The Four Baptisms of the New Testament 12.16.2019

[Terral]

Greetings to All:     

Readers can read The Two Gospels of the New Testament (link) and The Two Churches of the New Testament (link) topics using these links.

This thread is dedicated to deliberations on the differences between the four baptisms of the New Testament connected to the two gospels and two churches of the New Testament from previous discussions. There are three baptisms for the "Gospel of the Kingdom" and just one baptism for Paul's "Word of the Cross" gospel message.

"It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples*. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's Baptism [#1]." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they were Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [#2]. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them [#3], and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying." Acts 19:1-6 NASB.

There are three baptisms depicting passage or "The Way" through the three sections of the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple (diagram and diagram) for the disciples of the Prophetic Kingdom "Bride" (Church #1 here). Paul writes,

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 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.

Scripture is describing three separate baptisms in the first series of verses in Acts 19:1-6. These events become more dramatic when we realize that they occur about six years after Peter and Paul's meeting in Jerusalem (Acts 15 = 50 AD), or in about 56 AD.. That means that these Kingdom Disciples traveled the countryside for about 25 years with only the "baptism of John." Then, after hearing the good news about Jesus Christ and His coming, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (second Kingdom Baptism into the "Holy Place" of the Temple). And yet, these disciples had not even heard of Christ nor the Holy Spirit and obviously did not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then, when Paul laid hands upon them (kingdom baptism #3), they all received the gift of the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues.

The writer of Acts is quoting Paul here in describing three individual and completely separate baptisms for the "Gospel of the Kingdom." Matt. 4:23, 9:35, etc.. This is in full agreement with Christ's Great Commission commands to the Kingdom Disciples.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matt. 28:19+20.

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel [#1] to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." Mark 16:15-16.

These three separate baptisms are divided thus:

1. Of the Father: John's Baptism (sent by God; John 1:6, Luke 1:76-78) is the baptism of the Father. As it is written,

"I did not recognize Him, but HE WHO SENT ME to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' John 1:33.

2. Of the Son: This second baptism for the Gospel of the Kingdom could only be given 'after' the disciple repented and confessed his sins to be water baptized by another kingdom disciple. Paul said,

"John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 19:4+5.

3. Of the Holy Spirit: This third and final baptism for the Gospel of the Kingdom could only be performed by someone like Peter or John who already had the 'gift of the Holy Spirit' from falling at Pentecost (Acts 2), or someone that had received the laying of hands from another kingdom disciple.

"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying." Acts 19:6.

Now these 'disciples' were shown "The Way" leading into the Holy of Holies where they could then receive the Holy Spirit by the WORK of laying hands. To be absolutely certain that the reader can visualize these three separate baptisms of the kingdom, Scripture has provided you with this excellent example:

"But when they believed Philip preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God [Gospel of the Kingdom #1] 'and' the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike . . . Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized [baptism #1] in the name of the Lord Jesus [baptism #2]. Then they began laying their hands on them [baptism #3], and they were receiving the Holy Spirit" Acts 8:12-17.

While our first example (Acts 19:1-6) was about men who knew only of the baptism of John, these people had received the first two baptisms of the kingdom (in water 'and' in the name of Jesus). They had to wait on Peter and John to come and lay hands on them to receive the "gift of the Holy Spirit." These two examples clearly demonstrate that it was possible for a period to pass between these baptisms of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since this is true, then it should be obvious to even the casual reader that our New Testament describes more than a single baptism. However, how can this be true, when Paul says that there is only "one baptism?" Eph. 4:5.

