For now we’ll leave Saul in Damascus and look at this issue of baptism in the New Testament. I’ve mentioned it in Lesson 162, dealing with the phrase “baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” in what is called the Great Commission. There, I explained the principle of baptizo. Then in Lesson 166 I gave a summary of what Paul says about baptism in I Corinthians 1:13-21 and the fact that he came to the point that he did not baptize in water.
So now I want to give a brief, but comprehensive and sequential, presentation of baptism to show there is only one form of ritual authorized in the New Testament and that is the Lord’s Supper or Communion. And, although almost every Christian group practices some form of water baptism, it is never what the Lord intended.
The first mention of baptism is found in Matthew 3:11. I need to quote this one so there’s no confusion about what John the Baptist is saying. “I indeed baptize you with water because of your repentance. But He Who is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Compare John 1:33) John’s message to those Jews in Judea was repentance (a change of heart and mind) and a readiness to receive the Messiah (Matthew 3:2-3). Nowhere is it intimated that this baptism was for the forgiveness of sin. Instead, it was a ceremonial act, a public testimony that those submitting to this were in agreement with the message attached to it.
John identifies the baptism that was soon to come, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He makes a definite distinction: he doesn’t say, “He will baptize you in water and in the Holy Spirit” (only the Holy Spirit is in view). Then he makes it clear to those who were paying attention that they would have a choice; they could receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit or fire. Here, “fire” is from pur, and in this context is used to describe divine retribution or punishment for those who reject the Messiah.
At this point we should take time to look at Jesus’ baptism, as some teach that this was His way of endorsing water baptism as something every believer should submit to. If you read verses 13-15 you’ll see Jesus coming to John to be baptized by him, John protested, Jesus reassured him that it is so both of them could “fulfill all righteousness” (do everything the Father wanted them to do) and John then consented to it.
John baptized Jesus (verses 16-17), saw the heavens opened, saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove on Jesus and heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is My Son, Whom I love and in Whom I delight.” (Compare John 1:32-34) That Jesus’ baptism had nothing to do with cleansing from sin is clear, He had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). The purpose of His baptism was two-fold: it was the time He was given the Holy Spirit with no limitation (John 3:34) to equip Him for ministry, and it was His public identification and endorsement by the Father. Don’t forget, there was a large crowd there watching these events take place (Matthew 3:5), John and Jesus were not the only ones who saw and heard what happened when Jesus came up out of the water.
The only other significant mention of water baptism in the Gospels is found in John 3:22 and 4:1-2, where Jesus’ disciples were baptizing believers with John’s baptism, though Jesus did not baptize. There is no further mention of water baptism in any of the accounts.
This brings us to Matthew 28:18-20 and the Great Commission. And this is where many make the mistake of assuming the word “baptism” or “baptize”, unless specifically identified otherwise, always means water baptism. For instance, it is used of the overwhelming suffering of the cross (Mark 10:38; Luke 12:50).
As I explain in Lesson 162 the Greek usage and understanding of the word is “to be overwhelmed resulting in a change”. Let’s review this again. The common example I give is that of dipping a garment in dye with the result that it changes color. Another example is of Greek farmers dipping their spears in pig’s blood to change them from hunting spears to warrior’s spears. Yet another is that of dipping a cup into a larger vessel of wine, the cup is overwhelmed and changes from empty to full. And to understand the principle illustrated by baptism in the New Testament, the emphasis should be on both the process and the result (change).
Again, as I explained in the earlier lesson, Jesus’ charge to His disciples was to make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teach them to do what I have commanded. He wanted those new disciples to be changed by the overwhelming effect of all that the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit implies. Simply getting wet in water will not change anyone. The context of every scripture must be considered. Any believer who understands the purpose of God (to conform us to the image of His Son) knows that did not happen when they were water baptized. Instead, it is a process over time by means of their submission and obedience to Him and His working in their lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” that I will explain more fully later).
The next reference to baptism is found in Acts 1:4-5. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples (we’ve already covered that) and on one of those occasions told them not to leave Jerusalem, but wait for what the Father had promised and what He had talked to them about (the coming of the Holy Spirit, John 14, 15 and 16). Then, He told them John had baptized with water, but in a few days they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Again, the distinction is made. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is in view; water baptism is not.
Then we come to Acts 2:38 and Pentecost, so we’ll start there in the next lesson.