We believe the New Testament teaches at least three baptisms. First, there is the baptism whereby the repentant sinner, upon trusting Jesus Christ as his saviour, is baptised by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13;

 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Secondly, there is water baptism by immersion for believers only. This we believe to be an ordinance of the church, whereby the believer experiences the reality of co-crucifixion and co-resurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20;

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Romans 6:3-6;

³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Thirdly, there is the filling or baptism in the Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ, which may occur at or subsequent to conversion. We believe that speaking in tongues as the spirit give the utterance is the normative evidence of this baptism. Further, we believe that by the believer’s continued submission of the Holy Spirit, his very weakness is transformed into strength to witness for Jesus Christ in power, and to live according to the will of God.

Acts 1:5-6;

⁵ For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 10:46;

 For they heard them speaking in tongues^[a] and praising God.

Acts 11:28;

One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)

Acts 19:6;

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues^[a] and prophesied.