Question: My pastor claims that baptism can only involve water, but isn’t the same word used for other kinds of baptism in the Scriptures?
Response: Never does the Bible say that the Holy Spirit baptizes us only in water. The word in Greek (baptizo) simply means that we have been “immersed” or “placed into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit,” not that we have been baptized in water by the Holy Spirit. In many scriptures, baptism doesn’t mean “in water,” such as the baptism in the Holy Ghost and in fire (Matthew:3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
See All..., Mark:10:38-39 [38] But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
[39] And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
See All..., Luke:12:50But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
See All..., Acts:1:5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
See All..., 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, and Galatians:3:27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
See All...).
As for baptismal regeneration, Nicodemus knew that water in the Old Testament was used for cleansing both physically and as a symbol of the spiritual cleansing that would come through the Messiah, and through heeding God’s Word. Thus Paul wrote of the “washing of water by the word” [of God] (Ephesians:5:26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
See All...) and the “washing of regeneration” (Titus:3:5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
See All...). Peter stated that we are born again “by the word of God” (1 Peter:1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
See All...). Paul baptized very few of the Corinthian believers, yet he calls himself their father and explains, “I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians:4:15For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
See All...). Paul had been the means of their salvation without baptizing them, which would have been impossible if baptism were essential to salvation. On the contrary, we are saved by believing the gospel, and nowhere does it say that baptism is part of the gospel.