Immersion or Mikveh? Which Should we do?

Immersion or Mikveh?

Which Should we do?

All Scripture is taken from my Son Of Man Bible, SOMB. Original work at www.Door43.org

Matthew 28:18-20, “Yeshua came to them and spoke to them, “Yehowah has given me all authority in Heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, as you are going, disciple all the ethnicities, immersing them into the name of the Father, of the Son, and of Ruach ha’Kodesh. 20 Teach them to guard all the things that I have commanded you. See, I AM with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amein.”

As we read Yeshua’s final words in Matthew, we see his command to disciple all ethnicities. A disciple is a Talmid, a student, a pupil, a learner. Verse 19 is telling us to teach or instruct others in the Way of Yehowah through Yeshua. One of the first things a new disciple of Yeshua should learn is that he or she should be immersed into the family of Yehowah, Father, Son, and Ruach Ha’Kodesh. Find a pool, lake, ocean, river, pond, or livestock tank and immerse the new disciple. Immersion means to go completely under the water. I don’t think it matters whether you go forwards, backwards, or straight down into the water, just do it. Yehowah gave Yeshua authority to immerse, and Yeshua gave us the authority to immerse new disciples.

Acts 2:36-39, ““Therefore, let all the house of Israel certainly know that Yehowah has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Yeshua whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced in their hearts and asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter answered them, “Repent and be immersed, each of you, in the name of Yeshua Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of Ruach ha’Kodesh. 39 For to you is the promise and to your children, and to all that are far off, as many people as Yehowah our Divine One will call.””

Once you have heard the good news of Yeshua Messiah, the Gospel message, you need to repent of your sins, which means to turn away from your sins, turn back to Yehowah, ask him to forgive you of your sins, and then get immersed, demonstrating that you believe in Yeshua and have received his forgiveness. This is a fantastic testimony to those attending your immersion. Going completely under the water is a beautiful picture of you dying to your sins and old self and being resurrected to a new life in Yeshua. Many come up out of the water full of Ruach ha’Kodesh and speaking multilingually. Part of answering Yehowah’s call on your life is to get immersed by a local believer, a Pastor, a youth minister, evangelist, etc.

Acts 2:40-41, “With many other words he testified and urged them; he proclaimed, “Save yourselves from this wicked generation!” 41 Then they received his word and were immersed, and there were added to the Messianics in that day about three thousand souls.”

Notice the progression of this immersion teaching. Hear the Word preached or taught. Repent of your sins. Turn back to your Heavenly Father and ask his forgiveness. Then get immersed in water as soon as possible. This is the growth cycle of the body of Messiah.

Proverbs 20:9, “Who can say, “I have kept my heart (mind) clean; I am free from my sin?””

Ecclesiastes 7:20, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

There is no question, every human on earth sins and is a sinner in need of redemption from Yehowah. This redemption has been accomplished through his Son, Yeshua ha’Mashiach. We get immersed as a testimony of our redemption in Yeshua. The last step of this redemption for us is when we are resurrected or raptured into his presence to live with him for all eternity. The final step is when he throws death into the Lake of Fire. Death must and will die.

Romans 6:1-5, “What then will we say? Should we continue in sin, so that grace may abound? 2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how can we still live in it? 3 Do you not know that as many as were immersed into Yeshua Messiah were immersed into his death? 4 We were buried, then, with him through immersion into death. This happened, in order that just as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be united with his resurrection.”

When we are immersed we a demonstrating a picture of what happens to us in the spiritual realm. We are identifying with Yeshua’s death, burial, and resurrection to new life. Immersion is a great picture of our death to sin in our life. Yeshua died for our sin, to remove the penalty of death for our sin. We die to our sins, we stop sinning. Immersion is a statement to yourself and to the world that you commit yourself to stop sinning, because you have been resurrected to a new sinless life. We attempt to walk out a sinless life, knowing that if we do stumble into sin along our life’s walk, he will forgive us each time and help us to overcome sin in our life.

Proverbs 24:16, “For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.”

Romans 6:6-7, “We know this, that our old self was crucified with him, in order that the body of sin might be destroyed. This happened, so that we should no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 He who has died is declared righteous in respect to sin.”

Immersion is a representation of your death, especially to sin.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Messiah. It is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of Yehowah, who unconditionally selflessly loved me and gave himself for me.”

Colossians 2:11-12, “In him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done by humans in the removal of the body of sins of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Messiah. 12 You were buried with him in immersion. And in him, you were raised up through faith in the power of Yehowah, who raised him from the dead.”

In Colossians 2, Paul tells us again that immersion is our witness to our death to sin, burial with Yeshua, and our resurrection to a new life of power and victory over sin. Sin no longer has power over us. We have victory over sin through our identification with Yeshua’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Romans 6:8-16, “But if we have died with Messiah, we believe that we will also live together with him. 9 We know that Messiah has been raised from the dead, and that he is no longer dead. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For in regard to the death that he died to sin, he died once for all. However, the life that he lives, he lives it for Yehowah. 11 In the same way, you also must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive to Yehowah in Yeshua Messiah our Lord. 12 Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal body, in order that you may obey its lusts. 13 Do not present the parts of your body to sin, to be tools used for unrighteousness. But present yourselves to Yehowah, as dead who are now living. And present the parts of your body to Yehowah as tools to be used for righteousness. 14 Do not allow sin to rule over you. For you are not under the law (not condemned; John 3:18), but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law (not condemned; John 3:18), but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as servants is the one to which you are obedient, the one you must obey? This is true, whether you are servants to sin which leads to death, or servants to obedience which leads to righteousness.”

1 John 3:4, “Everyone who commits sin is doing what is lawless; for sin is violation of the law.”

Isaiah 48:22, ““There is no shalom for the wicked,” says Yehowah.”

