Baptism is a ceremony of spiritual cleansing or purification which separates us unto God. All forms of baptism have a common purpose. The bible refers to three types of baptisms namely, Moses’ baptism; John the Baptist’s baptism; and the Holy Spirit baptism. However, there is a fourth baptism, the word- baptism although the bible does not specifically refer to it as such yet it has the same characteristics.
Baptism knows no age but willingness to separate for God to be cleansed. Spiritually, it establishes a covenant between us and God which must not be broken.
Word-of-God Baptism
This was what the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their families went through. They were cleansed by the word of God and thereby became separated unto God as blameless. God said the Abram in Genesis 17: 1 “I am God Almighty, walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” Jesus also said in John 15:3 you have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. God’s word has the cleansing effect of baptism and the power of separation in the precious blood of Christ Jesus if we believe.
God’s word baptizes us in the blood of Christ Jesus and washes us clean from our sins. It is written in Isaiah 1: 18, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. The thief on the cross who accepted Jesus was immediately cleansed and separated to God by the word even on the cross, Luke 23: 41-43. The bible says in 1 John 1: 7, the blood of Jesus his (God) Son cleanses us from all sin. Are we ready to be cleansed by the word through the blood of Christ Jesus and to be separated unto God by his word of life?
Baptism of Moses
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10: 1-5, I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. According to Paul the cloud and the sea are also instruments of baptism under God’s authority and power in Christ Jesus.
The Israelites were separated unto God for their spiritual cleansing. The just God gave the Israelites equal opportunity under the cloud and in the sea, yet some could not make it but died. The separation and cleansing are not permanent but must be maintained by us. Paul says upon baptism, Christ Jesus gives us spiritual water of life but we can lose it. Baptism does not guarantee eternal life unless we maintain it with obedience and righteousness to God. Job 29: 14 says, I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. This suggests that righteousness can be discarded. Are we clothed with true baptism?
Baptism of John-the-Baptist
The baptism of John was also a ceremony of cleansing and being separated unto God. Matthew 3: 13 says then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” According to Jesus, baptism must lead to obedience to scripture and the same will be counted as righteousness.
Jesus’ answer to John showed that he came to fulfill all righteousness by being separated unto God by cleansing in obedience. It was to also demonstrate that all mortals needed to be separated unto God in obedience from sin. It is written in Matthew 3: 6; Mark 1: 5, and they were baptized by him (John) in Jordan, confessing their sins. Confession must elicit baptism. Have we been baptized unto Christ Jesus by true separation unto God? Jesus said in Luke 7: 30, by refusing to be baptized by him (John), the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves. Jesus says baptism aligns us with God’s nature of purity so we can accept God’s plan for our lives. Are we aligned with God’s plan?
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Baptism by the Holy Spirit is an initiation by God’s spiritual fire for the purpose of spiritual cleansing unto God. John the Baptist said in Matthew 3: 11; Mark 1: 8; Luke 3: 16 He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. It is further written in John 1: 33, ‘he on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ Only God enables baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit testifies of who Jesus was when it descended in Jesus. Matthew 3: 17; Mark 1: 11; Luke 3: 22 say and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Another record says in Matthew 12: 18, “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. When we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, we must proclaim justice as Jesus did without discrimination. In Mark 10: 39 Jesus wants us to be baptized by the Holy Spirit for our purification.
Is baptism the same as salvation?
Baptism enables our salvation so baptism is not salvation, Mark 16: 16. Paul said in Philippians 2: 12 work out your salvation with fear and trembling. So, Paul says salvation is a personal effort directed at the Holy Spirit to effect the God desired change in our lives. Paul uses the words fear and trembling to show the sore regret which we will encounter if we should miss salvation. So, Paul said of himself in 1 Corinthians 9: 27, I do not want that after proclaiming to others I myself should be disqualified.
John’s baptism was complemented by the Holy Spirit baptism. Paul asked in Acts 19: 2-6, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” …On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Paul did not discredit nor discount John’s baptism but gave fullness to it. All the baptisms showed cleansing and separation unto God without guaranteeing eternity with God. We reiterate that baptism shows the desire to be separated unto God. Salvation takes over after confessing and acknowledging Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Upon salvation it is then left to us to maintain it with fear and trembling as Paul said. John’s baptism was not accompanied by the gift of tongues but the Holy Spirit baptism did.
Sometimes, baptism of the Holy Spirit is accompanied with spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues which enables us to utter heavenly language of mystery unto God but that is not evidence of righteousness. Speaking in tongues without holiness is useless. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13: 1 if I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but have no love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Paul said in Galatians 3: 27, as many of you were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Are we clothed with Christ? Peter said in 2 Peter 3: 9, the Lord does not any to perish, but all to come to repentance. What is important is our salvation and it, but not the mode of our baptism.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we desire to be separated unto you so baptize us by your Holy Spirit. Help us to maintain our salvation with fear and trembling for on the last day, you will not be merciful. Teach us to be obedient in humility to your will. Let the meditations of our hearts reflect your glory and honour. Make us to be pleased in your site as we hold on to righteousness. Hear our prayers thou Lord Jesus Christ for we have prayed in your holy name, Amen!!
