We, as the church, believe that the New Testament teaches that there are three distinct acts of grace concerning the doctrine of baptisms. Though in places the Scriptures are a somewhat unclear as to the exact lines of distinction relative to the aforementioned, we believe that there nonetheless remains adequate internal substantiation from the Scriptures themselves to warrant our theological position concerning this issue. Therefore, we believe the New Testament understanding of the doctrine of baptisms is threefold in nature:
- Baptism into the Body of Christ
- Water Baptism
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Baptism into the Body of Christ
First, Baptism into the Body of Christ is the first unique and distinct act of grace administered by the Holy Spirit on the behalf of the believer. This occurs at the moment of one’s salvation experience on the sole basis of faith in Christ alone as Savior and Lord, (John 3:3-7; Rom 10:8-13). We can see this alluded to in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” We can see that what the Apostle Paul is referring to is the consistency of Biblical pattern regarding our Christian faith: one - one - one! This pattern of oneness however, deals with essential foundations of becoming a believer. To further underscore this position, we read in Romans 6:3 the following: “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” Therefore, the baptism into Christ can be none other than the baptism into His Body--the church in the earth!
Water Baptism
Second, let’s consider together the Bible doctrine of Water Baptism.
The Meaning of the Word Baptize:
The English word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptizo,” which simply means “to dip, to overwhelm, to plunge to immerse or to submerge.” It actually means to cause something to be dipped or immersed beneath the surface of water or fluid.
Why the Believer is to be Baptized:
- Because Jesus commanded that believers be baptized, (Mk.16:16; Mt.28:19).
- Because the Apostles commanded it, (Acts 2:37-39;10:44).
- Because we validate our faith by our obedience to the Word of God, (James 2:17,18; John 14:15).
The Prerequisites for Water Baptism:
Baptism in and of itself cannot save anyone. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Savior that brings an individual to salvation. Therefore, baptism is only effectual for those who meet certain requirements. Those receiving baptism must have already laid the first two foundation stones in the Christian experience, namely:
- Repentance, (Acts 2:38). This means one is not baptized merely because he/she wants to become part of a church group.
- Faith, (Acts 8:12; 10:47). This means that one must be old enough to know what they are doing. “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk.16:16).
What Takes Place in Water Baptism:
We are baptized simply because we are commanded by God to do so. However, as we respond to the Word of the Lord in faith, some very important things will take place. Every person who goes into the waters of baptism should expect to experience the following by faith:
- To be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; 3:1).
In baptism, the old man is crucified. In immersion, the old man is buried. But in rising up out of the water, the new man rises to walk in newness of life.
“Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism in death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also walk in newness of life,” (Romans 6:4).
- A new victory over life-dominating sins, (Romans 6:11-18).
- A spiritual cleansing and renewal, (Acts 22:16). The water itself effects no cleansing, but as we respond in faith to the commands of Christ, the Holy Spirit works in connection with God-ordained means.
- An identification with the Name of the Lord, (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12-16; Acts 10:48).
- A circumcision of the heart, (Colossians 2:11-12).
The Significance of Circumcision of the Heart in Connection with Water Baptism:
In the Old Testament, God gave a covenant to Abraham in which He required those who were participating in the covenant to accept and experience the sign and seal of the covenant which was a natural circumcision of the flesh, (Gen. 17:10-14). In the New Testament, God has taken that seal and made it a spiritual requirement. In water baptism, we receive the spiritual experience of circumcision of the heart to which the natural rite pointed. The natural rite consisted of four elements that are all symbolic of something that takes place in the circumcision of the heart.
The Four Chief Elements in The Natural Rite of Circumcision:
- The cutting away of flesh. In baptism we put off the old man nature, (Col 2:11).
- The shedding of blood. In baptism a death to self is to take place, (Romans 6:3).
- The eighth day. Natural circumcision took place on the eighth day, which is symbolic of new beginning and resurrection life, (I Peter 3:20-21). In baptism we experience a new beginning and newness of life.
- The new name given. In baptism we have a new name invoked over us: the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the very expression of the fullness of the Godhead bodily!
How We Should Be Baptized:
- Scriptural baptism is baptism by immersion.
- Baptism is to be administered in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus commanded that baptism was to be administered as an act of obedience (Mt 28:19-20; Rom. 6:1-11). We baptize in the name of Jesus, which name the disciples came to practice, on the basis of Jesus’ ascension and exaltation (Acts 2:33-36). Thus, when they baptized, they baptized in this manner (Acts 2:36-41; Acts 8:12-16; 38).
The Responsibility of the Baptized:
Even as the waters of the Red Sea served as a separation between the Egyptian life of slavery and the land of God’s provision for the Israelites of old, so the waters of baptism should serve as a permanent landmark in our lives. Baptism should signal three things:
- A grand farewell to the old way of life. This means a willingness to sever all connections with ungodliness and those who live in ungodliness.
