What is the meaning of baptisma?
Contrary to the traditions of men; baptism is not really the issue of dipping and or sprinkling, or what have you.
Rather, the actual issue is that of identity.
Of identifying a thing as having been, or become, or been made one in identity and or agreement with another.
Note how that in the following, identities as to who is actually aligned with what...is the issue.
Matthew 3:10 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. 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 Ghost, and with fire: 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
A simple one to point out there is the one about "shall baptize you with...fire."
How that His fan will be In His Hand, and by it, He will thoroughly purge His floor.
The result?
Two identities will stand out.
One will be found identified by said fire as having identified, or having been in agreement with Him: His wheat.
In contrast to that one, the other will be found identified by said fire as not having identified with, or having been in dis-agreement with Him: The chaff.
Even lost people now use the phrase "my baptism of fire" in a similar (though not the same) sense.
Baptism is the issue of identities.
As in said fire's baptism or "wrath to come."
Note said contrast in identies between both groups that said baptism of fire or wrath to come, is said to result in...
Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
In this is found a simple example from Scripture of how to arrive at the intended sense of the more complex aspects of a thing, by approaching it's much simpler to solve aspects.
All forms of baptism in Scripture (Hebrews 9:10's "divers washings") are the issue of identifying a thing as aligned or in agreement with a thing, or not.
In this, even the following is a form of a baptism, or of identifying a thing as to what sort it is; as to what it is one in identity, or in alignment with.
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
And this is merely the tip of the iceberg on this issue of Identities.
Scripture has much to teach on these kinds of Identities themes.
Rom. 5:8
Acts 17:11,12.
