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Baptisms
Part Three
3. The Doctrine of Baptisms
The Bible speaks of the doctrine of Baptisms, suggesting that
there is more than one. In fact there are four different
contexts in which the term Baptism is used in the New
Testament. They are:-
1. The Baptism of John the Baptist.
2. The Baptism of Jesus suffering.
3. Christian Baptism in Water.
4. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The Baptism of Jesus suffering will not be looked at, only
because it is not one of the Elementary Doctrines of
Christianity, as detailed in Hebrews 6. It is something
though, about which believers need to have an
understanding. The main consideration here will be the two
principle Baptisms that the believer encounters and to
contrast them with the Baptism of John the Baptist.
They are:- Christian Baptism in water and Baptism in the
Holy Spirit.
The various words, that have been translated from the
original languages in which the Bible was first written, for
baptise, baptism etc., all have a similar meaning and sense.
To dip, dip into, cleanse by washing, an ablution. There is a
sense of thoroughness in their meaning, not just a cursory
act, as when, say, a child washes its hands.
Baptism and ceremonial washing was practiced from the
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