by Nicholas Deiger

What is the baptism for today? What does the word BAPTISM mean? The process of immersion, Submersion, or the over-whelming of. It comes from the Greek word "BAPTIZO" which was used when the Greek dyed a piece of cloth.. A true translation would have been immersion. The meaning of the word has caused more controversy than most any other subject. Most every religious group accept the fact that one has to Hear, Believe, Repent and Confess but that is where it stops. One of the problems is that they fail to keep each in its time slot and to whom it applied. There are six baptism that are referred to in the New Testament. Four have served there purpose, One is in force today and one is yet to come. How is man to know which applies to him today? A careful study of the scriptures will give light to this question.

THE SIX BAPTISMS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

The Baptism of Moses -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, When did this event happened? When the children of Israel came out of Egypt going to the promise land. Exodus 14:5-30. The cloud was over their heads and the water was walled on each side. This was an example to us. 1 Corinthians 10:11: Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Baptized unto Moses – Moses the leader of the People --Moses was the mediator between God and the people --Law came through Moses. Therefore this could not be the one for man today.

Baptism of John Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" This baptism was to prepare the people for the coming of Christ Luke 1:17: "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, `to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." The people had turn their back upon God and His word. They might have killed the Son Of God before His work on earth was finished. God through His wisdom sent John to make ready a people for the Christ. John's baptism was for the remission of sins Mark 1:4: John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Acts 19:4: Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." Therefore it could not have been the one.

The Baptism Of Suffering: Matthew 20:22-23 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So He said to them, "You will indeed drink 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 is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." Remember that we stated that baptism was an overwhelming of. This baptism is used in a figurative sense. The words CUP and BAPTISM stand for the suffering and death of which Christ would endure. It also had to do with the hardships that the Apostles would face in spreading the Gospel. With these facts in view it could not have been the one of the Great Commission to wash away the sins of mankind.

The Baptism of Fire. Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John is speaking to a mix multitude here – Some would become Apostles of Christ and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, While others would reject his teaching and would suffer the Baptism of Fire. Lost Eternally. What is the Baptism of fire? Matthew 3:12: "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matthew 25:41: "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, `Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: It is that final abode of the wicked where the Rich Man of Luke 16 Said he was tormented. This is Just for the wicked and not that which gives man salvation today.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. To whom Promised? Acts 1:5: "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 16:13: "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. This was only promised to the Apostles – Fulfilled Acts 2:4: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. What was the baptism of the Holy Spirit for it gave the Apostles all power that was necessary to spread the gospel and to lay hands on others. It was never promised for any one else.

That leaves only one and that is WATER BAPTISM. Acts 8:36: Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" This is the baptism that man can administer to another. Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, . Mark 16:16: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.. Acts 8:38: So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Look at the conversion of Cornelius Acts 10,11 --Cornelius was a Gentile following God after His teaching. --The Bible says he us a Just Man. – That his prayers and good deeds came up before God as a memorial.– Told to send to Joppa for Peter – Peter has the vision of a sheet coming down from heaven with all manner of 4 footed beast in it. told to kill and eat Peter replies Acts 10:14: But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." He was told -- Acts 10:15: And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." This happen three times – Men came and Peter goes to Cornelius' house --Spoke to Cornelius' household the things of becoming a Child of God. --As Speaking The Holy Spirit fell on them who heard the word and the spoke with other tongues and magnify God. – Now look at the question Peter asks -- Acts 10:47: "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" The final action Acts 10:48: And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

That which washes away sins -- Acts 22:16: `And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' – That which puts one into Christ -- Galatians 3:27: For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. It is the ONE BAPTISM: Ephesians 4:5: one Lord, one faith, one baptism; – That which is of water --John 3:5: Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. --That which man can administer -- Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, – What which is the final act of becoming a Christian -- Romans 6:4: Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

One is to Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and be baptized to be added to the Church. Acts 2:41: Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. – Acts 2:47: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.