Baptism, Water or Spirit?

Baptism of the Spirit is a topic of confusion because there are those who will say that (almost?) every mention of baptism in the New Testament is Spirit baptism, not water baptism. In a Bible passage discussing baptism, it often does not specify whether it is Spirit or water baptism that is being considered. When we read such a passage, how are we to know which is the issue?

Joel 2:28 states, “It shall come to pass that afterward I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” On the day of Pentecost, when the sound of a rushing mighty wind was heard, and tongues like as of fire sat on the apostles’ heads, and the apostles spoke in all the languages of the assembled multitude, Peter said in Acts 2:16, “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,” and he quotes Joel 2:28ff so there can be no doubt. In Joel, God said He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, and Peter said this is that. It is now happening. God poured out His Spirit on the Jewish apostles.

In Acts 10:44-47, Peter is preaching to the assembled house of Cornelius, all Gentiles. While he is speaking, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles and they could speak in languages as a result. Peter points out that this is Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, “as well as we.” Now the prophecy of Joel is complete. God’s spirit has been poured out on “all” flesh. (To the Jews that Joel was addressing (as well as all other Jews) there were two divisions of human flesh. There were Jews, and there were Gentiles.)

This was Holy Spirit baptism. It was prophesied by Joel to be poured on all flesh. That happened, beginning in Acts 2, and being completed in Acts 10. Note that in both cases, those who were baptized were passive recipients, not active participants. God, as He said He would, poured out His Spirit. The people that received it did nothing. They were not commanded to do anything. They were not exhorted to do anything, nor was any instruction nor information concerning the ‘outpouring’ given to them.

Furthermore, in neither case did any person administer the baptism of the Spirit. In both cases those associated with the outpouring of the Spirit were as unaware of what was about to happen, and what did happen as anyone else who observed it. Man cannot administer the baptism of the Spirit. It is God given. John the Baptist said Jesus Christ would baptize with the Spirit, Matthew 3:11.

Thus, no one is ever commanded or exhorted to be baptized in/of the Spirit. What could they do? Nothing. A command or exhortation to be baptized of the Spirit serves no purpose. No instruction is given to any of God’s followers to baptize anyone else in/of the Spirit. What could we do? Nothing. Such an instruction would serve no purpose other than to frustrate those trying to follow God.

There is also no connection made between baptism of the Spirit and salvation or remission of sins. It is not mentioned in Acts 2. In Acts 10, the Gentiles of Cornelius’ household were not children of God. They were outsiders in regard to the kingdom. It was in this condition that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. It was following that event that Peter commanded them to be baptized. This command would necessarily be for water baptism.

Water baptism is different. One can physically be baptized, and a person can physically baptize someone else. Therefore, It is totally sensible to instruct and exhort others to be baptized in water because that is a thing that can be physically accomplished. It is sensible for God to instruct His children to baptize others in water, because it can happen. It can be done.

In Acts 2:38, when Peter says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins’”this verse speaks of water baptism because people can themselves baptize and be baptized in water. The people who gladly heard Peter’s word were baptized in water, verse 41, because it is clear they made a choice and they physically did the process. It is therefore clear that baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ”, and baptism “for the remission of sins” refers to water baptism.

We know that the Samaritans in Acts 8 were baptized in water “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” (vs 16) because they received the Holy Spirit only through the laying on of the apostles hands (vs 17-18) after their water baptism. Something about the preaching of Jesus made the Ethiopian treasurer want to be baptized in water (Acts 8:36-39.) Saul was baptized in water in Acts 9. As (P)aul relates the story in Acts 22:16, he was told to be baptized, meaning there was physical action he could take, and it would wash away (remission) his sins, and it was in the name of the Lord.

When Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost . . .” He was talking of water baptism. He told them to baptize. The apostles could not baptize with the Holy Spirit. Only God can do that. So this has to be a baptism that the apostles can actually do, in other words, water baptism. It was to be done in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Mark 16:15-16 is the same commission reported in a different fashion. Mark emphasizes that the people were to be baptized. It was something they could do. This requires a water baptism. Matthew emphasizes that the apostles were to administer it.

In Romans 6 Paul is obviously discussing water baptism, not Spirit baptism. Especially in 6:3-6, and 6:17-18, he describes things that are only possible with water baptism. He points out that baptism is a form, or likeness of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In water baptism we physically engage in a symbolic likeness of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. In Spirit baptism we do nothing. In verse 17, Paul says, "you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine." In other words, the baptized person physically did an act of obedience that followed a form. He makes the same argument in Colossians 2. That perfectly describes water baptism. He connects that physical obedience to remission of sins in verse 18 when he says, "being then made free from sin."

In water baptism one physically and symbolically connects with the death. burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-4, 17-18, Col. 2:10-13.) In Spirit baptism one does nothing but passively receive. Water baptism is connected to the forgiveness/remission of sins. Spirit baptism has no such connection anywhere in the Bible. If being done in the name of the Father, the Son, and/or the Holy Spirit is included in a passage about baptism, it is water baptism that is being discussed.

Water baptism is something that we are commanded to do, and something which we physically can accomplish. Spirit baptism is something that we cannot do, and consequently are not commanded to do.

Water baptism is our responsibility, that is why it is so important that we understand it as God's word teaches it. Spirit baptism is something that is 100%, totally in the realm and purview of God, thus something regarding which we have absolutely no ability to accomplish.

To whatever extent Spirit baptism is intended to be part of our lives, God will take care of that. The question is, have you taken care to obey God's commands regarding water baptism.