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Which Baptism is it?
There is more than one baptism mentioned
in scripture. How does the diligent Bible student know for sure which one
applies to us? A careful study of scripture reveals the answer to this
question beyond any doubt whatsoever.
In the great commission, Jesus commanded
us to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:",
(Matthew
28:19). Jesus specifically commanded that every nation on earth be
baptized, so we know from this scripture that Baptizing is required in order to
be obedient to Jesus Christ.
Mark also recorded the great commission
in his gospel; "And he said unto them, Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned",
(Mark
16:15-16). Being baptized is a condition that "shall"
bring salvation. This condition must be met so it must therefore be
possible for one to obey something in order to satisfy the requirement.
There are several types of baptism
mentioned in the Bible. Two of these are baptism in water and baptism of
the Holy
Spirit. Which of these are we commanded to use? If we can rule
out any of them as applying today, then we are left with the only one that could apply to us in harmony with
all scripture.
Holy Spirit baptism is described as the
extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit, received by
the apostles on Pentecost (Acts
1:5; 2:4), and later by the first Gentiles to whom the gospel was extended.
(Act 11:15-17)
The Bible teaches us that Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit, (Matt
3:11). Baptism of the Holy Spirit was by the authority of Jesus,
not of men, and is therefore not a baptism we can administer to all nations.
We simply do not have any authority over the Spirit of God.
Peter described water baptism in
1 Peter
3:21 as being "an appeal to God for a good
conscience" (NASB).
The Greek word for appeal means to "seek" or to "ask for".
Jesus was baptized in water, (Matthew
3:16). The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized in water, (Acts
8:38). Cornelius and his family were
baptized in water, (Acts
10:47-48). The Philippian jailor and
his family were baptized in water, (Acts
16:33). Baptism in water is the baptism that penitent believers
can obey. Baptism in water is the one we ourselves can administer to all
nations.
In Paul's letter to the Ephesian
Christians he declared that there is only "One Lord,
one faith, one baptism", (Ephesians
4:5). Since there is only one baptism, and we are commanded to
baptize all nations, and baptism in water is the only one we can administer to
one another, then we are left with but one choice.
If Holy Spirit baptism were the "one
baptism" mentioned in scripture, why then did Peter say in
1 Peter
3:21 that "baptism doth also now save us"?
The baptism Peter was speaking of was "in like figure"
to all the water that flooded the earth in the days of
Noah, (1
Peter 3:20).
The "one baptism"
of scripture must therefore be baptism in water.
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