John, He underwent trials from the Adversary, Matthew 4, Luke 4. He was tempted three separate times to be unfaithful to His commitment to Yahweh His Father. Similarly, once you repent and submit to Yahweh through the waters of immersion, you will be tried and tempted in some fashion. Satan never gives up in his unholy efforts because he wants you — Yahweh’s very own son or daughter — as a prize for himself.
In a moment of weakness you may at some point stumble and make a mistake. But Yahshua is our Advocate with the Father and Yahweh will forgive us if we truly, sincerely, and with our whole heart turn back to Him in humble submission, seeking His forgiveness. Yahweh will show mercy to the person who commits sin after immersion and humbly seeks His forgiveness, while promising not to repeat the sin. However, if after you are baptized you turn completely away from the Truth and reject His Word, then you are in dire straits. At that point repentance is no longer acceptable, Hebrews 6:6, Exodus 15:2-3. With no access to forgiveness of his sin, the heretic backslider faces eternal death, James 1:15. Before you take the irrevocable step of immersion you must ask yourself, am I willing to be obedient in all things for the sake of the Kingdom?
Do I desire with my whole being:
- to put Yahweh first in my life through my worship, my time, and my tithe and to place Him before my spouse, family, friends and job?
- to keep all His annual Feasts every year, along with the weekly Sabbath? Am I prepared to find other employment if necessary in order to be faithful to the Feasts and the Fourth Commandment, Saturday Sabbath, obligation?
- to be an example to others of a True Believer in Yahweh in my actions and behavior each day?
- to be willing to change when I am shown to be in error?
If your answer to any of these is no, or if you have reservations about any of these questions, then you may not be ready for immersion. Baptism requires a complete change of heart and life. Adhering to the Truth of the Word is all about personal change and walking a different path which leads to salvation.
We are commanded to come out of the world (2Cor. 6:17), and that means to leave error and follow Truth. You must be willing to make permanent changes in the way you live your life so that you will be found worthy of the Kingdom.
Living for Yahweh will entail difficulty at times. Paul wrote, “Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of Elohim, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of Elohim, for which you also suffer.” (NASV) Nothing worthwhile comes easy. That is especially true of the Kingdom.
Repent and Turn Your Life Around
Every person on the planet has sinned, Romans 3:23, and sin rules in the lives of all unrepentant people. Each has racked up a grave penalty for their sins. Sin must be expunged from our lives if we hope to see the Father. Yahweh’s Spirit can’t live in the same person who has filthy, unrepented sin residing there as well.
The only way to remove the penalty of sin is to partake in the death and resurrection of Yahshua, which is symbolically accomplished through the act of baptism. Colossians 2:12 explains how this works. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of Elohim, who has raised him from the dead.”
Repentance is central to baptism and the removal of sin. It’s like a soap that cleanses away the stains of sin. A serious introspection of one’s life must occur prior to baptism. John gives us a clear definition of true repentance in Matthew 3. There was nothing about John the Baptist’s message that was warm and fuzzy. It was harsh, it was strong, it was confrontational, and it was devastating because John understood how prone the sinner is to a shallow, superficial repentance that does not stick and will not save.
John knew the depths of repentance that the sinner must have. But at the same time, because he spoke such a clear definition of true repentance, he exposed false repentance, shallow repentance, and non-salvational repentance. “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance…And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
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: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:7-8; 10-12).
The common term in the Old Testament for repentance is sub. Two requisites of repentance included in sub are “to turn from evil,” and “to turn to the good.” It means turning in submission to Yahweh. Three times Ezekiel included Yahweh’s call to the people of Israel: “Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!” (14:6); “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses” (18:30); “Turn! Turn from your evil ways” (33:11).
The Greek Septuagint underlines this idea by usually translating sub by epi (apo-)strepho (to turn about, or to turn away from). To be abandoned are both evil intentions and evil deeds, and both our motives and conduct are to be radically changed. A striking example is found in Isaiah 1:16-17: “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong. Learn to do right.” In Luke 13:3 and 5 Yahshua said, “If you don’t repent, you’ll perish.”
