Student Study Guide
Lesson 8
The Doctrine of Baptisms
Section 1 - Introduction: Why Baptisms (Plural)?
Section One
Notice the writer says "doctrine of baptisms" - plural, not singular. Each of the five baptisms revealed in Scripture carries a specific and necessary spiritual force. They are not interchangeable and they are not merely symbolic.
Fill in the Blanks
1. The writer of Hebrews calls the doctrine of baptisms part of the principles of Christ - the foundational beginning things.
2. There are baptisms revealed in Scripture, each carrying a specific and necessary spiritual force.
The Five Baptisms
| # | Baptism | Core Purpose (fill in) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water Baptism | |
| 2 | Holy Spirit Baptism | |
| 3 | Fire Baptism | |
| 4 | Baptism into His Death | |
| 5 | Baptism into His Sufferings |
Section 2 - Baptism One: Water Baptism
Section Two
By the Law of First Mention, this first occurrence of baptism in Scripture establishes two permanent elements: immersion in water and confession of sins.
Fill in the Blanks
3. The name "Jordan" means to bring low or to . Water baptism is, at its core, an act of humility.
4. Water baptism is a public that you have rejected what you were and are taking on something entirely new - a life determination before God and the watching world.
5. In many nations, you can confess Jesus without consequence, but the moment you are , you can be arrested. Those authorities understand what it truly means.
6. Water baptism is the to die to self.
The Missing Element: Confession of Sins
Matthew 3:6 says the people came "confessing their sins." By the Law of First Mention, water baptism is forever joined to the public confession of sins. This is the biggest missing element in the modern church. Specific, public confession produces what blanket prayers do not.
Fill in the Blanks
7. Psalm 32:5 shows that forgiveness did not come until after the . The Bible says if you confess, not merely if you feel sorry.
8. Charles Finney taught people to make a of every specific sin - not a blanket prayer, but item by item, as God brought things to remembrance.
9. As long as we have even the slightest blame placed anywhere outside ourselves, we will not find full .
Your Reflection
Section 3 - Baptism Two: Holy Spirit Baptism
Section Three
Fill in the Blanks
10. The Greek word for "witness" in Acts 1:8 is martus, from which we get the English word - one who dies for what they believe.
11. The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives you the power to become a - the power to die to self.
12. Peter had the words, had seen and performed miracles, but at the crucifixion he Jesus three times because he lacked the power to lay down his life.
13. In John 21, when Jesus asked Peter "Do you love Me?" the first two times Jesus used the word (unconditional, self-giving love), but Peter could only answer with (human affection).
14. Holy Spirit baptism is the to die to self.
The Sequence: Water baptism is the decision to die to self. Holy Spirit baptism is the power to die to self. That is the sequence, and both are necessary. Without dying to self we will never truly walk in resurrection power.
Your Reflection
Section 4 - Baptism Three: Fire Baptism
Section Four
Fill in the Blanks
15. By the Law of First Mention, fire first appears in Genesis 19:24 with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - fire came for and purification.
16. The baptism of fire penetrates not the surface areas you know about, but the things - the hidden motives and impurities buried so deep you do not even recognize them as sin.
17. When Isaiah saw God on His throne, his immediate response was: "Woe is me, for I am !" The fire of God's holiness exposed what could not otherwise be seen.
18. The fire makes impurities so they can be confessed, washed by the blood, and dealt with.
Do not run from it: There will be times in the fire when you feel so exposed before God you will question whether you are even saved - not because you are unsaved, but because He is bringing hidden things to the surface. Let the fire do its work. God is preparing a purified bride.
Your Reflection
Section 5 - Baptism Four: Baptism into His Death
Section Five
Fill in the Blanks
19. Baptism into His death is the logical destination of the first three: water baptism is the decision, Holy Spirit baptism is the power, fire baptism purges the hidden - and baptism into His death is the place of full of self.
