JUST SHARE HIS GOSPEL TRUTH AND THE LIGHT WILL DISPEL THE DARKNESS.

Spiritual death precedes physical death. God told Adam that when he ate from the restricted tree he would die Gen 2:17.  He didn’t die bodily at this point because he lived to be 930 years old  before he died physically Gen 5:5. He died spiritually, which means he was separated from God Gen 3:23,24. Adam was one with the Lord as God breathed the breath of lives (the Hebrew word “hayyim” is plural) into him, physical and spiritual Gen 2:7; Jn 20:22 (the Holy Spirit). All of mankind has experienced this spiritual death Eph 2:1,2,3 and unless we are raptured all will experience physical death Heb 9:27. Those that did not believe in Christ will be separated for eternity while believers will be with God forever Mt 25:46; Rev 21:3,4. Physical death is the spirit leaving the body Jas 2:26, while spiritual death is the Holy Spirit leaving man’s human spirit 1 Co 6:17; 1 Co 2:14. This has only happened twice, to Adam Gen 3:23,24, who was disunited or separated because of his sin Gen 3:6; Isa 59:2; and to Jesus Mt 27:46, who was disunited from the Father because of our sin 1 Pe 3:18 but was reunited to the Father when He gave up His spirit dying physically but alive spiritually Lk 23:46 whereas all other men have been born without the spirit Ps 51:5; Eph 2:1,2,3.

Jesus also experienced spiritual and physical death. He underwent spiritual death for three hours with darkness depicting separation from God Mt 27:45. He refused a sedating drink to remain in full control of his mind Mt 27:34. However, when He had fully suffered spiritually, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me” Mt 27:46. Jesus then took a drink and said, “It is finished” then gave up His spirit, dying physically for our sins Jn 19:28,29,30. 

John baptized Jesus to demonstrate a spiritual truth. Jesus was already righteous  and John recognized this fact Mt 3:14; yet Jesus said it would fulfill all righteousness Mt 3:15. Baptism would be a picture of the Good News: Jesus going under the water to die in our place and bury our sins in the depth of the sea Mic 7:19 and then be resurrected to new life. The Gospel is outlined by Paul as Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection 1 Co 15:2,3,4.

So, all are commanded to be baptized Mt 28:19, to illustrate that we have died to our self-rule as we enter the water receiving the forgiveness of sins Eph 1:7, and then being resurrected to live a new life Ro 6:4 where we submit to the authority of Jesus Gal 2:20.