INTRODUCTION: There are two stages of baptism for the present day believer: the spiritual (Spirit baptism) and the physical (water baptism).  In spiritual baptism, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13For 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.
See All...) into Christ (Galatians 3:27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
See All...).  Spiritual baptism occurs at the moment of salvation and spiritually places us into Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
See All...).

Physical baptism is an outward picture and public profession of what happened inwardly at the time of salvation.  In physical baptism, we are baptized by a representative of a local church (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
See All...) into water (Acts 8:38-39 [38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
See All...).  Water baptism occurs after salvation and places the believer into a local body of believers: a church (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
See All...). The two work together to make up the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
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1. OUR BAPTISM INTO CHRIST (Romans 6:1-6 [1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: 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. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
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1. Buried Unto Death  (Romans 6:1-3 [1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
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1. Dead to sin (Romans 6:1-2 [1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
   See All...; Colossians 3:1-5 [1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. [5] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
   See All...; 1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
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2. Dead in Christ (Romans 6:3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
   See All...; Galatians 3:27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
   See All...; Colossians 2:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
   See All...,20)
2. Raised Unto Life (Romans 6:4-5 [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: 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. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
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1. To walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: 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.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
   See All...; Galatians 6:14-15 [14] But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. [15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
   See All...; Ephesians 4:22-24 [22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
   See All...; Colossians 3:9-10 [9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; [10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
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2. In the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
   See All...; Romans 8:10-11 [10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
   See All...; Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
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3. Crucified With Christ (Romans 6:6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
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1. To destroy the body of sin (Galatians 5:24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
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2. To refuse to serve sin (Romans 6:11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
   See All...; Romans 8:13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
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2. THE BAPTISM OF WATER
1. The Scriptural Purpose
1. Obedience
1. The first step of obedience (Acts 8:34-39 [34] And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? [35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. [36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? [37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
   See All...; Acts 16:30-33)
2. To fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:13-15 [13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
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2. Representation
1. In His death (Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
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2. In His burial (Colossians 2:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
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3. In His resurrection (Romans 6:5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
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3. Identification
1. With Christ (Romans 6:3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
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2. With other Christians (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
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3. With a local church (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
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2. The Proper Elements
1. The proper candidate: a believer (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
   See All...; Acts 8:34-39)
2. The proper administrator: a local church (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
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3. The proper mode: immersion (Matthew 3:16And 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:
   See All...; John 3:23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
   See All...; Acts 8:38-39 [38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
   See All...)
3. MAJOR BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES INCLUDE:
1. Regenerate Church Membership
1. The belief that only those who have a clear testimony of personal salvation should be admitted into the church.
2. During the second and third centuries, the early churches strayed from believer’s baptism and began to introduce infant baptism. However, they never stopped thinking of baptism as the way to enter into church membership.  As a result, many lost people were accepted as church members.  Again, the Protestant churches historically continued the practice of infant baptism and unregenerate church membership.
2. Believer’s Baptism
1. The belief that only believers in Jesus Christ as personal Saviour have any reason to be baptized (Acts 8:36-37 [36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? [37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
   See All...).
2. The early churches did not baptize infants.  This came about as the belief of original sin became perverted so that parents who feared for the eternal destination of dying children allowed them to be baptized in order to bring them into covenant relationship with God.  It came about because of a growing belief in baptismal regeneration, a growing control of the church hierarchy on the people, and the marriage of church and state with the declaration of Christianity at the state religion of the Roman Empire by Constantine early in the 4th century.
3. Baptism by Immersion
1. The belief that the scriptural mode of baptism was by dipping the entire person into water.
2. Again, the early believers baptized by immersion (John 3:23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
   See All...; Acts 8:38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
   See All...).  The argument for pouring and sprinkling went like this: baptism is necessary for salvation; some people, because of sickness, etc., cannot be immersed; another way must be provided or these people will be lost; infant baptism further reinforced the practice of sprinkling.
4. CORRUPTION OF BAPTISTIC DOCTRINE
1. Early Quotations
1. Clement of Rome (c.96AD) said that “they are right subjects of baptism, who have passed through an examination and instruction.”
2. Clement of Alexandria (c.190AD) said, “The baptized ought to be children in malice, but not in understanding; even such children who, as the children of God, have put off the old man with the garments of wickedness, and have put on the new man.”
3. Tertulliam (c.216AD) said that “adults were the only proper subjects of baptism, because fasting, confession of sins, prayer, profession, renouncing the devil and his works, are required from the baptized.”  And, “The soul is sanctified, not by washing, but by the answer of a good conscience—baptism is the seal of faith; which faith is begun and adorned by the faith of repentance.”
4. The Lutheran church historian, Mosheim, in speaking of the first century after Christ, states, “Whoever acknowledged Christ as the Saviour of mankind, and made a solemn profession of his confidence in him, was immediately baptized and received into the church.” And, “The sacrament of baptism…was performed by the immersion of the whole body in the baptismal font.”
5. Conclusions
1. Early baptism was for adults (or those old enough to consciously believe in Christ) only
2. Early baptism followed salvation
3. Early baptism was by immersion
2. Baptismal Regeneration
1. One of the earliest corruptions of Bible doctrine
2. A carry-over from Judaism and the gospel of the kingdom
3. Influenced by the Babylonian Mystery Religions
4. Men as early as Justin Martyr (c.150AD) were teaching baptismal regeneration
5. Even today, every major Protestant group, as well as the Roman Catholics, teach some form of baptismal regeneration
6. Baptismal regeneration became the basis for a number of other false doctrines
1. Pouring and sprinkling
2. Infant baptism
3. Penance
4. Extreme unction
5. Purgatory
6. Indulgences and prayers for the dead
3. Pouring and sprinkling
1. Immersion was always performed in the earliest churches according to church historians such as Schaff, Mosheim, etc.
2. Immersion was performed in rivers and lakes, in private baths, in subterranean waters and later in man-made baptisteries
3. The sprinkling of water is spoken of by several of the early church writers (including Justin Martyr and Tertullian) as being purely heathen.
4. Pouring and later sprinkling appear to have been invented in Africa
5. Argument for pouring and sprinkling
1. Baptism is necessary for salvation
2. Some people, because of sickness, etc., cannot be immersed
3. Another way must be provided or these people will be lost
4. Infant baptism further reinforced the practice of sprinkling
6. Infant Baptism
1. Only adult believers were baptized until at least 200AD
2. According to Philip Schaff, Origen was responsible for the acceptance of infant baptism
3. Argument for infant baptism
1. Infants are born polluted by sin and therefore need remission of sins for salvation
2. Remission of sins comes only by means of baptism
3. Therefore, infants must be baptized so that they will go to heaven if they die before they are old enough to believe
4. Provisions for Post-baptismal Sins
1. Further corruptions came about from a concern for post-baptismal sins which (it was believed) were not washed away in baptism
2. The fear of post-baptismal sins caused Constantine to wait until he was on his deathbed before he was baptized
3. The doctrine of penance was eventually formed to atone for the sins that were committed after baptism
4. Later, extreme unction was added as a safeguard
5. Purgatory finally became necessary for those who failed to do enough penance
6. Indulgences and prayers for the dead were the results of the doctrine of purgatory
7. In this doctrinal environment, assurance of salvation became absolutely impossible
8. NOTE: Since all this corruption is the logical result of the doctrine of baptismal regeneration and since the Protestant churches never succeeded in ridding themselves of this belief, therefore the return of the Protestant churches to the doctrinal position of Roman Catholicism is only a matter of time.