Before you read: This article is part of a larger series that builds upon itself from the foundation up, with each study building on the last. If something in this article does not make sense to you or if you believe it to be incorrect, please ensure you have read the entire series before passing final judgment. Also, be sure to visit this page’s FAQ And Objections Page
It’s a little funny because baptism is such a simple thing to do. You go under the water and come up out of the water. Yet, for some reason, people are hesitant to do it.
I don’t believe it’s because they are ashamed or rebellious. I tend to think it’s more about stage fright, which is something I can certainly understand. But what if water baptism isn’t even what the Bible requires for salvation?
Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 2:38
38 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.
Acts 22:16
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Make no mistake—baptism is certainly a requirement for salvation. But the real question we should ask is: What baptism?
More Than One Baptism
Ephesians 4:3-6
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
I was in a Sunday school class once and asked the associate pastor what the morning’s lesson would be about. He replied that it would be on baptism.
“Great,” I said. “Which baptism?”
Glaring at me, he said, “My Bible says there is only one baptism.” He was referring to Ephesians 4:3–6.
“Yes, it does speak of one baptism that we are all baptized with,” I replied. “But which is it? Is it the baptism of water or of the Holy Ghost?”
Suddenly, he realized that he had misunderstood the context of these verses. Ephesians is speaking about unity—specifically, the things all Christians have in common. It is not saying there are no other types of baptisms.
This is what I want you to understand as well. When the Bible speaks of baptism, it doesn’t always refer to water baptism. There are many types of baptisms.
Matthew 3:11
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mark 1:8
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Romans 6:3
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
1 Corinthians 10:2
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Mark 1:4
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 6:2
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Notice that Hebrews 6:2 uses the plural form of the word baptisms. This means there is more than one type of baptism.
That is the real question here: Is water baptism necessary for salvation, or is there another type of baptism that is required? What is the one baptism in Ephesians that all Christians have received?
The Meaning and Purpose of Water Baptism
The word baptism itself means to be immersed. In other words, it means “to be covered by” something. You could literally be immersed in dirt, and it could be said that you were “baptized” in dirt.
Of course, this isn’t what we see happening in the Bible. Water is the usual element in which a person is immersed. However, as we’ve already shown, there is more to baptism than just water.
The first time we see the word baptism used is in the New Testament. But this isn’t the first baptism. As 1 Corinthians 10:2 reveals, the Israelites were even “baptized” when they left Egypt under Moses.
So let’s ask a question: why did John use water to baptize people? The simple answer is that God told him to. But that doesn’t really explain why, does it?
1 Corinthians 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
The Bible speaks of some things being done as examples. Another word for example could be metaphor. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 9:8–10, Paul refers to one of the laws concerning oxen as a metaphor for us.
Is it possible that God had John baptize with water as an example of something else?
Water itself can be a metaphor for many things. It can symbolize life, as we need it to live. In Exodus 16:6, water flowing out of a rock is used as a metaphor for Jesus. There are many things that water can symbolize.
But how do we know if water baptism is just a symbol for something else? The answer is simple: the Bible tells us.
1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
In this verse, the Bible tells us that water baptism is a “figure” or “metaphor” for something else. Verse 21 makes it clear that it isn’t going under the water and having it wash over our body that saves us. Rather, it is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
Let’s examine more verses to explain this fully.
Romans 6:4
4 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.
Colossians 2:12
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
The Bible interprets itself here. It tells us that water baptism is not about the water at all. The physical act of being immersed in water isn’t the important part. Instead, it symbolizes our death and resurrection in Christ. Water baptism is a symbol of being born again.
1 Peter 3:21 explains that water baptism is an answer—a public statement of a clean conscience toward God. This is why Jesus went to be baptized by John in Matthew 3. It wasn’t because He needed to be cleansed.
Jesus said it was to “fulfill all righteousness.” A public statement had to be made that His conscience was clean toward God. It wasn’t about being made clean by having sin washed away; it was about already being clean and letting the world know it.
