Baptism is something that all Christian denominations declare to be a necessary sacrament. Everyone from the Catholics, through the Baptists to the Charismatics agree on baptism in water. But that’s about as far as the agreement goes. There are those who say that without baptism, one can’t go to heaven and there are others who speak of there being a need for more than one baptism. But what does the Bible say?
Baptism is often referred to as “water baptism,” “baptism in water,” or “baptism of water,” although the term baptism of water is actually incorrect. The baptism isn’t about the water; water is merely used as a symbol, connecting us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. – Romans 6:4-5
The word “baptism” can refer to taking on the character of something. This is why I said that the term “baptism of water” is incorrect. While we are baptized in water, we do not do so to take on the character of water. Rather, we do so to take on the character of Christ.
For as many of you who as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. – Galatians 3:27
But are all baptisms in the New Testament the same? Actually, they’re not. Things can get a bit confusing when looking at baptism, if we don’t take the time to understand just which baptism is being referred to.
The First Baptism – John’s Baptism
The best place to start is with the first baptism mentioned in the Bible, that of John the Baptist.
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. – Mark 1:4
This is notable to us in that it is the first mention of baptism in the Bible. But it was also notable to the Jews of the day, as they only baptized converts to Judaism. Yet, John was baptizing Jews and gentiles alike, although the place he was baptizing, the Jordan River, ensured that the majority of the people who he baptized were Jews.
We see here in this verse from Mark’s gospel that John’s purpose in baptizing was as a sign of repentance of sin and as a symbolic remission or cleansing from that sin. Many people think of repentance as nothing more than saying “I’m sorry God,” but in reality, the word is much deeper than that. In the most literal sense of the word, to repent is to turn around. Therefore, to repent from sin means to turn your back on that sin.
A good way to look at this is to envision a person walking away from God. That’s what sin does, it causes us to walk away from God. When they reach a point where they decide to repent, they stop, turn around and start walking back towards God. The full act of repentance doesn’t happen until they are drawing closer to God once again.
Repentance must be a part of the act of receiving Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, in other words, the act of becoming saved. If one doesn’t truly repent, choosing to give up their sin, then they aren’t serious about salvation.
This isn’t to say that once they have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savoir in their lives, they will never sin again. Oh, that it was that easy. All believers struggle with sin, even those who don’t admit it. Therefore, repentance isn’t just needed by the new believer, accepting Christ, it is also needed by believers of all ages, as a means of restoring our relationship with God, once we have damaged it with our sin.
It is worth noting that Jesus was baptized by John.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit is to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. – Matthew 3:13-15
With our understanding of John’s baptism, it might seem that Jesus was admitting He was a sinner and needed to repent. Yet there are several scriptures in the New Testament, which proclaim that Jesus lived a sinless life. He allowed John to baptize Him, as an example for us to follow.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. – Hebrews 4:15
We can only be baptized as a public act of repentance once; but that doesn’t stop us from repenting countless times. Considering how easily we fall into sin, we might find ourselves repenting every day, if we are honest with ourselves and with God.
The Second Baptism – the Baptism of Salvation
Although Jesus’ ministry started with preaching the same message of repentance that John did (Mark 1:15), there is no scriptural reference to him baptizing anyone (John 4:2). At the time, they were baptizing in the same way that John had. It was not until after Jesus’ death and resurrection that we see the baptism of salvation, the baptism of Jesus, a different baptism than that of repentance.
We find Jesus’ disciples, now known as apostles, baptizing in the book of Acts, starting with Peter’s very first sermon in Acts chapter 2:
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Acts 2:38
This can be a touch confusing, taken by itself; because it talks about receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, rather than salvation. But, as with interpreting anything in scripture, context is important. This ending to Peter’s first sermon was on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples of Jesus had just been baptized in the Holy Spirit (we’ll talk more about that in a moment). We can say that to a large part, those first disciples saw a definite correlation between baptism in the Holy Spirit and salvation; but as we’ll see shortly, there is a differentiation.
What’s more important, is the final instructions that Jesus gave to those disciples. After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene and two of his disciples; but the rest of the disciples didn’t believe that He was alive. So, Jesus appeared to the eleven. It is here that he gave them what is known as the Great Commission, which contained the following:
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. – Mark 16:16
This statement directly connects baptism and salvation. But it also sets this baptism apart from that of John, as John didn’t have the authority to forgive sin or save anyone. Rather, he was the one announcing the coming of the one who would be able to do that. Such a person had been prophesied about in the last two verses of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6). John himself makes reference to this, when he discovered believes in Ephesus:
He (Paul) said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said unto him, “We have not so much heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after hi, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. – Acts 19:2-5
In the last part of that passage, we see what was probably the first recorded instance of someone getting baptized a second time. Those believers had been baptized in John’s baptism of repentance, not knowing of any other. But when they learned there was more, they were baptized again; this time into Christ Jesus.
Still Another Baptism – the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
We’ve already seen two references to being baptized in the Holy Spirit; does that mean that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of salvation are the same? There are denominations that believe that; but by and large, those denominations don’t make much of the power that the baptism of the Holy Spirit endows upon the believer. They see it as a gift, but if we look at the fullness of scripture, they don’t recognize the whole gift.
Jesus told His disciples to expect the baptism of the Holy Spirit before he ascended to heaven:
For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. – Acts 1:5
Those words were fulfilled in the next chapter, on the day of Pentecost.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing might wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. – Acts 2:1-4
Considering that those words were spoken by Jesus, that should eliminate any doubt that the baptism of the Holy Spirit exists, although how we understand that may be subject to interpretation. Regardless of how we interpret it though, we should not equate it with the baptism of salvation, as there are several verses, specifically in the book of Acts, showing people both getting baptized into Jesus Christ (salvation) and being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. – Acts 8:14-17
Here we have a group of believers, who have somehow heard the good news of the Gospel and accepted it. But because they had no contact with the body of believers, they hadn’t heard all the good news. Nevertheless, they acted upon what they did hear, received Jesus and were baptized into Him. For this study, it’s important to note that this did not prevent them from being baptized again, giving us another group of people who were baptized twice.
But we can do even better than that; for if we go back to the group in Ephesus, who Paul ministered to in Acts, chapter 19, we find that they not only received John’s baptism and were baptized into Jesus Christ for salvation, they also received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is mentioned in the very next verse:
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirt came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. – Acts 19:6
Going back to our titular question, this makes the only group I know of in scripture who were baptized three times.
But I will have to say, this “speaking in other tongues” is a point of controversy in the church, with some denominations denouncing it for today, while others, specifically Pentecostals and Charismatics embracing it. Those who are against it generally say that it was something for that time, but it has passed away. On the other hand, those who embrace it, see the gift of tongues, along with the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, as important tools to be used by the church in the work of the Lord here on Earth. Those gifts are literally the purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant… 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. – 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-10
Allow me to add this, to those who do not believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit or who do not believe that those gifts are relevant for today – whether or not you are baptized in the Holy Spirit and whether or not you allow the Holy Spirit to manifest those gifts through you has absolutely nothing to do with whether you are saved or not. They are given for our benefit; but like all true gifts, it is up to you whether you receive them or not.
One Final Baptism – the Baptism of Fire
We kind of skipped over something in our discussion of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the first few verses of Acts, chapter 2, where we see the baptism of the Holy Spirit mentioned for the first time (see above), verse three says: Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. It is easy to discount this as part of the event of the first believers being baptized, except for one thing, John the Baptist prophesied that it would come.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. – Matthew 3:11 & Luke 3:16
That last short sentence, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” can also be taken as: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and He will baptize you with fire.” Grammatically it’s the same thing, as that’s what the word “and” in there means. So, John talks about two separate baptisms here: the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of fire.
So, just what is this baptism of fire? When we look through scripture, especially the books of prophecy, we find that fire is used prophetically for the purpose of purification. One of the best verses showing this is found in the book of Zechariah:
I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them a sliver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, “This is my people;” and each one will say “The Lord is my God.” – Zechariah 13:9
Without getting into a lot of detail, this baptism is all about the purifying work that God wants to do in our lives. There are many verses that make reference to this work, both in the Old and New Testament. God wants a sinless people, who have been cleansed of sin. This is more than just repentance, it is us being made holy, as God is holy.
So Where Does This Leave Us?
All these baptisms can be a bit confusing, especially to those who never suspected they were all in the Bible. But as you can plainly see, from the scriptures quoted above, they really do exist. So, does that mean we all need to be immersed in water four times, one for each baptism?
There is nowhere in scripture that refers to being immersed in water baptism four times. Rather, baptism in water is only used for the first two; John’s baptism and the baptism of salvation. Today, it is widely accepted throughout all church denominations that the baptism practiced as a public declaration of our faith covers both of those at the same time, even though we include repentance in the prayer of salvation.
There is nowhere in scripture where the baptism of the Holy Spirit involves being immersed in water. Rather, it is imparted by one person who is baptized in the Holy Spirit laying their hands on someone who desires to receive the baptism and praying for them. Ever since the Azusa Street Revival, in 1906, Pentecostal believers, and those movements which followed behind, have imparted the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this way.
But what of the baptism of fire? Other than the reference we looked at in the book of Acts, there is no other Biblical reference to it. It is clear that God wants to purify us, with many scriptures backing up that idea. But the process isn’t normally something that happens in a moment. Rather, it is something that begins when we accept Jesus Christ and continues throughout our lives. It is more a goal to strive towards, than an event to experience. How it actually happens for each believer, is somewhat different.
Each believer must decide for themselves whether they need to ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit or the baptism of fire; what we could call the second and third baptisms or the third and fourth, depending on how we count. Those who do, need to find someone who has already received the desired baptism and ask them to pray. The Holy Spirit is faithful to give to those of us who ask.
As for who was baptized twice in the Bible, there were a lot of people who were. We’ve looked at a few; but there are many more and even more who aren’t mentioned specifically. In the times of the Early Church, it was actually something quite common, just as it is in some churches today.