Back to home pageThe Bible reveals to us that God approves one baptism. Though men have not been pleased or content with that which God has revealed, those who expect to please God should be happy to accept His will. God's will is as definite on this subject as it is on any other subject that may be examined. Let us give attention to that which is written.
Our Savior came from Nazareth to John at the Jordan River for the purpose of being baptized. John forbad him saying, "I have need to be baptized of Thee." Jesus persuaded John, however, that it was an act of righteousness that had to be performed. Jesus was not baptized for the removal of His sins, for He had none. He was baptized because it was right. It was right because it was the will of God.
In His baptism, Jesus came up straightway out of the water (Mark 1:10). He could not have come up out of the water unless first He had gone down into the Water. Jesus went down into the water, was baptized, and came up out of the water. This shows clearly that baptism is immersion. The Son of God did not engage in the doing of unnecessary things. He was immersed because it was necessary for Him to be immersed to please God.
Later, Jesus in giving the Great Commission to His disciples, said, "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).
The apostles of Jesus were faithful to that which the Master commanded and taught. When the first Pentecost after the ascension of Jesus came, the apostles arose to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance. When those who were gathered together heard the powerful truth which they presented they cried out, "Brethren, what shall we do?" The apostle Peter immediately gave the answer--the very answer which the Lord required -- "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive lee gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
The people responded in great numbers to this call to obey the will of God as we learn from reading the remainder of the chapter. They did not argue or quibble. They did not contend that it could be done some other way. They did not wait. They obeyed God. Baptism is an act of obedience to God.
We now see that baptism is necessary. We should also understand that baptism is immersion. To further help us, let us notice these statements of Paul.
"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" (Romans 6:3-4).
Again, Paul wrote, "Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12).
There can be no doubt in view of the foregoing statements that baptism is immersion.
The one baptism is not Holy Spirit baptism! Holy Spirit baptism was a promise (John 14:26; 16:13; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). Baptism in water is a command. The promise of Spirit baptism has been fulfilled (Acts 2; Acts 10). Water baptism is still a necessity.
The one baptism is in the element, water. The act is performed by immersion. The design of baptism is for (unto) the remission (forgiveness) of sins. The one baptism is required of all responsible people. There are no exceptions for God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).