Introduction

 

Baptism (baptisma) simply means “to dip, or submerge.” Water baptism is performed by submerging a person in water. There are two types of water baptism mentioned in scripture, (1) the baptism of John and (2) Christian baptism (see Acts 19:3-4). In both cases there are similar attributes:

 

Baptism…	John’s Baptism	Christian Baptism
Involves passing a person under water	“..went up straightway out of the water” (Mat. 3:16)	“…Water; what hinders my being baptized?” (Acts 8:36)    `
Disconnects you with OLD associations	The apostate nation of Israel	This present evil world
Puts you into a NEW association	The faithful Jewish remnant	The Christian testimony; or “House of God”
Is “unto” or “in view of” something	“unto repentance for the remission of sins”	“unto Christ” or “unto His death”
Speaks of death	“the axe is laid unto the root of the trees” (Mat. 3:10)	“Buried with him in baptism” (Col 2:12)
Puts you in the place of a disciple	Made disciples of John	Made disciples of Jesus

 

We want to look briefly at John’s baptism because the principles of his baptism are similar to those of Christian baptism, although the details are different. We will also find that Christian baptism has an additional aspect that is not included with John’s baptism.

 

 

Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire

John also prophesied that Christ would baptize with (1) the Holy Ghost and (2) with fire. This is not water baptism, so it is a little off topic, but I would like to briefly cover two non-water baptisms.

John’s mission was to create a moral state of repentance in the hearts of the people, but he did not have the authority to judge. He could only baptize with water; i.e. to make an outward, temporal distinction. The One who followed after was far greater, and would make an inward, eternal distinction. The distinction that Christ would make would be in two phases; one phase connected with His first coming, and the other with His second coming. The two baptisms are for two different groups. There was nothing in the Old Testament that would indicate the coming of Messiah would be in two parts, and John had no way of knowing that 2000 years would come between the two events!

Baptism with the Holy Ghost – The Day of Pentecost

“And, being assembled together with them, [Jesus] commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:4-5 (See Acts 11:16)

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

“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.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

The first phase would be an eternal identification or demarking of those who were of faith by the Holy Ghost. These verses make it clear that, in the Lord’s words, the baptism with the Holy Ghost would happen “not many days hence.” It took place in Acts 2, when the Holy Ghost filled all the house where they were sitting. The Spirit literally surrounded them like water does when you are submersed in it. This is the Baptism of the Spirit. It happened once. Every other person to be indwelled by the Holy Spirit is added to a company that was already formed. This event served to unite the believers there into one body, and the outward manifestation was signs of power; i.e. the sign gifts. Jesus is the baptizer, for Peter declared: “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

Baptism with Fire – The Harvest Judgment

The second phase would be an eternal demarking of those who were merely false professors by a sudden gathering together for judgment. As the baptism with the Holy Ghost occurred in Acts 2 when the public testimony was fully surrounded by the Holy Ghost as a manifestation of God’s approval, in like manner the public testimony one day will be immersed in fire when it falls under God’s judgment. This will take place at the harvest judgment – just after the appearing – when the Son of Man will send His angels throughout the Christianized world to gather out all that offend. What remains of the Christian testimony after the rapture will be an empty, hollow profession. The Lord will judge that which professes His name; “he will throughly purge his floor”. The great difference between the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and the Baptism with Fire is that only true believers were present at Pentecost, and only false professors will be taken at the harvest judgment. In both cases Jesus is the baptizer, but the two baptisms have very different characters.

 

I will refer to the baptism of individuals after the resurrection as “Christian Baptism”, except where the baptism of John is explicitly distinguished. Baptism began to take on a deeper meaning as time went on, especially as Paul’s epistles unfolded. Baptism, properly speaking, had no part of Paul’s ministry, because baptism has to do with the earth and the kingdom, and Paul’s ministry takes up heavenly things and the Church. To see that baptism has to do with the earth, take the case of the believing thief on the cross. There was no need for him to be baptized because his lifetime on earth was almost over. He would soon be with Jesus in paradise. But Paul’s ministry was not concerned with baptism because his commission was given to him by an ascended Christ; for he said “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect” (1 Cor. 1:17). Paul did not do away with baptism, but rather didn’t focus on it. Baptism belongs to an earthly order of things, and the Church belongs to a heavenly order of things. But Paul actually gives a fuller explanation of the significance of Baptism than any of the apostles, even though baptism is never his main subject.

