Ep. 16 - Baptism
Episode Description
Do you need to be water baptized to be saved? As a believer, should you be water baptized? What even is water baptism — and why does Matthew 3 mention three baptisms while Ephesians 4 declares there is only one? Few doctrines in Christianity have generated more controversy, more confusion, and more division than baptism. And yet the confusion may trace back to one assumption: that baptism always means water.
In this episode, Pastor Josh examines the doctrine of baptism from the ground up. He traces water baptism to its origins as a carnal ordinance under the law — an outward washing that pointed to an inward spiritual reality it could never itself produce. He shows from Hebrews 9 that those carnal ordinances had a timeline and an ending point. He walks through the many baptisms of Scripture — the dry baptism unto Moses, John’s water baptism, Christ’s baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire — and asks: which one is the one baptism of Ephesians 4? The answer is found in Romans 6 and Colossians 2: the operation of God by the Spirit, without hands, identifying the believer in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ the moment they believe the gospel. No water. No ceremony. No event on a Sunday. The Spirit of God does it — completely, permanently, and without any human hand.
Key Scriptures
Hebrews 9:8–10 — Carnal Ordinances Imposed Until the Time of Reformation
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Hebrews 9:13–14 — The Blood of Christ Purges the Conscience
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 6:1–2 — The Doctrine of Baptisms
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Matthew 3:11 — Three Baptisms, Two Baptizers, One Verse
I 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.
1 Corinthians 10:2 — Baptized unto Moses
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
1 Corinthians 1:17 — Christ Sent Me Not to Baptize, but to Preach the Gospel
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.
Ephesians 4:4–5 — One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Romans 6:1–4 — Baptized into His Death
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.
Colossians 2:11–12 — The Operation of God Without Hands
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 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.
1 Corinthians 12:13 — By One Spirit Baptized into One Body
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.
Episode Outline
Why Do You Automatically Think Water? — The unexamined assumption behind most baptism teaching
What Water Baptism Was — A carnal ordinance, an outward washing pointing to an inward spiritual reality
The Old Testament Background — Diverse washings, purifications, and the first sanctuary (Hebrews 9)
A Timeline and an Ending Point — Carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation
The Shift in Acts 10 — The Spirit falling before water baptism; the order begins to change
Paul Sent Not to Baptize — Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17)
The Doctrine of Baptisms — Scripture acknowledges more than one (Hebrews 6:1–2)
Three Baptisms in One Verse — Matthew 3:11 and the two baptizers
The Baptism unto Moses — 1 Corinthians 10 and the dry passage through the Red Sea
The One Baptism of Ephesians 4 — Which one of the many is it?
Romans 6 — Baptized into Christ’s Death, Burial, and Resurrection
The Operation of God Without Hands — Colossians 2 and what no pastor or priest can do
One Spirit, One Body — 1 Corinthians 12:13 and the baptism of baptisms
What the Believer Needs to Know — Not water, not an event, but the Spirit’s work at the moment of faith
Questions Discussed
Why do you automatically think water when you hear the word baptism?
Do you need to be water baptized to be saved?
As a believer, should you be water baptized?
What is water baptism — and where does it come from?
Why does Matthew 3 mention three baptisms while Ephesians 4 declares there is only one?
When did carnal ordinances reach their ending point — and has the church recognized that?
If the Spirit of God has already identified you in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, what does water add?
Which baptism is the one baptism of Ephesians 4?
What did the Spirit of God do for you the moment you believed the gospel?