In the New Testament Greek repentance is the noun metanoia and means a real change of mind and attitude toward sin itself and the cause of it, not merely the consequences of it, which affects the whole life and not merely a single act. Yahweh promises that forgiveness will follow true repentance, Ezekiel 18:21-23.
You can’t dabble in the truth. You are either in or you are out. You can’t sit on the fence and be lukewarm. Yahshua said the lukewarm or only partly committed individual is going to be spewed out like a drink of warm water. You either get in the action or you sit on the sidelines where you will be left. John the Baptist said you need to do a search of your heart. You need to turn from your sins. You need to change the dark and the low and the gross and base elements of your life. You need to see the proud nature of your heart and the perverse and crooked things and every other hindrance in your life for what they are…obstacles that keep you from walking rightly with Yahweh. True repentance requires a complete and full admission of one’s sinfulness…in depth and height and length and breadth.
Prayerfully seek Yahweh for guidance. Repent of your sins. And then may the angels in heaven rejoice (Luke 15:10).
Baptism into Yahshua’s Name is necessary for salvation. Baptism into the true name of Yahshua is the only correct baptism because:
Only baptism into Yahshua’s Name leads to the remission of sins, Acts 2:38.
Only baptism into Yahshua’s Name leads to the receiving of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38 and 8:16.
Only those baptized into Yahshua’s Name become part of Messiah, Galatians 3:27.
Only those baptized into Yahshua’s Name will share in the likeness of His resurrection, Romans 6:5.
Past immersions into some other name or into “father, son, and holy spirit” do not fulfill the scriptural mandate and must be redone properly into the singular Name Yahshua.
More information can be found here: Why Baptism into Yahshua’s Name?
Following are the biblical conditions and regulations for baptism:
- I understand that baptism into Yahshua’s Name is necessary for salvation (John 3:5).
- I understand that proper baptism is into the singular Name of Yahshua the Messiah; all baptisms in the New Testament were done into the one Name, Yahshua (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27). The only trinity formula for baptism found in Scripture is in Matthew 28:19. The Jerusalem Bible note says that formula may be “a reflection of the liturgical usage established later in the primitive community.” This is corrobrated in the Harper Collins Study Bible note. The Hebrew version of Matthew omits this triune formula.
- I understand that baptism first requires repentance of my sins (Acts 2:38) and that repentance means a complete change in my life.
- I understand that granting of the Holy Spirit is required for salvation, and that the spirit is endowed at baptism only by the laying on of hands of ordained ministers, Romans 8:9, 11; Acts 8:14-18; 1Timothy 4:14.
- I understand that immersion is the only proper method, which the act of submersing and rising from the water represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Yahshua (Rom. 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12-13; 1Peter 3:21).The word baptize is from the Greek baptizo and means to immerse, submerge.
- I understand that baptism requires a lifelong commitment.
I understand that upon baptism I must follow all the commandments of Yahweh’s Word for the rest of my natural life.
- I am not currently smoking, abusing alcohol, or taking illegal drugs or substances.
- I am not currently involved in any immoral situation or one that may be viewed as immoral.
- I have nothing in my present, personal life that would prevent me from fulfilling the above requirements and becoming a part of the family of Yahshua in the body of Messiah.
- I have read and agree with YRM’s Statement of Beliefs.
Who Can Scripturally Baptize?
Proper baptism involves being submerged in water by another qualified individual. In the Scripture that other person was a deacon, apostle, or someone ordained to this aspect of the ministry like John the Baptist. No one ever baptized himself or herself, not even our Savior. He went to John the Baptist for it. Never in the Scriptures did a husband and wife baptize each other.
Because immersion typifies death in burial waters, no one buries himself and neither can one baptize himself. The laying on of hands to transfer the gift of the Holy Spirit following baptism is performed by one who already has the Spirit, a minister. Self-baptism is unscriptural for these reasons.
We at Yahweh’s Restoration ministry welcome those who have repented of their sins and express a desire to be immersed for the forgiveness of sins.
Baptism Questions Answered
1- What if I don’t get baptized before I die?
