Three Baptisms

Did you know…
There are three baptisms available to you?

The baptism of salvation: Baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit

(1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NLT) The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

(Titus 3:4-5 NLT) When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit

“The baptism of salvation is the entrance into spiritual life. It is not about water or supernatural manifestations — it is the internal rebirth that occurs when the Holy Spirit regenerates us. It is instantaneous, based solely on faith, and marks a transfer from death to life.”

Baptism in water: A public declaration of faith and repentance performed by a disciple of Jesus

(Matthew 28:19 NLT) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 6:3-4 NLT) Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Water baptism is symbolic and powerful. It symbolizes three main things:

1) Identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

2) A public declaration of faith — it’s the believer saying, ‘I belong to Jesus.’

3) A break from the past — the old nature buried, and new life arising.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Supernatural power for life and ministry performed by Jesus

(Acts 1:4-5 NLT) Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

(Acts 2:1-4 NLT) On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

(Acts 19:1-7 NLT) While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is:

1) An experience subsequent to salvation (see Luke 24:49)

2) Often accompanied by the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4)

3) Intended for all New Testament believers for empowerment, not just for apostles or leaders.

(Acts 8:29-38 NLT) The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.