A friend once told me that water baptism has created the most divisions in all the churches of any other doctrinal dispute that is discussed. I strongly agree. I have had many discussions about water baptism myself and often find people misinterpret what Jesus himself actually meant when he told all his followers to go out and baptize others. The definition gets lost in the translation of the word “baptism.”

So, let’s go step by step and see what was actually meant from Jesus, and we will also look at what others have said about water baptism too.

”John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:” (Luke 3:16)

Notice how John acknowledged that he is baptizing people in water but then goes on to tell the listeners that Jesus comes to baptize people with the Holy Ghost and fire. The question people should be asking themselves at this point is, did anyone ever see Jesus openly perform any other believer baptism or giving of the Holy Ghost? To answer that question, it’s no. There is no other recorded instance of Jesus doing a ritual of giving believers the Holy Spirit. There are a few recorded instances of Jesus telling the Apostles to receive the Holy Spirit, but even that should be regarded as something special for the Apostles themselves. (John 20:22)

Also in that verse the words “baptize” and “Holy Ghost” are both used together. Was John saying he baptizes people in water only to have Jesus come and baptize people in water again and then the Holy Ghost? No, that doesn’t make sense, John was saying Jesus comes to baptize people in the holy spirit and not water. The word “baptize” also means “a covering.” Jesus himself never dunked people in water; it says it in John 4:2. Jesus tolerated the Apostles water baptizing people, but he himself never water baptized anyone.

But before we continue further, what is the Holy Spirit? How do we define it according to the Bible itself, or better, according to Jesus himself? It’s a difficult question to answer, right? You were never told how to define the Holy Spirit according to Jesus. Most people would say something like, “The Holy Spirit is love, peace, gentleness, etc.” This is true, but that is solely an assumption and an answer that is made up based on a guess. It’s very close, but it is too vague to use.

Jesus made reference to the Holy Spirit in two different verses.

”It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

”The words I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.” This is one of the clearest examples of what the Holy Spirit is; it’s Jesus words that are the Holy Spirit, and it’s Jesus words that have life. That is eternal life when we listen and obey the words from Jesus. Listening to Jesus words and acting on them and obeying them is what changes people; it was never being dunked in water.

Speaking in tongues or being dunked in water are probably two of the biggest tests churches use to reach the conclusion that someone has God’s spirit or does not based on if they do these things. But Jesus doesn’t tell us that these are the ways to know if someone has his spirit or not. Instead, he says whoever reminds you of the things he said (his teachings) is proof that they have his spirit.

”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

You now know what the Holy Spirit consists of; they are everything Jesus said and taught us to do as Christians, and his words have the Holy Spirit and life. Now moving on to Jesus and what he said about baptizing in the gospels.

”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19:20)

When someone goes out and teaches others who really listen to the things Jesus said, they will internalize his sayings and change based on the things he taught. For example, let’s say there is someone who believes killing is justified for their enemies (a common belief in the U.S.). Then they read where Jesus said to love our enemies and turn the other cheek, and that those who live by the sword die by it. Then the person decides to change after reading and becomes a real pacifist based on what Jesus said.

When teaching and repeating Jesus’ words to another person, you are covering them with his spirit; the word “baptizing” in the verse’s context means a present effect from teaching, a present participle. The word βαπτίζω in Greek that translates from Matthew 28:19 does not itself mean “water baptism”; it simply means to baptize/immerse. For example, Matthew 28:19 could literally be rendered: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, teaching and immersing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” When you preach in Jesus name, that includes all that he taught as well, not just his actual name as a lot of people believe, you cover people (baptize) in his teachings obeying what Jesus taught in Matthew 28:19-20. Christs words are alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).

So now that we know what Jesus actually meant in Matthew 28:19-20, we can move on to others who addressed the issue of water baptism as well.

Paul was one of the first to see just how much water baptism caused division in their churches at the time. He corrects the divisions in his church over people trying to make it a competition over who baptized who. Then he concludes that Christ did not send him to water baptize anyone, but to preach the gospel as Jesus commanded at the end of every gospel.

”I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthains 14-17)

What is interesting is that Peter was saying something similar as Paul preached, and that was that this whole water baptism argument is not the focus. He clarified that washing our bodies in water is not something that actually saves us, but a good conscience towards God is what saves us.

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 3:21)

A few other verses focus on the Holy Spirit being the element that changes people, as water is only an outward Jewish ritual after all.

”For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (Acts 1:5)

If you have not realized, this verse is from Jesus directly but recorded a second time in Acts. All the first Christians were anticipating the arrival of the Holy Spirit, not so much being dunked in water.

”There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” (Ephesians 4:4-5)

Paul reemphasizes this issue of people arguing over water baptism. He says there is only one baptism, and that is with the Holy Spirit. There can’t be one water baptism and the other Holy Spirit baptism, as people try to argue.

”Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6)

Jesus lays down a condition of being able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and that is being born again not from a water ritual but internally in your spirit. When being born from our mothers womb, we are already born of water literally. Hence the phrase, “My water broke,” comes from. So Jesus says to be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven we must be born first of all, then be born agian by the Holy Spirit, it had no relation with a water ritual.

”Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:20)

It is a little harder to see a lesson in this one verse, but the lesson is Abraham had a good conscience towards God and obeyed what was asked of him, therefore saving him and his family from water. The water destroyed the people; only a good conscience to God and obedience will save you.

To add one final point people make about water baptism in relation to Jesus. Jesus himself was baptized in water; it’s true. But we have to ask why. Did Jesus have sins that had to be forgiven and washed away in the water? No, of course not, Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Let’s see what Jesus himself says about the reason he was water baptized.

”But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 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.” (Matthew 3:14-15)

So there you have it, friends: Jesus was baptized in water to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was a Jew after all, and it was a tradition to be water baptized, and it was also done to fulfill the Old Testament and start the New Testament.

I hope the verses and lessons have helped you understand that water baptism is not the formula to be saved, but rather a good conscience towards God consistently. Baptizing people in Christ’s teachings and all that you taught is the spiritual baptism that Christ was talking about. So go out and preach about Jesus teachings and baptize others!