All Baptism Is Not The Same
Brian R. Kenyon

Like many Bible terms, “baptism” means different things to different people. However, we must allow the Bible to be the deciding factor as to what we mean by “baptism,” but even in the Bible, all “baptism” was not the same. Consider the influence of Apollos. He knew “the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord” (Acts 18:25a). Apollos, though, had one major shortcoming—he knew “only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25b). He taught a baptism that was no longer valid.

The Baptism of John the Baptist

The mission of John the Baptist was to prepare the way of the Lord (Isa. 40:3; Mt. 3:3). His basic message was, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 3:2). Jesus also preached this same message (Mk. 1:14-15). The most identifiable part of John’s ministry was his baptism. When the chief priests questioned Jesus’ authority, He countered with a question of His own: “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Mt. 21:25). John’s baptism summarized his entire ministry. The question also showed that John’s source of authority was the same as Jesus’ so that to accept the one was to accept the other (cf. Mt. 21:23-27). John’s baptism, however, was only for the Jews and it was only in preparation of Christ’s kingdom. It made Jews ready for the kingdom (Lk. 1:17), and those who refused it rejected God’s will (Lk. 7:28-30).

The Baptism of the Great Commission

After Jesus was raised from the dead, He was “seen of them [His apostles] forty days...speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Part of what He taught them was what has been called the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching 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” (Mt. 28:19-20). Unlike John’s baptism, this baptism, commissioned by Jesus after He inaugurated His church/kingdom (cf. Heb. 9:11-26), is universal in scope—it applies to all people everywhere, not just to the Jews who lived when the kingdom was “at hand” (Mt. 3:1-2). Great Commission baptism is the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:4-6.

The Difference Matters

After Apollos moved on, Paul came to Ephesus and found certain “disciples” who had been baptized  “unto John’s baptism” (Acts 19:1-3). Paul taught them: “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus” (Acts 19:4). This verse sums up the difference between John’s baptism and Great Commission baptism. John’s baptism looked forward “on him which should come after” John (which was Jesus), while Great Commission baptism looks backward to what Jesus already did. Under John’s baptism, it would be impossible to “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and...believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead” (Rom. 10:9). If that were the only difference between the two baptisms, it would be enough. John’s baptism and Great Commission baptism were similar in many ways: both were immersion in water; both involved repentance (Mt. 3:1-8; Acts 2:38); and both were “for the remission of sins” (Lk. 3:3; Acts 2:38). However, the one difference Paul revealed mattered! Thus, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5). According to some scholars, the events in Acts 19 took place about twenty years after the validity of John’s baptism had expired.

There are many “baptisms” in religion today, but there is only one that God authorizes! This God-authorized baptism is immersion in water, based upon hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17), believing that Jesus is the Messiah (Jn. 8:24), repenting of past sins (Acts 2:38), and confessing faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:10).  Have you been baptized?