There have been several baptisms in past ages. There was Moses' baptism "in the cloud and in the sea," John's baptism, Jesus' baptism of suffering, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. At the end of time the ignorant and disobedient shall be baptized with fire. But there is only one baptism authorized by the Lord at the present time (Ephesians 4:4-6). What are the characteristics which identify this one New Testament baptism?

One Authority: Jesus Christ

Who authorized this one baptism? Jesus Christ, who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, commanded baptism (Mark 16:16), and His chosen apostles, who were sent forth with the authority of Jesus behind them, repeated the command (Acts 2:38). How could any one, therefore, claim that the one baptism, baptism by the authority of Jesus Christ, is non-essential?

Furthermore, since no other baptism has the authority of the Lord Jesus behind it, all baptisms other than the one New Testament baptism are spiritually worthless. Paul encountered twelve men at Ephesus who had received John's baptism. This baptism had several advantages: at one time it was commanded by God, it was in water, it was by immersion, and it was for the remission of sins. But John's baptism had noticeable disadvantages: it followed a confession of sins rather than of faith in Jesus and looked for a Christ yet to be offered. Thus the apostle baptized them "in the name of Jesus." (Acts 19:1-5) No denominational baptism is approved by God, for none is by the authority of Jesus Christ.

One Element: Water

What is the element of New Testament baptism? In other words, in what should one be baptized? When the Ethiopian eunuch desired to be baptized, he first asked Philip, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36) Then they "went down into the water," where Philip baptized the eunuch. Afterward "they came up out of the water." (Acts 8:38-39) After Cornelius' household had already received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48), the apostle Peter asked, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized.... ?" (verse 47). Since this water baptism was "in the name of the Lord" (verse 48), it was New Testament baptism.

Despite these plain verses showing the one baptism to be water baptism, many religious people think the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers today. Is the baptism with the Holy Spirit New Testament baptism? Holy Spirit baptism was a promise to be received (Acts 1:4-5); New Testament baptism is a command to be obeyed (Acts 2:38). Baptism with the Holy Spirit was given directly by the Lord (Matthew 3:11); the one baptism is to be administered by men (Matthew 28:19). Holy Spirit baptism is not the one New Testament baptism.

One Action: a Burial

People often talk about the "modes" of baptism. By this they mean different ways to be baptized. The modes of baptism are usually listed as sprinkling, pouring, and immersion. Do these so-called modes of baptism harmonize with New Testament teaching on the action of baptism? What does the will of Christ require for the action of baptism? The New Testament teaches that in baptism there is "water." (Acts 10:47) In fact there is "much water." (John 3:23) It teaches that before one is baptized he must go "to" the water and then "into the water." (Acts 8:36, 38) The doctrine of Christ requires that the one being baptized be "buried." (Romans 6:3-4)

Are sprinkling and pouring a burial? Once there was a little boy, let's call him Johnny, whose daddy was a Methodist and whose mother was simply a Christian. The preacher where Johnny's daddy took Johnny every other Sunday said sprinkling and pouring were baptism. The preacher where Johnny's mother went read to the audience from the Bible that baptism is a burial. Johnny had a pet cat which died, and his daddy told Johnny to bury the cat. Johnny, reasoning that sprinkling was baptism, and baptism is a burial, sprinkled a few clods of dirt over the cat and called him buried. Was the cat buried? Are sprinkling and pouring baptism? Incidentally, after a couple of warm, sunny days all Johnny’s neighbors knew the cat had not been buried.

The Gospel further states that baptism includes being raised from the water (Colossians 2:12) and a coming "up out of the water." (Acts 8:39) Can one honestly say that either sprinkling or pouring meet all these requirements? Have you been baptized or did you receive some humanly devised substitute for the divinely required action?

One Subject: a Penitent Believer

Several denominations have the practice of sprinkling water on infants and calling it baptism. We have already demonstrated that sprinkling is not baptism. Now we will see if infants are proper subjects of New Testament baptism. Who should be baptized? Jesus revealed that all believers are to be baptized. (Mark 16:16) In the book of Acts we find the fulfillment of Jesus' commission. Peter put both the reception of the word and repentance before baptism in the first sermon preached under the Great Commission. (Acts 2:38,41) The evangelist Philip baptized the Samaritans after they had believed. (Acts 8:12-13) The Philippian jailor and his entire family believed before they were baptized. (Acts 16:29-34) The inspired writer records, "many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized." (Acts 18:8) There is no authority for infant baptism in the New Testament. Thus, the proper subjects of New Testament baptism are people who have believed Jesus Christ is the Son of God, have repented of their sins, and have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ.

One Purpose: the Remission of Sins

Many denominations say that baptism is unnecessary; one can be saved without it. What does the New Testament teach?

In Mark 16:16 Jesus promised, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." The Lord divided people into two categories, the saved and the lost. Those who do not believe will be lost. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. Christ made baptism as much a condition of salvation as He did belief. There are only two categories of people as regards salvation, not three. Those who believe and are baptized are saved. Those who do not believe are lost. Jesus knew nothing of unbaptized, saved people. To be saved, one must have enough faith in Jesus Christ to obey Him in baptism. Where did Jesus place baptism, before or after salvation? Our Catholic friends would have baptism without faith saving infants, who are not in need of salvation anyway. Our Protestant friends claim that faith without baptism will save. But the Lord’s plan includes both faith and baptism as conditions of salvation.

The inspired apostle Peter commanded, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." (Acts 2:38) Our Protestant neighbors tell us that Peter meant that baptism is "because of" the remission of sins. If this is so, repentance comes after the remission of sins also. The conjunction "and" joins "Repent" and "be baptized" just like a coupling pin joins two box cars of a train. Just like those box cars, as long as the coupling pin "and" is there, "Repent" and "be baptized" must be going in the same direction. Furthermore, the word "for" in Acts 2:38 is the same word Jesus used in Matthew 26:28, when he revealed, "...this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Did Jesus shed His blood in order to the remission of sins? Then you need to be baptized in order to the remission of sins.

Acts 22:16 recounts Ananias' command to Saul of Tarsus, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." According to the inspired record, the order is "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Denominational preachers exhort people, "Call on the name of the Lord, your sins will be washed away, when we have a baptizing you can be baptized if you desire, then you can arise." They have the order exactly "cart before the horse," backward.

According to Romans 6:3-4, Baptism brings the sinner into Christ, where he receives "every spiritual blessing" (Ephesians 1:3), including salvation (2 Timothy 2:10). It also brings the sinner into the death of Christ, where he receives the benefits of His blood, justification from sin (Romans 5:9-10). By going through a likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we demonstrate our faith that we are saved by His sacrifice for us. Thus we receive the benefits of His death in our behalf. Baptism stands between the sinner and being in Christ (verse 3), being in the death of Christ (verse 4), the new life in Christ (verse 5), being united with Christ (verse 5), being united with the Lord's crucifixion (verse 6), and freedom from sin (verse 7).

Why Delay?

Dear friend, there is only one baptism today by Jesus' authority (Ephesians 4:5). That baptism has five great characteristics whereby you can tell it apart from all others. It has one authority - Jesus Christ, one element - water, one action - a burial, one subject - a penitent believer, and one purpose - the remission of sins. "Those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.... shall be punished with everlasting destruction." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) Surely you will not allow refusal to obey this simple command to keep you out of heaven. If you have not received the one baptism, this act of faithful obedience stands between you and all the wondrous blessings in Christ. "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16).