HEBREWS 6 talks about the need to leave six elementary principles and going on to perfection. However, if our understanding of any of those simple things is unscriptural, how can we really go on?
With that being said, I would like to write about just one of those 6 things, namely the "doctrine (or teaching) of baptisms".
In my understanding, there are 5 baptisms mentioned in the New Testament. The first one being the baptism of John the Baptist, which has been fulfilled and is no longer relevant since Jesus Christ completed His finished works for us. Therefore, let's move on to the others.
Here is a list of the other 4 baptisms that I think are to be a part of New Testament living.
- BAPTISM INTO THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST
- BAPTISM IN WATER IN THE HIS NAME
- BAPTISM WITH (IN or OF) THE HOLY SPIRIT
- BAPTISM OF FIRE
Misunderstanding can occur when anyone equates any of these 4 baptisms as being one and the same. While the third one can be simultaneous with the first or the second, here is my attempt to explain why I think they are all different and distinguishable, one from the other.
Our Baptism into the Body of Christ should not to be confused with Water Baptism, because Christ's Body is not water and the Baptizer is not a minister, but rather this Baptism is the Work of the Holy Spirit who baptizes us; i. e. joins us to the Lord's Body; by bringing us to repentance and faith, through convicting us of our need for a Savior named Jesus to the point that we call on His name for salvation. The Holy Spirit anoints the person(s) and/as the means for our hearing the Gospel and He convinces us that it is true, thus initiating this Baptism at our conversion. I think this is that "one baptism" mentioned in EPHESIANS 4:4-6 and 1 CORINTHIANS 12:13.
Baptism in Water is not same thing as the first Baptism, because Water is not the Body of Christ and a minister/baptizer is not the Holy Spirit. This Baptism is a sign of our Covenant, which was made for us through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. Like Jesus did for us, the believer gives up his life to Him - death - and is buried - burial - in baptismal waters, rising up from those waters - resurrection - to walk in the newness of life. The truth of this is mentioned in ROMANS 6:4-5.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit, as prophesied by John the Baptist in JOHN 1:33, is done by our Holy Spirit Baptizer, Jesus Christ Himself, as told by Peter in ACTS 2:33. The Holy Spirit is not the Body of Christ, nor is the Holy Spirit to be equated with water, therefore this is yet another one of our baptisms, being the one that points us to Jesus' ascension, when He ascended on high and gave gifts to men.
The Baptism of Fire is not a radical emotional experience, but is the ongoing work of the Lord in our lives as He continues to cleanse, purify and sanctify His people. John the Baptist also predicted that Jesus would baptize with fire and the New Testament is full of truths that He further uses to change our lives.
I think Jesus may have been refering to this Baptism of Fire in MATTHEW 22:22-23; MARK 10:38-39 & LUKE 12:49-50.
I know this may seem too simple for some and complex for others but I really think this is at least a legitimate attempt to explain this particular elementary principle of Christ, the "doctrine of baptisms".
By looking up the word Baptism in any good concordance, we can easily see that it talks about more than water.
With that being said, in conclusion let me ask, "Have you obeyed the Lord by being baptized in water since you became a believer and have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?"
