The nature and Meaning of Baptism

Note that this scripture talks of “baptisms” – there is more than one baptism. Ephesians 4:5, however, speaks of one baptism, and this is water baptism, which is a symbolic enactment of a spiritual reality. Although outward, it is an important spiritual act of obedience and expresses seven different aspects of truth. The Biblical word for baptism means to be submerged or “be put into something so as to be one with it”. It also has the meaning of cleansing and sanctification.

Water baptism is a far cry from how most churches conduct it today with their historical tradition that reduces baptism to a worthless, unbiblical ritual. Water baptism is done in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and identifies the new believer with other believers. It is a public proclamation of our faith and obedience in Christ. (Matthew 28:19).

To be true to the meaning of the word and the original manner in which it was done by the disciples and the early believers, it should be by full immersion and is only for those mature enough to have repented and personally placed their faith in Christ. Peter commanded sinners to “repent and be baptised”. (Acts 2:37-38, 8:38).

Baptism by immersion is a command of Christ and necessary for all believers. It is an act of obedience and opens the way for several amazing spiritual realities to be fulfilled in us. Jesus himself humbled himself in baptism and is an example of obedience to God’s Word instead of the traditions of men. When water baptism is obeyed, it brings release from spiritual bondage and facilitates rapid spiritual growth.

The Baptism of Jesus

As already said, baptism means “to be put into something so as to become fully identified and one with it”. It is to be joined in oneness, an-in-grafting.

Christ was himself baptised but his outward act had a different application for him than for believers. The baptism that Jesus experienced with John the Baptist was different in meaning from the baptism that is done by believers. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance from sin. He called people to repent and confess their sins and to symbolically wash in baptism.

Sinners flocked to the River Jordan and went into the water spiritually unclean and came out symbolically clean. (John 1:15-34). Jesus, however, was sinless, had no sin and needed no washing or repentance. John knew this and was reluctant to baptise him. Nevertheless, Jesus told John to baptise him because it “fulfilled all righteousness”.

What did he mean? When Jesus was baptised, he went into the river clean and came out carrying the sins of the world. He never became sin but became the sin-bearer. John immediately declared him to be the “Lamb of God who takes away (bears away) the sins of the world”. (John 1:29).

What Jesus did spiritually was to pick up the sins that sinners had washed off in the river. Jesus identified with sinners so as to do an exchange: his righteousness for our sins. He was baptised for us and became a partaker in our cares and sorrows. (1 Peter 2:22-24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53).

He was immersed into humanity and made one with us so as to take our sin upon himself and suffer our judgment in our place on the cross as the Lamb of God. He bore the sins of the whole world and took all our judgment so that we could take his righteousness.

When we get baptised, it is opposite to what Jesus did; he identified with us and our sins, and we identify with him and his righteousness. He was baptised into our condemnation and death; we are baptised into his righteousness and resurrection. We thereby receive a new spirit, the Spirit of Christ. (Romans 8:9-11, Galatians 4:6-7).

This does not all happen at baptism but at conversion, when the spiritual transaction takes place between Christ and the believer, and the result is being born again and receiving eternal life. Christ comes into us by his Spirit and lives in us. Water baptism outwardly expresses this truth and several other Spiritual truths.

There are seven spiritual baptisms.

Join me as we continue on our journey through “A Life of Faith.”

Blog series Five – Principles for Life in Christ:

Episode 4: The Seven Spiritual Baptisms

Episode 5: Baptism into the Father and His Love

Episode 6: Laying on of Hands

Episode 7: Resurrection of the Dead

Episode 8: Judgement, Eternal Judgement

Episode 9: Growing Up in Christ