There is only one baptism in this dispensation of grace!
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Verse List: Baptisms in the Bible
It is a common mistake to think that water baptism is the only baptism in the Bible. Every time the word “baptism” is mentioned people wrongly assume water. The Bible mentions many baptisms, and many of them are dry including the one and only baptism required for being a member of the body of Christ.
“…One Lord, one faith, one baptism,…” – Eph 4:5
This one baptism is our baptism into Christ by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). This is the one baptism taught by the apostle Paul, and the only one that accompanies salvation in this dispensation (1 Cor 12:13; Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12)
Here is the list of distinct baptisms in the Bible. Only the ones in blue are wet. Can you find the common thread among the baptisms that include water?
1. Noah’s type baptism
Peter mentions that eight people were saved by water in an ark as a type of a future baptism. Water is present, but the people are dry.(Gen 6:13; 1 Peter 3:20-21)
2. Baptism unto Moses
Paul presents Israel’s baptism unto Moses “in the cloud and in the sea”. Water is present, but the people are dry. (1 Cor 10:1-2; Exo 14:29)
3. Israel’s ceremonial cleansings
These cleansing rituals were required under the Mosaic Law for the cleansing of the people. (Num 19:13; Lev 11:25; Exo 19:14; Exo 30:17-21; Heb 9:10)
4. Levitical priesthood baptisms
These washings were required in order to become a priest under the Law of Moses.
(Exo 29:4; Lev 8:6; Num 8:7)
5. Traditional Jewish baptisms
These baptisms were not mandated under the Law but were part of Jewish tradition.
(Mt 15:1-2; Mk 7:1-9; Lk 11:38)
6. John’s baptism
John came to Israel baptizing with water for the remission of sins so that they could enter the promised kingdom to Israel and identify their Messiah. (Mt 3:5-6; Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3; Jn 1:31; Lk 7:29; Acts 10:37)
7. Jesus’ baptism by John
Jesus, who knew no sin, was baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness under the law. (Mat 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-10)
8. Baptism with fire
Jesus would baptize the nation with fire as they went through the tribulation. This trial baptism would damn the unfaithful to hell. (Isa 4:4; Mal 3:2-3; Mt 3:11; Lk 3:16)
9. Jesus’ baptism unto death
Jesus’ second baptism which he accomplished at the cross where he was identified with the sins of Israel and the world. (Mt 20:22-23; Mk 10:38-39; Luke 12:50)
10. Pentecostal water baptism
Peter’s presentation of water baptism for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus. This was John’s baptism plus the name of Jesus.(Acts 2:38; Mk 16:16; Mt 28:19; Acts 22:16; Eze 36:25)
11. Pentecostal Spirit baptism
This is the baptism with the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ from heaven poured out upon the believing remnant of Israel with signs and powers following. (Isa 44:3; Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 24:49; Acts 2:17-18, 38; Acts 8:15-17; Acts 11:16)
12. Gentile baptism of Cornelius
Cornelius was baptized with the Holy Spirit as a sign to Peter. Peter subsequently baptizes Cornelius and the other Spirit-filled Gentiles with water in a different order but for the same reason as Pentecost. (Acts 10:45-48)
13. Baptism for the dead
This baptism is debated heavily and is most likely synonymous with one of the other baptisms. If this is true, “for the dead” would signify the circumstance under which those believers were baptized. (1 Cor 15:29)
14. Baptism into Christ
The only baptism taught by Paul which identifies the believer with Christ, his death, and resurrection. This baptism is performed by the Spirit and does not include water.
(1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:5; Col 2:12; Gal 3:27; Rom 6:3-4)
WHY DID APOSTLE PAUL WATER BAPTIZE?
To validate Paul’s ministry for the Jews’ sake, God temporarily granted Paul the gift of miracle-working. Lest the Jews discredit Paul for not water baptizing, he also water baptized—that is, they could have said, “Paul does not water baptize… we should not follow him.” Paul water baptizing (and performing miracles) provoked the Jews to jealousy (Romans 11:11).
Eventually, water baptism became divisive within the Corinthian church, and so Paul quit water baptizing..
By Acts 28, Israel’s program had ceased and she had fallen. The Acts transition period was over, and so Paul’s prison epistles such as Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, make no references to water baptism.
As a side-note, Paul was water baptized of Ananias because of Ananias’ benefit, not for Paul’s benefit (Acts 9:18; Acts 22:16).
Paul was saved apart from his water baptism. Ananias knew that, up to that point, believers of Jesus Christ were water baptized. Had Paul not been water baptized, it would have been a stumbling block to those believing Jews who had been water baptized.
Paul being water baptized was another instance of his ministry and apostleship replacing Peter’s. Paul being water baptized safeguarded against his critics from claiming that he was not a legitimate apostle for having not been baptized.
The only baptism that we need today is the baptism whereby the Holy Spirit—not a priest or preacher—places us into the Church the Body of Christ. This is a waterless, supernatural baptism. Paul also refers to this baptism in Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12, and Galatians 3:27.
BAPTISM
Pastor James L. Melton
A baptism is an IMMERSION. A person who has been baptized is a person who has been immersed in something, because that's what the word means.
Many have the idea that all baptisms are WATER baptisms, but this isn't true. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist speaks of THREE different baptisms in one verse. He mentions WATER baptism, HOLY GHOST baptism, and FIRE baptism. One gets you wet, one gets you into the body of Christ, and one gets you into Hell! There's more than one kind of baptism, so we need to avoid using the word too loosely.
A person is baptized by the Holy Ghost the very moment they receive Christ as Lord and Savior (I Cor. 12:13). This particular baptism is a SPIRITUAL baptism, and it should never be confused with WATER baptism (although it usually is). This spiritual baptism can be found in I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:3-4, and Galatians 3:27. It is not a water baptism, for water baptism places no one into the body of Christ. A person is saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Paul said that Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel in I Corinthians 1:17, and "the gospel" does NOT include water baptism (I Cor. 15:1-4).
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