Buried with Him in Baptism

Colossians 2:12-13 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses 

‘Buried with him in baptism.’ Baptism is by burial or immersion (Matt. 3:11). This does not refer to water baptism, but to the baptism into Christ and into His body by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-10; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27). Water baptism is a symbol or figure of this spiritual baptism (1Pet. 3:21).

There are seven baptisms in Scripture: [1] John’s baptism in water (Matt. 3:1-17; Mark 1:1-45; Luke 3:1-38; 7:29-30; John 1:31-33; 3:23-26; 10:40; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:3); [2] Christ’s baptism in water (John 3:22; 4:1-2); [3] Baptism in suffering (Luke 12:50); [4] Baptism in the cloud and the sea (1Cor. 10:2); [5] Christian baptism in water (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12-16, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; 1Cor. 1:13-17; 1Pet. 3:21); [6] Baptism into Christ and into His body (Rom. 6:3-7; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12); [7] Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11, 14; 20:22-23; Mark 1:8; 10:38-39; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; 7:37-39; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:2-3).

Three baptisms are for believers: [1] Into Christ or into His body at repentance and the new birth (pt. 6). Called “one baptism” (Eph. 4:5), because it is the only baptism that saves the soul and brings into the body of Christ. [2] Water baptism after one is saved (pt. 5). [3] Spirit baptism, is the enduement of power for service. It can take place before water baptism (Acts 10:44-48) or after it (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-11; 8:12-21; 19:1-7).

The Holy Spirit is the agent to baptize into Christ and into His body (1Cor. 12:13); Christ is the agent to baptize in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; John 1:31-33); and the minister is the agent to baptize into water (Matt. 28:19).

‘Wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.’ This baptism refers to the spiritual resurrection from death in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-9). It is an operation of God, not of a preacher who baptizes in water (2Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:1-10; Gal. 3:27). It is made effective through the faith of the operation of God, not through the operation of others.

‘You, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.’ This verse is the same in doctrine as Ephesians 2:1, 5, 11, proving that this baptism is not the one in water by a minister. It is God here that quickens or resurrects from death in trespasses and sins. No minister can do this by water.