A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
LUKE 3:15-22
Lesson #10
THE FIVE NEW TESTAMENT BAPTISMS EXPLAINED
- Memory verse: Rom 6:4
- In our study to this point, we have obtained a good perspective of the ministry of John the Baptist. We have seen that through John man needed to come to the point in his life where he recognized that he is indeed a sinner in need of salvation. For that John the Baptist called people to a baptism of repentance.
- People wondered if John was the promised Messiah.
- Read Luk 3:15-18
- “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:” (16)
- Speaking of baptism, what did John mean when he said there is another type of baptism?
- In reality the New Testament uses the word baptism to describe five types of experiences of immersion. (Remember that the inherent meaning of baptism is immersion in something.)
- [1] For example: Mat 20:22-23 Jesus refers to the baptism of suffering. Sometimes the believer in Jesus Christ is called to suffer for his faith in the same way that Jesus suffered crucifixion though he was innocent.
- Let us compare the baptisms that are frequently confused in the New Testament.
- “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:” (16)
| [2] Baptism of John or the
Baptism of Repentance |
[3] Water Baptism | [4] Baptism in the Holy Spirit | |
| The Candidate: | The new convert | The new convert | The new convert |
| The One Who Baptizes: | The Holy Spirit | Pastor or other believer | Jesus Christ |
| Medium of Immersion: | Body of Christ | Water | The Holy Spirit |
| The Purpose: | To receive new life | To testify of new birth | To receive power |
| Scriptures: | Mar 1:4 Luk 3:3
Act 13:24 Act 19:3-4 |
Luk 3:16 Rom 6:4
Col 2:12 Joh 1:31 |
Luk 3:16 Act 2:38-39
Act 1:8 |
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- The New Testament clearly makes a difference between these three baptisms.
- In the book of Acts we can see the confusion in the early church in Acts 19.
- Read Act 19:1-6
- [2] Baptism of John or the Baptism of Repentance:
- In this New Testament age when a person receives Jesus Christ into his heart and life, he repents of his sin and is immersed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
- This is the baptism of repentance for the remission of sin. At this point in time the Holy Spirit of Life gives the new believer a new life in Christ. He is therefore born again to live for Christ.
- This baptism occurs in the spiritual world and cannot be seen outwardly by others, though his life will eventually produce fruit and a change of character that can be observed by others.
- [3] Water Baptism
- Read Rom 10:9-10
- The new believer must validate what has happened to him in the spiritual world by testifying that he now belongs to Christ. This is done by water baptism before others.
- Read Rom 6:4
- The new believer identifies himself with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection by acting Jesus’ actions when he goes under the water and comes out of the water. It is his public testimony of having been born again by the Spirit.
- [4] Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- Read Act 1:8
- The sending of the Holy Spirit to indwell the New Testament believer was a new concept begun after the Resurrection on the Day of Pentecost. (The Old Testament believer did not have the permanent indwelling Holy Spirit.)
- Notice that the purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit was to give power to the believer to live the Christian life in the will of God.
- Like the Baptism of Repentance, the Holy Spirit Baptism is a spiritual transaction.
- What is the difference between being born again and being baptized in the Holy Spirit?
- Read Joh 20:22
- Here the disciples are receiving Christ as their savior after the resurrection. This is their born-again experience.
- However, Jesus told them to wait for the day of Pentecost to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
- We can more clearly see the difference between receiving the Holy Spirit when one is born again and receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit of power in scripture.
- Read John 7:37-39
- The New Testament clearly makes a difference between these three baptisms.
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Notice that first is the drink of the Holy Spirit that a person receives when he is born again in the Baptism of Repentance.
Next is the river of living water that flows out of him after he has received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Scripture is clear that the author is speaking of the Holy Spirit that was not yet given until after the crucifixion on the day of Pentecost.
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- What is the evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
- Some say it is speaking in tongues which we see in the book of Acts.
- In reality a broader view of the evidence of this baptism is the power of a changed life to live the fruit of the Spirit.
- Read Gal 5:22-23.
- Remember that when the believer is baptized or immersed in the Holy Spirit, he is filled with the Holy Spirit.
- The power of the Holy Spirit gives him power to live a changed life pleasing to God.
- The power of the Holy Spirit gives him power to serve God.
- What is the evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
- [5] The Baptism of Fire
- Fire in the Bible is considered a cleansing agent and speaks of judgment.
- There are two aspects of the Baptism of Fire:
- -1- Notice that Luke tells us that with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives us the Baptism of Fire. What is this?
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With the Baptism in the Holy Spirit the indwelling Spirit convicts the believer of sin so as to maintain a clean, holy life.
This is how the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23.
In this New Testament age, the believer in Jesus Christ is to continually judge his life as to the presence of sin revealed by the Holy Spirit.
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- -2- The final fulfillment of the baptism of fire will be at the second coming of Christ when Christ comes to judge this world.
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“Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” (17)
This passage gives us the ultimate meaning of the baptism of fire as the final judgment when all mankind will be divided into two groups, the wheat or the chaff.
The wheat are the believers who possess the indwelling Holy Spirit received when they invited Jesus to come into their hearts and lives and chose to live for Him.
The chaff is the non-believer that has no relationship with God through Jesus Christ and therefore enters into eternity immersed in fire after the Great White Throne Judgment.
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- Summary:
- If there are 5 experiences of baptism in the New Testament, why does Eph 4:5 tell us there is only one baptism?
- There is one Lord and one faith in Jesus Christ and one baptism that has 5 different aspects.
- All five of the aspects of baptism are devised by the Holy Trinity for the benefit of changing sinners into saints and saints into servants of Jesus Christ conformed to His image.
- Summary:
- Read Luk 3:19-22 The Plot Against John the Baptist. The Baptism of Jesus
- The sins of Herod Antipas and his family:
- John the Baptist did not mince words in his preaching.
- He called people to repent of sin. It did not matter if you were a priest or a Pharisee, a commoner or a king. All were to repent of sin.
- This message was not pleasing to the religious leaders of that day.
- This message was especially unwelcome by King Herod Antipas and Herodias when John the Baptist rebuked them for their sin in Mar 6:14-29.
- Herodias had married her uncle, Philip who was the Tetrarch of Ituraea.
- Herodias left Philip to live in adultery with her other uncle, King Herod Antipas.
- Their daughter Salome (not named in the Bible, but history gives us her name) married her great uncle Philip.
- Herod Antipas planned to arrest John the Baptist for his bold preaching.
- Meanwhile Jesus comes to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist.
- Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
- Jesus did not need baptism or the repentance from sin because He was without sin.
- Jesus was baptized to identify himself with sinners.
- Jesus was baptized to model baptism for us.
- God used this event to speak to those witnessing this event that Jesus Christ was His beloved Son of whom God was well pleased.
- In the baptism of Jesus we see the reality of the Holy Trinity.
- God speaks audibly.
- Jesus is God’s Son.
- The dove is a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit.
- Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
- The sins of Herod Antipas and his family:
Homework
Luke 3:23-38
- Application of Luk 3:15-22
- Which of the Biblical baptisms have you experienced in your life?
- If you are seeking a closer relationship with God, consider taking a step of faith through obedience to water baptism or the Hoy Spirit baptism if you have not experienced those baptisms.
- Preparation of Luk 3:23-38
- Read Luk 3:23-38 The genealogy of Mary.
- Read Mat 1:1-16 The genealogy of Joseph.
- Who was Joseph’s father in the Matthew genealogy?
- Who was Joseph’s father in Luke’s genealogy?
- Why is verse 31 important in Luke 3?
- Memory Verse: Psa 80:17
