Three Baptisms

What are the three different types of baptism?

When I ask that question you probably think of several different answers. Perhaps you thought of:

Ask: Can anyone think of different types of baptism?

Baptist, Pentecostal, and Catholic… or

Dipping, pouring, or sprinkling… or

Church, swimming pool, or river.

But the three different types of baptism that I am referring to are not related to denominations, modes, or location. The three different types of baptism that I am talking about are the three spoken of in the Bible. In God’s word, we actually see that there are three different baptisms mentioned in Matthew 3 .

Matthew 3:1–12 KJV 1900

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 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: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Matthew 3:1–3 KJV 1900

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

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Matthew 3:4–7 KJV 1900

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

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Matthew 3:8–10 KJV 1900

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 3:11–12 KJV 1900

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: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Ask again: From these two verses, can anyone pick out the three types of baptism in this passage?

Three Baptisms: Water, the Spirit,

Three Baptisms: Water, the Spirit, and Fire

Water Baptism

Water Baptism

Why you shouldn’t be baptized: to be justified in the sight of God.

Water Baptism

Why you shouldn’t be baptized: to be justified in the sight of God.

Beside the constant mention of justification by faith in Romans, the clearest example I have found that water baptism is not the act of forgiveness is in .

Luke 23:39–43 KJV 1900

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Note this quote from J.C. Ryle concerning the thief on the cross.

This shows us that you can be forgiven of a lifetime of sin in an instant without works but simply by faith in Christ. But, it also makes me think that unless you are nailed to a cross and can’t escape, any excuse we have would probably not compare.

Who should be baptized? All believers in Christ.

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Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

If you have heard the gospel (good news of Jesus Christ) and believe it, you should be baptized no matter what nation/culture/group you are from.

How should you be baptized?

In water and in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Romans 6:4 KJV 1900

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.

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Matthew 28:19 KJV 1900

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

When should you be baptized? ASAP following your belief in Christ.

Acts 2:41 KJV 1900

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:36 KJV 1900

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?

Acts 16:30–33 KJV 1900

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 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.

Where should you be baptized? Wherever there’s water.

The time, location, and person should not influence our desire to be obedient in this area.

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1 Corinthians 1:11–16 KJV 1900

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

How often should you be baptized?

Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved Appendix 1

If you are walking with Jesus now, see your initial confession of Jesus as Lord as the first evidence that God had planted the seed of life in you, even if what you understood then is hardly comparable to what you see now. The validity of our faith is revealed not by the intensity of our first reaction to it, but by our perseverance in it. So, if you are walking with Jesus today, the first sprouts of faith that led to your baptism were likely real ones. Let your first baptism stand.

If someone says, “I have been baptized but I just feel like I need something to help me in my Christian life. Something to help me reflect on Jesus’ death and to examine myself and my relationship with him...

That’s why we have the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:26 KJV 1900

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Baptism: Once. Lord’s Supper: Often.

Baptism: Once. Lord’s Supper: Often.

Spirit Baptism

1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV 1900

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.

Fire Baptism

Revelation 20:14–15 KJV 1900

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15 KJV 1900

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Water, Spirit, and Fire; but, There’s One More Baptism...

Because Jesus Christ was baptized for you… in his own blood.

Luke 12:50 KJV 1900

But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

(straitened = distressed)

1 John 5:6 KJV 1900

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

The Epistles of John: An Expositional Commentary The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood

The third and probably most satisfactory solution is to take “water” as a reference to the baptism of Jesus and “blood” as a reference to his death.

If Jesus Christ began his earthly ministry by being covered in water that he created and “ended” his earthly ministry by being covered in blood that he shed, does anyone here have a legitimate reason for disobeying the first command Jesus asked us to follow?

Baptism. Sunday evening after the service. Meet with Preacher Sam at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall.