On the day of Pentecost the New Testament church came into existence with the descent of the Holy Spirit in the upper room. Since then John’s Baptism was replaced by the New Testament baptism initiated directly by Jesus Christ. Many spiritual tenets and blessings which were revealed to the apostles by the Holy Spirit were also added to the doctrine of repentance preached by John the Baptist. In John 16:12,13 we read “I have yet many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will show you things to come”.

Let us consider some of the significant aspects of the New Testament baptism which were not revealed to John the Baptist.

1. New Testament Baptism is one of the steps to enter into the spiritual kingdom of God. In John 3:5 we read “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.

2. In Water Baptism we are dead to the sinful nature which is naturally present in every human being. In Romans 6: 1, 2, 3 we read “What shall we say then? (This is meant to direct attention to Romans 5:20) Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? (Just because Grace is greater than sin doesn’t mean that the believer has a license to sin). God forbid (presents Paul’s answer to the question, “Away with the thought, let not such a thing occur”). How shall we, who are dead to sin (dead to the sin nature), live any longer therein? (This portrays what the believer is now in Christ). Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His Death?”.

3. Dead to sin also reveals that the body of the old self which is ruled by sin is completely buried in water baptism.

In order to walk in ‘newness of life’ with a hope to be united in the likeness of resurrection of Christ (it happens when we receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit) we partake in the likeness of the death of Christ. In Romans 6:4-6 we read “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death (not only did we die with Him, but we were buried with Him as well, which means that all the sin and transgression of the past were buried; when they put Him in the Tomb, they put all of our sins into that Tomb as well): that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (we died with Him, we were buried with Him, and His Resurrection was our Resurrection to a ‘Newness of Life’). For if we have been planted together (with Christ) in the likeness of His Death we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is Crucified with Him (all that we were before conversion), that the body of sin might be destroyed (the power of the sin nature made ineffective), that henceforth we should not serve sin (the guilt of sin is removed at conversion, because the sin nature no longer rules within our hearts and lives)”.

4. Victorious life begins at this point. In Romans 6:2,3,7,9 we read “For he who is dead (Jesus Christ was our Substitute, and in the Mind of God, we died with Jesus Christ upon Believing Faith) is freed from sin (set free from the bondage of the sin nature). Now if we be dead with Christ (pertains to the Cross, and our being baptized into His Death), we believe that we shall also live with Him (have Resurrection Life, which is more Abundant Life [John 10:10]).

5. We are not only dead to sin, but also saved from the rugged sinful nature which works in us. That’s why this is called ‘salvation’ (Mark 16:16). “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believes not shall be damned.” The sinful nature that causes rift and conflict is like that of the Pharaoh’s army that followed the Israelites while they crossed the Red Sea.

“Moreover, Brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the Sea. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (I Corinthians 10:1,2).

6. This is a stepping stone to receiving of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:38 we read “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.

7. Moreover, this is also another step essential during His Second Coming for the resurrection of our body or to be caught up together with the Lord if we are still alive. ‘If we have been united with him in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

Qualification to receive Baptism:

The passages in the New Testament disclose that only those children of God who were born again were baptized. With a real experience from God they should have had had the assurance of their sins being forgiven and their hearts being washed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

• “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
• “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38).
• “People went out to him, confessed their sins and were baptized in the Jordan River” (Matthew 3:5,6).
• Disciple of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).
• Those who believed that Jesus Christ was the son of God were baptized (Acts 8:36-38).
• Those who obeyed the commands of Christ and received the word gladly. (Acts 2:41; Acts 16:31-33).
• Those who have received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:47,48).

If we believe, repent and confess our sins with the purpose that there must be a total transformation or newness in our life, surely we will be led to experience born again in water and spirit.

Why were those who were saved by Apollo baptized again?

There is a specific passage in the book of Acts where we read that few believers (the men who were called ‘disciples’) who received John’s (immersion) baptism were re-baptized by Paul. We can read that in Act 19:1-7 “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit. And he said unto them, Unto what then were you baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve“.

From this passage we understand that they repented after hearing Apollos. “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:24,25). Apollos was ignorant of the deep New Testament doctrines like water baptism, Holy Spirit anointment and the teachings of the New Testament Church. When Priscilla and Aquila who ministered with Paul saw Apollo who boldly preached about God’s word, took him to them and explained to him the way of God more perfectly. “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26)

Here we can see why the twelve disciples were baptized again. They had known only the baptism of repentance given by John. Apollos may not have taught them deep truths, because he himself had to be instructed about the way of God more perfectly. So we understand that they did not know the doctrines of the newly revealed New Testament truths like water baptism of New Testament church and Holy Spirit anointment. When Paul asked them whether they received the Holy Spirit when they became believers they replied in negative. We can understand that Paul must have explained to them that they had only received the baptism of repentance by John the Baptist which had become invalid after the day of Pentecost when New Testament time began. Because on that day of Pentecost, water baptism indicated a truth of readiness, a preparatory step to receive the Holy Spirit. Similarly several other divine truths also became a part of water baptism. When they received the second baptism, they received the Holy Spirit which proved that the New Testament baptism was a pre-requisite for receiving the Holy Spirit.

In the world even today we have several Evangelical Churches that have limited knowledge of Truth and they preach like Apollo who was not clearly aware of God’s way related to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When they address the new believers they preach only the baptism of repentance instead of highlighting the real significance of baptism. They fail to show that baptism can lead them to a deeper spiritual life. They are ignorant of the preaching of Apostle Peter in the day of Pentecost that water baptism is a required step or a pre-requisite to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was essential for them to be baptized again in order to experience the greatness of the New Testament baptism and Holy Spirit anointing. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Who can baptize?

The next question is “Who can baptize?” or “whether all those who call themselves as Christ’s ministers can baptize”?

The fact that the New Testament church was born on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured on those who had gathered is known by all. Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem. In Acts 1:4,5 we read “And, being assembled together with them, Commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence”. After that, church was headed by His ministers who were filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul calls this’ ‘Ministration of the spirit’ (II Corinthians 3:8). He calls the New Testament ministers as “able ministers of the new testament” (II Corinthians 3:6). In Acts 10:38 we read “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with Power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with him”. God filled Jesus with power and the Holy Spirit. Since God was with Jesus, he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the Devil. There is a difference in the Apostles’ ministry in the way they ministered before the day of Pentecost and after that. The Holy Spirit was with them before the day of Pentecost but He indwelt after the day of Pentecost. Jesus Christ said, “For He dwells with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17).

The Old Testament priests were anointed with Oil of holy ointment before they entered the tabernacle to serve God (Exodus 30:30). Similarly the New Testament ministers also must be anointed with power and the Holy Spirit as the first century Apostles were.

Apollos ministered just as the Apostles did before the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was with him but He did not dwell in him. That’s another reason why Paul who received the ministry of the anointing of the Holy Spirit had to baptize again those who repented through Apollos in Ephesus (Acts 19:5). So, only the ministers of Christ those who had received the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4) should baptize others.

We accomplish several things by taking baptism.

• We are baptized into Christ’s death (Romans 6:3)..
• We are buried with Him by baptism into death (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
• We partake in His resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
• It’s a pledge of a good conscience toward God (I Peter 3:21).
• We acknowledge that God is right (Luke 7:29).
• We accept the counsel of God (Luke 7:30)
• We fulfill God’s righteousness (Matthew 3:15).
• We put on Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:27).