In Hebrews 6:1-2 we find the elementary principles of Christ which are foundational to our faith. Being foundational, we must every now and again review these doctrines in order to ensure that our foundation is ever intact. For when a foundation is tampered with, it is only a matter of time before a terrible destruction occurs. Last week we looked at the doctrine of repentance from dead works and faith toward God. This week we shall review the doctrine of baptisms (plural).
First of all, we need to understand what the word ‘baptism’ really means. ‘Baptize’, from which ‘baptism’ is derived, is from the Greek work ‘baptizo’ which means to ‘to dip, to immerse or to submerge.’ Baptism therefore is the act of dipping, immersing, or submerging.
There are four types of Bible baptisms (immersions) that we must acquaint ourselves with as believers in Jesus: 1) baptism into Christ and into His body, 2) water baptism, 3) baptism in the Holy Spirit, and 4) baptism of suffering.
Paul wrote that, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This first baptism automatically happens the moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. At that very instant, the Spirit of God immerses us into Christ’s body (the Church), thus becoming one with Him and all believers alive and dead in Christ. Hallelujah!
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His disciples to be baptized. This type of baptism is typified by John The ‘Immerser’ who, when baptizing Jesus, dipped Him in water. “Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matthew 3:16), because He had been immersed. Also, true water baptism is done only after a person has received Jesus as Lord and Savior. When, after hearing the gospel, the Ethiopian eunuch asked what hindered him being baptized, Philip answered him saying, “If you believe with all your heart, you may,” (Acts 8:37). The spiritual significance of water baptism is that it is an outward sign of identifying with the death and resurrection of Jesus, and a statement that we are now born again not to continue in sin, but to live godly. When a baby comes out of the water of the womb, they are born new. In the same way, when we come up from the water in which we are baptized, we are declaring our newness of life in Christ Jesus. That is why Paul wrote saying, “. . . we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin (Romans 6:4-6).
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The third kind of baptism that happens either before or after water immersion is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Just before His ascension to heaven, Jesus told the disciples that, “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now,” (Acts 1:5). And true to His word, ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, the disciples were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). This baptism in the Spirit is so vital because it empowers us to be effective witnesses and servants of Jesus. In the words of Jesus: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” (Acts 1:8).
The last baptism for our discussion that is also our portion is the baptism of suffering! When in Mark chapter 10 James and John requested the Lord to grant them the honor of sitting on His right and left when He returns to reign on earth, He asked them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (verse 38). After they answered in the affirmative, Jesus said to them, “With the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give,” (verses 39 and 40). The baptism that Jesus was talking about that the disciples were to be partakers of was that of suffering (Luke 12:50; John 12:27). And this ‘not funny’ baptism was not only for James and John, but also all believers in Jesus. For Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you,” (John 15:20), and Paul reiterated saying, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” (2 Timothy 3:12). Therefore, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you,” (1 Peter 4:12) – it is the baptism of suffering to which Christians are appointed! And we must not depart from the faith when this baptism of suffering comes upon us. Otherwise, the fire of hell will forever be our portion! As it is written: “For you have need of endurance . . . we are not of those who draw back to perdition (eternal damnation), but of those who believe to the saving of the soul,” (Hebrews 10:36, 39).
God bless you.