 

To put it very simply, before getting into all the points:

First, we will look at what Baptism dissociates us from:

“…The longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing, into which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water: which figure also now saves you, even baptism, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demand as before God of a good conscience, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:20-21

“He that believes and is baptised shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned.” Mark 16:16

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:40-41

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.” Rom. 6:3-4

Baptism bring us in to formal association with Christ. Gal. 3:27 tells us that baptism is like putting Christ “on us”. This is the idea of putting on a uniform. Baptism marks us specifically as a “Christ-one” or a Christian! In context, the being “marked” as a Christian erases all other “markings”; “There is no Jew nor Greek; there is no bondman nor freeman; there is no male and female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). What a wonderful thing! To be outwardly identified with Christ!

The act of baptism makes us disciples in the kingdom. If we are disciples (or, followers), who are we to follow? Israel was “baptized in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Cor. 10:1-5), and it brought them into association with Moses, their divinely appointed leader! Our divinely appointed leader is Christ.

 

One who has been baptized is in the position of being a disciple, but they are not necessarily a “disciple indeed”. This is seen typically with Israel. “All were baptized”, and yet “most of them” were not real. The same is true of Christian baptism. Those who have been baptized are in association with Christ, but it doesn’t mean they truly have faith. There are many examples of this type of case, most famously the case of Simon Magus (Acts 8:9–24).

Point #6: Baptism outwardly brings us into the sphere of Christian Profession

Of the three circles in Ephesians 4:4-6, the circle of profession is connected with Christian baptism. All in this circle are not necessarily saved. By being baptized we are brought into the kingdom in profession, and also into the house of God in profession. Baptism is the way a person is officially brought into Christianity. It puts us into a place of responsibility, but not all in that place have genuine faith. This can be shown by the following scriptures.

One Lord. “Not every one that saith unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 7:21

One Faith. “I have been obliged to write to you exhorting [you] to contend earnestly for THE FAITH once delivered to the saints. For certain men have got in unnoticed, they who of old were marked out beforehand to this sentence, ungodly [persons], turning the grace of our God into dissoluteness, and denying our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4

One Baptism. “For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were BAPTIZED unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea… yet God was not pleased with the most of them, for they were strewed in the desert.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-5

In Acts 8:12-13 we find that Simon Magus “believed and was baptized”. This belief was not the kind of belief that saves, rather it was the kind of belief that we see in Hebrews 6:4-6. Simon was not a real believer.

 

The next major incident after Paul’s conversion is at the house of Cornelius, although Paul was not present. The Holy Ghost was doing a work to enlarge the House of God to incorporate Gentiles. Notice that the Holy Ghost fell on them first, then Peter says, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” Acts 10:47. Peter recognizes that the Holy Ghost had fallen on them, and now they were responsible to welcome them outwardly into the Christian company.

Christian Baptism: Why do it?

“…The longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing, into which few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water: which figure also now saves you, even baptism, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demand as before God of a good conscience, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:20-21

 

It was for this same reason that Paul need to be baptized. He simply couldn’t stand before God in good conscience until he had formally disconnect himself outwardly from his sins (Acts 22:16).

 

Christian Baptism: How should we do it?

Point #10: Baptism is accomplished by submersion in water

It is very clear from this passage that they went down into the water. It indicates that that normal mode of baptism is submersion. Does sprinkling count? It is still going under the water in a sense, but it would be far better to follow scripture and practice submersion.

Point #11: Baptism is done in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

We might call this the inauguration of Christian baptism; the so called “great commission.” Here it is a command to baptize. Baptism is to be in the Name of the whole Trinity, “the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. This tells us that Christian baptism is connected with the full revelation of God!

Point #12: Baptism is “unto Christ” and “to the Name of the Lord Jesus”

“For as many of you as have been baptized unto Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27

“Only they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 8:16 (See Acts 19:5).

When we are baptized it is unto Christ and to His name. This means: “with a view to Christ”. J.N. Darby said, “I believe every one rightly baptized is baptized to the Lord Jesus, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”.¹

 

Christian Baptism: When should we do it?

Point #14: Baptism does not need to be repeated twice

“And the apostles who were in Jerusalem, having heard that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John; who, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for he was not yet fallen upon any of them, only they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:14

1. Does baptism speak of (1) death, (2) resurrection, or (3) both?
   
   Baptism always speaks of death, and death means separation. Baptism separates us from an old “ground” and places us on a new “ground”, but it has no power to give life. Whenever resurrection is mentioned, faith is always brought in. We are “Buried with him in baptism… risen with him through the faith of the operation of God” (Colossians 2:12).
    
