What does the Bible say about Baptism and its Meaning?

In today’s Christianity, there is a great disagreement about baptism in the Bible. However, the Bible actually provides a lot of insight into the meaning of baptism and how it should be carried out. What many people don’t know is that water baptism, baptism of fire, and baptism of the Holy Spirit are not the same thing and don’t necessarily happen at the same time.

The following text will extensively discuss the forms of baptism in the Bible and the circulating false teachings.

The Catholic baptism/ infant baptism is not biblical compared to adult baptism

The Catholic baptism, also known as infant baptism, is not mentioned in the Bible and logically doesn’t make sense, as the purpose of water baptism is to be cleansed from sins. Since babies do not have consciousness during baptism and cannot have committed sins, there is nothing for them to repent from or be cleansed of. However, this works with adult baptism.

 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. (John 9:41)

The Catholic Church, however, believes that if a child is baptized early, they are already saved for their entire life and therefore will not be lost. This may make sense from a human perspective, but biblically speaking, infant baptism in the Catholic Church is completely pointless compared to adult baptism. The following will explain why.

If you want to find out more about this topic, you might want to read this article: Is once saved always saved biblical?

The water baptism of John the Baptist serves to wash people clean from their sins

The first baptism mentioned in the Bible is the water baptism of John the Baptist, who calls on people to wash themselves clean from their sins and repent.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. (Matthew 3:11)

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2)

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6)

In order to be baptized with water, it is necessary to first become aware of one’s sins, to repent of them, and then to want to be washed clean of them. To be baptized without recognizing one’s guilt would be nothing more than going for a swim. One should not expect anything to happen then.

The biblically correct baptismal formula – Baptism in the name of Jesus

In addition, it is necessary to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and Savior in order to be baptized in His name. The apostles also baptized in the name of Jesus.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

What many people do not know is that baptism in the Bible has a profound meaning. Because in baptism with water, one is not only cleansed of sins but also baptized into the death of Jesus, whereby one dies to oneself and is freed from one’s fleshly deeds since one has died with Jesus.

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.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

(Romans 6:1-7)

Therefore, it is also essential to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus and to be baptized in the name of Jesus, who was crucified. In the New Testament, we see a good example of how baptism in the name of someone else, such as John the Baptist, does not achieve the same effect as baptism in the name of Jesus, but only brings forgiveness of past sins.

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 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. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:1-5)

The wrong baptismal formula – Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

The widely used baptismal formula of the Catholic Church, which is “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” appears only once in the entire Bible, while the formula solely in the name of Jesus is found several times (Acts 8:16, 10:48, 19:5, Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27). This is understandable since we are baptized into the death of Jesus and not into the death of the Father or the Holy Spirit, which obviously never occurred. We can be confident, that the disciples didn’t baptize under the wrong name and therefore can assume that Matthew 28:19 must have been a falsification or a mistake.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)

For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:16)

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:48)

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:5)

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

The baptism with the Holy Spirit through Jesus does not necessarily happen during water baptism

What most Christians do not know is that water baptism and baptism with the Holy Spirit are not the same thing. Just because someone is baptized with water for the forgiveness of sins, does not mean that they have necessarily received the Holy Spirit. This assumption is often justified by the fact that the Spirit of God descended on Jesus during his baptism in the Bible and remained with him.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. (Matthew 3:16)

However, it is evident that water baptism does not necessarily bring the Spirit of God with it, as it is reported in the Acts of the Apostles that some people were baptized with water, but the Spirit of God was not poured out on them. It was only when the disciples prayed for them and laid their hands on them that they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17)

Even John the Baptist himself said that he only baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 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. (Matthew 3:11)

In other cases, people were baptized with the Holy Spirit first and only received water baptism afterwards. So, you see that one does not necessarily have to happen with the other or even at all.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:44-48)

What must one do to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

In fact, according to the Bible, there are only two or rather one option to receive the Holy Spirit. The first possibility we find in the Bible is simply to have the apostles lay hands on you. Several examples from the Bible:

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:17)

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)

However, since the apostles are no longer alive today, the only way to receive the Spirit of God is by asking God for it or asking Jesus to ask his Father to send you the Helper. In fact, it is solely in God’s decision-making power whether you receive the Spirit of God or not.

Contrary to what the church teaches, it is not possible to set a specific day for your baptism. According to the motto: “I will be baptized next year in June to receive the Spirit of God.” There are many people who come out of the water and believe they now have the Spirit of God, which is often simply not the case.

That is also the reason why Jesus said that only those who are drawn by his Father (God) can come to him and that the wind blows where it pleases.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)

Among other things, you can recognize the baptism in the Holy Spirit by having a new attitude and no longer sinning, but instead desiring and being able to keep God’s commandments. Because the Spirit testifies that God writes His commandments on our hearts.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:3-4)

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:15-17)

If you want to learn more about why people who receive the Holy Spirit no longer sin, read this article: According to the Bible it is possible to stop sinning

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. (Revelation 9:2-4)

For the baptism by fire is nothing other than what Jesus speaks of when he says that all who do not bear fruit will be thrown into the fire. The fruits that are meant here are those mentioned in the above section.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 3:8-10)

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: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11-12)

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15)

Summary – What does the Bible say about baptism?

In summary, the act of water baptism represents the forgiveness of sins and being baptized into Jesus’ death. However, this does not necessarily mean that one has also received baptism in the Holy Spirit, which happens solely by the will of God, and can only be received through asking God to give the Spirit after believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Those who are not sealed by the Spirit for the last day and have been baptized with water and the Spirit will receive the baptism of fire, which is the burning judgment that Jesus mentioned in the New Testament.

 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: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11-12)

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. (Colossians 2:11-12)