TYPES OF BAPTISM AND THEIR MEANINGS

There are several types of baptisms in the Bible; in this post, I will discuss the various types of baptisms, their meaning, and importance.

1. The baptism of Moses

The Israelites crossing the red sea

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea( 1Co 10:2 )

When the Israelites were led out of the land of Egypt by God’s servant Moses, they came to the red sea, behold there were Egyptians at their back pursuing them. The Israelites in the process of passing through the Red Sea on dry ground after God divided the Red Sea were baptized into Moses. It means that they were identified with Moses and his deliverance. The Israelites who were formally slaves in Egypt now gained freedom from their enemy, the Egyptians. God passed judgment on the Egyptians- they perished in the Red Sea. Moses is a type of Jesus Christ, through whom the Israelites were saved from slavery which spiritually represents the bondage of sin. The Israelites later received the law from God through Moses and they became the chosen people of God.

2. The baptism of John

People came and they were baptized by John

Part one

In order to understand John’s baptism, it is very necessary for us to know the prophecy concerning him and his mission.

This is the prophecy concerning him

(Isa.40:3) “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (KJV)

The message of John the Baptist

(Mat 3:1-2) “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.” (KJV)

The purpose of his message

The purpose of John’s message was to change the lives of the people in preparation for the coming Messiah.

(Acts 19:4) “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

Those who receive John’s baptism were baptized again!

(Act 19:5) And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (KJV)

In conclusion, the baptism of John was to prepare the people to receive the Messiah and His Kingdom.

One must note that those who received John’s baptism were not baptized into Jesus, the Messiah and therefore they did not receive the Holy Spirit promised. John’s baptism was a preparatory baptism, a baptism of repentance.

The baptism of John was limited to a certain period of time, it does not exist again, and its purpose has been accomplished!



Part two
Jesus Christ also received the baptism of John but with a different motive. Others who came to John were asked to repent even confess their sins before the baptism was administered to them. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, was spotless and therefore need not to repent to be baptized.

(Heb 4:15) For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched by the feeling of our infirmities; but who was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

All those who came to John for baptism have one thing in common; obedience to the word of God. The motive behind Jesus’ baptism set Him apart from the rest. His motive is to fulfill all righteousness

(Mat 3:15) And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Other important lessons from the baptism of Jesus Christ

• Jesus has validated the work of John the Baptist.
• John the Baptist has witnessed the Holy Spirit endorsing Jesus as the son of the living God.
• Through the baptism, Jesus was ushered into His ministry.

3. The baptism of suffering

(Luke 12:50) But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it is accomplished!

Here Jesus Christ sees His suffering as baptism

He passed through afflictions and trials and He was socked (baptized) in His own blood

4. The Holy Spirit baptism

The Holy Spirit baptism appeared five times in the New Testament:

1. Matt 3: 10-11
2. Mark 1:8
3. Luke 3: 16
4. Acts 1:4-5
5. Acts 11:16

Many people today think they need the Holy Spirit baptism others also believed that after water baptism they automatically receive the Holy Spirit baptism.

The Holy Spirit baptism occurred just twice in the bible

1. On the day of Pentecost
2. And at Cornelius’ house

Those who received the Holy Spirit baptism

• The Apostles
• Cornelius and his household

John the Baptist foretold the Holy Spirit baptism

(Mat 3:11) 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

Note there are two types of baptism foretold here: the Holy Spirit baptism and the Fire baptism and both are different


Jesus Christ promised the Holy Spirit to His apostles

(Luke 24:49) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus Christ reminded His apostles of the Holy Spirit baptism again

(Act 1:4-5) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

So from the above scripture, the Holy Spirit baptism was to take place shortly after the ascension of Jesus Christ

The Apostles were baptized with Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost

(Act 2:-4) And when the day of Pentecost fully came, 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 with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The reason why people say the apostles were baptized with fire is that of the phrase in the above scripture: “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

Here the bible did not say that “tongues of fire” it says “like” or “as” the writer is describing what he has seen so that the readers may have a picture of what has happened, the figures of speech used here are simile and metaphor

The purpose of the Holy Spirit baptism was to enable the Apostles to speak or preach the gospel of Christ in other tongues (languages)

(Act 2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This was because there were many people from all nations under heaven with different languages

(Act 2:5-11) Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and was confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans? And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews, and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.

