Acts 5-10 Shows Us The Power Of Baptism- But What Are The Types of Baptism We Can Experience?
We have seen how Preparations Change Everything. And, how Jesus prepared us for this day and decade! Baptisms Change Everything. What is baptism? What are the types of baptism? Why baptize? What happens when a person is baptized?
Note: This is adapted from the Bible study called “A 2020 Vision of Acts: Empowerment to Speak Things Seen and Heard By His Spirit”.
How Does Acts Show Us The Power of Baptism?
Acts is a book of baptisms. Luke scripts the actions of the disciples speaking about Jesus and baptizing people from all walks of life in His Name. The disciples needed the power for the mission they would forge for the kingdom of God.
Jesus practiced baptisms as an example for us. Baptisms were common in Israel – Mitzvah (immersion or baptismal) pools exist in every ancient ruin. Baptism isn’t a common community practice today in Israel. Baptism in water is a common practice in the Church. So, let’s clarify some misconceptions about baptisms.
Want to learn more about the Book of Acts? Start here!
No matter what types of baptism occur, baptism changes a person all the way through. It is a conversion experience to transform.
The word baptism comes from Baptizo (the process of dying cloth) Sprayed, sprinkled, dipped, or immersed, the cloth takes on the identity of the dye. Tidied: You can take a plain white t-shirt and create a beautiful design with dye.
My Mom worked for Duck Head Corporation as Quality Control Manager. She worked with the dye casting and learned dying processes. Once dyed, a garment could never return to its former state.
When the Holy Spirit baptizes, it is a complete and full work. The Holy Spirit works to unite a person’s spirit with the Spirit of Christ. It is a permanent work. And, the Lord is present at all baptisms.
Waiting on A Promise From God? Learn more of what to do when waiting on God’s promises.
Three Types of Baptism for the Believer in the New Testament
1. Baptism of Salvation into Christ Generates New Identity in Christ (who are you now?)
Power to live the Christ-life. The Holy Spirit is within me is for me: The Father plants the seed of Jesus inside me to help me live the Christ-life.
Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. (1 Peter 1:23, ESV)
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. . . made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13).
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Want to learn more of the power of the Holy Spirit? Discover the power the Holy Spirit can bring you here!
2. Baptism in Water Generates New Lifestyle (how will you live?)
Power for self-control. This is a public announcement that I am hidden in Christ and symbolic of death, burial and resurrection into Christ.
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11-13) to walk in newness of life.
3. Baptism with the Holy Spirit Generates New Strength/EN’ERGY/Power (where will you minister or serve others?).
The Holy Spirit surges me with strength, EN’ERGY, and power from the life of Jesus to minister the gospel. The Holy Spirit clothes me with power to come upon me for you.
Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the third Person of the Trinity. Biblical symbols for the Holy Spirit, to name a few, are water, fire, wind, and breath. The Greek word for Spirit is pneuma meaning, breath of God and pnoe meaning, the wind of God. Ezekiel 37:7, 9, 14 mention the Holy Spirit as breath. In Acts 2, He is a mighty rushing wind, giving new breath for speaking the gospel with power.
Acts 2:37-39: Repent (change your direction; change your thinking) and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 1:29-30: Jesus…He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit…is the Son of God.
John 7:37-39: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
The Pool of Saloam
We visited the Pool of Saloam where this incident occurred (see picture below): On the Great Day (the last Feast Day) priests gathered water from the Saloam Pool in cisterns to wash the alters. When water mixed with the blood on the altar, they believed water converted to living water (water required for baptism). Living water generates spiritual life!
Why baptize?
The Lord’s power generates spiritual life for a Believer in each Believer’s baptism. He gives spiritual gifts to energize a Believer within to build up the inner person. He strengthens the baptized to serve others and help others grow deeper in Jesus. Jesus made the way for anyone to receive Believer’s baptisms.
The disciples received baptisms (power) to share Jesus and baptize people around the world.
Acts 1:8: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in:
- Jerusalem and all Judea – family and friends.
- Samaria – acquaintances and enemies.
- To the end of the earth – strangers and ungodly.
The Holy Spirit equipped the disciples and He will equip us for the mission He has planned for us. He doesn’t show partiality and refuses to show distinctions in age, race, gender, financial status, or education. He calls whom He will and He equips those He calls. Ministry takes His power!
Baptism Is a Transference of Power
The Holy Spirit is real. His life and power are transferred to Believers. Power is a real thing and comes from a real Holy Spirit. There are many spirits, but only one Holy Spirit. We must be careful at how we honor the Holy Spirit. He is God in the Spirit.
Nickola Tesla, the father of renewable energy, is revered as the most famous inventor of the 20th century. His technology revolutionized the world and continues to shape our world as we know it today. His vision was to find the secrets of the universe: free wireless energy for all. George Westinghouse partnered with Nikola Tesla. Both rivaled with Thomas Edison over the future of electric power for the nation. (The Current War Movie).
Tesla lived from 1856-1953 and claimed, “Energy is in abundance everywhere on the planet.” He considered energy the same as the air we breathe. As a child, Tesla envisioned, by his fascination from reading about Niagara Falls, a big wheel powered by the falls. Thirty years later, his vision came to true.
In NT, the Greek word for works is EN’ERGY or Power meaning, Urge within. Power, you can’t create or destroy power – It is only converted or transferred. The EN’ERGY, Power, and Life of Christ is generated at Believers Baptisms.
Baptism is a Conversion Experience to Transform Identity, Lifestyle, Strength/EN’ERGY/Power.
- Baptism of Salvation into Christ generates New Identity (who are you now?) Conversion Experience.
- Baptism in Water generates New Lifestyle (how will you live?) Power for self-control.
- Baptism with the Holy Spirit generates New Strength/EN’ERGY/Power (where will you minister/serve?) Power to minister Jesus to others.
Baptisms changed everything for me:
- My Baptism of Salvation into Christ was at 13 years old. But, there was little understanding and no discipleship.
- My Baptism in Water at age 13 was with little understanding. Around 22 years old, I got a more serious about living and walking the Christian life. So, this water baptism was with more understanding. Then, my water baptism in the Jordan River in 2019 was with so much more understanding and appreciation for me to walk in newness of life. I am in Christ!
- My Baptism with the Holy Spirit was a powerful experience where 1 Timothy 1:7 was spoken to me by the Pastor who prayed for me. The Pastor who prayed had no idea the Holy Spirit had prompted me to learn and understand how to walk in 1 Timothy 1:7 that very week. I was amazed by this experience and have never been the same person.
How will baptism change everything for you? Do you want the Lord to generate His EN’ERGY, Life, and Power in you for a greater purpose than just existing?
Receive Believer’s baptisms – Into Salvation – In Water – With the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants to generate spiritual life in you! Choose life!
Want to Learn More About The Types of Baptism?
To learn more about the power of Baptism, and how this decade can be the year of God’s vision and purpose, check out our Bible study all about a 2020 Vision of Acts!