2. Does baptism represent something that is already done or does is actually do something new that you didn’t have before?
   
   Baptism DOES give us something new. It brings us into the sphere of Christian profession. It outwardly separates us from this world which is soon coming under judgment.
    
3. Is baptism more for God’s view? or a testimony to the world?
   
   Contrary to what is commonly taught, baptism is more for God’s view than for mans, although it is seen by men. Like the Lord’s Supper, he has asked us to do it for him, but the world may look on and see it. However, getting the order mixed around can cause issues. Many Christians today believe that there is no point to Baptism unless it is done in front of a crowd. This is false. Why would the Philippian jailor baptize his household in the middle of the night if baptism is primarily for a testimony to others? The answer is, he wanted to separate his household from the world to Christ in God’s sight as soon as possible, because God’s view was the most important.
    
4. What are the practical effects of Baptism?
   1. In what way does baptism “now save us”? Baptism saves us outwardly. It separates us from this world this is coming under judgment (1 Peter 3:21) and allows us to have a good conscience before God. It washes away our sins (Acts) in an external sense.
       
   2. How do we put on Christ? When we are baptized we are brought onto Christian ground. Baptism puts Christ on us (as a uniform), see Galatians 3:27. It marks us specifically as a “Christ-one” or Christian. In context, the being marked as a Christian erases all other “markings”; “There is no Jew nor Greek; there is no bondman nor freeman; there is no male and female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
       
5. Who administers baptism? Is it the responsibility of the local assembly or the evangelist? Can I baptize myself?
   
   The apostles were told “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Most of the time in scripture, the responsibility to baptize is placed on the evangelist. If you preach the gospel to someone, and they get saved, your responsibility is to follow up and see that the new convert is brought onto Christian ground. More intelligent converts may ask, as with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. He asked Philip – the evangelist that was used to convert him – to baptize him, “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). There is no scriptural precedent for a person to baptize himself.
    
6. Is it scriptural for baptism to be repeated two or more times?
   
   It does not need to be repeated. See Point #9. It says in Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” This verse teaches that there is one common baptism for the whole Christian faith. If you are baptized once, you are a Christian (outwardly, of course). Even in the 21st century, when the church is divided, there is “one baptism.”
   
   1. What if someone was not baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? If someone wants to be re-baptized because the words spoken were incorrect, that is fine, but what God looks for is the intent. Were you passed through the water? Was the intent to baptize you? My personal conclusion is, God is very gracious when it comes to the wording at the pronouncement.
       
7. Is baptism required to break bread at the Lord’s Table?
   
   While scripture does not prohibit one from breaking bread who has not been baptized, we would do well to question the sincerity of one who refuses to be brought onto Christian ground. Is a person a sincere believer who flatly refuses a most basic Christian commandment? We are to judge them that are within (1 Cor. 5:13).
    
8. Infant, Household, Believer’s, and Believer’s Only Baptism
   

   	What is it?	Is it Scriptural?
   Infant Baptism	Infant baptism is the teaching that every child born to Christian parents should be baptized as an infant in order to be eternally saved.	No. The scripture never allows or supports this practice, and it is often found in works-based perversions of Christianity.
   Household Baptism	Household baptism is the teaching that when Christian parents get saved, they should baptize their entire household, regardless of the individual faith of their children.	Yes. The households of Lydia, Stephanas, and the Philippian jailer are cited as having been baptized without the individual faith of the members being specified.
   Believer’s Baptism	Believer’s baptism is the teaching that when a person accepts the gospel they should be baptized.	Yes. A classic example is the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8.
   Believer’s Only Baptism	Believer’s baptism only is the teaching that a person should NOT be baptized until they accept the gospel; i.e. that house hold baptism as a principle is wrong.	No. Scripture gives us the households of Lydia, Stephanas, and the Philippian jailer that were baptized. Also in Acts 19:5-6 some were baptized first, then sealed with the Spirit.

    

9. If Christianity is all about the “spirit” of things and not the “letter”, why would the Lord ask us to carry on with outward ordinances like the Lord’s Supper and Baptism? Doesn’t that seem like a carry-over from Judaism?
   
