Different Baptisms

The Bible talks of different baptisms so let’s see what the scriptures teach us starting with John the Baptist John 3:6 and Acts 19:3. First we need to be aware that baptism was not unknown before John’s day. Baptisms and washings were used in ritual ceremonies especially when gentiles wished to join Judaism. When John started baptising Jews he was showing that they needed cleansing even though they were Jews, he was fulfilling his mission in preparing the way of the Lord John 1:23, Isaiah 40:3. In Acts 19 Paul meets some disciples ( not Christian disciples but disciples of John the Baptist) who when questioned had been baptised by John for repentance but knew nothing of the Holy Spirit, Paul explained to them John the Baptist’s role in preparing men’s hearts to receive Jesus as saviour. On hearing this they believed and were baptised as believers in the name of Jesus. Johns baptism has been fulfilled not to be repeated as Jesus the Lamb of God has taken away the sin of the World, that includes all who put their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal saviour.

This chart is a helpful way to understand these three baptisms that are for every Christian, every baptism has each of the following.

Candidate Element. Baptiser. Baptism
Believer. Body of Christ Holy Spirit Baptised Into body of Christ 1Cor12:13

Believer. Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ Baptised in the Holy Spirit John1:33

Believer Water Pastor. Believers baptism Acts 8:37, 9:18, 10:47

You can substitute your name for the candidate in each of these baptisms, but if you look at the bible references you will see that the element and the baptiser is different for each! Let’s start with the precious Holy Spirit’s work in salvation, to experience salvation you must be born again this is not turning over a new leaf but a new birth! every Christian is born again by the Holy Spirit the moment they first trust in Jesus as their saviour, then the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in our human spirit. Immediately the Holy Spirit then incorporates or baptises us into the body of Christ, that is what is meant by being baptised by one Spirit into one body.

Next Jesus is the one who Baptises Christians with or into the Holy Spirit, one of the meanings of the word baptise means to immerse, I can think of no better illustration of what Baptism in the Spirit is! Every Christian needs immersing in the Holy Spirit, Jesus came to give us the promise of the Father. There is One Baptism in the Holy Spirit but many fillings.

When Philip baptised the Ethiopian Eunuch he only did so because the Eunuch said he believed in Jesus, Philip said “then you may” only someone who is already a Christian may receive believers baptism, baptism does not make you a Christian and anyone who is baptised without having trusted in Jesus is only going through a religious ritual. Why do I write this? Romans 6:3-11 makes it very clear that it makes no sense being baptised if we have not put our trust in Christ. As way of illustration sometimes I have taken a sheet of paper and placing it in a Bible have demonstrated that every where the bible goes the paper goes, so it is with us for we are in Christ Jesus. Believers Baptism is an illustration of my counting myself with or in Jesus when he hung and died for me on the cross my old self died with him, I was buried with him that is what the water represents and I rose with Jesus when he rose victor over sin death and the grave(that’s to come the grave that is) this is illustrated when I come up out of the water, this is believers baptism!