A picture of New Testament water baptism can be seen in the Tabernacle in the wilderness that God commanded Moses to construct per His specific instructions.
In scripture there are two distinct water applications. The first is a complete washing for entrance into the priesthood. Afterward those who minister must keep their hands and feet spiritually clean by being washed in the water of the Word of God.
A foreshadow of water baptism can be seen in God’s command to Moses to wash Aaron and his sons. They were to be washed prior to being clothed with priestly garments:
“And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:” Exodus 40:11-14
God then instructed the Israelites to wash at the laver in the courtyard before entering the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons were forbidden to enter into the Holy Place without washing at the laver. In fact, they were warned of the consequences for disobedience. They would surely DIE.
Exodus 30:18-21 “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.”
As stated above, death would occur if one tried to forego God’s command to wash at the laver. The washing of the natural hands and feet reflects a spiritual reality. We are to do God’s work (with hands) and walk in God’s ways (with feet) in accordance with His Word.
After the initial cleansing had taken place, Moses poured oil over the head of Aaron the high priest. This action parallels the new covenant infilling of the Holy Ghost:
Leviticus 8:12 “And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.”
After being washed, and clothed, Aaron and his sons were marked with blood:
“And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.” Exodus 29:19-20
Note the significance of how the sacrificial blood was to be applied:
Not only did Moses sprinkle the blood on the altar and upon Aaron and his sons, along with the anointing oil, but each man was marked with blood on the right earlobe, the right thumb, and the right big toe. This was a token reminder that they must listen to God's Word, do God's work, and walk in God's way. The blood speaks of sacrifice, so the priests became "living sacrifices" in the service of the Lord. (The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament )
Many believe that the blood is applied immediately when one accepts Jesus as their personal savior. However, take the time to read the twenty-ninth chapter of Exodus. What you will find is a sequence of events that parallel the New Testament salvation components.
1. Candidate accepts priestly calling.
2. Candidates are washed and adorned with holy garments. Ex 29:4
3. Oil is poured over the head of the priest. Ex 29:7
4. The priestly office is secured. Ex 29:9
5. The blood is applied after obedience to God’s commands above. Ex 29:20
After stating how the priestly office is secured, the Word instructs us about our Christian walk and how to honor God with various types of offerings.
The New Testament parallel is as follows:
1. Acceptance of Jesus sacrifice and repentance
2. Water Baptism (receive the priestly garments)
3. Infilling of the Holy Ghost
4. Priestly office secured
5. Blood of Jesus sacrifice is applied
In scripture there are two distinct water applications. The first is a complete washing for entrance into the priesthood. Afterward those who minister must keep their hands and feet spiritually clean by being washed in the water of the Word of God.
A foreshadow of water baptism can be seen in God’s command to Moses to wash Aaron and his sons. They were to be washed prior to being clothed with priestly garments:
“And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:” Exodus 40:11-14
God then instructed the Israelites to wash at the laver in the courtyard before entering the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons were forbidden to enter into the Holy Place without washing at the laver. In fact, they were warned of the consequences for disobedience. They would surely DIE.
Exodus 30:18-21 “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.”
As stated above, death would occur if one tried to forego God’s command to wash at the laver. The washing of the natural hands and feet reflects a spiritual reality. We are to do God’s work (with hands) and walk in God’s ways (with feet) in accordance with His Word.
After the initial cleansing had taken place, Moses poured oil over the head of Aaron the high priest. This action parallels the new covenant infilling of the Holy Ghost:
Leviticus 8:12 “And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.”
After being washed, and clothed, Aaron and his sons were marked with blood:
“And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.” Exodus 29:19-20
Note the significance of how the sacrificial blood was to be applied:
Not only did Moses sprinkle the blood on the altar and upon Aaron and his sons, along with the anointing oil, but each man was marked with blood on the right earlobe, the right thumb, and the right big toe. This was a token reminder that they must listen to God's Word, do God's work, and walk in God's way. The blood speaks of sacrifice, so the priests became "living sacrifices" in the service of the Lord. (The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament )
Many believe that the blood is applied immediately when one accepts Jesus as their personal savior. However, take the time to read the twenty-ninth chapter of Exodus. What you will find is a sequence of events that parallel the New Testament salvation components.
1. Candidate accepts priestly calling.
2. Candidates are washed and adorned with holy garments. Ex 29:4
3. Oil is poured over the head of the priest. Ex 29:7
4. The priestly office is secured. Ex 29:9
5. The blood is applied after obedience to God’s commands above. Ex 29:20
After stating how the priestly office is secured, the Word instructs us about our Christian walk and how to honor God with various types of offerings.
The New Testament parallel is as follows:
1. Acceptance of Jesus sacrifice and repentance
2. Water Baptism (receive the priestly garments)
3. Infilling of the Holy Ghost
4. Priestly office secured
5. Blood of Jesus sacrifice is applied
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