There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6
What is this ‘one baptism’? It is the ‘born again’ experience Jesus talks with Nicodemus about in John chapter 3. It is the baptism into the family of God. The thief on the cross next to Jesus received this ‘baptism’. This is the baptism that happens in salvation through Jesus Christ.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Acts 8:35-38
The baptism of water is a declaration of the death of your life and the life you take in exchange is the Life of Christ.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Romans 6:3
It is a significant sign in the spiritual realm of a person’s commitment to Christ. This baptism is symbolic of the changes Christ is doing in your life and your acceptance of the life He wants you to live.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17
This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is a different experience than water baptism. Who actually in the ‘baptizer’ of the Holy Spirit? Jesus pouring into the person requesting the Holy Spirit. This can be done through an act of prayer by the recipient or by one praying for the individual asking for the Holy Spirit.
And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. Acts 19:1-7
Baptism is a wonderful and powerful experience and act in one’s life. Is the Lord Jesus leading you into greater depths of commitment and a type of ‘baptism’? Many think the Holy Spirit baptism is an automatic thing that happens with a water baptism… but scripture very plainly states many examples that they are different. Two types of baptism CAN happen at the same time – but that is definitely NOT always the case.
If the Lord is putting any of these types of baptism in your heart, seek out a spiritually mature elder in Christ to help you fulfill those desires in you.
Step by step into the Life with Christ.
To quote CS Lewis… “Farther up and further in.”