Yahshua said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be judged.” Belief, which implies commitment in the Greek, is a key requirement for salvation, and is in conjunction with baptism, 1Peter 3:21. When we believe, we commit to baptism. The Holy Spirit given at immersion helps us obey the precepts of the Word, Romans 8:9 and Ezekiel 36:27. The Spirit will also resurrect us, Romans 8:11. Why would we not want to be baptized to have the penalties of our sins washed away? There are at times exceptions in the Word because of unusual circumstances. The thief impaled with Yahshua obviously could not be baptized after his confession to Yahshua. Yet Yahshua told him he would be with Him in paradise. Exceptions aside, each of us needs to be faithful to the Word while we can, and be immersed “to fulfill all righteousness.” The question is not how long can I put it off. The question is, in the words of the Ethiopian to Philip, “…what hinders me to be baptized?”
2- Will you baptize my 12-year-old son? He’s a good boy who loves the Bible.
The Bible shows that there is an age of maturity when we are held accountable for our actions. For at least eight biblical reasons, that age is 20. The most obvious lesson of accountability is when the Israelites who rebelled in the wilderness under Moses and who were at least age 20 at the time and were barred from the Promised Land. Those under 20 were allowed to go in, Numbers 32. Repentance is the first critical step to immersion. No matter how mature a 12-year-old is, he can’t possibly repent scripturally at that age when he hasn’t even experienced life as an adult with all the temptations, pulls, trials, and difficulties adulthood brings. His brain has not matured enough to make an enduring, lifelong commitment that he can’t in reality understand. We find that the minimal age for baptism in Scripture is 20. For more details see: yrm.org/requirements-baptism
3- I was previously baptized by sprinkling and I felt the Holy Spirit come on me. Why do I need to be re-baptized?
Some use personal experience to establish their beliefs. Personal experiences are not the standard by which we determine Truth. The Word is. Baptisms that don’t fulfill the requirements are like John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance only. “And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Messiah Yahshua. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Sovereign Yahshua,” Acts 19:3-5. Those who heard Paul’s explanation about the insufficiency of John’s baptism immediately got immersed in the new, correct way. Baptism must be done properly to be legitimate. There is only one proper baptism. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:4-5, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Master, one faith, one baptism.”
4- I am afraid to be baptized because I might sin afterward. If I did sin would I be lost?
Baptism does not require a perfect life. Because we sin is why baptism is necessary and why repentance is a prerequisite. No one lives perfectly, before or after immersion. Yahshua’s mercy is available if one makes a mistake after repentance and will forgive us if we seek Him in sincerity for forgiveness. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Yahshua Messiah the righteous.” The point is that we must not fall back into our sinful ways before immersion. We read in 2Peter 2:20-21: “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahshua Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” A mistake is one thing, but a wholesale falling away and leaving the faith is another for which there is no repentance available but only judgment, Hebrew 6:4-6.
5- Do I need to adhere immediately to all Scripture after baptism? Can I still work on the Sabbath and observe holy days occasionally and celebrate holidays like Christmas because my family wants me to?
If you need to ask these questions then you don’t understand repentance and you need more study and prayer before you are ready to turn your life over to Almighty Yahweh. To commit your life to the Truth means that you walk in all the light all the time. Baptism must be taken seriously. Anything that stands in the way must be overcome. That means to call on His true Name Yahweh, to keep the Ten Commandments, weekly Sabbath, annual holy days of Leviticus 23, and clean food laws of Leviticus 11. In addition, Paul says that women are to wear a headcovering during worship, 1Corinthians 11. If a job requires work even occasionally on a Sabbath, then finding a different job is in order. Holidays that are not scriptural like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween must not be celebrated. A Believer must live by every word of Yahweh, Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4. We must be free from sin and serve righteousness for the rest of our lives, Romans 6:16-23.
A New Person, a Different Walk
Being baptized is not the end of the believer’s walk. It’s just the beginning. Popular is the notion that because I have completed baptism and received the Spirit, my spiritual life is complete and I can sit back and watch the world go by. That idea can’t be more wrong. Baptism opens the possibility for salvation and now a new dimension takes hold in the believer’s life. The stakes will now be even greater. Yahweh expects a life of total commitment and He holds us to a higher standard.
