The Four Baptisms
Heb. 6:2 speaks of the doctrine of baptisms and very well in the plural. We find four baptisms in the Bible that relates to the believer:
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Baptism into the Body of Christ |
Baptism into Water |
Baptism in the Holy Spirit |
Baptism in Suffering
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Baptiser |
Holy Spirit |
A believer |
Jesus |
The World |
|
Candidate |
Repentant Sinner |
New Believer |
A Believer |
A Believer |
|
Element |
Body of Christ |
Water |
Holy Spirit |
Suffering |
|
Scriptural Example |
Romans 6:3 |
Matt. 28:19 |
Acts 1:5 |
Mark10:38,30 |
It is the Greek word “baptizo” which in English changes to “baptise.” The word baptizo comes from the verb “bapto” and means to dip or immerse and is currently translated in Luke 16:24, John 13:26 and Rev. 19: 13 as such.
To add “izo” to the verb means to “cause to be or to happen,” hence “baptizo” means to cause something to be dipped or immersed.
The word “baptizo” is used in classical Greek when a wave covers a rock on the sea shore. Thus it would be said that the rock was “baptizo” into the wave.
It is obvious that the true meaning of baptise is to immerse and therefor and therefor does not refer to any other action suck as sprinkling. For this reason we take the stand that the Bible way of baptism is by total immersion.