This is the purpose of water baptism: it is a symbol—a public declaration that we have renounced our sins and are clean before God. Water baptism happens after salvation. It is not a requirement to be saved.
Acts 8:36-37
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 10:44–48 is an excellent example. It shows someone becoming saved before water baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost beforehand.
The command to be water baptized is a command to publicly confess your faith in Christ. But this confession can only be genuine if you truly have faith. Otherwise, it’s just a meaningless ritual.
In both Acts 10:44–48 and Acts 8:36–37, people are saved and filled with the Holy Ghost before water baptism. This must mean water baptism is not the baptism the Bible identifies as necessary for salvation.
This case is even stronger when you consider the thief on the cross in Luke 23:39–43. Jesus assured him he would be in paradise that day. Clearly, he didn’t have the time or ability to undergo water baptism.
We can therefore conclude that water baptism is not the one baptism all Christians have in common.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:3-6
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We are all part of the body of Christ. We all believe in the Holy Spirit. We all share the hope of salvation. We all acknowledge Jesus as our Lord. We have all believed and acted on the gospel, for it is by grace through faith that we are saved. And we all have one God, our Father.
There is one other thing we all have in common that is listed here: we all have the same baptism. In other words, we have all been immersed into something, died to self, and been raised to new life.
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus was saying that we need to have new life breathed into our spirit. We need a spiritual rebirth. The term we use is “born again.” Nicodemus, however, struggled with this concept because he thought in physical terms.
John 3:4
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
At first glance, some might think Jesus was referring to the necessity of water baptism. However, this follows the same misunderstanding Nicodemus had—thinking in physical terms.
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Here, Jesus clarified that He was speaking metaphorically. He wasn’t referring to physically returning to the womb to be born again. He was speaking of being born of the Spirit.
When Jesus spoke of water, He was not referring to water baptism either. Simply being immersed in water does not cause spiritual rebirth. Jesus made this clear in John 3:6. So, what did He mean by being born of water?
Jesus as the Living Water
This wasn’t the first time water was used as a metaphor in the Bible. In fact, Jesus often used water metaphorically, typically with the same meaning.
Isaiah 55:10-11
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This “Word” is Jesus. To be born of water is to be born through the Word of God, which speaks life into your soul. Water, then, is a metaphor for the Spirit of God.
This meaning is further clarified in other verses:
John 4:13-14
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 7:37-39
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
1 Corinthians 10:4
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Ephesians 5:26-27
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
1 Corinthians 6:11
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
These verses make it clear that Jesus was telling Nicodemus he must be born again in the Spirit by the Holy Ghost. When Jesus referred to being born of water and the Spirit, He wasn’t listing two different things. He was speaking of the Spirit in both cases.
This understanding is confirmed by examining the original Greek, which treats “spirit and water” as a single concept rather than two separate elements. But I will let you look into that yourself.
The One Baptism
Let’s revisit 1 Peter:
1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Peter explains that it isn’t water baptism, which washes the body, that saves us. It is the cleansing of our conscience by immersion into the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, we are given the power to be free from sin and death and to live a new life in Christ.
To sum up: the baptism required for salvation is not the baptism of water but the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This is the one baptism all Christians share. We are immersed in the Spirit of God, who empowers us to put the flesh to death and live renewed lives by His strength.
Water baptism has a purpose, but it is not for salvation. Its purpose is to make a public declaration of your new life in Christ. It is something every believer should do if they are able.
There is much more to cover about baptism, including the gifts of the Holy Ghost and the evidence of being baptized in the Spirit. We will dedicate an entire unit to this foundational doctrine.
For now, we will address one key question: When does the baptism of the Holy Ghost happen? This will be the focus of our next study.
Unit 3:7 – The Baptism of the Holy Spirit OR
Return To Christianity 101 Unit 3 – Repentance and Salvation
William
Jason Evans
carmine d'agostino