Is baptism an act of spiritual warfare? In the second episode of our two-part baptism series, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell move from baptism as identity and covenant into the biblical themes of allegiance, the unseen realm, spiritual warfare, and Christ's victory over the powers. The conversation centers on 1 Peter 3:18–22, one of the New Testament's most challenging passages. Why does Peter connect Christ's death and resurrection with Noah, the Flood, the “spirits in prison,” baptism, and the subjection of angels, authorities, and powers? Drawing on Michael Heiser's supernatural worldview, this episode considers how Genesis 6, Noah, and the Flood fit within Scripture's larger story of spiritual rebellion and divine judgment. But the focus isn't ultimately on the powers. It's on Christ's victory over the powers. Baptism therefore takes on a powerful dimension of allegiance. The believer publicly declares: Jesus is Lord. I belong to Him. I identify with His death and resurrection. My allegiance belongs to His kingdom. For Pentecostal and Charismatic believers, this creates an opportunity to think more deeply about baptism without turning the water into something magical or treating baptism as a substitute for deliverance, discipleship, or spiritual formation. Baptism is spiritual warfare not because the water defeats the enemy, but because baptism publicly declares allegiance to the King who has already defeated the enemy. The episode also explores baptismal renunciation in the early Church, the believer as a “mobile temple,” the royal-priesthood calling of God's people, deliverance, and the way the Five Gifts of Christ equip the Church for kingdom mission. Ultimately, baptism calls us to live what we have declared: Jesus is Lord. And the question is: Does the way I live demonstrate the allegiance I declared? — What if baptism is an act of spiritual warfare? Not because the water is magical. Not because getting baptized automatically defeats demons. But because baptism is a public declaration of allegiance. In the newest episode of The Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell go deeper into baptism and the unseen realm through the strange and fascinating language of 1 Peter 3:18–22. Why does Peter connect: 🌊 Noah and the Flood 👁️ The “spirits in prison” ⚔️ Spiritual powers ✝️ Christ's death and resurrection 💧 Baptism 👑 The exaltation of Jesus Drawing on Michael Heiser's supernatural worldview, we explore Genesis 6, Noah, spiritual rebellion, Christ's victory, and the significance of baptism as a declaration of kingdom allegiance. Baptism says: Jesus is Lord. I belong to Him. My old allegiance no longer defines me. I identify with His death and resurrection. I belong to His kingdom. And here's the distinction we want Pentecostal and Charismatic believers to consider: Baptism is spiritual warfare not because the water defeats the enemy, but because baptism publicly declares allegiance to the King who has already defeated the enemy. The water doesn't contain the victory. It declares the victory. So here's the question: What does your baptism say about your allegiance—and does the way you live demonstrate the allegiance you declared? Listen to Episode 2 of our baptism series and share it with someone who wants to go deeper into the biblical theology of baptism, the unseen realm, and spiritual warfare. And yes… If Episode 1 made a splash, Episode 2 gets deep. #FiveGiftsPodcast #Baptism #ChristianBaptism #SpiritualWarfare #UnseenRealm #MichaelHeiser #Genesis6 #1Peter3 #Noah #Pentecostal #Charismatic #HolySpirit #FivefoldMinistry #ServantLeadership #ChristianLeadership