The N.T. clearly says there is One Baptism (Ep 4:5).
Yet we see...
John's baptism of repentance and faith in Christ, with water (Ac 19:3-4),
Baptism as a metaphor of suffering/dying, with and for Christ (Mk 10:38),
Baptism with Holy Spirit and Fire (Mt 3:11).
Jesus Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the superior and the only essential baptism.
Baptism is symbolic, as seen in references to Noah, and Moses, and as it is used in reference to death and burial.
VERSES...
One Baptism
Ephesians 4:5
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
John's Baptism of Repentance of repentance and water and faith.
Acts 19:3-4
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.
Christian Suffering
Mark 10:38
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Jesus Baptizes with the Holy Spirit
Matthew 3:11
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
DLG notes... The baptism of repentance (in water), administered by John the Baptizer, Jesus' disciples during Jesus' earthly ministry, was continued and practiced by the apostles in the early church.
Jesus Did Not Baptize With Water
John 4:1-2
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Paul Was Not Called To Baptize
1 CORINTHIANS 1:14-17
VERSES...
One Baptism
Ephesians 4:5
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
John's Baptism of Repentance of repentance and water and faith.
Acts 19:3-4
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.
Christian Suffering
Mark 10:38
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Jesus Baptizes with the Holy Spirit
Matthew 3:11
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
DLG notes... The baptism of repentance (in water), administered by John the Baptizer, Jesus' disciples during Jesus' earthly ministry, was continued and practiced by the apostles in the early church.
Jesus Did Not Baptize With Water
John 4:1-2
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Paul Was Not Called To Baptize
1 CORINTHIANS 1:14-17
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Jesus Baptizes With The Holy Spirit
John 1:33
Jesus Baptizes With The Holy Spirit
John 1:33
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Noah In Symbolism Of Baptism...
1 Peter 3:20-21
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Moses In Symbolism Of Baptism...
1 Corinthians 10:1-2
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Death In Symbolism Of Baptism...
Romans 6:3-5
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:
Colossians 2:12
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
DLG notes...
Baptism, Lord's Supper and Circumcision are outward expressions of inward experiences.
No one is saved by Baptism, Lord's Supper or Circumcision.
* Baptism Symbolizes Death to Sin and Newness of Life.
* Lord's Supper Symbolizes Fellowship/Union with God.
* Circumcision Symbolizes a Purified Heart.
John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Acts 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Noah In Symbolism Of Baptism...
1 Peter 3:20-21
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Moses In Symbolism Of Baptism...
1 Corinthians 10:1-2
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Death In Symbolism Of Baptism...
Romans 6:3-5
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:
Colossians 2:12
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
DLG notes...
Baptism, Lord's Supper and Circumcision are outward expressions of inward experiences.
No one is saved by Baptism, Lord's Supper or Circumcision.
* Baptism Symbolizes Death to Sin and Newness of Life.
* Lord's Supper Symbolizes Fellowship/Union with God.
* Circumcision Symbolizes a Purified Heart.
John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
