“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Various scriptures in the Bible refer to baptism. Ephesians 4:4-6 speaks of one faith and one baptism. The scriptures speak of three different aspects of baptism. The first is Holy Spirit baptism, which brings about the new birth in the life of the believer (Titus 3:5). Water baptism is the visible symbol of the Holy Spirit baptism, which is commanded to those that believe. Jesus also calls his disciples to a baptism of commitment and suffering (Mark 10:38-39). The same full commitment of the heart and life to God is required in all three. In this, they agree and become one baptism.
Holy Spirit Baptism
In the Old Testament, the prophet Joel prophesied that God would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). John the Baptist referred to this when he said that he baptized with water, but the one coming after him, Jesus, would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire (Matthew 3:11). The Holy Spirit brings about the change in the life of the believer that prepares him for water baptism.
The Holy Spirit speaks truth, and all people have the ability to understand Him. He does not speak of Himself. He speaks only that which he hears of God (John 16:13).
The Holy Spirit speaks to the heart in different ways. At times He comes as a quiet inner voice or feeling. He helps us to perceive and understand.
When a sinner reads the Word of God, the Holy Spirit reveals to him his sinfulness and great need of a Savior. The Holy Spirit does not leave one in despair when he feels this condemnation of sin. When the sinner repents with remorse the Lord forgives him. Upon this repentance the Holy Spirit enters his heart and he is born again. This new birth in his heart leads him to believe and trust God. He is then able to lay down his selfish will and become a new creature in Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Being a new creature in Christ means that a Christian lives a new and different life. He now understands that his old selfish, willful ways do not bring lasting happiness. He will be happy and free as he follows the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is an abiding Comforter who comforts us when we do right, and reproves us when we do wrong, and guides us into all truth (John 14:16-17; 16:13).
By faith the Christian can live his life with his will surrendered to God. He follows the example of Christ, who sought not his own will but the will of his Father in heaven (John 5:30). This faith is of the Holy Spirit.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives power and grace in the Christian’s life to overcome sin. In the Word of God, we read of the virtues of the Holy Spirit, which grace the life of the child of God. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The born again Christian continues to live in this world. He continues to have an earthly body that is subject to carnal desires. The understanding of sin given by the Holy Spirit shows the Christian the sinfulness and ugliness of these carnal tendencies. Through this he finds the grace to deny himself as Christ directed in Matthew 16:24, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.” This leads him to live a righteous life.
The spirit in a man’s heart is the motivation in his life. Likewise the Holy Spirit dwelling in a Christian’s heart motivates his life. The Holy Spirit opens the Christian’s mind to understand spiritual things. He then has direction for daily living. Isaiah says, “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:20-21).
God desires to gather his people together unto Himself. “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice” (Psalms 50:5). True children of God offer themselves as a living sacrifice. Paul writes about this in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The Holy Spirit, as He works in the heart of the Christian, is as the fire poured out on the disciples the day of Pentecost. It is a consuming fire that burns up the evil deeds of whoever gives himself to it. This makes him into a new creature in Christ (Galatians 3:27). This sacrifice of self brings one into unity with God and with all who have had this experience.
Love, the chief attribute of the Holy Spirit, moves the Christian to seek fellowship among others who are also born of the same spirit. This he will find in the true Church of God.
Water Baptism
Water baptism, which is a witness of the Holy Spirit baptism, is the door into the Church of God on earth. The people of God are responsible to prove applicants and help them to a true repentance experience before uniting them with God’s people. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
Jesus commanded the disciples to go and preach the gospel, baptizing those who believe. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).
An applicant is baptized upon a clear testimony of forgiveness of his sins and grace with God. Water poured on his head symbolizes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which has transformed his life. The baptismal mode of pouring is in harmony with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:16-17).
Baptism of Commitment and Suffering
Jesus asked his disciples, “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with” (Matthew 20:22-23). Jesus drank the cup of suffering and death. After the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit, they also drank of this cup. When we are born of the spirit, our hearts are filled with love and we are moved to serve the Lord willingly, and also drink of this cup.
“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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:4-5). The baptism of commitment unites the true Christian to Christ and the people of God, and separates him from the world.
If we partake of his death in dying to self, we will also be able to partake of his joy and glory. Romans 8:17 tells us, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
May the Lord give us willing hearts to follow in his way, and keep all his commandments as they are taught in his Word.