Spirit Baptism Saves Us, Not Water Baptism

INTRODUCTION

1. Another objection to the necessity of baptism involves making a distinction between baptism in the Spirit and baptism in water; this view proclaims...

a. "The baptism which saves is a baptism in the Spirit at the point of faith"

b. "Passages like Ro 6:3-7, Ga 3:27, etc., refer to Spirit baptism, not water baptism"

2. Those upholding this view point out...

a. There are many different types of baptisms in the Bible

b. We should not assume that water baptism is always the subject under consideration

3. As expressed by one proponent of this view...

a. "There is a way to distinguish between water baptism and Spirit Baptism in those scriptures which do not specifically tell which type is being discussed."

b. "That way is this: if the passage is talking about being placed into Christ, then it is talking about Spirit Baptism, not Water Baptism, for Spirit Baptism is how we are placed into Christ."

c. "...in Romans 6, for example, it is obvious that the context is being placed into Christ and the passage dwells on the believer's identification with Christ, with His death, and with His resurrection. In this passage, the believer is not baptised into WATER, but into the death of Christ."

Baptism and Salvation, Charles T. Buntin

There are several problems that I have with this effort to explain away the necessity of baptism in water for the remission of sins. To begin with, the Bible teaches...

I. THERE IS ONE BAPTISM

A. THE BIBLE DOES DESCRIBE MANY BAPTISMS...

1. At the very least there are six...

a. The baptism of Moses (Israel) - 1 Co 10:1-2

b. The baptism of John, a baptism in water - Mk 1:4-5

c. The baptism of the Holy Spirit - Mt 3:11; Luk 3:16; Ac 1:5; 2:1-4; 10:44,45; 11:15-16

f. The baptism of fire (judgement) - Mt 3:11; Luk 3:16,17

d. The baptism of suffering (persecution) - Mt 20:20-33; Luk 12:50

e. The baptism of the Great Commission, which was a baptism in water - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 8:12-13,35-38; 10:47-48; 22:16

2. Some include two more...

a. The baptism of Noah, metaphorically speaking, which involved water 1 Pe 3:20

b. The baptism of Jesus, which involved water and the Spirit Mt 3:16-17

B. THERE IS NOW JUST ONE BAPTISM...

1. In describing the unity of the Spirit...

a. Paul proclaims there is one baptism - Ep 4:3-7

b. Just as there is only one Lord, one faith, one hope, etc.

2. To which of the six (or eight) baptisms was Paul referring?

a. I believe we safely rule out all but two

b. The issue boils down to this: Is the one baptism of Ep 4:5...

1) The baptism of the Holy Spirit?

2) The baptism of the Great Commission?

Or might there actually be a connection between these two, with the end result there being one baptism with two elements: water and the Spirit?

Whichever, we cannot have two or more baptisms; there is only one baptism! Now let me explain why regarding the one baptism...

II. IT IS THE BAPTISM OF THE GREAT COMMISSION

A. WHY THE BAPTISM OF THE GREAT COMMISSION?

1. This is the baptism...

a. Commanded by Jesus

1) For people of all nations - Mk 28:19

2) For every person in the world - Mk 16:15-16

b. Commanded by the apostles in response to the gospel

1) As proclaimed to the Jews at Pentecost - Ac 2:38

2) As commanded by Peter to the Gentiles - Ac 10:48

Indeed, every example of conversion described in detail in the book of Acts involves this baptism!

2. If there is only one baptism...

a. It must involve this one, for it is commanded of all who would come to Christ!

b. Otherwise we must throw it out (as some have done)

B. WHAT ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. This is a difficult subject, about which the Bible actually says very little...

a. John promised that Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit Mt 3:11

b. Jesus promised that He would baptise with the Holy Spirit

Ac 1:5

c. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit is then explicitly mentioned in just three places

1) At the conversion of Cornelius - Ac 10:44-45; 11:15-16

2) Which reminded Peter of Pentecost - Ac 11:15-16; 2:1-4

2. This has led to much confusion about what the baptism of the Spirit is...

a. Some say that it was an event that occurred only twice

1) On the day of Pentecost, and only upon the apostles Ac 2:1

2) At the conversion of Cornelius and his household, the first Gentiles Ac 10:1,11:1

b. Some say it is an event that occurs at every conversion

1) When a person is saved, they are that moment "baptised" with the Holy Spirit

2) Occurs to all who become Christians, and no miraculous manifestations need be present

c. Others say it is an event that occurs after conversion

1) A "second work of grace" that must be sought diligently

2) Many people understand "speaking in tongues" to be a sign of this "baptism of the Holy Spirit"

3) Some even say that it is necessary to be truly saved

3. I am persuaded the baptism of the Holy Spirit...

a. Refers to the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost - Ac 2:1-21

b. Was a one-time event, but with ramifications lasting throughout the gospel age

1) In which the Holy Spirit is now available in some way to all whom God calls through the gospel 2 Th 2:13-14; Tit 3:7

2) For those who receive the Spirit, the Spirit then empowers whom He wills to the degree He wills - 1 Co 12:4-13

a) For the servants of God used in the revelation and confirmation of His Word, the Spirit imparted "spiritual gifts" (this work of the Spirit was temporary, and ended once God's revelation was completed)

b) For all of the servants of God, the Spirit serves as the "instrumental agent" by which God strengthens and blesses them (this work of the Spirit continues today, and will until Christ returns)

This view presumes that one receives the Spirit at baptism (see below) - Ac 2:38-39; 1 Co 12:13; Tit 3:5-7

4. So while at first there may be have been two baptisms spoken of by Jesus...

a. The baptism of the Great Commission - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15-16

b. The baptism of the Spirit - Ac 1:5 ...once the Spirit was poured out, only "one baptism" remained, which was that baptism commanded of people in every nation! Having declared the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" a promise that was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, let me emphasise concerning the "baptism of the Great Commission"...

