By Art Sims
Every Christian needs to know that he has been baptized by the Spirit of God. Many people do not understand this wonderful truth, yet, it is something that is plainly taught in the Bible. Notice how clear the Bible makes it.
“For by One Spirit are we all baptized into the One Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into One Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Baptism is usually thought of as having to do with water. BUT this baptism has nothing to do with water at all!
Dry Baptism! Baptism by the Spirit of God! Let us believe and appreciate what the Bible teaches about this wonderful baptism.
SPIRITUAL BAPTISM
This baptism is not something that is seen by human eyes. It is a Spiritual baptism. “For by One Spirit are we all baptized into One Body” (1 Cor. 12:13).
We know that the Holy Spirit is not a material substance; therefore, it is not necessary for us to see or feel anything to prove that His work is real. Have you ever had an x-ray? If so, you probably remember that you felt nothing when the rays passed through your body; but it was a fact just the same. It really happened. It should not be difficult, then, to understand that the work of the Holy Spirit does not depend on our physical senses. We know that we are baptized by the Spirit because the Bible plainly tells us that we are.
EVERY BELIEVER HAS IT!
Notice the word “all.” By One Spirit, are we “ALL” baptized into One Body. Some believers, of course, have not been baptized in water; but ALL believers are baptized by the Spirit.
It is important to realize that this baptism occurs immediately when anyone is saved. This has to be, since “ALL” believers have been baptized by the Spirit. There simply is no such thing as a believer who does not have it. Consider how clearly Galatians 3:26-28 connects this baptism with salvation.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).
Nothing is said in this passage about being “baptized in water.” No, it says we have been “baptized into Christ.” Surely, this makes it clear that this wonderful work by the Spirit of God takes place immediately when anyone is saved. This baptism puts the believer “into Christ.”
We should also take note of the Spiritual unit that results from this. There is neither Jew, Greek, bond, free, male, female—all are one in Christ. This Spiritual unit is the Body of Christ we read about in 1 Corinthians 12:13.
INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST
“For by One Spirit are we all baptized INTO ONE BODY.”
In the Book of Ephesians, Christ’s Church today is called, “the Church which is His Body” (Eph. 1:22-23). There are many blessings that belong to us as members of this Church. We are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3). As members of Christ’s Body we are expected to band together in local assemblies under the public teaching of God’s Word (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:15). But, of course, the Body of Christ is not limited to any local assembly. It includes ALL believers throughout the world.
But what we are seeing here is that the way in which we become members of Christ’s Body is by the baptizing work of God the Holy Spirit. We are joined to Christ by this baptism and placed into union with one another in His Body. What a glorious baptism it is!
Do NOT Confuse this Baptism with Other Baptisms in the Bible!
There are other kinds of baptisms in the Bible besides our baptism into Christ, and we must be careful in our study of the Word of God that we do not confuse them. Some of these other baptisms are:
- Water baptism: John 3:23
- Baptism with Spiritual power: Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5, 8
- Fire Baptism: Matthew 3:11
- The baptism of Christ’s suffering on the Cross: Luke 12:50
Certainly, we should not make the mistake of thinking water baptism is meant every time we find the word “baptism” in the Bible. Examine, for example, the following Scripture and consider the kind of baptism that is meant.
“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).
Is anything said in this Scripture about water? Does it say we are “buried LIKE” Christ or that we are “buried WITH” Him? Surely, it would be a great mistake to confuse this glorious baptism with a water ceremony. We are told here about a Spiritual circumcision “made without hands” (vs. 11), a baptism that is “the operation of God” (vs. 12). This cannot be water baptism. It is the baptism by God the Holy Spirit that joins us together in Christ.
Let us learn then, from this example, and from this study, that we should take care in reading and studying the Scriptures to distinguish the different kinds of baptism in the Bible. And Let us be particularly sure, as we read and study about baptism in the Bible, that we appreciate the glorious baptism by the Spirit of God which joins us together in Christ.