I wanted to take a moment to offer some teaching notes. In some of my circles, this has popped up a few times recently, still with confusion, and I think it’s good to revisit, so that we have a clear understand of what scripture teaches and also how to respond to this when confronted with the situation.
As always, please test all of this against the measuring rod of truth (scripture) to determine for yourselves, because that is what fortifies faith and belief.
Here’s the scenario: Does scripture seem to contradict itself when discussing baptism? The bible says there is only one baptism… yet, it also seems to indicate different types. So, how can this be, is there one or several? Help me makes sense of this.
Deal! 😊 Here are a few notes that I wanted to share with you to help clarify.
Let’s start here… “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” -Ephesians 4:5
We have to pull back to experience the picture Paul is painting here. He is talking about the one shared baptism that unites all Christians, not necessarily to say that Scripture recognizes only one kind of baptismal experience.
In context here, he is talking about unity in the body of Christ. He isn’t giving a comprehensive list of everything Scripture calls baptism. He is saying as Christian’s, we aren't competing against one another, we aren't members of different kingdoms. We have one Lord, one faith, and one baptism that unifies us all together in faith under Christ, our Lord. So in context, there wasn’t a baptism into John, one into Jesus, one into Paul… one into the church at Jerusalem, one at Ephesus… There was only ONE, uniting all believers into the body of Christ, regardless of by whom or where it was received. Context of the scripture is very important here to escape the confusion of what seems to be conflicting info. :)
Now, let’s side step into the different kinds of baptism experiences within the One…
The key passages are Romans 6:3-4, Matthew 28:19, and Acts 1:5.
Scripture describes baptism into Christ, water baptism, and baptism with the Holy Spirit, though Christians obviously differ on how these relate. Scripture never organizes them into “there are three types", but does describe each specifically.
1. Baptism into Jesus Christ… being united with Him
Romans 6:3-4: Those baptized into Christ Jesus are baptized into His death, buried with Him, and called to walk in newness of life.
Galatians 3:26–28: Through faith we are children of God; those baptized into Christ have “put on Christ.”
1 Corinthians 12:13: By one Spirit we are baptized into one body- the body of Christ.
What this means: Union with Jesus in His death and resurrection, and belonging to His body. Romans 6 and Galatians 3 are also commonly understood as referring to water baptism, so treating this as a completely separate baptism requires interpretation.
2. Water baptism- baptism in water in response to Jesus
Matthew 28:19: Jesus commands His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38: Peter tells his hearers to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:36-39: Philip baptizes the Ethiopian after they come to water.
Acts 10:47-48: Peter commands water baptism for people who have already received the Holy Spirit.
What this means: An act of obedience associated with repentance, faith, cleansing, and identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection.
3. Baptism with the Holy Spirit- Jesus giving the promised Spirit
Matthew 3:11: John distinguishes his baptism with water from Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:5: Jesus says, “John truly baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:8: Jesus promises power when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, equipping them to be His witnesses.
Acts 2:1-4: The promise is fulfilled at Pentecost as the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 11:15-17: Peter explicitly identifies the Spirit’s coming upon Cornelius’s household with Jesus’ promise of baptism with the Holy Spirit.
What this means: Receiving the promised Holy Spirit, with power for witness and participation in the life of God’s people.
For studying the relationship between water baptism and receiving the Spirit, I’d suggest reading Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-48, and Acts 19:1-6 together. These accounts show different sequences; they do not establish one identical sequence for every believer. But they are ALL in Christ alone.
I feel like this understanding and distinction is very important for believers to understand, in order to truly walk in the fullness of what was intended by Christ for His church.
-Devin
Devin Osborne
The Early Church
