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The apostle Paul (in the context of one Lord, one God and one Faith) tells us there is ONE BAPTISM. While differences of opinion exist as to what that baptism is, this really is not a matter of opinion--the Bible is clear, and everyone needs to see it, obey it, and teach it to others.
Several baptisms are mentioned in the Bible. We could take them up one at a time and eliminate each until we get down to the one that is left, which is indeed the "one baptism." However, only three baptisms need to be discussed: 1) The baptism of John in water; 2) the baptism of the Holy Spirit; and 3) the baptism in water commanded by Jesus, at which time the Holy Spirit is received.
Baptism Performed in an Improper Manner:
(Acts 18:24-19:5) "And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Acts 19:1 "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, 2 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. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 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, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
First, we can logically conclude from the above passage that John's baptism was, even at that time, no longer effective; thus we eliminate number one from our list. There is no need to talk about whether it was in water, for we all know John baptized in the Jordan River.
Second, baptism needs to be "in the name of the Lord Jesus," and this results in receiving the Holy Spirit - not being baptized into or with the Holy Spirit. The apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which enabled them to "lay hands on" people and transmit spiritual gifts to others (Acts 8:19). This is not something the Scriptures teach we can obtain today.
So, we have eliminated number two above. This leaves only the question of what those "certain disciples" actually did. Did they DO NOTHING but believe and "receive the Holy Ghost"? No, they already believed in Jesus. They just needed to be baptized correctly. They evidently had not been TAUGHT what they needed to know. Paul instructed them (about twelve men), and they were then baptized correctly. Their previous baptism was NOT the ONE BAPTISM that Paul spoke of in his letter to the Ephesians. Their later baptism was not Holy Spirit baptism because they were to receive the Holy Spirit when baptized. Thus, Holy Spirit baptism is not the "one baptism."
The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch:
(Acts 8:26-39) "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
The preaching of Jesus evidently included baptism because the eunuch saw water and asked to be baptized. He understood baptism to be in water because he mentioned it and was immersed in it. This is obviously true because of the meaning of the Greek word "baptize" and the fact that "they came up out of the water," which necessarily implies that they went down into the water. Thus, it is not possible that the eunuch's baptism was a sprinkling of water. We also read that after this baptism in water the eunuch "went on his way rejoicing." If this were all we had we could safely conclude that Phillip preached the one baptism and also baptized this man in water.
Jesus' Teaching that Baptism Is in Water:
Here Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
First, WATER is mentioned. Jesus actually said one must be born of water to enter the kingdom. Was this the "natural" birth? Nicodemus thought so, but Jesus corrected him. And we see also that Jesus said one must be born of the Spirit. This seems to be in line with what it took to correct the baptism of the "certain disciples" that Paul dealt with, who were baptized again.
Paul's Illustration to the Romans (Romans 6:3; 4: 17, 18):
"3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection...16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (See also Colossians 2:11-14.)
In the above text, Paul actually DEFINES baptism. He says it is a BURIAL and specifies that it is in WATER. He speaks of obedience in this context, leaving no doubt that the action he refers to is "unto righteousness." But for those who might miss it the first time, he speaks of it again when he says that those who "obey from the heart" are "then made free from sin." This is so clear people need help to miss it.
What Was Commanded of Paul ("Must do," Acts 22:16):
Paul was commanded: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." This was something he was told to "DO," as opposed to the idea that he needed only to "believe." Remember, when Paul (Saul) met the Lord on the road to Damascus, what was said? "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (Acts 9:6). Well, baptism was one of those "musts." And the phrase "wash away thy sins" clearly indicates that the baptism was water baptism. Of course, water itself does not remove sins - obedience to God's command to be baptized in water results in the remission of sins. Thus Paul's "calling on the name of the Lord" would result in his being forgiven when he "obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine" (Romans 6:17, 19).
Bible Chronology (Date of Events) Proving WATER to Be the ONE Baptism:
The text regarding this "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5) was written between 61 and 63 A.D. Peter's words proclaiming that WATER BAPTISM "now saves us" were penned around 64 A.D. (1 Peter 3:20, 21).
Conclusion:
The Great Commission given to the apostles was to "Go...and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt 28:18-20). Men cannot perform Holy Spirit baptism, but men can baptize in water. Thus, Holy Spirit baptism is not the one baptism that Christ commands. The ONE BAPTISM in water was not just for Jews, as some have asserted. This is evident from Peter's response to men asking what they must do to be saved. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39).
There is no doubt about it. The "one baptism" is in water and it is "for the remission of sins," as opposed to the idea that it is something one does AFTER being saved.
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