Part 5 of 9"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation... of the doctrine of baptisms..." (Heb 6:1-2).
The first thing we should notice concerning this truth is that the word "baptisms" is plural. Yet how much of the Christian world is living in a singular baptism? God's best is that we appropriate ALL He has to offer - a plural baptism.
In short, the doctrine of baptisms is this: The plural and three-fold God created three-fold man, with a three-fold baptism and a three-fold salvation. Understanding this principle will assuredly destroy much of the confusion and ignorance we may experience regarding Scripture.
A three-fold God?
Most people are aware of the fact that our God is termed the "Godhead" (Rom 1:20; Acts 17:29). This word simply means "divinity". Some of the early Church leaders have called this term "the trinity" because God is revealed in three persons. In fact, the very first occurrence of the name of God in Scripture (Gen 1:1) uses the word "Elohim", which is a plural word meaning "Gods". Concerning Jesus, Paul said "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col 2:9). In other words, He is the express image of the invisible plural Divine! John also speaks of this truth in one of his epistles: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 Jn 5:7).
This truth is referenced all throughout Scripture, both directly and indirectly. The Bible speaks of the Father in heaven (Matt 5:48; 6:1; Jn 1:14, 18; etc), and of Jesus, the Son (Jn 1:1; 16:28; 17:5; 1 Jn 1:2; Prov 8:22-30; etc), and of the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:33; Acts 2:33; 5:32; Heb 2:3-4; etc). Scripture also distinguishes between the three (Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2-3; Gal 1:1; etc). In fact, often times we see each facet of the Godhead operating separately yet simultaneously: "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:16-17; 17:1-5). Peter too affirms this truth when he differentiates between the Godhead in saying, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied" (1 Pet 1:1-2).
A three-fold man?
Man consists of a plurality of persons too. The writer to the Hebrews spoke of this when he said, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb 4:12). Of course there is not more than one "you", but there surely is more than one component of "you". Man is a spirit (Prov 20:27; 1 Pet 3:4; Job 32:8; etc); he has a soul (Lk 21:19; 1 Pet 2:11; Heb 10:39; etc); and he is housed within a body (Jd 9; Jas 2:26; Heb 10:5; etc). Thus man is plural, even as God Himself is plural. We have been made in His image (Gen 1:26).
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:23).
A three-fold baptism?
Because man is plural, there exists a baptism for each one of his components. These include blood baptism, water baptism, and Holy Spirit baptism (fire): "there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one" (1 Jn 5:8). Titus distinguishes between these different baptisms: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us (blood), by the washing of regeneration (water), and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Spirit)" (Tit 3:5).
Water baptism is the outer evidence of the inner blood-change - it is the external baptismal evidence that correlates with the inner baptism of blood. Just as our spirits have been justified and immersed in the blood of the New Covenant (Matt 26:26-28), our bodies are to likewise be immersed in water, rightly referencing the dramatic change that just took place within. So dramatic was the change that occurred, that it can be likened to going from dry to wet - a thorough cleansing! Scripture tells us that we have "one baptism", but as we can see it is revealed in three, just as the Godhead, mankind and salvation are one, yet revealed in three (Eph 4:4-6).
The final baptism is the Holy Spirit baptism. You can read about it in Acts 2. The justified disciples waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This baptism is to be the earnest (down payment) of what is to come later. This is the final baptism and seal (2 Cor 1:22). So many Christians neglect this aspect of baptism to their own detriment (Acts 19:2). As Christians, we ought to take heed to the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), not to merely pick and choose what we're comfortable with.
Each one of these baptisms has an external manifestation that comes along with it. The baptism in blood (for man's spirit) is accompanied by a new heart, a new birth, and imputed righteousness, which yields external righteous works (Matt 5:16; 1 Pet 2:12). The baptism in water (for man's body) is accompanied by a wet body as an external manifestation of the recent inward change (Rom 6:4; 1 Pet 3:21; Col 3:1-3). The baptism in the Holy Spirit (for man's soul) is accompanied by speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4; 10:45-46; 19:6; etc). These are the external evidences that a genuine change has indeed taken place in each separate facet of man's being.
A three-fold salvation?
"[God] Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (2 Cor 1:10).
There is also a plurality of salvation for each facet of man: justification, sanctification and glorification. You can read a similar blog about this here. Basically, justification delivered us from the penalty of sin (Rom 6:23), sanctification is delivering us from the power of sin (1 Cor 15:31), and glorification will deliver us from the very presence of sin (2 Tim 4:18)! Justification determines our eternal standing (Heb 5:8-9), sanctification determines our eternal state (Dan 12:3; 1 Cor 15:41-42), and glorification will determine our eternal temple (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16; Phil 3:21).
Justification took place within your spirit. This is our initial salvation and joining unto the Lord (1 Cor 6:17). At this glorious event, our spirit was reconciled to God and made perfect (Heb 12:23). Concerning this, Paul writes "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification" (Rom 5:15-16; 3:30). This is an eternal and immutable occurrence. The perfection of our spirit-man is the avenue by which we can commune with a holy God. It is the very basis for our continued salvation.
Sanctification is for man's soul. The perfection that occurred in our spirits the day we were saved (justified) is now expected to spill over into our soulish and carnal nature: "He [God] must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn 3:30). Paul said to "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2). The mind is the soul. In fact, the soul is made up of man's mind, will and emotions. We are to be daily being saved from it's Adamic influences. This happens over our lifetime via the Word of God (Jn 17:17; 8:31-32), and the Spirit of God (2 Cor 3:17-18; Rom 8:4). This is what Paul was referring to when he said to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).
When this said perfection fully incorporates our soulish man, then our bodies will likewise be changed. This will be known as glorification: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption" (1 Cor 15:41-42). Jesus lived a perfect life, and thus was glorified to the fullest extent: "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was" (Jn 17:5; Phil 2:5-9). As believers, we are looking toward this glorious event (Rom 8:23), the complete redemption of the purchased possession (Eph 1:14; 4:30; Lk 21:28; Rom 8:23)!
And thus we have, in short, the doctrine of baptisms. These are foundational truths that we're to build upon, yet never forsake.
To be continued...
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