Age-old differings surround the subject of Baptism. Christians do not all see alike although the scriptures remain unchanged and we ought to have the same mind as the Holy Spirit is not the teacher of confusion. Many have too readily agreed with what they have heard and read of that which is popularly believed, yet lacked patient and prayerful diligence in searching God's Word.
There are seven different Baptisms in the Word although it also says as to Christian baptism "there is one" Eph. 4:55One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Ephesians 4:5).
1. "All baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" 1 Cor. 10:22And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (1 Corinthians 10:2). Regardless of age or sex all by the way of the Red Sea (type of the death of Christ) left Egypt (type of the world) having the cloud (type of God's presence) and shared in all the privileges as baptized unto Moses. Nevertheless many of them perished and never reached Canaan. How many baptized in our day go along with the Lord's people but will not reach the goal!
2. Jewish "divers baptisms" and "washings" Heb. 6:2; 9:102Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:2)
10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:10); Lev. 16:4, 244He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. (Leviticus 16:4)
24And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. (Leviticus 16:24). These, of course were ceremonial.
3. "John's baptism" (in the river Jordan) "unto repentance" Matt. 3:1111I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11), "for the remission of sins" Luke 3:33And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; (Luke 3:3), "that they should believe on... Jesus" Acts 19:44Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (Acts 19:4) as the Messiah, became effective to a small remnant with whom the Lord identified Himself by being baptized Matt. 8:1616When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: (Matthew 8:16); Luke 3:2121Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (Luke 3:21). Acts 19:3-53And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:3‑5) shows that John's baptism was not Christian baptism. John was not a Christian but the last of the Old Testament prophets. He founded no church.
5. "Baptized with the Holy Ghost" Matt. 3:1111I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11); Mark 1:88I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. (Mark 1:8); Luke 3:1616John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: (Luke 3:16); John 1:3333And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33); Acts 1:5; 11:165For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:5)
16Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 11:16); 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13). This incorporating believers into one body occurred once for all on the day of Pentecost. That this is distinct from Christian water baptism is attested by Acts 10:4747Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (Acts 10:47) "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost?"
6. "Baptize... with fire" Matt. 3:1111I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11); Luke 3:1616John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: (Luke 3:16) only. This is not in Mark 1:88I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. (Mark 1:8); John 1:3333And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33); Acts 1:5; 11:165For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:5)
16Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 11:16); 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) because it speaks of judgment on such as the Pharisees Matt. 3:7, 11, 127But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7)
11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11‑12); Lev. 10:22And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:2); Num. 11:1;16:351And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. (Numbers 11:1)
35And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. (Numbers 16:35); 2 Kings 1:1212And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. (2 Kings 1:12); 2 Thess. 1:88In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8); Heb. 12:2929For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29), and has nothing to do with Acts 2:33And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3) "like as of fire."
7. Christian baptism, "one baptism" Eph. 4:55One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Ephesians 4:5). This verse gives us the second circle or sphere of profession on earth which is entered by the divinely appointed door of reception—baptism. There Jesus is owned as Lord and Christian privileges are afforded with solemn responsibility. (Verse four is the inner circle of the members of the body of Christ who are joined to the Lord by the Holy Spirit and wait for Him their blessed Hope.)
Baptism means "putting into" and supposes immersion. Christian baptism is a figure of burial, the end of a dead person—and then risen to a new life, as identified with the death, burial, resurrection and Lordship of Christ 1 Peter 3:2121The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:21); Rom. 6:3, 43Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3‑4); Col. 2:1212Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12). Fruit commensurate will have to prove one's reality and appreciation in the day of reckoning. Then will be exposed the "tares," "foolish virgins," "evil servants" those without a "wedding garment," like Sardis had a name that they lived but were dead Rev. 3:11And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1). Peter exposed baptized Simon Magus Acts 8. It is therefore a very solemn matter to be initiated by baptism to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, unto His death and to the light of the full Christian revelation, the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost Matt. 28:1919Go 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). Baptism transports one into "the kingdom of heaven" on earth where God's special government has one standard—Christ. It is altogether distinct from being received at the Lord's table in the breaking of bread.
It is not a meritorious act of obedience contributive to soul salvation. Nor is it related to John 3:55Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) new birth. "Baptismal regeneration" is a fraud of the devil. See Ex. 40:1212And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. (Exodus 40:12); Lev. 8:66And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. (Leviticus 8:6); Ezek. 36:25-2725Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:25‑27); Zech. 13:11In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1); John 13:10; 15:310Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10)
3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 15:3); 1 Cor. 4:15; 6:1115For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:15)
11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11); Eph. 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26); Heb. 10:2222Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22); James 1:1818Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18); 1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23).
The candidate may little understand its significance, yet submit, but the Lord's servant should know His mind as to administering it.
There was no one to baptize the twelve apostles into Christian baptism.
Everyone baptized has professedly (outwardly) adopted Christ, "For as many of you as have been baptized unto Christ have put on Christ" Gal. 3:2727For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27).
The importance of Christian baptism is seen in the place given to it in Acts 2 where Peter convicts the nation of Israel of their guilt in crucifying the One God has glorified. Escape was only by repentance and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness and receiving the Holy Spirit.
In Matt. 28:19, 2019Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19‑20) there is no repentance or remission, but discipling, baptizing and teaching them. This will yet be more fully accomplished by the Jewish remnant evangelizing Gentiles for the kingdom.
Although infant baptism is not taught in the scriptures "household" is (positionally) and children are not excluded, not on account of faith in every individual, but on account of the believing parent Gen. 7:1; 18:191And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. (Genesis 7:1)
19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19); Ex. 12:33Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: (Exodus 12:3); Lev. 16:1717And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. (Leviticus 16:17); Acts 11:14; 16:15, 3114Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. (Acts 11:14)
15And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. (Acts 16:15)
31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). Verse 34 is literally in the singular as the alone act of the jailer rather than theirs. Then 1 Cor. 1:1616And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. (1 Corinthians 1:16) and 7:14 adds up to the same provision for all in the household positionally.
Even unsaved parents who have their children baptized have approved of the new privileged place.
Although sprinkling is an irregular method the same responsibility attaches to those thus baptized in His name. Being baptized twice accomplishes nothing.
In fact none of the irregularities as to views on baptism can confound God, or annul the responsibility of everyone baptized to the name of His Son, to render a life commensurable to the privileges into which they have been brought. It is a solemn thing to have to say to God, as they will one day have to do.
It is also a serious thing as to how we adopt views. Have we hastily been pursuaded by human use of favorite texts? And have our spirits become hard, intolerable, dogmatic? Or, have we earnestly and unbiasedly sought the Lord's mind in His presence?
"Washing of regeneration" Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5) is true of genuine Christians who have been "translated into the kingdom of His dear Son" Col. 1:1313Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13), as brought out of the old creation into the whole new order where all things are of God, 2 Cor. 5:17,1817Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:17‑18), of which baptism is merely a figure. 1 Peter 3:20, 2120Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:20‑21).
"The washing of regeneration is typified by the flood... the old world is cleared away and a new one begun" J.N.D. Col. Writ. Vol. 13 pages 325-6. Letters Vol. 1 page 647.
"The washing of regeneration... is the putting of the believer into an entirely new place before God" W. K. Intr. Lectures to the Pent. page 207.
"A blessed position into which we are brought now by divine power in Christ... new creation" W. K. Intr. Lectures to the Minor Prophets (Zephaniah) pages 374-5.
See also Synopsis footnote to Acts 28 and Col. W. Vol. 28 page 555.
Also Christian Truth June 1952.