Essential in the new walk are the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit evident in the life of the called-out and transformed individual. The gifts of the Spirit are found in 1Corinthians 12:8-11: “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” These gifts are to be used for the edification and growth of the Body of Messiah. Yahweh may grant one or more gifts at the time of baptism. In some He will enhance and develop in greater ways a natural gift the individual already has.
The fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 are those characteristics that are evident and expressed in the life of the converted believer. They show a changed life: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Messiah’s have impaled the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” The carnal actions and reactions of the natural man are no longer evident, replaced by the mind of Messiah.
There is no greater purpose in life than to live for Yahweh, reflecting the life of His Son Yahshua in your life, and preparing for an eternity of rulership in His coming kingdom!
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Dear fellow believers in Yahsua, Let me get straight at it; John 1:33, John 4:2, Acts 1:5, 1 Corinthians 1:17, Acts 15:5-11 Water baptism was performed mandatory like circumcision before Yahsua took away the veil by His sacrifice on the cross. It was an old covenant practice like circumcision, the New Covenant baptism was given on Pentecost/Shavuot. This is the baptism required to be saved, no glory goes to the work of mans hands. The new born again believers in Acts didn’t get that fully yet, except for Apostle John who doesn’t even mention Yahsua’s water baptism in His gospel,… Read more »
Baptism was on Old covenant practice? Is there an example of water baptism in the OT that we overlooked?
Your Conditions for baptism are interesting. Especially this one…
Is there something in the statement of beliefs that you disagree with? Or is untrue? Unbiblical?
Was there something in the statement of beliefs that is wrong / unbiblical?
Everyone needs forgiveness, Romans 10 9-10 Confession through Yashua to the Father Yahweh, Repentance, Water Baptism into the Family of Elohim. and the laying on of hands by the Elders of the congregation to the receiving of the Holy Spirit.
I knew something was bad wrong in my Alabama Babylon Baptist church house when the reason i went up to be “saved” was for fire insurance. I could not wrap my head around God tormenting people FOREVER, later of course, I learned that was a horrible lie and then after I was baptized with holy spirit , thats when I really started learning and the word saved means ” repaired ” I needed repairing from my inherited adamic nature. It’s a process. The mystery of suffering and the mystery of iniquity.
I really want to have a submersion baptism in the name of yeshua and Yahweh the father I live in the Pittsburgh area and the current Church/assembly seems to have an issue using secret names at baptism.
That is not surprising. Very few places actually follow the command given in scripture. We offer baptismal counseling to those interested and if you decide to visit and be baptised, let us know!
“baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5 your position and proof concerning this “event”
Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with a water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” This is speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to be done at Pentecost, it is a play on words. We know they still immersed repentant believers in water. Here is another example, Acts 19:1-6.“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth,… Read more »
How to get Holy Spirit?
I haven’t seen much of your website, but like the initial articles I’m reading. I’ve met a lot of what I consider “insincere Christians” who aren’t interested in truth, but only in feel good messages and fitting in with their church (pagan holidays, vaccines, etc.). I haven’t gone to Christian churches for years because of the false doctrines and practices that I saw in the churches I visited. The Holy Spirit gave me this knowledge as I studied the Bible on my own. As I asked questions in the churches, I met with anger or was brushed aside, or not… Read more »
While there are aspects of YRM that could be labeled as “Hebrew Roots”. We were around before the Hebrew Roots movement gained traction. We agree with SOME of the general ideas within the Hebrew Roots movement, but we find that generally it often ends up being a Jewish flavor of Christianity. I really don’t like to speak negatively, as many of the people in that movement are sincere, but we are only pointing out what we have seen. We only try to adhere to the faith of Abraham, to walk as our Messiah walked without all the extra traditions that… Read more »
My question is on the story of Abraham and him asked to circumcise all males in his household does that have any symbolic meaning with today’s baptism if so why was he only to circumcise males?
Also we know some denominations change names after baptism is that biblical referring to the story of Abram his name and Sarah’s names were changed after the covenant of male circumcision.
We know Paul’s name was changed when he became Yahshuah’s followers should we change names too?
Does it matter under what denomination you were baptized in? Sincerely. Lanelle