Seven Bible Baptisms

Colin Melbourne
© 02-08 Born-Again-Christian.Info

Some people misunderstand Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism... The New Testament refers to at least seven baptisms. We discuss them here.

There is... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and Father of all...

...the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptismS, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. Holy Bible Eph. 4:5, Heb. 6:2 NIV

How Many Baptisms in the Bible?

God says there's 'One baptism' in Ephesians, but 'baptisms' (plural) in Hebrews. There are those who would see this is a contradiction in God's Word, but of course it is not. The 'one baptism' referred to in Eph. 4:5 is the born again baptism, not water baptism. The Holy Spirit, in this passage, is reminding believers that there's only one way into the kingdom of Heaven, through being born again by repentance and heart-faith in Christ. That is when a sinner is baptised into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. (See also Titus 3: 4-7) There's only one baptism into Christ, only one way to be saved.

The Holy Spirit in Hebrews 6 describes 'instruction about baptisms' as basic teaching, here's seven outlined. The first three are described on pages of their own.

Born Again Baptism : The New Birth Click to read

Water Baptism Click to read

Baptism in the Holy Spirit Click to read

Baptised into Moses

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea. They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they all drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. 1 Co. 10:1-5

In this chapter the Holy Spirit is warning believers against unbelief, idolatry, and sexual immorality by drawing attention to Moses as a 'type' of Christ. He uses the expression, "They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." Implying that all of the Jews who left Egypt trusted in Moses authority and leadership enough to risk passing through a desert to escape Pharoah's slavery. In this sense Moses was their 'saviour'. They followed him through the Red Sea, after it parted by a Divine miracle, and were shielded and led by a cloud for forty years in the Sinai desert.

Moses was a 'type' of Christ, and the baptism into Moses a shadow of the born again baptism into Christ.

Note: Jude verse 5 makes it clear that those who perished in the desert did not truly believe. A warning against insincerity, and nominal 'Christianity' today.

A nominal Christian is a person who claims to be a Christian, but has not been genuinely born again. They are still in their sins, and condemned by them. They may attend a church, be able to recite the whole Bible, but they will perish in Hell, because You MUST be born again.

John's Baptism: Baptism of Repentance

Paul asked a group of disciples in Ephesus,

"What baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is in Jesus." On hearing this they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:3-5

At God's command John the Baptist introduced a water baptism of repentance, but this was soon rendered obsolete by the New Covenant water baptism introduced by his relative, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It had served its purpose by paving the way for the first coming of Christ, and the start of His public ministry.

John's baptism is also referred to in these verses: Mtt. 21:25, Mk. 1:4, Mk. 11:30, Lk. 3:3, Lk. 20:4, Ac.1:22, 10:37, 18:25

Baptism of Fire

John the Baptist declared,

I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Mtt. 3:11

John brought a good thing, a symbol of what was soon to come. Christ instituted the reality of the New Covenant in His Blood with the subsequent Holy Spirit baptism of fire. Halleluia! This prophecy of the coming baptism of fire was first fulfilled at Pentecost and is recorded in Acts 2:3-4. It is the power baptism to set born again believers on fire for their Lord Jesus Christ and burning with zeal to get His message to the ends of the earth. Have you received God's baptism of fire beloved? Do you have the power to prove that Christ is alive and Lord of all? Do you burn inside to reach the lost with Christ's love and Gospel? If not, you need to be Baptised in Fire

The baptism of fire is also alluded to in these verses: Lk.3:16, 12:49, Ac.2:3-4, 1 Th. 5:19

Baptised into Death

... don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. Ro. 6:3-5

It is vital to understand that God's Spirit is here referring to the born again baptism, not water baptism. The spiritual rebirth of a person occurs the instant they repent and believe in Christ as LORD (Almighty God in the Flesh) and Saviour. They are baptised into Christ's death, and raised to new life with Him. Their old nature is crucified with Christ (v.6), and they receive the eternal life of Christ into their heart becoming a new creation. They are set free from sin, guilt, condemnation, and are forgiven, saved, and at peace with God through Jesus' sacrifice and mercy. Water baptism mirrors this burial and resurrection symbolically: the reality must have occurred prior to water baptism.

Christ alludes to His actual baptism into death (on your behalf) in Luke 12:50:

I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!

Oh how much He suffered to set you free from sin and Judgment. What pain He endured to make the way for you to come back to your Creator.

Don't you dare leave this site today without getting right with God. Christ suffered all the punishment due to you. Now you must choose to reject Him or repent and believe the good news. What are you going to do?