Romams 8:37, “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through the One who unconditionally selflessly loved us.”

Acts 8:36-39, “As they went on the road, they came to some water; the eunuch asked, “Look, there is water here; what prevents me from being immersed?” 37 Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may be immersed.” He answered, “I believe that Yeshua Messiah is the Son of Yehowah.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stop. They went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and Philip immersed him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Ruach of Yehowah took Philip away; the eunuch saw him no longer, and he went on his way rejoicing.”

All you need for immersion is some water that is deep enough for someone to immerse you. New Covenant immersion is done to you by another person. The only condition to immersion is that you believe in Yeshua HaMashiach as your Lord and Savior. It is simply a matter of obedience to Yeshua’s command in Matthew 28:19-20. Read the complete story in Acts 8:26-40.

2 Kings 5:14, “Then he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River, obeying the instructions of the man of the Almighty. His flesh was restored again like the flesh of a little child, and he was healed.”

In 2 Kings 5:14, we see the First Covenant example of immersion. Naaman, the Syrian commander, dipped himself in the Jordan River. But that word for dipped is the Hebrew word Tabal, Strong’s # H2881, meaning to dip, to be dipped, to plunge, or to dip oneself. It means complete submersion under the water. This is the Hebrew word translated immersion (baptize) in the Greek Septuagint (aka LXX) version of the Set-apart Scriptures (Tanach, Old Testament, First Covenant), translated 200 years before Yeshua’s day.

Matthew 3:1-2, and 6, “In those days (c. 27 AD), John the Immerser came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Yehowah is near.” … 6 They were immersed by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.”

John the Immerser and Yeshua were the last of the First Covenant prophets. In Matthew 3, we see John Immerser immersing Jewish people repenting of their sins. Even Yeshua was immersed by John the Immerser, even though he had no sins to repent of.

Matthew 3:13, “Then Yeshua came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be immersed by John.” Read the entire passage about Yeshua’s immersion and anointing by Ruach Ha’Kodesh. Yeshua was not immersed to repent from sin, but to fulfill all righteousness. Of course, he is all righteousness.

Acts 8:9-24, “But there was a certain man in the city named Simon, who had earlier been practicing magic; he used to astonish the people of Samaria, while claiming that he was an important person. 10 All the Samaritans, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him; they said, “This man is that power of Yehowah which is called Great.” 11 They listened to him, because he had astonished them for a long time with his magical arts. 12 But when they believed what Philip preached about the good news concerning the Kingdom of Yehowah and the name of Yeshua Messiah, they were immersed, both men and women. 13 And Simon also himself believed: After he was immersed, he continued to be with Philip; when he saw signs and mighty deeds being done, he was amazed. 14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of Yehowah, they sent to them Peter and John. 15 When they had come down, they prayed for them, that they might receive Ruach ha’Kodesh. 16 For until that time, Ruach ha’Kodesh had not come upon any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of Lord Yeshua. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received Ruach ha’Kodesh. 18 Now when Simon saw that Ruach ha’Kodesh was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. 19 He begged, “Give me this power, too, that whoever I place my hands on might receive Ruach ha’Kodesh.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver coins perish along with you, because you thought to obtain the gift of Yehowah with money. 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right with Yehowah. 22 Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to Yehowah, so that he might perhaps forgive you for the intention of your heart. 23 For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bonds of sin. 24 Simon answered, “Pray to Yehowah for me, that none of the things which you have spoken of may happen to me.””

In Acts 8 we see the story of Simon the magician. He apparently got saved and was immersed. We learn here that both men and women are to be immersed. And we see an example of how some were only immersed into the name of Yeshua. They may not have stated in the name of the Father, Son, and Ruach Ha’Kodesh. Many people are often filled with Ruach Ha’Kodesh upon immersion, when they rise up out of the water to a new life in the Ruach.

Acts 9:17-18, “So Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, Lord Yeshua, who appeared to you on the road when you were coming, has sent me, so that you may receive your sight and be filled with Ruach ha’Kodesh.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he received his sight; he arose and was immersed.”

As soon as Saul (soon to be Apostle Paul) was saved and healed, he was immersed. A good example to follow.

Acts 16:31-33, “They answered, “Believe in Lord Yeshua Messiah, so that you may be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of Yehowah to him, together with everyone in his household. 33 Then the jailer took them at the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immersed immediately.”

In Acts 16 we see the doctrine of being immersed immediately upon receiving salvation. The sooner you are immersed, the better. Be bold and take your stand for Yeshua among his immersed, anointed believers, the Messianics, those who believe in, obey, and follow Yeshua.

Acts 22:16, “And now why are you waiting? Arise, be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’”

In Acts 22, we hear Paul’s recounting of his encounter with Ananias, when Saul, now Paul, received his healing, salvation, and was immersed. We see immersion coming right away after salvation. Immersion is a matter of obedience to Yeshua, as he taught us in Matthew 28:19-20.

Psalm 103:17-18, “But the covenant faithfulness of Yehowah is from everlasting to everlasting on those who honor him. His righteousness extends to their descendants. 18 They keep his covenant and remember to obey his instructions.”

Psalm 30:4, “Sing praises to Yehowah, you his faithful people! Give thanks when you remember his consecration.”

So what are you waiting for? Repent of your sins, get saved today, and immediately receive immersion and rise to walk in this new life with Yeshua!! The First Covenant way of mikveh, was more of a cleansing ritual bath, not what we as New Covenant believers are shown to do now with full immersion as commanded by Yeshua.

For a much more in depth teaching on immersion versus mikveh, here’s a good brother’s teaching:

https://eliyah.com/archives/mikveh-or-baptism-the-true-meaning-and-importance-2016/