Two Baptisms

In the following portion of scripture, water baptism and what is commonly spoken of as the baptism of the Holy Spirit are spoken of.  I want to take a quick look at both today.

Acts 19:1-7 ...

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, 'Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?'  And they said unto him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.'

And he said unto them, 'Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, 'Unto John's baptism.'  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.'

When they heard this, they were (again) baptized (in water) in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (Most likely by Paul's assistants, not by Paul himself.)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them (Spirit baptism); and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.  And all the men were about twelve."

As believers in Jesus, these twelve had not been baptized (in water) since they had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior; (previously only for repentance of sin as John had taught) and therefore basically were not thought of as true Christians.  They must have also felt this as they talked with Paul, after which they were re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The Apostle Paul's teaching and instruction to these twelve men is basically the same as what the Apostle Peter said in Acts 2:38 ...

"Repent, and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ ... and ye will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  Paul and Peter both teach salvation first, then baptism in water second.  Here in this setting, operating in the special anointing God had given him, Paul next lays his hands on the twelve men and they receive what is commonly called ... the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-4, speaks of water baptism as if it were a real death we enter into ...

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

The nature of water baptism is like a burial by immersion.  When a person is immersed or submerged, as it were ... buried in water, (as a corpse is when laid in the earth, and covered with it) ... it is a representation of the burial of Christ, and of our burial with him.

As baptism is designed to represent the resurrection of Christ ... so likewise water baptism is designed to represent our new birth and our resurrection as a new creature in Christ.

Water baptism, in and of itself ... does not save anyone, has no influence on, nor is it essential to salvation.  Christ only is the cause and author of salvation.

If you get baptized before you are born-again through the blood of Jesus ... well, some people just get wet.  We get baptized in water ... not for salvation ... but because of salvation.

Now, concerning the second type of baptism ... just as you are totally immersed with water in the first baptism; in the Holy Spirit baptism ... not only are you filled with the Holy Spirit in a fuller measure than what you received of Him when you accepted Jesus as your Savior; you are immersed Spiritually and now have what is called a Paraclete, which means ... "one called along side of you" ... a companion, to aid and give counsel wherever you go.

In John 14:16, before His death Jesus said ... "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, (Paraclete) that He may remain with you forever."

With this statement, it was as if Jesus was saying ... "I'm leaving, but I'm going to send My Holy Spirit, to replace what I do for you now.  And it won't be that the Holy Spirit will remain with you for just a few short years as I am now doing and then leave you; but He will be with you all your life as your constant guide and helper."

And Jesus did just that, beginning on the Day of Pentecost in the upper room and has continued baptizing believers ever since, as confirmed throughout the Book of Acts ... including two thousand years of testimonies from those who have witnessed the Spirit filled lives of Christians who have changed the world for Christ. 

Some may ask ... "Do you really believe in two baptisms?"

Yeah ... I do.  I've been swimming in that river for a long time now.  You say ... "What river are you speaking of?"

Jesus said in John 7:38 ... "He that believes on Me ... out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

The Apostle John then adds this narrative ... "But this spoke Jesus, of the Spirit, which they that believe on Jesus should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

That river started flowing on the Day of Pentecost and it flows straight from the heart of God. 

That river is real, and the water's fine ... 

Come on in.



Comments welcome.