The author of the Book of Hebrews identifies six Elementary Doctrines that are the required foundation for the life of every believer. 

 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  And God permitting we will do so.  (Hebrews 6: 1-3 NIV). 

The Elementary Doctrines are the building blocks of the culture of Heaven, meant to be cultivated in the life of every believer.  The study and understanding of these doctrines lay the foundation of a believers' education that is required before one can go on to maturity.  One must exercise much care to study and understand these doctrines.  They form the basis of understanding of Scripture and revelation.  The result is the maturing and functioning corporate Body of Christ that is capable of presenting a standard of righteousness in the earth.   

The Elementary Doctrine of baptisms contains four distinct baptisms: 
1: Baptism in water (see Rom. 6:1-2 NIV).
2: The baptism of or with the Spirit (see Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5 NIV).
3: The baptism by the Spirit (see 1Co. 12:12-13 NIV). 
4: The baptism of fire, also known as the baptism of suffering (see Luke 3:16; 1Co. 3:13; Acts 2:3 NIV).  

Baptisms, in Scripture, are administrative processes of change and require an administrator.  They are the procedures, both symbolic and experiential, that establish one's position in the Body of Christ with gifts and a calling. 

Stages of believers' lives are not identical, and neither are the baptisms' administrations of change.  The order in which a person experiences each of the four baptisms follows the spiritual condition of the individual.  In Scripture, some were first baptized with the Holy Spirit (a baptism of power), before they were baptized in water (a change of ones location from the kingdom of darkness to the rule of Christ).  Others were first baptized with water followed by the baptism of the Spirit.  The baptism of fire is administered at different times in the life of a believer and is associated with growth and progress toward spiritual maturity.  The baptism by the Spirit is the assembling of all believers into one body and occurs when the person is born again of the Spirit.  

Instructions about baptisms are vitally important.  Each baptism affects the position of the believer with respect to the heavenly realms. They affect the person’s own destiny, their identity to Body of Christ, and the person’s positioning, and maturity, as a son of God.  

Teachings on baptisms may be found within Maturing Through Sonship, The Elementary Doctrines or Advanced Theology Series, or refer to Books by Sam Soleyn, The Elementary Doctrines, Chapter 3: Baptisms, available on this app.