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WATER BAPTISM......This is probably one of the most confusing and divisive issues in the professing church today. Some baptize babies, others only baptize adults. Some baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while others baptize in the name of Jesus Christ. Some sprinkle, some dunk, some pour. It would seem like God would have given us some clear instruction for the practice of baptism in the dispensation of grace that would dismiss all the confusion.
Thankfully, He has!
First, we must understand that there is only one baptism for the body of Christ (Eph 4:4-6). But what is the nature of this one baptism? The word baptize literally means "to immerse." But when we read about baptism in the Bible, it is important to realize what the person being baptized is being baptize into. For instance John the Baptist talked about baptism with water, but also with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mat 3:11). So what kind of baptism is Paul referring to?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 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.
In this passage, Paul talks about a baptism, or immersion, into Christ and into his death. It is important to note that water is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. It can be said that this is a dry baptism. We can deduce from this passage that this baptism occurs at the time of salvation, since it is the baptism into death which assures the resurrection from the dead.
1 Cor 12:13 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.
Here we have a baptism which is performed by the Holy Spirit in which the believer is immersed, not into water, but into the one body of Christ. Once again, this baptism occurs at salvation since that is when the believer becomes a member of that body. Since there is only one baptism in this dispensation, this is the same baptism that we looked at previously in Romans 6.
Gal 3:27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Once again, Paul teaches that the one baptism for today is a baptism into Christ, not a baptism into water.
Col 2:12 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.
Like Romans 6, Paul here shows that our baptism is not a baptism into mere water, but is an immersion and an identification with Christ himself. It is an identification with his death, but also an identification with his resurrecton. No mere water ceremony could achieve this.
Some will say, "But Paul baptized with water!" This is quite correct. In his early ministry at Corinth, for instance, Paul baptized a few believers. But notice Paul’s comments concerning these water baptisms.
1 Cor 1:14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1 Cor 1:15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1 Cor 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Paul did baptize in his early ministry, but as he received more of the revelation and a clearer understanding of the mystery, he soon abandoned the practice as being superfluous in light of the one baptism that we receive at salvation.