Is there just one baptism as Paul tells the Ephesians, or are there three baptisms as Paul tells the Kingdom Disciples in Acts 19? The answer is that there are three baptisms for the Kingdom Disciples (Church #1) obeying the "Gospel of the Kingdom" (Gospel #1), and just one baptism for the members of the Body of Christ (Church #2) called to God via Gospel #2. You will find just one baptism of the Holy Spirit described in Paul's Gentile Epistles (Romans, Philemon). The first chapter to the Corinthians contains examples of Paul baptizing in water, because that two-port-city church had members from both the Kingdom (of Apollos and of Cephas) 'and' Grace Administrations. The Kingdom Epistles describe the three baptisms for the coming Kingdom Administration (diagram = in light blue). However today, the Holy Spirit seals (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30) the member of the Body of Christ (that's us) into 'Christ's Body' (1Cor 12:27) the moment we are obedient to the message of truth, the gospel of our salvation. Paul writes to Gentiles,

"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed "IN" Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:13+14.

"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit 'we' [Church #2 brethren] were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and 'we' were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." 1Corinthians 12:12-14.

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For 'all of you' [Church #2] who were baptized 'into Christ' have clothed yourselves with Christ." Galatians 3:26+27.

Under Paul's Gospel (Rom. 2:16, 16:25, etc.), we are baptized into the Body of Christ on the cross at Calvary the moment we believe. It is through the "power of God" (Rom. 1:16+17) through Paul's Gospel that 'we' become active participants in His death, burial and resurrection. As it is written,

"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death [on the cross]? Therefore we have been buried with Him [into the tomb] through baptism into death [3 days in the tomb with Him], so that as Christ was raised from the dead [from the tomb] through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:3+4.

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Galatians 3:26+27.

All of these words above take us back to the cross; and not to the Jordan River. There is no water in these Pauline verses at all. None! As members of His body, we died with Him on the cross (Gal. 2:20), were buried in His tomb and raised with Him to be seated in the heavenly places "IN" Christ Jesus. (See Eph. 2:4-7 again). Our lives are now hidden with Christ "IN" God. Col. 3:3.

Paul's one baptism into Christ's Body is nothing like the three Kingdom baptisms for the "Gospel of the Kingdom," and they are to be understood totally separate from each other. Paul is seen preaching the three baptisms to the Kingdom disciples in Acts 19, because he preached both the Gospel of the Kingdom 'and' the Gospel of the grace of God (read very carefully Paul's words in Acts 20:24-27).

Luke's slant in Acts is in the direction of the three baptisms of the Kingdom, because this account to Theophilus is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke concerning the Kingdom (compare Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1).

To apply these things to our seeming contradiction: There is one baptism for the members of the Body of Christ today. Those who seek to enter the Kingdom of God on earth as Disciples, in the coming Kingdom Dispensation, shall be baptized three times in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In Christ Jesus, right this moment,

Terral

[Yeshua153]

     


To apply these things to our seeming contradiction: There is one baptism for the members of the Body of Christ today. Those who seek to enter the Kingdom of God on earth as Disciples, in the coming Kingdom Dispensation, shall be baptized three times in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.



I get it, & it sort of fits what I have come to know the last 15yrs, that it is a spiritual blood baptism (death to self) of the heart. My previous 30-40yrs, I had been water baptised, as a baby, as an adult, (cross on forehead) & immersion in the River Jordan, all unnecessary, ignorant of what I now know to be true.

I will copy what you couldn't find the other day, for your consideration.

I will say my belief, with baptism first, as it goes back to refer to the flood. I believe the last 2000yrs since Acts 2, it is spiritual blood baptism   
as defined by the 2 words that make up baptise, which has been anglicised, from baptizo & bapto, which means to cover (atone) with stain or dye (blood). This has the same meaning as Gen 6v14
  "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch."
The 1st pitch is kopher-to cover (atone) & 2nd pitch is Kaphar-stain or dye. In this case, probably a red henna bitumen. When the flood came, that was the judgement, they were saved through water, not with water, the caulking of the ark, with the pitch (baptism), is what saved the 8 of them. This was in 1Pet 3v20-21
while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Blood baptism is a daily death to self (resurrection), & to increase by faith, in our inner man, by His Spirit. Water baptism was only to become a citizen of Israel, a proselyte process, to go along with circumcision & 2 turtle doves.

[Ohan]

One Baptism ~ On Hor yev Vort Vo yev Hocvoeen Surpo ~ In The Name of The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit ```

One God ~ One Baptism ```