SEVEN BAPTISMS

Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. However, there are seven distinct “baptisms” mentioned in the Bible. Whenever something like this happens, it doesn’t mean there are contradictions in the Bible. What this “one baptism” is referring to is that there is one main or most important baptism. The following is a listing of the different types of baptism and their distinctive features.

1Corinthians 10:1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

The baptism mentioned here is unique in the fact that the Israelites were surrounded by water to the sides of them and under the cloud, yet the water never actually touched them.

These were Old Testament Jews under grace, before the Law was given, under the blood of the lamb, Exodus 12.

1-5 To dissuade the Corinthians from communion with idolaters, and security in any sinful course, the apostle sets before them the example of the Jewish nation of old. They were, by a miracle, led through the Red Sea, where the pursuing Egyptians were drowned. It was to them a typical baptism. The manna on which they fed was a type of Christ crucified, the Bread which came down from heaven, which whoso eateth shall live for ever. Christ is the Rock on which the Christian church is built; and of the streams that issue therefrom, all believers drink, and are refreshed. It typified the sacred influences of the Holy Spirit, as given to believers through Christ. But let none presume upon their great privileges, or profession of the truth; these will not secure heavenly happiness.

Number Two: The Baptism of John

John 1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

29 ¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

This is “John’s Baptism”. This water baptism is for Old Testament Jews under the law. It is a baptism of repentance and to manifest Christ to Israel. This is the baptism that Jesus and all the apostles had. When Jesus received this baptism of repentance, he, the man who knew no sin, was fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah by being numbered with the transgressors:

Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

This baptism did not represent the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus since that had not taken place yet. That is why John says that he is a “friend of the bridegroom”, as opposed to being in the bride of Christ.

Joh 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

The baptism mentioned here is the baptism of suffering. Water, drowning, sinking etc. is used as a metaphor many times in the bible in dealing with suffering. God’s wrath is poured out upon the corrupt world in Gen. 6 – Noah’s flood. Also mentioned in Psalms 42:7 and Psalms 69.

Ps 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Ps 69:1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.>> Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Ps 69:14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Ps 69:24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

Re 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

Re 16:1 ¶ And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Re 17:1 ¶ And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

…and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Here the scene is in Jerusalem at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit had descended and many signs and wonders had taken place. Peter was preaching and had just told the Jews in the crowd that they had just crucified the Lord Jesus Christ, their Messiah. These Jews, (bearded, temple worshiping, circumcised, pork-abstaining, Sabbath observing) were upset upon hearing what they had done. They asked what they as a nation must do. Peter says to repent and be baptized. The baptism here is a continuation of John’s Old Testament water baptism of repentance. This baptism still did not represent the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No individual here asks what to do for individual salvation from hell. Peter tells them to save themselves (Jews near and far off) from this untoward (unruly or perverse) generation.

Ac 10:44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Gal. 3:14, That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Eph 3:1 ¶ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 ¶ The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

This is a figure of our salvation. Water fell on the ungodly world. Life started anew with Noah. Water baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The question from the gentiles “What must I do?” is always answered “believe” – apart from any works. However, it is pointed out that one works BECAUSE he is saved. Acts 26:20. The progression in Acts is from Peter to Paul. From Jew to Gentile. Notice the transition in dealing with the Nation of Israel with Peter, to Peter getting the revelation of Gentile salvation as Paul was preaching. Every time an individual asks what to do to be saved, he is always told to believe. Repentance, confession, baptism, works etc. always follows conversion.

Lu 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

This grace to the given to the all the world took place at Calvary but was not revealed to the apostles until the conversion of Paul.

Ac 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Mt 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:

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This is the baptism that matters. Anyone can get baptized in water. But when the Holy Spirit baptizes you he puts you into Jesus Christ after he spiritually circumcises your soul from your body, making you free from sin. He regenerates your dead spirit by putting your soul into Jesus Christ and joining your spirit with Christ’s spirit. God can then predestinate you to be conformed to the image of his son and adopt you into God’s family as a Son of God.

1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Ro 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mt 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:

Lu 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the one true baptism. Believer’s water baptism is an outward physical testimony of what happened to you inwardly, spiritually. To confuse the types of baptisms can cause a preaching of a “different gospel”.

Gal. 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”.

The gospel is not the same in every age. In the Old Testament no one was sealed with the Holy Spirit as a Church Age saint is. Noah had to build an ark or he would have drowned and gone to hell. Tribulation saints must endure to the end. YOU must simply put all your trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and cease and desist from trying to earn His favor. He offers you a free gift!!

Now to the crux of the whole matter. If the gospel is a free gift for you, can baptism (infant or otherwise) save you? Can the mass contribute? Can good works or church membership? What could you do to add something to what he called finished? Answer - NOTHING!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16