The word “baptise” means “putting into” and implies “immersion.” The Bible speaks of seven different baptisms in connection with persons. (In the Jew’s religion there were also various cups and pots that were ceremonially washed by being immersed in water, which were called “baptisms” – Mark 7:3-4; Heb. 6:2; 9:10.) The seven baptisms of persons are:
Israel’s Baptism Unto Moses (1 Cor. 10:1-2)
This was Israel’s formal identification with Moses their leader. It brought them into a sphere of privilege with God, as verses 2-4 indicate. It was a baptism of a mixed multitude of people; many of them later proved to be unbelievers (Heb. 3:19).
John’s Baptism Of Repentance (Matt. 3:5-6; Acts 19:3)
This was a baptism in water that disassociated the believing, repentant Jewish remnant from the national body of Jews who saw no need for it (Luke 7:29-30). It made them morally ready to receive the Messiah (Luke 1:17), whom John said would come after him (Matt. 3:11). This baptism was in view of having their sins remitted (Luke 3:3).
Christ’s Baptism Of Martyrdom Sufferings & Death (Mark 10:39)
This refers to the Lord’s sufferings from the hands of men that occasioned His death. It is something that the Lord said that the apostles (and many Christians) would share in, being persecuted unto death (Acts 12:2; 22:4; Rev. 2:10).
Christ’s Baptism Of Atoning Sufferings & Death (Mark 10:38; Luke 12:50)
This is a baptism of judgment in which the Lord was immersed when He was made a sacrifice for sin (Heb. 9:26; 10:12).
Baptism Of The Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; 1 Cor. 12:13)
This refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to dwell in believers (Acts 2), by which they were linked to Christ the Head in heaven as members of His body (1 Cor. 12:12-13). (See Baptism of the Holy Spirit.)
Baptism Of Fire (Matt. 3:11; 2 Thess. 1:8)
This is a baptism in retributive judgment (of which “fire” is a figure) which the Lord will immerse the lifeless Christian profession in at the time of His Appearing (2 Thess. 1:8).
Christian Baptism (Eph. 4:5)
This is an initiatory Christian ordinance performed “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:20). In Christian baptism, a person puts on a new name—the name of Christ (Gal. 3:27), and enters a new position on earth—the sphere of Christian profession where the Lordship of Christ is owned (Eph. 4:5). Thus, he is placed formally on Christian ground. It not only identifies a person with the death and burial of Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12), but also with the resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 3:21). It was administered to Jewish believers (Acts 2:41), to Samaritan believers (Acts 8:12), to Gentile believers (Acts 8:38; 10:48), and to Christian households (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Cor. 1:16). Contrary to popular belief, Christian baptism is not a public act or testimony to the world of one’s faith in Christ. If it were so, Paul would not have baptised the jailor in the middle of the night, but would have waited for a convenient time to do it publicly (Acts 16:33).