Last time, we shared why the doctrine of baptisms is such an issue, especially today when the devil knows his time is so short. Today, here’s a beginning look at the principles of threefoldness. If you’re steeped in church tradition, or a beginning Christian, don’t let yourself get frustrated with a lot of demanding questions yet, Just keep your seatbelt fastened and hold on a while. On the other hand, this may be boringly basic to you, but still, fasten your seatbelt and don’t jump out of the moving car. This is necessary because we’re going somewhere with it.
B. THREEFOLDNESS PRINCIPLES
1. Interesting that Heb 6:2 says “baptisms” plural, but Eph 4:5 says One Lord, one faith, one baptism there’s only one baptism – seems contradictory – that’s why we need to compare spiritual with spiritual – not spiritual with your tradition or a book!
a. Contradiction? Prov 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Understand first that it’s the glory of God to conceal things.
1) Luk 18:31,34 He took unto him the twelve…and this saying was hid from them – he didn’t explain it later, like he did at other times
a) Mat 11:25 …Jesus answered and said I thank thee, O Father…because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, (and has revealed them unto babes) point being he hides things; just because you’re a babe you don’t get the explanation automatically that you want.
b) Eph 3:9 Paul speaks of the fellowship of the mystery (lit. distribution of the plan)…which has been hid in God
c) Col 1:25,26 I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints… This is the same mystery, but it was revealed to Paul so that he could give it to the babes and then the Holy Spirit would reveal it. If you’re going to have revelation of it, you’re going to have two teachers – a man, and the Holy Spirit (I Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.), and maybe not at the same time.
2) Act 17:11 (speaking of Bereans)These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. MUST SEARCH…be like the noble Bereans. If you’re going to understand, you’re going to have to do this, just like them. That’s why II Tim 2:15 study to show thyself approved – want to be approved of God? His whole point in I Cor 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. – that the approved may be known
a) Prov 2:2-5 …if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest…and searchest…as for hid treasures – how diligently would you search if you knew you were going to find a treasure?! Well, now you know.
b) Ecc 7:25 Our example is Solomon – I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom – this does not describe a casual look at a book
b. Understanding needed – II Pet 3:16 referring to the epistles of Paul, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they are unlearned ( we will see later that that refers to those who don’t speak in tongues) and unstable wrest, as they do also with other scriptures, unto their own destruction – the devil’s plan all along
1) Job 32:8 …there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding
2) II Tim 2:7 Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding
3) Prov 4:18 the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. consider, and seek God, and little by little…
4) Prov 28:5 they that seek the Lord understand
5) Hos 6:3 That’s why Hosea says Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord…You’re not going to get it without following on to know that Lord…that’s the whole point of God concealing things
c. Key in seeking understanding – Compare! I Cor 2:13 …we speak, not In the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual
1) Is 34:16 Seek ye…none shall want her mate…his spirit it hath gathered them It takes the Holy Spirit giving revelation to bring scriptures together – that is critical because ->
2) II Pet 1:20 no prophecy of the scripture is of ANY private interpretation – You can’t take a verse out of context and build a teaching or your pet doctrine on it. Prov 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
3) II Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for…instruction…but if you’re going to have understanding ->
4) you’ve got to realize that I Cor 2:11 …the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God
d. Threefold – When scripture says one baptism, there’s more to it than just the word “one.”
1) Mat 3:11 John said I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he…will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. – that’s at least two!
2) Act 1:5 …John truly baptized you with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
3) Act 18:25 (Apollos)…spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
e. I Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. What in the world does that mean? The one baptism includes three baptisms, and each baptism is a witness. The Spirit is a witness to ourself that Jesus is in us, the water is a witness to men that we now belong to Jesus, the blood is a witness to the Father that we are righteous.
1) BLOOD – baptism of regeneration for your spirit
2) WATER – baptism in water involving your body
3) SPIRIT – baptism of Holy Ghost for your soul
KEY – When reading scripture, don’t throw out what you do understand because of finding something you don’t understand.
Anyone can see there’s at least two baptisms – Luk 3:16 John said I indeed baptize you with water, but…he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. That’s two.
There’s no difference between the baptism in the Holy Ghost and the baptism of fire. The Holy Ghost is spoken of as fire, eg when the disciples got baptized in the Holy Ghost in Act 2:3 …there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And a baptism of suffering is not something separate from the baptism in the Holy Ghost, either. When you get filled with the Holy Ghost you learn to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus and you may suffer physically, and you will suffer the temptation to accept what the devil tempts you with, whether it be pleasant or unpleasant.
People who oppose the baptism in the Holy Ghost will pick out Eph 4:5 …one baptism and say the only baptism that matters is water and if you do convince them that there’s a baptism in the Holy Ghost, they’ll point to I Cor 12:13 …we are all baptized into one body…and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. because they don’t understand Eph 4 Even though Paul says there’s one Lord, one faith, one baptism it doesn’t change the fact that there’s more than one expression or outworking because in that one Lord, we find there’s a three-fold expression in that there’s a Father, a Son, and a Holy Ghost. There’s one Lord, but there’s a three-fold expression of the one Lord, and they all agree in one. That’s why Moses said Deut 6:4 The Lord our God is one Lord. How can that be? It’s a mystery, and it’s something you’re going to have to carefully consider in order to understand. God has hidden the mysteries in order to reveal them unto babes.
There’s one faith, but there’s a three-fold outworking of that one faith: the fruit of faith, the gift of faith, and the measure of faith that’s imparted to every one of us.
There’s one baptism, but a three-fold outworking of it. There’s a baptism involving water, blood, and the Holy Spirit.
If you try to make everything fit one baptism, you’re going to be confused, or go make your own denomination! For example Rom 6:3,4 …baptized into Christ…buried with him by baptism…is not water baptism so put away your snorkel & fins!
When someone is water baptized, the old man is not washed away in water. You don’t get rid of your old man by drowning him – the old man was nailed to the cross when you were baptized in blood and that’s the baptism that Rom 6 speaks of-the baptism into his body – you’re made a new creature and your old man was done away with. It’s true that water baptism is an outward representation of what has happened inwardly but don’t give credit to the water for what the Lord has done with his blood. (We’ll study more about this.)
Also I Cor 12:13 is not the baptism in the Holy Ghost. It’s the same as Rom 6 – the baptism in the blood.
I Pet 3:21 is also mistakenly referred to as water baptism (it’s blood)
So Eph 4 refers to one baptism but that one baptism has three expressions. – That’s important to us because it’s part of God’s three expressions of salvation.
You have a spirit, soul and body and God has a salvation for each one of those.
When you’re born again, it’s usually but not always referred to as justification.
Every day, if you’re going on with God, you’re being saved, and it’s usually referred to as sanctification.
When Jesus comes back to redeem us there’s going to be a third salvation referred to as glorification.
Through justification we’re delivered from the penalty of sin.
Through sanctification we’re delivered from the power of sin.
In glorification we’re going to be delivered from the very presence of sin.
Deliverance is past, present, and future.
He deals with the past in washing us with his blood.
He deals with the present by offering us the power of the Holy Ghost whereby the just shall live by faith.
He promises the future by saying Christ dwells within us as the hope of glory.
Concerning the doctrine of baptisms, there is blood baptism that makes us have right standing with God, there is a water baptism that we do in obedience in demonstrating with our body what God has done spiritually, and there is a Holy Ghost baptism that gives us the power to walk in faith while we are occupying until he comes for us.
next time: our threefold Lord