- A new standard of living. This means that from baptism on, there will and must be a determination to live by the principles of God’s Holy Kingdom. •
- A new disciple of Jesus. The believer should begin to see himself/herself as a follower, a student and a witness to others of all that Jesus stands for. We should seek to become a student of the Word, and love the Lord with all of our heart!
Baptism in/of the Holy Spirit
Third, let us examine what the Scriptures have to say concerning what is commonly referred to as the Baptism in/of the Holy Spirit. Of all the various doctrines contained in the Word of God, this subject unfortunately is often the center or the target of much debate within the wider body of Christ. On the one hand, we have the those believers who are sincere in their conviction that the gifts of the Spirit as described in the Bible no longer exist. On the other hand, we have those in the body of Christ, such as ourselves, who are equally as sincere in our conviction that the gifts of the Spirit, as well as all the other miraculous and logically inexplicable movings of God, still are available for the New Testament believer of the 1990’s. Now let us fully examine this much misunderstood subject:
The Relationship of the Old Testament Believers to the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit:
- The Spirit came upon various men in Old testament times that enabled them to do special feats of strength, (Judges 11:29).
- The Spirit of the Lord rested upon men, (Numbers 11:25).
- Men were filled with the Spirit in a temporary fashion to perform certain God-ordained tasks, (Exodus 31:3).
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Life and Ministry of Christ:
Christ was
- Born of the Spirit, (Lk 1:35).
- Filled with the Spirit, (John 3:34).
- Baptized with the Spirit, (Mt 3:16-17).
- Led of the Spirit, (Mt 4:1).
- Sealed by the Spirit, (John 6:27).
- Empowered by the Spirit, ( Lk 4:14).
- Anointed by the Spirit, (Acts 10:38).
Is the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” A Scriptural Term?
Yes, it was used by John the Baptist (John 1:33), by Jesus (Acts 1:5), and by the Apostle Peter (Acts 11:16).
The Relationship of Christ to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
- Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit after His water baptism in the Jordan River, (Mt 3:16-17; John 1:19-34).
- Part of Jesus’ ministry is to baptize with the Holy Spirit, (John 1:33). To make this clear, Jesus did not personally baptize anyone with water, (John 4:2).
- Jesus prophesied that this would be a believer’s experience given on the basis of His exaltation and glorification, (John 7:38-39).
The Meaning of the Term, “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”
- It is the enduing with power to do the commands of Christ, (Acts 1:8).
- It is a definite experience of which we can know that we have or have not received, (Acts 19:2). •
- It is an operation of the Spirit distinct from and subsequent to the conversion experience, (Acts 8:12,15,16).
It is something to be experienced as part of the Christian foundation in our lives, (Acts 2:38-39).
Does one Have To “speak in other tongues” to prove that they’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit?
No, a person does not “have to” speak in tongues in order to prove that they’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Our contention is that it is more accurate to say that a person “gets to” speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance, (Acts 2:4). Remember, the giftings and various manifestations of the Spirit are optional for the believer to choose, to receive or to reject for their own lives. A gift is simply that--a gift! One can choose to accept or refuse any gift based upon individual choices. We believe that all of the manifestations of the Spirit are relevant and necessary for today, but speaking in other tongues is not the singular “proof” of having been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In other words, we believe that a person can be baptized in the Spirit without necessarily speaking in other tongues!
Who may receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
All believers in Christ of all ages are candidates for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, (Mk 16:17). “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call, (Acts 2:38-39).
How does one receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
- Fulfill the prerequisites of repentance and faith before asking for this experience.
- Ask Jesus, the baptizer with the Holy Spirit, to give you this gift, (Lk 11:9-13; Mt 3:11).
- Exercise your faith by speaking in an unknown tongue daily, as the Holy Spirit would give you utterance of course. It is a major key to spiritual vitality, (Jude 20; I Cor 14:15), but certainly not the only key!
Some Biblical reasons for speaking in other Tongues
- It is one of the signs of the believer, (Mk 16:17).
- It is a way for our spirit to be built up in faith, (I Cor 14:2,4,15,18).
- It is a way to magnify the Lord, (Acts 10:46).
- It is part of our spiritual armor, (Eph.6:18).
- It is spoken of in Scripture as a “refreshing” (Is 28:11-12; I Cor 14:21).
Beloved, God wants every believer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary in every Christian for the service that Christ demands and expects of us. Jesus and the Apostles waited to enter into their ministry until this “endument with power” was experienced. Let us never see such a wonderful provision of God as a mere “option” to be equally as easily received as discarded, but let us continually seek and we surely will find (Mt 7:7)!