The
Seven Baptisms ... and The One Baptism
In Ephesians chapter four, verse 5 we have: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"
ONE BAPTISM!
This where some say this one baptism is the baptism of John The Baptist, and that he, John The Baptist, therefore is the first pastor of the first local New Testament Baptist Church.
There are several problems with making such a claim.
1. John is an Old Testament saint living under the law before Jesus Christ died on Mount Calvary, and rose from the grave, thus conquering death.
2. Until then THE LAW reigned. After then GRACE reigned!
John ministered under THE LAW!
John was an OLD TESTAMENT saint.
3. To be in Christ was a mystery to the Old Testament saints. To be in Christ was a mystery to John The Baptist.
4. There were no Christians until after THE CROSS.
[Acts 11:26] “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
5. The first local New Testament Baptist church was formed long after John The Baptist left this earth.
6. John’s baptism is not the only one revealed in THE BOOK!
There is more!
There are seven baptisms in the Bible. “Come on Brother St.James – SEVEN! You just quoted Ephesians chapter four where the Scripture said: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ONE BAPTISM.”
Patience, my friend, let the BOOK straighten us out!
The Seven Baptisms
Baptism No. 1- The Baptism In The Cloud And In The Sea
Israel as a nation was baptized [corporately baptized].
[1 Corinthians 10:1-2] “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”
Israel knew it not at the time that that was a baptism.
We all had to wait for the Spirit of God to tell it was so, AFTER THE FACT [over fifteen centuries later].
Baptism No. 2 - The Baptism of Repentance
Called: the baptism of John in Acts 18:25.
“This man [Apollos] was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.”
The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance.
[Mark 1:1-7] “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose
[Acts 19:4] “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
Baptism No. 3 – Jesus’ Baptism at Calvary
[Luke 12:50] “But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!”
[Matthew 20:22] “But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.”
[Matthew 20:23] “And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.”
Baptism No. 4 – The Baptism of the Holy Ghost. On Pentecost
[Mark 1:8] “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
[Acts 1:5-8] “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Baptism No. 5 – Peter’s Baptism for the Remission of Sins [Acts 2:38]
Every Campbellite [a follower of Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander Campbell] or otherwise known as water dogs [Church of Christ] gets hung up here.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Baptism No. 6 – The Believer’s Baptism Into The One Body [of Christ] by the Holy Spirit when the person got saved.
Pointing to: the MYSTERY of Christ, PLACING the BELIEVER in Christ … in HIS BODY … The CHURCH
[Colossians 1:26-27] “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
[1 Corinthians 12:13] “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
This is the “one baptism” of Ephesians chapter four - verse five. The Scripture said: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism," and this is the baptism that occurs each time a person gets saved throughout the last two thousand years.
Baptism No. 7 – The Believer’s Baptism by Immersion In The Water.
This points before the local church a testimony in a visible way as to what was spiritually accomplished by the new birth – BORN AGAIN.
It is a picture of [and not the actual] “ONE BAPTISM” of Ephesians four.
This picture represents in a physical way that which is spiritual and supernatural, and is a confession before men the believer's identification with Jesus Christ.
[Acts 16:30] “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Excellent Question!
[Acts 16:31-34] “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”