Question: How are you to be baptized and how do you receive the Holy Spirit? A friend and I have been debating this question for so long that I just want to know the truth and put an end to it. Please help!
Answer: Thanks for your question. As it relates to the believer, there are two different types of baptism in Scripture, although they both refer to the same thing. Whenever the word “baptize” or “baptism” is used, it means “to immerse or submerge.”
The first type is baptism by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says:
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
The meaning here is that all believers–that is, all those who have received Jesus Christ by faith and are truly saved–are immersed into the body of Christ, which includes all believers, both living and dead. We don’t have to “ask” for this baptism, or even participate in any kind of ceremony. It’s automatic. And it’s made possible by the Holy Spirit.
The second type of baptism is water baptism, and it is meant to be a witness or a declaration of salvation. It is not a means to salvation. Jesus was baptized, and no one would say that His baptism saved Him. So when you are immersed into the water, you are symbolically identifying with Christ.
Baptism in water is “for the remission of sins” according to Acts 2:38. John’s baptism was “for the remission of sins” (Mk 1:4). Jesus’ baptism by John was, of course, unique, to fulfill all righteousness. There was no sin in him to “wash away” (Acts 22:16). The same expression is found in Matthew 26:28 when Jesus spoke of the cup at the Supper saying, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” As for baptism saving, Peter spoke of baptism, in some sense, being involved when he wrote of it saving us (1 Pet 3:21).
The basis of our salvation can be expressed in a number of ways. We can say we are saved by the blood of Christ, the grace of God, the goodness of God, etc. The conditions are different. It looks to me like baptism happens to be one of the conditions. Israel marching around Jericho happened to be one of the conditions of the walls falling (see Heb 11:30: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”) Their march did not cause the walls to fall. God’s power brought those walls down, but they did not fall until after Israel encircled them for seven days.
You make an interesting point, and it would fall more in line with Roman Catholic theology, where human works combine with God’s grace to bring about salvation. The doctrine of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone was the hallmark of the Reformation, and out of that came the Protestant Church. The difference, of course, is that in Roman Catholic theology, our faith is supplemented by works, whereas in Reformed theology, there’s nothing we can “add’ to salvation by way of works. As sacred and important as baptism by water is, it is something we must do.
The references you cite–Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:21–can be interpreted as baptism being the symbol of salvation, not the means.
Stan, I appreciate your reply. I agree with your last comment. Of baptism, I would say that it is not the basis of our salvation any more than marching around Jericho was the basis of that ancient city’s walls falling.
As to your earlier comment, I hope my comments are in line with Peter and his sermon in Acts 2, and Paul’s recounting of his conversion, and of Peter’s affirmation. When a person comes to the Lord, they come to Him like the returning prodigal—with nothing to offer. I think we would agree on that. From there the Lord sends us to a watery grave (Romans 6) only to be raised to walk in newness of life.
I hope, in responding, I am not construed as being contentious. I am seeking clarity. Thanks for graciously allowing me to be a part of your dialogue.
This has been a very healthy and productive exchange. I don’t read contentiousness into your comments at all. I appreciate your comments and insights, and I think this dialog has been helpful to both of us. That’s what it’s all about!