OceanSide church of Christ

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THE EIGHT BAPTISMS OF THE BIBLE (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Last week we began a two-part lesson entitled:  “The Eight Baptisms of the Bible.”

 

B.      We examine four baptisms last week.

1.      The baptisms of the Old Covenant.

2.      The baptism for the dead

3.      The baptism unto Moses

4.      The baptism of suffering

 

C.     In today’s lesson, we will look at the last four baptisms of the Bible.

 

I.                   THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

 

A.    John the Baptist

1.      John was the promised son of Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1:13).

2.      He was the third cousin of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:36).

3.      John was a prophet of God (Matt. 11:9).

4.      He was the fulfillment of OT prophecies (Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1; Luke 3:4).

5.      He came to prepare the way for the Christ (Luke 1:17).

 

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.

 

6.      Part of that preparation involved John’s baptism (Mark 1:4a).

 

John did baptize in the wilderness…

 

B.      Some facts about John’s baptism.

1.      It involved immersion in water.

a.      First, we know this because of the definition of the Greek word “bapitzo:”  to dip, to plunge, to wash, to whelm, to overwhelm, to submerge, to immerse.

b.      Second, there are other indicators that it was by immersion.

1)      He baptized where there was “much water” (John 3:23a).

 

And John was also baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there…

 

2)      Individuals went down into the water and came up out of the water at John’s baptism (Matt. 3:16).

 

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water…

 

2.      The purpose of John’s baptism was “for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4).

 

John did baptized in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

 

a.      It was directed toward the Jews who believed in God.

b.      The nation, however, had sinned against God and needed to repent.

c.       John exhorted them to repent.

d.      Upon their repentance, they were immersed for the remission of sins.

3.      Jesus was baptized with John’s baptism (Matt. 3:13).

 

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

 

a.      Question:  If Jesus had no sins, and, if John’s baptism was for the remission of sins, why did Jesus need to be baptized?

b.      Answer:  Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 3:15.

 

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now:  for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.  And he suffered him.

 

1)      First, you “suffer” the exception to the rule.

2)      Jesus needed to fulfill all righteousness.  Psalm 119:172 tells us that “all thy commandments are righteousness.”  Jesus was baptized in order to obey His heavenly Father (See Matt. 3:17).

 

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

4.      John’s baptism was no longer valid after the cross of Calvary.

a.      John’s mission was an addition to the Old Covenant.

b.      It was a preparatory ministry.

c.       When the New Testament went into effect upon the death of Jesus on the cross, John’s baptism lost its power.  It was abrogated, that is, done away.  Another baptism was essential after the cross of Calvary.

5.      The major question surrounding John’s baptism is: “Did those individuals who received John’s baptism before the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary have to be baptized with the Lord’s baptism?  Some say:  “Yes,” and, some say:  “No.”

 

II.                HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

 

A.    The promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is revealed by three different individuals.

1.      Joel the prophet (Joel 2:28)

 

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh…

 

2.      John the Baptist (Matt. 3:11)

 

…but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, who shoes I am not worthy to bear:  he shall baptized you with the Holy Ghost…

 

3.      Jesus (Acts 1:5)

 

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

 

B.      There are several major facts to know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

1.      It was a promise, not a command

a.      A command is something we are supposed to do and have a choice of doing.

b.      A promise is something over which one has no control.  It is simply given by God.

2.      The baptism of the Holy Spirit was an overwhelming in the Spirit.  The power of the Holy Spirit completely submerged the individuals who received it.

3.      There are only two instances of Holy Spirit baptism in the Scripture.

a.      The apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day (Acts 2:1-4).

 

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

b.      The household of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-45; 11:15-16)

 

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.  Then remember I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

 

c.       These two instances of Holy Spirit baptism are of great importance.

1)      The first came just prior to the Jews entering into the kingdom.  The second came just prior to the Gentiles entering into the kingdom.

2)      The first empowered the apostles to do their work in the kingdom.  The second convinced the Jewish Christians that the Gentiles could be admitted into the kingdom of God.

4.      Holy Spirit baptism was always accompanied by miracles.

a.      The apostles “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

b.      At the household of Cornelius this happened:  “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God…” (Acts 10:46).

5.      Holy Spirit baptism is not available to men today.

a.      First, it served its purpose.

b.      Second, the day of miracles has ceased (I Cor. 13:10).

c.       Third, Paul teaches us that there is “one baptism” (Eph. 4:5).

 

III.             NEW TESTAMENT BAPTISM

 

A.    There is one valid baptism to which men must submit themselves.  It is sometimes referred to as New Testament baptism because it is associated with the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

 

B.      It goes by other names as well.

1.      The “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5.

2.      The Lord’s baptism because He is the author of it (Acts 19:5).

3.      The baptism of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:29-20; Mark 16:16).

 

C.     There are several facts to know about this baptism.

1.      It was authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-19).

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

 

 

 

 

2.      It is a baptism in water (Acts 8:37).

 

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.

 

3.      It involves immersion.

a.      First, this is the very definition of baptism.

b.      Second, the Scriptures refer to it as a burial (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12).

 

Buried with him in baptism…

 

c.       It involves going down into the water and coming up out of the water (Acts 8:38-39a).

 

And he commanded the chariot to stand still:  and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water…

 

4.      It is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

 

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.

 

5.      When one is baptized with the Lord’s baptism, he follows the Lord in His death, burial, and resurrection. 

a.      Our old man of sin dies (Rom. 6:6).

b.      That dead man is buried in the waters of baptism (Rom. 6:4a).

c.       We are then raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4b).

6.      When an individual is immersed into Christ for the remission of his sins, he is also added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:47; I Cor. 12:13).

 

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…

 

D.    NOTE:  This is the baptism that is the antitype of the baptism of Moses (I Cor. 10:1-2).

1.      In bondage to Pharaoh…In bondage to Satan

2.      In physical slavery…In slavery to sin

3.      Baptism given by God through Moses…Baptism given by God through Jesus Christ

4.      Immersed unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea…immersed in water in Jesus’ name

5.      Freedom from bondage after their baptism…freedom from sin after our baptism

 

IV.             THE BAPTISM OF FIRE

 

A.    The baptism of fire is only mentioned twice in the Bible (Matt. 3:11; Luke 3:16).

 

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.

 

B.      Some mistakenly connect the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the baptism of fire.  They do this cause when the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, there were cloven tongues like as of fire that sat upon each of them. 

1.      Baptism, however, is not fire sitting on your head.

2.      Baptism is an immersion, an overwhelming, a complete immersing in something.

3.      In what way were those who were baptized with the Holy Spirit completely immersed in fire?

 

C.     The only complete immersion in fire spoken of in the Scripture involves the fires of eternal condemnation.  Four times the place of eternal condemnation is referred to as “a lake of fire” (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14, 15).

 

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

 

D.    However, the best way to determine meaning is to look in the immediate context of Matthew 3:11 because Matthew 3:12 indicates what the baptism of fire involves.

 

I indeed baptized 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 baptized you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.  Whose fan in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 

1.      The chaff will be burned in unquenchable fire.

2.      This is eternal condemnation.

3.      This is the baptism of fire.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We have looked at four more baptisms of the Bible.

 

B.      The baptism of John and Holy Spirit baptism are past.

 

C.     The baptism that saves is the Lord’s baptism (Mark 16:16; I Pet. 3:21).

 

D.    Those who receive it will ultimately be saved from the flames of the baptism of fire, that is, eternal condemnation.