You are adding to Scripture. Water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are different. Water symbolizes God's word(Eph 5:26). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we believe the gospel(Eph 1:13). To be born again, one must e born of the spirit and God's Word.
you can't quote any Scripture that uses water/Spirit baptism.
The Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and no one was baptized with water then.
You're missing the point. One is being baptized into Moses; one is being baptized into Jesus. We do not go through the water. We are either dunked or sprinkled depending on the denomination.
It is God's word that cleans us, not man's water---Jn 15:3
I'm not adding to scripture.
The scriptures you provide don't negate the ones I've posted.
Where does scripture say that you must be born of God's word? How is that accomplished?
John 3:
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God
as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
-I don't see how things get clearer than that.
Acts 2:
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard
this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter
said to them,
“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
-The Spirit was given AFTER water baptism here.
Comparing that to Eph. 1:13...is there a contradiction? Do some people get the Spirit after they believe and others after they are baptized?
No.
The key to all of this is understanding the proper definition of FAITH as well as understanding that ALL of God's word is worthy of instruction (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter exactly when one receives the Spirit--what matters is that we're doing God's will.
But time and time again throughout the NT, God makes it clear that baptism in water is an essential part of accepting His gift of grace.
We shouldn't be looking at this like a check-list. When God says to do something, we should do it.
God says that when you are baptized, you: put on Christ; receive the Spirit; are forgiven of sins.
But it's not the water that saves, it's the fact that you are DOING WHAT GOD SAID IN FAITH. Just like Abraham or Noah. It's not necessarily about the
specifics of what we do, it's just the general principal of
obeying God's commands.
If we really
believe God, we will learn that He wants us to confess Christ, repent of our sins, and be baptized in water as a symbol for dying to our old selves and receiving the Spirit to walk in newness of life.
I would argue that Ephesians 1:13 is in fact talking about the whole process...it's talking about having a working faith. It's much easier to just say "believe" then list out everything they did.
And I'll also repeat that i'm not saying baptism alone saves--i'm saying the whole process including baptism saves. Because that's what the bible says.
Let's look at an interesting passage:
Acts 10:
"44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47
“Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days."
Just like in Acts 2, yes we see the Holy Spirit being out-poured before water baptism.
But let's think about this. Why was it being given? Why was water baptism commanded if they had already been given the Spirit? Was the Spirit that was given in vs. 44 a move of SALVATION? How would we know?
-The Spirit was out-poured because it was to show God's working power among the gentiles and that He would save them just like the His chosen people.
-I'm not necessarily convinced the Spirit given here means that they were saved. Did you receive miraculous gifts when you believed in Jesus? Were you able to immediately speak in tongues?
Jesus used the Spirit to perform miracles...but were those who were physically healed or fed saved spiritually? Not necessarily--they still had to abide in the teachings of Christ.
-You might say they were baptized in water as an outward sign of an inward disposition or something like that--but why would they need to do that? If they were saved, water baptism might seem like a silly (and empty) ritual like something out of the old covenant. If they were saved at believing and had the Holy Spirit and could speak in tongues, wouldn't that be an outward sign of an inward disposition? Or couldn't they just confess Jesus verbally and that be adequate? That's because there is a great significance in being dunked into water--it's for our benefit (our conscience per 1 Peter 3:21) and it shows God that we're serious about following Him.
-If the Spirit of salvation is given at belief, then how do we reconcile the fact that demons believe in Jesus as the Son of God? (James 2:19). Are the evil spirits/demons saved, and have the Holy Spirit because they believe? That's silly, they are terrors! The opposite of what the Light is.
The more plausible conclusion is that it's not until after we repent and are baptized that we show God we truly do believe and He grants us forgiveness and salvation by the Holy Spirit by His grace.
We have to take ALL the passages about salvation and look at them as all pieces to one big puzzle.
