The Three Baptisms

1. John’s Baptism – For repentance (Acts 19:4).

2. Holy Spirit Baptism – For power (Acts 1:8).
3. Baptism of Christ’s Death – For righteousness (Luke 12:50).

Galatians 2:20 – We are part of the baptism of Christ’s death. We’ve been crucified
with Jesus as soon as we accept Him as our Lord and Savior – John 14:19 – because He
lives, i.e. He is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18), we also live. None of us
would be alive if not for Jesus’ resurrection – instead we would be dead in our
transgressions (Romans 5:12).
John 14:20 – because of this, we realize that God is in us and we are in God. We must
be one with Him because His resurrection power has raised us from the death of sin (we
were raised with Him) – Colossians 1:21-22 – Jesus’ death has brought about holiness,
unblemished lives, and freedom from accusation.
Colossians 2:11-15 – this baptism and the circumcision of Christ are the same thing. The
baptism (circumcision) was for putting off the sin nature…
Repentance doesn’t equal salvation. Rather, repentance leads to salvation (2
Corinthians 7:10). The law made no one righteous, but made us aware of sin that we
might repent (Romans 3:20).
Repentance was a yearly thing for the Israelites but it never cleansed them from their sins
– Hebrews 10:1-10 – everything the law was unable to do, Jesus did through His blood.
This is why Jesus said He has come to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17). According to
Hebrews what did His death do? – made us perfect (v1), cleansed us once for all (v2),
removed any guilty feelings from sin (v2), took away our sins (v4), made us holy (v10).
Back to Colossians 2:11 – baptism (circumcision) not done by men but by Christ – there
is no ritual for this baptism, you believe and receive it. Colossians 2:12-15 – we see
again the concept that you are one with Christ; dead with Him, raised with Him. And
that He made a spectacle of the rulers and authorities (spiritual)… Ephesians 6:12 – we
struggle against these things but Christ has overcome them – we don’t need to struggle if
we realize who we are (Luke 10:19)… 1 Peter 3:20-21 – Jesus proclaimed His triumph
to every spirit and every person who had ever lived (1 Peter 4:5-6).
Romans 6:1-14 – once again we see our baptism into His death and the resulting
righteousness that comes from it. Romans 6:18-23 – we are therefore slaves to
righteousness, meaning we are bound to it and it has become our very nature.