   It is true that the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are outward ordinances, but unlike the ordinances of Judaism, as Christians we understand from the Word of God what these ordinances mean. Another striking difference between Judaism and true Christianity is the number of ordinances: Jews had somewhere around 613 ordinances, Christian’s only have two. Note: I say “true Christianity” as opposed to Christendom, which insists on hundreds of ordinances.
    
10. Compare the Lord’s Supper and Baptism.
    
    They both speak of death. The Lord’s Supper shows forth His death, the ordinance of baptism shows for the believer’s death with Christ. One difference is that the Lord Supper is collective, while baptism is individual. A second difference would be that Baptism is scripturally allowable before a person has faith, while the Lord’s Supper is prohibited from those who are unsaved.
     
11. Baptism gives access into the profession aspect of the House of God, but is this the only way in? What about just profession?
    
    Can I restate the question? “Why do I have to enter the house of God by baptism? Why can’t I just enter by verbal profession and skip the baptism?” I would answer with the following: would you chose to enter your house by climbing in the window or by using the front door? Baptism is the proper entrance into the house of God in the aspect of profession.
     
12. Does Baptism give access into the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of heaven, or both?
    
    We have no direct scripture that says baptism is the entrance into the kingdom of heaven… but it would seem to be so. The parable of the tares in Matthew 13 gives us the truth of how Satan introduces false subjects into the kingdom of heaven. He does it by sowing them, which we can connect with the parable of the sower and conclude that they “spring up” in profession. Baptism is the primary mode of Christian profession (Eph. 4:5). Tribulation saints will be baptized (see Matt. 28:19) as disciples in the kingdom… this also shows baptism is the entrance into the kingdom of Heaven, in the aspect of profession. The kingdom of God is more of an umbrella term that encompasses the kingdom of heaven, but it usually focuses on the moral aspect; i.e. that which really conforms to the character of God. Certainly, we know that John’s baptism was expressly for those who wanted to separate from apostate Israel, and wait for the King to come. Also in Matthew 28 the commission to the apostles to go into every nation making disciples by baptizing them in the Name of the Triune God would connect itself with the kingdom, because the Church had not been set up yet! Therefore, we might conclude that baptism is the entrance into the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, yet only in the aspect of profession.
     
13. Is baptism an outward expression of an inward change?
    
    No. It is an outward expression of an outward change (coming onto Christian ground) but it does have a corresponding inward truth; that of death to sin (Romans 6:3-11) and death with Christ (Colossians 2:11-12).
     
14. Is it important to be baptized in front of as many people as possible?
    
    No. The Lord Jesus was baptized in front of a great crowd because He was publicly taking His place with the faithful remnant of Israel. We have no instruction to gather a great crowd to witness Christian baptism, although such an event may prove to be a great testimony and lead souls to Christ. However, a crowd of witnesses is not necessary.
     
15. What sphere is a believer in who has yet to be baptized?
    
    Such a believer is still outwardly identified with the world. It would be unscriptural to remain in this state. Scripture clearly indicates that baptism is normal for a believer. Surely, such a believer does not forfeit their heavenly privileges (those are promised and sure) but there would be something missing from their outward testimony to God and to the world. Apollos was one who fit this bill; although I hasten to add that his lack of Christian baptism wasn’t due to disobedience to the Word of God, but due to ignorance. Acts 18:24-26 shows the roll of those who are more intelligent toward those who haven’t received Christian baptism.
     
16. Why does Acts 2:38 seem to indicate that believers had to be baptized first in order to receive the Holy Ghost?
    
    It was a special case. These believing Jews needed to separate from a guilty nation and what the Lord Jesus called “your house, left unto you desolate” before they could receive the Spirit of God. On the Day of Pentecost, baptism of true believers (told to “repent and be baptized”) was the door to the House of God in the aspect of reality. Going forward baptism is the door to the House of God in the aspect of profession (Eph. 4:5). Look at Acts 10:47 where the Gentiles are baptized after they receive the Holy Ghost. Note: the House of God in profession was co-extensive with the House of God in reality up until Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8), who was the first false professor in the Christian testimony.
     
17. Why does it seem like in many of the places where baptism is mentioned it is in a different aspect?
    
    Whenever baptism is mentioned in scripture, we need to look at the context to determine what aspect is being referred to. This is true of justification, reconciliation, prophecy, and every other subject in the Word of God. Context determines the meaning.