20. Paul writes: "I have been with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).
21. We live in an era consumed with , but God is calling His church to exactly the opposite: die to your ambitions, preferences, comfort, and reputation.
22. Jesus said: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and , it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (John 12:24).
Death produces life. You cannot experience the resurrection without first embracing the crucifixion. Without this dying process there will be no eternal fruit. True fruit is when we take on the nature of Jesus, fully yielded to do and pray according to the will of the Father.
Your Reflection
Section 6 - Baptism Five: Baptism into His Sufferings
Section Six
Fill in the Blanks
23. The baptism into Christ's sufferings is the baptism into paying the of your calling.
24. When God sent Ananias to the newly converted Saul, He did not tell him about all the nations Saul would reach. He said: "Go and tell him the things which he must ." The sufferings were part of the calling.
25. God is not calling you to duplicate the exact pattern of another person's life - He is calling you to pick up cross, specific to your calling and destiny.
26. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:10 that the sufferings result in the of Jesus being made manifest in our bodies. Suffering and resurrection are inseparable.
Personal Application
Section 7 - The Five Baptisms in Summary
Section Seven
These five baptisms are the path of preparation that God has always used to bring His people into the fullness of resurrection power and Christ-like character. The writer of Hebrews called them baby food - the elementary beginning things. Yet how rarely are they taught in full.
| Baptism | What It Is | Key Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Water | Public humility & confession of sin | Decision to die to self |
| 2. Holy Spirit | Supernatural empowerment | Power to die to self |
| 3. Fire | Purification of hidden impurities | Deepest cleansing |
| 4. His Death | Full relinquishment of self | Resurrection life of Christ |
| 5. His Sufferings | Paying the price of calling | Life of Jesus manifested |
27. The five baptisms together lead through into the fullness of power and Christ-like character.
Final Reflection
Lesson 8 - Practice Test
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Part A: Multiple Choice (5 questions · 2 pts each)
1. The first appearance of baptism in Scripture (Law of First Mention) establishes two permanent elements. What are they?
2. The Greek word martus (witness in Acts 1:8) gives us the English word "martyr." What does this reveal about the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
3. By the Law of First Mention, what does the first appearance of fire in Scripture (Genesis 19:24) reveal about the baptism of fire?
4. According to Romans 6:3-4, what is the purpose of being baptized into Christ's death?
5. When God sent Ananias to the newly converted Saul of Tarsus, what did He tell Ananias to share?
Part B: True or False (6 statements · 1 pt each)
1. Water baptism is merely a symbolic act with no real spiritual power or consequence.
2. Speaking in tongues is the primary proof and full purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
3. The baptism of fire is a comfortable glory experience that produces delight and excitement in the believer.
4. Dying to self (baptism into His death) leads directly to the resurrection life of Christ rising up within the believer.
5. The baptism of suffering means you must duplicate the exact spiritual disciplines of great men and women of faith you admire.
6. According to 2 Corinthians 4:10-11, the sufferings of Christ result in the life of Jesus being manifested in our bodies.
Part C: Fill in the Blank (5 items · 1 pt each)
1. The name "Jordan" means to bring low or to . Water baptism is an act of humility.
2. Water baptism is the to die to self; Holy Spirit baptism is the to die to self.
3. The baptism of fire causes hidden impurities to so they can be confessed and dealt with.
4. Paul says in Galatians 2:20: "I have been with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."
5. The baptism into His sufferings is the baptism into paying the price of your .
Part D: Short Answer (completion credit)
1. Explain the sequence of the first two baptisms (water and Holy Spirit) and why both are necessary.
2. What does the lesson teach about the role of specific, public confession of sins in water baptism? Why does blanket prayer not produce the same result?
3. How are suffering and resurrection connected in the five baptisms? What does 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 reveal about the purpose of the baptism of suffering?
Part E - Before You Leave
Which of the five baptisms is God most actively working in my life right now, and what does yielding to it look like practically?
One area of self - ambition, preference, comfort, reputation - that I sense God calling me to lay down:
My commitment this week: