Why I believe the Bible teaches Spirit baptism replaces water baptism
(and why I believe water baptism is not for salvation):
#1. 1 Corinthians 1:17. Paul says, I come not to baptize but to preach the gospel in 1 Corinthians 1:17. First, some have even said that baptism is a part of the gospel, but Paul distinguishes between the two here in this verse. Second, if baptism was for salvation or an unquestionable necessary act, then why would Paul say this? Paul even says he was thankful to God that he did not baptize any of the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:14). In fact, Paul says he only baptized two people (Crispus and Gaius), and Stephanas’ household (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). Yet, Paul says we are to follow his example, as Christ is his example (1 Corinthians 11:1). So if we are to follow Paul’s example: We should also say that we thank God to other believers that we have not baptized them like he did with the Corinthians. We should also follow Paul’s example and say to other believers, “I come not to baptize but to preach the gospel” (Just as he did). Three, if baptism was salvific, then replace the word “baptize” with the word “saved” in 1 Corinthians 1:17. That would mean Paul would be saying that he comes not to save anyone but he comes to preach the gospel (Which would not make any sense). Yes, I heard the argument before that baptizing others was not Paul’s main office or function and others baptized for him, but I get no real indication of this according to Scripture.
#2. Luke 16:16 says, “ The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” Christians are not under the Old Law (Romans 6:14) (Acts of the Apostles 13:39). Granted, believers in the New Covenant are under the Laws of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21). Water baptism appears to have come by John the Baptist seeing Jesus identifies water baptism with him (See: Acts of the Apostles 1:5). Seeing John the Baptist was of the Old Law and ways (Luke 16:16), it would be logical that this would end seeing we are not under the Law (I.e. the Old Law).
#3. Hebrews 9:10 says, “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” The word “washings” is the Greek word “baptismos” (βαπτισμός). In other words, Hebrews 9:10 is saying that diverse baptisms (washings) were imposed on believers until the time of reformation. Meaning, water baptism will give way or pass away until the time of reformation (Which means that Spirit baptism is now the one and only true baptism for today).
#4. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” This is a dry baptism being described here and not a water baptism. This is exactly what we see happen with Cornelius.
#5. Acts 18:24-26, and Acts 19:1-7 both teach that there was a more perfect way than John’s water baptism (i.e. Spirit baptism). In John 19, certain disciples found at Ephesus did not know of the Holy Spirit. Paul asked them what baptism did they partake of. They said John’s baptism (Which was water baptism). It would not make sense for Paul to rebaptize them in water again if they were already first water baptized. I believe Paul baptized them by laying his hands on them and giving them the Spirit (Which is the same thing we see happen with the people of Samaria who did not first receive the Spirit when they were water baptized) (Acts 8:17-18) (Note: Why did the Spirit not originally come upon them and just simply exclude Simon? I am sure he could have been exposed in another way).
#6. Nowhere will you find in New Testament Scripture about how GENTILE Christians must be water baptized in order to be saved or how they need to be water baptized in order to be spiritually buried with Christ (as a part of a future command or present tense declaration of something they must do). Nothing is ever said that the Gentiles have to be water baptized to be saved or to receive the remission of sins. Acts 15 says that the Gentiles are not under the Law (And water baptism was given to John the Baptist - who was said by Jesus that the Law was until John).
#7. What you will find in Scripture is a description of what happened in the past involving Gentile Christians doing in the past already (Which is not the same thing as a present future declaration of Gentile believers being told to do so for that reason). I say this because this was the time of reformation when the Jewish Christians did not have perfect understanding yet (See Paul’s mistake in going back to the Old Law under the influence of the Jewish Christian elders in Acts 21:17-26, and Peter being rebuked by Paul in Galatians 2:11-21).
#8. Romans 6:3-5, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:11-12 are all past accounts and not present tense commands given to Gentile believers by the apostle Paul (Who was the official minister to the Gentiles). These pieces of Scripture above here are indeed talking about being water baptized but this also included one being baptized into the Spirit. But yet we know water is not always necessary for Spirit baptism to take place because we see Cornelius and his household receive the baptism of the Spirit before they were even water baptized. So it’s not the water that baptizes them into the death of Christ, but it is the baptism of the Spirit that buries the old man and crucifies him making them a new creation in Christ. So why were the believers at Rome, Galatia, and Colossae water baptized? Again, I believe they were water baptized under the Jewish OT ways during the time of reformation (When the apostles' understanding was not full on this point yet. They still needed to come out from under the Old Law or ways). So Paul was speaking to what they had done under imperfect knowledge. For the Spirit can come into a believer’s life even if their knowledge is not perfect when they first come to the Lord. Some believe water baptism is the initial point of salvation. If this is the case, let me ask you: Were you radically changed spiritually when you received Jesus as your Savior or when you were water baptized? If you were truly baptized spiritually into his death in water baptism, then there should be that testimony and the testimony of others (who held to good doctrine). But I know Cornelius would not give that testimony.
(To be continued in my next post):
