Galatians 3:27  “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Hebrews 6:1-2  talks about the doctrine or teachings of baptisms.
The doctrine of baptisms?  Three and more?  What is that all about?  The Bible says there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”  (Eph. 4:5).  Let’s check this out and get understanding on this.
First off what does baptism mean?  It comes from a Greek word “baptizo”, which means to immerse.
#1) BAPTISM INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST: 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
When you receive Jesus as Savior the Spirit of God baptizes or immerses you and brings you totally into the body of Christ.  It is the Holy Spirit doing the baptism (at your born again experience).
 #2) WATER BAPTISM: Matthew 3:16 “And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the waters; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him.”
John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and He set an example for us to follow.  Jesus gave us instructions on water baptism in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”   Also Peter said in Acts 2:38 “Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
When people received Jesus water baptism was  an immediate thing for them to do.  It did not save them but it was an act of obedience, a public confession before hell, heaven and those on earth of a persons decision to follow Christ in baptism.  When you go under the water you are saying the old person is dead and I am rising again to walk in newness of life. See Romans 6:1-4.
When Jesus Christ came out of the water a voice from heaven said “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17).  Anytime you do what the Father says to do He is well pleased and He will say the same thing about you at your water baptism.
One thing you should understand is this – No one ever got baptized before they believed.  It never happened.  Philip in Acts 8:35 “preached Jesus to him”, an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Ethiopian queen.  His response is verse 36, “And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water!  What prevents me from being baptized?”  (37) And Philip said, “If  you believe with all your heart, you may.”  And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  (38) And he ordered the chariot to stop’;and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him.”  Two things we see here – (1) He could not be baptized until after he believed. (2) They went down into the water – he was immersed not sprinkled.
What about infant baptism?  There is no Biblical record or instruction for such an event.  Yes, the Phillipian jailers whole household was baptized (see Acts 16:30-34). Verse 34 says his whole household believed.  That is why everyone was baptized.  They were old enough to believe.
Also it was an immediate response from the people to be water baptized.  I have seen people put water baptism off and not follow through with it and those same people seem to fall into temptation and sin more easily and not be strong in the Lord as they should be.  It is important.    Ananias in the Bible asked Paul a question in Acts 22:16 “And now why do you delay?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”  That is a question for some of you – “Why do you delay?”
Remember, you are not baptized into a particular denomination.  You baptized into Christ Himself.  Nobody else can do it for you.  You must make the decision yourself.  You can not except a baptism someone else caused you to go through.  The decision is yours alone.
#3) The Baptism in the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.  In Mat. 3:16 when Jesus came up out of the water of baptism, His water baptism was over but then the Holy Spirit came “upon” Him.  You will see the word “upon” often times in the Old and New Testament.  The Holy Spirit comes upon you for power.  Jesus Himself never went into His public miracle working powerful ministry until after the Holy Spirit came upon Him.  If He needed that power we do.  The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost which is the same came upon David and he killed the giant, Goliath, and upon Gideon and with 300 men defeated 135,000 men,and upon Samson and with the jawbone of an ass he killed 1,000 Philistines.
Peter denied Jesus but after he was filled with the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) he became bold in his witness and power in Jesus’ name.  Peter was told not to speak to anymore about Jesus.  Under threat of beatings and a jail sentence Peter stood up to the men and said, “we must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:25)  Something had happened to Peter.  He was now bold in the Lord.  You can be too.
John said in Mat. 3:11 that Jesus would “baptize in the Holy Ghost and fire.”  Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit.
The accounts in the Book of Acts show that the people all spoke in tongues when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.  You will too.  You will pray in an unknown tongue.  You will be speaking mysteries from your spirit to God’s Spirit and speaking in tongues is a worship to God and it will edify (build you up) so you then can go out to build others up.  You will have more boldness to witness, to pray and to come against the attacks of the devil against your life.  Acts 1:8 “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”
You can be water baptized, then baptized in the Holy Spirit as in Acts 8:12-17 or you can be baptized in the Holy Spirit then water baptized as in Acts 10:44-48. You can ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit as it says in Luke 11 or you can have a Spirit-filled  believer lay hands and pray for you to be baptized in the Holy Ghost or you can be listening to the Word of God and He will fall on you and fill you.
You need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Jesus needed the experience, Peter and Paul did, You and I do, also.
#4 & #5) Notice in Mat. 3 the Bible mentions a baptism of repentance (change) and a baptism of fire (that will burn out the sin and fire you up to serve God).
First Importance; Receive Jesus for Eternal Life. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  Pray this.  “I am a sinner, I need a Savior. Forgive me.  I do believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and He is the Savior of the world.  I receive You now: come into my life as my Savior and Lord of my life.  Thank you for saving me and giving me a home in Heaven.  I am now a child of God.  Baptize me in the Holy Spirit and give me the power I need to serve you.  In Jesus’ name I pray.”  Now get water baptized, read your Bible and pray everyday and meet with other believers regularly.
We Proclaim The Gospel. – John 8:2 “and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set (make) you free.”  We continue to proclaim truth to a lost and dying world that Jesus is the only One to set them free from sin and hell and any bondage that they are in.  We go as our partners help send us out with finances, prayers and helps.  You can be a partner with us and keep us on the road “preaching Jesus.”

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