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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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