What is Charismatic? – Part Two: Water Baptism – The Outward Symbol of Our Baptism into Christ

Welcome to the second installment of World of Faith’s series on “What is Charismatic.” This week we transition our topic again to something that I hope is non-controversial, unifying, and foundational. We are going to discuss water baptism, the outward symbol of our baptism into Christ.

Again, some of you may wonder, if water baptism is NOT a charismatic distinctive, why is it being addressed here in this blog. There are three reasons why I am addressing this topic. First of all, it is an important and foundational extension of the previous topic, our baptism into Christ, because water baptism is the outward symbol of the baptism into Christ. Second, some see water baptism as an “initiatory rite” into the local church, and this position is not scriptural, so it should be addressed. Third, my own church is having water baptisms this Sunday, Christmas Eve, so there is personal significance to the topic. It is very timely topic, and it is being discussed on at least two other blogs, on which I have personally commented.

So, let’s delve into this. As a review of what I discussed last time, the New Testament in my belief teaches three different baptisms, the second of which is our focus in this post. Hebrews 6:1-3 (NKJV), “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.” Once again, notice that baptisms is in the plural, and this does not mean multiple water baptisms, but different kinds of baptisms that are essential to the growth of the believer. These three baptisms are (1) baptism into Christ (or the body of Christ), which occurs at salvation, (2) water baptism, and (3) baptism in the Holy Spirit (or the infilling of the Holy Spirit, or simply Spirit baptism). In Part One, I discussed the first of these, our baptism into Christ, and in Part Three next weekend, I will begin to discuss baptism in the Holy Spirit. But today I will discuss water baptism, which is the outward symbol of our baptism into Christ.

Because water baptism is the outward symbol of what occurs at salvation, our baptism into Christ, the first key Scripture we need to examine is again found in Romans 6:3-7 (NKJV), which states, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” As baptism into Christ is the reality of what occurs at salvation, water baptism is the outward symbol of that precious union and identification. By being immersed into water, the candidate is identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. In Part One, I discussed at length the reality of our salvation, and the reality of our baptism into Christ. Now, in Part Two, I am going to discuss the symbolic nature of water baptism, and why it is essential and normative for all Christian believers in their Christian experience.

Water baptism is also done in obedience to Christ. We all know that Jesus was baptized in water, after which “the heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God descended as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said (the Father), ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” (See Matt. 3:16-17, NAS). Likewise, we are all commanded to be water baptized in like manner. Truly, it has become normative for all new Christian believers to be baptized in water, for that is the pattern of New Testament life expressed in the Scriptures. The next water baptism recorded in the Scriptures is found in Acts 2:41 (NAS), “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about 3000 souls.”

The next water baptism documented in the Scripture is significant, because this particular water baptism shows us what water baptism is NOT. There is an argument that has been floated in some Southern Baptist circles, especially, that water baptism is an “initiatory rite” into a local church, because in addition to symbolizes our identification and union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (our baptism into Christ), it also symbolizes agreement with the local church in her theology, teaching, and accountability. This is NOT biblical at all. Water baptism is only symbolic of our baptism into Christ. Nothing more and nothing less. Look at Acts 8:35-39 (NAS), the story of Phillip the Evangelist and the Ethiopian eunuch: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.” This passage is significant because there is no “initiatory rite” here into a local church, in fact, there is no local church involvement here. Yes, Phillip was sent as an evangelist in the authority of the local church, but what is missing here is follow-up. Some might make the opposite argument from silence that Phillip must NOT left the Ethiopian with further instructions, but there is no account of that in the Scriptures. Rather, all we can say is that Phillip was caught away (transported) by the Holy Spirit, and the Ethiopian went his way rejoicing. I do hope in confidence that the Ethiopian eventually found a local church to fellowship with and in, but we have no account for sure in Scripture of that happening. Further, his baptismal experience would be no initiation into that local body, once he found it. This passage is prima facie evidence, then, that water baptism normatively should not be considered an “initiatory rite” into a local church, but is purely and only an outward symbol of our baptism into Christ.

However, water baptism is still normative for the Christian believer. There are subsequent accounts of water baptism. In Acts 9:18, after Paul was born again and converted, he was baptized as well. The same can be said for the Gentiles who were saved in the account of Peter at the house of Cornelius in Acts 10 (see especially Acts 10: 47-48), as well as Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16:14-15, as well as the jailer later on in Acts 16 as well, and the same with Crispus and the Corinthians in Acts 18. Lastly we come to Acts 19, the final water baptism recorded in the Bible. This is a key passage, so let’s examine it in some detail. Acts 19:1-5 (NAS), “It happened 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.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, Jesus.’ When they (the disciples) heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” The first thing that should be noted about this passage was these were disciples. Some will argue that these were NOT disciples of Jesus, though. Unfortunately, many times those who argue this are unable to say who they were disciples of, perhaps John. However, according to verse 4, John told these people to believe in Jesus. It would then logically follow that these disciples were somehow indirect followers of Christ through John. At the very least, they were instructed to believe in Jesus. Although they had no knowledge or awareness of the Holy Spirit, these were disciples, they were saved, for they had believed on the Lord Jesus (see Romans 10:9-10 for the requirements of salvation). Thus, the only reason that Paul had these disciples re-baptized was so they could be baptized in the name of Jesus, the full outward expression and symbol of what had already occurred when these disciples believed, what had occurred at these disciples salvation, their baptism into Christ.

Once they were water baptized, these disciples in Acts 19 then became candidates for the third baptism, which will be discussed in Part Three, which is the baptism (or infilling) of the Holy Spirit, and is a distinct experience from one’s salvation. We’ll discuss that issue next time, as “World of Faith” will continue in the series, “What is Charismatic.”

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