There is one baptism

Which one is the ‘one baptism’ the Bible speaks of, the Spirit or the water, or are they the same as some claim?

Eph. 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism ; “

The baptism of the Holy Spirit regenerates, while the baptism of water is ceremonial, it is a physical work we do to illustrate what took place by faith prior.

The baptism of John was for repentance preparing those to receive their messiah (Mk.1:4; acts 13:24)

The Spirit baptism puts us in the body of Christ and happens only once (1 Cor.12:13)

Forgiveness and cleansing are in the person and work of Jesus, not in the symbol of cleansing by baptism.

James and John in their desire to be close to the messiah asked Jesus if they can sit on his right and left in his glory. Jesus responded ‘ Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with Matt 20:22-23)

In another place Jesus stated, Luke 12:50 “ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished.”

Jesus had already been baptized by John in water when he came out to meet him in the wilderness to begin his ministry. “ John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" Matt 3:14) In this baptism the Messiah was revealed to Israel (Jn. 1:29-34) publicly identified by John as “the Lamb that will take away the sins of the world.”

In Matthew 3:11, John contrasts his baptism of water with Jesus’ baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mk. 1:8).”I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but He who is coming after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit ”

After the resurrection Jesus tells the disciples “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5)

This event happened when He ascended to heaven and then sent the Holy Spirit (called the comforter) to indwell those who believe, forming the church as spiritual temple.

John 3:5-8is used to prove that water baptism is necessary to be saved (v. 5) “ ... unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

The Bible says that it is by the Spirit that one becomes born again. Creation cannot give new life, the Spirit who is God does this.

We have an example in Scripture showing that water baptism is not the same as the Spirit baptism.

Acts 10:44-11:1 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. … the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles … they(the Jews)heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, v. 47-48 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. “

When Peter retells the event Acts 11:15-17 “ the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"

The spirit indwelling, a spirit baptism is a gift. Here Peter distinguishes the baptisms as different.

Later on after Saul is saved he explains in Rom. 6:3-4 “do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

In Col. 2:12 He describes to us “ buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead”

Speaking of his death that happened on the cross.

1 Peter 3:20-21 Peter speaks of “ Noah, and the ark whose families were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ)”

The word antitype, means a corresponding type, something resembling another. The ark as a corresponding type is pointing to Christ. Those who enter Christ are delivered from judgment which is why Noah and his family entered the ark.

In this way baptism shows the old nature was judged when we died with Christ. The waters were a judgment on an ungodly, unbelieving world. By going in the ark Noah and his family were saved physically as they were protected, carrying them through the judgment of the flood. They were already obedient by faith before entering the ark for they built the ark under God’s instructions that saved them.

While many say we need new or fresh anointing this is a misuse of the Word. They make it like we need more of the spirit which apparently gives them authority. It is about giving more of yourself to the Lord in which he fills your life, we are then filled with the Spirit instead of the flesh.

Water baptism is administered by human beings as Jesus commanded, “Go therefore and make disciples...baptizing them...” On the other hand, Holy Spirit baptism had no human administrator on earth; it is bestowed directly by Christ. (As John describes being born again as from above.)

Gal. 3:26-28“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”How? Our union with Christ takes place at our regeneration, which is done by God - the Spirit.

1 Cor. 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”

Therefore the one baptism Scripture speaks of should be understood as a spiritual baptism, the one that directly has to do with salvation.

1 Cor. 15:1-4, Paul tells us the Gospel message he delivered in its entirety – three points are given, Christ’s death, burial and resurrection; there is no baptism mentioned. All those who are water baptized are submitting to this ceremony because they were saved.

Water Baptism is for the remission of sins in the sense of a testimony referring to the death of Christ, who washes our sins away. One is spiritual, the other we do by an exercise of our will in faith; again, all who were water baptized were already believers. The source is the Holy Spirit who actually gives the new birth (Eph. 1:13, we are sealed with the Spirit when we first believe. The moment one exercises faith in the gospel.

 

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