The second and the last group of people to receive the Holy Spirit baptism was Cornelius and his household

(Act 10:44-46) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

(Acts 11:15-16) And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

From the narrative given by the apostle Peter, you will realize that since the apostles received the Holy Spirit baptism on the day of Pentecost, no one received it again until Peter went to Cornelius' house, and no one too received it after Cornelius and his household. Another thing we must note about this baptism is that it is a direct working from God himself. The apostles received the Holy Spirit baptism direct from God so also Cornelius and his household, the apostle Peter did not lay hands on Cornelius and his household neither did he pray for the Holy Spirit to fall on them.

We should be therefore very careful with the "pastors" and "prophets" who claimed to have prayed and the Holy Spirit fell on people just as the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

The purpose of this Holy Spirit baptism on Cornelius and household (who are gentiles) is to show that God has also accepted the gentiles who were formally not God’s people

(Act 11:18) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

(Gal 3:28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye all one in Christ Jesus.

5. Fire baptism

(Mat 3:11) 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

John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, when he saw the Pharisees and the Sadducees coming he started talking about the wrath (judgment) of God to come

(Mat 3:7) 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?

The Pharisees were the most influential of all the Jewish religious sect of Jesus day. The word “Pharisee” literally means the “separated” ones. They were the strictest legalists of the day, who pledged themselves to obey and observe all the countless restrictive rules, traditions and ceremonial laws of Orthodox Judaism. They separated themselves not only from the non-Jews whom they absolutely despised and considered pagan “Gentile dogs” but they even set themselves above and apart from their Jewish brethren. They consider themselves to be the only true followers of God’s laws and therefore felt that they were much better and holier than anyone else.

The Pharisees held themselves to be the:

• Best
• Most righteous
• Most religious
• Most godly of all men
• They do not consider themselves as sinners

The Sadducees, on the other hand, do not believe in the afterlife and that there are no rewards or punishment after death

Both the Pharisees and the Sadducees are hypocrites and have unrepentant nature

These two classes of people by pretending came to John to be baptized, John the Baptist told them that they should show by their deeds that they have truly repented they should not say they have Abraham to their father

(Mat 3:8) Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance

John continued with his judgment message

(Mat 3:10) 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.

John concluded his message

(Mat 3:12) Whose fan is 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.

It is therefore clear that the baptism of fire John the Baptist was referring to is the wrath, vengeance, eternal punishment which God will bring upon the unrepentant ones

(2Th 1:7-9) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them, that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

The apostles of Christ did not receive the fire baptism as some people claim because Jesus made mention of the Holy Spirit baptism only

(Act 1:5) For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Please refer to the Holy Spirit baptism above

6. The baptism of the dead

(1Co 15:29)  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 

This is one of the most difficult verses in the Bible. We must put the passage in context. Paul was making a case for the subject of the resurrection of the dead. It was a doubtful subject to his audience, hence he has to cite a heathen practice to convince them that the resurrection is a reality. His example has to do with the practice that was known among his Corinthian audience. He was simply saying if there is no resurrection why are people baptizing ( proxy though) for dead relatives?

We do similar things in our tradition when we put utensils, money, etc in the coffin or grave of the departed. So in effect, he wasn’t teaching nor confirming such a practice but rather citing it to prove that the belief is not only related to Christians but even pagans. Unfortunately, this passage has been misconstrued and taken out of context by the Mormons. 

7.The Christian baptism

The baptism into Christ

(Gal 3:27) “For as many of you as having been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

This is the Christian baptism; it is the only baptism the bible says we should administer to the end of time. This baptism is not just administered, it is for those who:

Heard the Gospel message
Believed the gospel
Repent of their sins
Confers their faith in Jesus Christ as the son of the living God

The mode of doing this baptism is by immersion or burial,  it is required for salvation.

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.”

(Rom 6:3-5) “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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”

One must remain faithful until death to receive the crown of life

(Rev 2:10) “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Conclusion

What you heard before you are baptized is what you have been baptized into. Some of the baptisms are types; others serve a particular purpose at a limited time to some particular people. The baptism into Christ is the one and only baptism that must be practiced today according to the Bible. The Fire Baptism is the only baptism yet to come.
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