Doctrine of Baptisms (Water Baptism)

The foundations of the faith have been under attack by the enemy, so the Lord is desiring that His word be explained clearly so people are not in confusion. Some people believe that a person does not have to be water baptized to be saved. Others believe that one has to be water baptized in order to be saved. This article will use the scriptures to reveal the truth while examining both sides of this debate.

Water baptism is supposed to be an elementary school-level doctrine, but some believers are perplexed by confusing teaching from leaders who are presenting their own theology on the subject.

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1-2 NKJV)

The Greek word used for “baptize” (Matthew 28:19) means “to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, and to bathe."

Life and Power Over Sin

Baptism is a spiritual experience. It is not just a physical and symbolic act. When someone is baptized, they experience a spiritual death to the sin-life and nature. When they come out of the water, they are raised to the newness of Christ’s life, which enables the person to overcome repetitive sin cycles. This is the beginning of the journey of being dead to sin and empowered by God’s grace to overcome sin.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,” (Romans 6:1-8 NKJV)

Being baptized in water doesn’t mean that we won’t sin. It is simply one of the beginning steps that releases the grace of God needed to overcome sin. Jesus commanded His disciples to make other disciples and baptize them in the names of the three persons of the Godhead:

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)

Anyone who wants to journey onward with the Lord must be baptized in water. Every spiritual encounter with the Lord brings us closer to Him and helps us know Him in a greater way. Disciples will obey their Master and be water-baptized. America has many converts to Christianity, but few disciples (followers) of Jesus. Converts to Christianity do the minimum required to be saved and go to Heaven. Salvation is their focus and goal. Disciples do everything they can to know and journey with the Lord. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are their desire. 

Believers who do not get baptized in water will struggle in their Christian walk. They will not be burning and shining lamps for the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will most likely struggle with sin and not overcome it. Water baptism releases spiritual power (grace) to do what we cannot do.

Requirement for Salvation

“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”” (Romans 10:8-13 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, reveals that one must confess Jesus as Lord verbally and believe in his heart that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. If this is done then the person will have salvation. Some people may not agree with this, so let’s examine the example of Jesus:

“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”” (Luke 23:39-43 NKJV)

The thief on the cross believed that Jesus was God and that He had a Heavenly Kingdom. The man also called Jesus “Lord." The man had faith in Christ in his heart and confessed that belief with his mouth. Jesus then told the man that he would be in Paradise (Heaven).

Jesus didn’t say, “Well, I can’t do anything for you because you have not been water baptized. Maybe you should have gone out to John when he was baptizing at the Jordan. My disciples were also baptizing, so you had plenty of opportunities to be submerged in water, but you didn’t choose to do so. It’s too late for you, thief. You are going to burn in eternal Hell with the Devil and his angels!"

Jesus demonstrated love, compassion, and mercy to the thief. He didn’t spew religious rules, ordinances, and condemnations at the thief. Jesus clearly demonstrated that this man did not have to be water-baptized to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus makes the rules; we don’t.

We should be baptized in water, but if someone teaches damnation for the consequence of not getting baptized in water, then they are calling Jesus a liar. Because this certainly wasn’t the case with the thief on the cross.

Water and the Spirit

“Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 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 is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:4-7 NKJV)

I have heard pastors argue that this verse is speaking of water baptism. However, Jesus does not say water baptism; He says “born of water.” We must examine this verse in the context of the conversation. Nicodemus is asking Jesus a question about being born from the water of his mother’s womb a second time. Jesus is partially responding to Nicodemus according to the question he asked about being physically born of water. However, Jesus brings it to the spiritual realm, which is being born of the Spirit of God. Obviously we have to be born in our mother’s womb (born of water), but we must also have the Holy Spirit come into our human spirit and make our spirit renewed (born again).

Believers Born Again Before Water Baptism

The Lord called Peter to go and preach to non-Jews. Peter was preaching and the men were intently listening. Peter then tells them what they need to do in order to be saved: believe in Jesus and their sins will be forgiven.

“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” (Acts 10:43-48 NKJV)

After they believe in Jesus in their hearts, the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they are born again. These men didn’t even make a confession of Jesus with their mouths before the Holy Spirit fell on them and came into them. Do you see how the Holy Spirit destroys the religious boxes that men put Him in? He does what He pleases and saves men when they believe in Jesus. These men were only baptized in water after they were born again and saved.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:5, 12, 14-17 NKJV)

Here we see three spiritual experiences that occur in the lives of new believers. First, they believed in Jesus as Philip was preaching. Shortly after, they were baptized in water. Clearly the scriptures show that anyone who believes in Jesus and is baptized has the Holy Spirit and is born again. However, the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon these believers. The Holy Spirit was in them, but they had not been submerged or baptized in the Holy Spirit. The apostles had been granted authority from Jesus to release the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.

In Acts 10:43-48, the men received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the same time they believed in Jesus and were born again by the Spirit of God inwardly (all occurring prior to water baptism). This shows us that the Lord can do things differently with different people. He doesn’t always do things how we think He should or how we want Him to. He does things His way because He is the eternal Godhead.

-Ty Unruh (October 2023)