III. IT INVOLVES BOTH WATER AND THE SPIRIT

A. THAT IT INVOLVES WATER...

1. Is evidenced by conversion of the Ethiopian - Ac 8:35-38

2. Is made clearer by the command of Peter - Ac 10:47-48

3. Is alluded to by Paul and Peter in their epistles - Ep 5:26; 1 Pe 3:20-21

B. THAT IT INVOLVES THE SPIRIT...

1. Is indicated when Jesus declared that one must be "born again" Jn 3:3-5

a. To be born "of water and the Spirit"

b. Not two births, but one birth with two elements (water and Spirit)

2. Is made clearer when Paul wrote to Titus - Tit 3:5-6

God saved us "through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit"

b. That washing (a clear allusion to baptism) involved a regeneration and renewing of the Spirit! The baptism of the Great Commission is more than just an immersion in water. At the moment the penitent believer is lowered into the water, the Spirit is very much at work in renewing, regenerating, and incorporating us into the Body of Christ. In other words...

IV. IT HAS SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

A. IT INVOLVES A BURIAL INTO THE DEATH OF CHRIST...

1. As Paul explains in Ro 6:3-7

a. Baptism into Christ is a burial into His death

b. In baptism we are crucified with Christ

c. In baptism we thus die to sin, and rise to walk in newness of life

2. Some contend Paul is teaching what water baptism symbolises...

a. That it pictures what took place when we were saved before baptism

b. That it depicts the Spirit baptism which occurred at the moment of faith

But if so, then we have two baptisms, and Paul taught there was only one!

3. Others say Paul is describing Spirit baptism...

a. That water baptism (i.e., the baptism of the Great Commission) is not even under consideration

b. That this passage is depicting what happens before water baptism Again, we would have two baptisms, not one!

4. This passage describes what happens when a person is baptised into Christ...

a. Since there is only one baptism, it must be referring to that baptism

b. Since the one baptism is the baptism of the Great Commission, Paul is describing the spiritual significance of what takes place when one is baptised in water!

B. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS OF SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE...

1. The one baptism (of the Great Commission) involves...

a. A cutting away of sin - Col 2:11-13

b. A putting on of Christ - Ga 3:27

2. Again, some contend these passages are describing...

a. "Spirit baptism" at the point of faith

b. Not the baptism of the Great Commission But this makes two baptisms, when there is only one!

3. Since the baptism of the Great Commission involves both water and the Spirit...

a. There is no reason God (i.e., the Spirit) could not be at work when a person is immersed in water

b. God has chosen to use baptism in water to be the point in time in which His Spirit does His work of regeneration and renewal! - Tit 3:5; Ac 22:16

CONCLUSION

1. Some people want to "have their cake and eat it too"...

a. They want to say passages like Ro 6:3-7; Ga 3:27; Col 2:11-13 are describing "Spirit baptism", not "water baptism"

b. But then appeal to these passages when they seek to describe "water baptism" as symbolic of "Spirit baptism" which has already occurred

2. Note well: If these passages are not discussing "water baptism" (i.e., the baptism of the Great Commission)...

a. We have no Scripture that tells us what is the true significance and meaning of the baptism commanded by Christ and His apostles!

b. The Lord has commanded water baptism, with no explanation as to what it means!

Any explanation as to the meaning and purpose of the baptism of the Great Commission is pure conjecture and without any scriptural basis!

3. The "unity of the Spirit" proclaims there is only one baptism...

a. Not two baptisms, one of the Spirit at the time of salvation, and one later for some unexplained reason

b. But one baptism, involving both water and the Spirit, in response to the preaching of Christ and His apostles

4. This one baptism...

a. Is a rebirth involving both water and the Spirit - Jn 3:5

b. Is for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit Ac 2:38; 22:16

c. Is a baptism in water - Ac 8:35-38; 10:47-48

d. Involves the Spirit incorporating us into the body of Christ 1 Co 12:13

e. Is a burial into the death of Christ in which we are crucified with Him - Ro 6:3-7

f. Clothes us with Christ - Ga 3:27

e. Is a spiritual circumcision, in which our sins are cut away Col 2:11-13

f. Is a washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, who was poured out as promised by Jesus - Tit 3:5-7; Ac 1:5; 2:1-4

g. Saves us, not through some physical cleansing, but by the resurrection of Jesus! - 1 Pe 3:21

Should we be surprised that the Great Commission of our Lord contains a great command having great significance? "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Mt 28:19-20)

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16:15-16) 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptised, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' (Ac 22:16)

The "Executable Outlines" Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 1999