Baptism

WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism is a physical representation of our identification with Jesus Christ. When we are baptized in water we are acknowledging and declaring that we are one with Jesus and we are united with the body of Christ. We are raised up out of the water with a sense of purpose knowing that we have entered a large and integrated life in which God has the final say in everything.

Water baptism is also a graphic object lesson that teaches us about the wonder and the wisdom of God’s plan for our salvation. We were united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. When we are immersed in water, we are burying the old sinful man and we are no longer at sin’s beck and call. When we are raised up out of the water, the new man in Christ emerges.

Water baptism is an event that represents a process. After we are water baptized we should immerse ourselves in the Word of God and stay submerged until the heartbeat of the old man is stilled. Through the renewing of our minds, the new man emerges when our outward expression accurately represents and reflects our inner being.

Romans 6:1-6 (NKJV)
¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
²Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
³Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
⁴Therefore 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.
⁵For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
⁶knowing 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.

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST

The baptism with the Holy Ghost is a unique and separate experience from the new birth. According to 1 Corinthians 12:13, those who have been born again are baptized by the Spirit of God into one body.

 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)
¹³For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

 According to John the Baptist in the Scriptures, Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Ghost.

 Matthew 3:11 (KJV)
¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh 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:

 Through the New Birth, the Spirit of God takes up residence within us. When we are baptized in the Holy Ghost, we are filled with the Holy Ghost. The evidence of this baptism with the Holy Ghost is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives us utterance.

 Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)
¹And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
³And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 As we walk with God, we have the responsibility to stay filled with the Spirit. The gas tank of a car has to be filled up on a regular and frequent basis. We stay filled with the Spirit by cultivating our relationship with God.

 Ephesians 5:18-20 (NKJV)
¹⁸And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
²⁰giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,