The baptism of the Spirit is what initiates us into new life in Christ. The Spirit covers us, indwells us, fills us, and makes us a part of the spiritual body of Christ. At salvation, we are “immersed” in the Holy Spirit. This is a spiritual baptism, and it is the baptism that saves us. Those who are judged by Christ in the last day will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).ĥ) The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14 1 Corinthians 12:13) – John also predicted that Jesus would baptize men with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Immediately after mentioning the baptism by fire, John describes Jesus as overseeing a harvest to come: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (verse 12 cf.
As Jesus came up from the water, the Father spoke from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form upon Jesus (verses 16–17).Ĥ) The baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11–12) – John prophesied that Jesus would baptize men “with fire.” This speaks of Jesus’ judging the world for its sin (see John 5:22). In this baptism, Jesus put His stamp of approval on John’s ministry and also began His own. But Jesus told John to proceed with the baptism: “Let it be so now it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (verse 15).
John balked at performing the baptism, saying that Jesus should be the one baptizing him (Matthew 3:13–14). Although Jesus did not need to repent of sin, He came to John to be baptized. Paul taught them the whole message of salvation in Christ, and they received the message and were subsequently baptized in Jesus’ name.ģ) The baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17) – this was Jesus’ act of identifying with sinful humanity. These disciples had been baptized for repentance, but they had not heard of the new birth or the Holy Spirit. Later in the same city, Acts 19:1–7, Paul encounters some more followers of John. In Acts 18:24–25, a disciple of John’s named Apollos preaches in Ephesus however, only knowing the baptism of John and the need for repentance, he needed to be further instructed in the death and resurrection of Christ. Those who were baptized by John were showing their faith in John’s message and their need to confess their sin. Those who followed Moses passed through the water and were thus initiated into a new life of freedom and Law-keeping those who follow Jesus Christ, who is greater than Moses, pass through the waters of baptism and are thus initiated to a new life of freedom and grace.Ģ) The baptism of John (Mark 1:4) – as John the Baptist preached repentance of sins in preparation for the coming of the Messiah, he baptized people in the Jordan. Paul uses this as a comparison to the way that Christians are identified with Christ and His salvation. The seven baptisms are usually listed as being these:ġ) The baptism of Moses (1 Corinthians 10:1–3) – when the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, they were “baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” That is, they were identified with Moses and his deliverance by passing through the Red Sea and following God’s presence in the cloud (Exodus 13:21).
Some Bible students have identified seven baptisms in Scripture. Baptism in the church is also a token of the forgiveness of sins we experience at salvation-in much the same way that Pilate attempted to show his innocence by washing his hands with water (Matthew 27:24), Christians show they are cleansed by Christ when they are baptized by water. Historically, baptism has been used as a rite of initiation, showing the inductee’s entrance into a new belief or observance.