1. . Real Baptism: What is it? Ephesians 4:3-4

2. Why Can’t We All Get Along? If churches of Christ would surrender one doctrine we could openly embrace most of the evangelical world. Not instrumental music – because most evangelicals will readily admit it is not NECESSARY for worshiping God, but they see nothing wrong with it. It is the doctrine of BAPTISM IN WATER for remission of sins.

3. A Quote from REAL BAPTISM: Church Ritual or Spiritual Reality “…It has been the contention of this writer, of course, that water has no place in God's spiritual program for today, and he has sought to give scriptural reasons for his convictions. Water baptism did have a very big place in God's program at one time….” Charles F. Baker – Grace Bible College

4. A quote from an article: Does Water Baptism Save? A Biblical Refutation of Baptismal Regeneration They Confuse real baptism with ritual baptism (water baptism). They assume that whenever the New Testament speaks of baptism that it means water baptism.... The following passages refer to REAL BAPTISM (spiritual baptism or Spirit baptism) which happens to a person the moment he is saved. It involves being placed into Christ or into His body….”

5. So why can we NOT accept what these Bible scholars state to be the truth? For ONE very important reason. There is only ONE Christian baptism!

6. The Bible describes no less than six baptisms. Each has its own reason and limitation. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 -- For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. The Baptism Into Moses

7. Mark 1:4-5 -- And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. The baptism of repentance by John.

8. Matthew 3:11 -- "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Holy Spirit baptism Fire baptism C.f. Luke 3:16

9. Luke 12:50 --But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Matt. 20:22 – also referred to as the “cup I am going to drink….” The baptism of Jesus’ suffering

10. Matthew 28:19 -- Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…. Great Commission or Christian Baptism.

11. There is NOW just ONE baptism: Ephesians 4:3-6 -- Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

12. Is this ONE baptism… The baptism of (in, with) the Holy Spirit? Or the baptism of the Great Commission? Or BOTH united into ONE?

13. Great Commission Baptism Matthew 28:19 -- Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…. Bound by Jesus upon ALL THE NATIONS Associated by Jesus with entering into the possession of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

14. Understood by the apostles to involve WATER and also RECEPTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT to indwell. Acts 2:38 -- Peter replied, "Repent 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.

15. Acts 10:46b-48 -- Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. They had already had the Holy Spirit poured out on them. Why would Peter ORDER them to be baptized if Spirit baptism is REAL baptism.

16. The baptism the apostles preached was DIFFERENT from HOLY SPIRIT baptism. Acts 10:44-45 -- While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

17. Which Peter equated to the UNIQUE experience of the apostles on the day of Pentecost, by saying… Acts 11:15-16 -- "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.‘

18. One Baptism – Two Elements REAL baptism has the element of WATER Acts 8:35-38 Philip and the Eunuch understand baptism to involve going down into and coming up out of water.

19. Acts 10:47-48 – Cornelius and family Peter understands baptism to be in water. Ephesians 5:26 – “…to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word….” Paul associates the cleansing of the church with “washing with water”. This is a clear reference to baptism with water.

20. 1 Peter 3:20-21 -- …In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also…. Peter likened the ark and the experience of Noah with WATER baptism and the salvation afforded in association with it.

21. The element of the Holy Spirit is also present in water baptism John 3:3-5 -- Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water (baptism) and the Spirit (baptism)

22. Titus 3:5-6 -- …he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior…. Paul speaks of salvation through the “washing of rebirth” – a clear reference to baptism and “renewal by the Holy Spirit” – ditto.

23. 1 Corinthians 12:13 -- For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. baptized by one Spirit is differentiated from: given the one Spirit to drink. Both take place in WATER baptism

24. The Great Commission baptism Commanded by Jesus for everyone Satisfies both of these necessary elements for salvation Symbolic cleansing in water Holy Spirit renewing, regenerating, sanctifying and resurrecting. Christ chose the method. Will we submit to His choice?