Water Baptism vs Spiritual Baptism

BrotherJJ said:

Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
(MY NOTE: John the Baptist is sent to preach, the Baptism of Repentance to All the People of ISRAEL. John's mission was to: """Prepare the way for the coming LORD""". See Isa 40:3, Matt 3:3, Mk 1:3, Lk 3:4.)

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on the One that would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(MY NOTE: John the Baptist is sent to ISREAL to preach, the Baptism of Repentance. John's foretold mission was to: "Prepare the way for the coming LORD". John proclaimed: believe on him which should come after John, that is, on Christ Jesus. Through whom remission/pardon of sin would be realized.)

Water baptism was a commandment given by Jesus, Peter & others.

Emblem definition: a symbolic representation of a particular quality or concept.

Water baptism isn't the first breath of one's new spiritual life/birth. Water baptism is an outward Emblem/symbolic representation. A public statement of belonging to the Lord, self denial, when immersed (buried emblem) & rise up (resurrection emblem). Water baptism isn't about getting saved, it's a response to salvation.

You're publicly partaking in a commanded act of obedience/a gateway to discipleship. This undertaking is an outward physical expression, of the inner spiritual transformation you received, when Christ baptized you with His eternal life giving Holy Spirit.

Jesus also commanded partaking in communion. Although both these actions are commanded. Neither action is the doorway leading to eternal salvation. These events follow the salvation sealing Holy Spirit baptism, performed by Christ alone. See Matt 3:11, Lk 3:16, Mk 1:8, Jn 1:33, Acts 1:4-5, 2:38, 10:45, 11:16)

Jn 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
(MY NOTE: It's Jesus Holy Spirit that gives born again spiritual life. Not any physical act one does)

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
(MY NOTE: For by "ONE SPIRIT" we are "ALL" "BAPTIZED" "INTO ONE BODY! Translators capitalized Spirit to identify when referring the Holy Spirit. Only Christ can baptize with HIS salvation sealing forever indwelling Holy Spirit.)

Spiritual baptism is the event where, through repentance > from unbelief to belief/FAITH. Placed in Jesus sacrificial sin atoning death & resurrection. The believer is FOREVER (Jn 14:16) indwelt/BAPTIZED via Christ's salvation SEALNG (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, 2 Tim 1:14), eternal life giving (Jn 10:28) Holy Spirit!

Spiritual baptism doesn't require any hands or H2O.

Col 2:11 In whom also ""ye are circumcised with the circumcision"" ""made without hands"", in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh ""by the circumcision of Christ""
(MY NOTE: The baptism of the ETERNALLY SEALING (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, Eph 4:4) FOREVER INDWELLING (Jn14:16) Holy Spirit is a ""Spiritual Circumcision Covenant"" done ""by Christ Alone"", WITHOUT HANDS & WITHOUT WATER.)

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
(MY NOTE: Circumcision of the heart, in the spirit)

Deut 30:6 (A) the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart,

Col 2:
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
(MY NOTE: ""IN Him"". Find Spiritual connections Jn 17:20,21,22,23.)

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
(MY NOTE: KJV Dictionary Definition: Complete, 1.) Having no deficiency; perfect. And ye are complete in him who is the head of all principality and power. Col 2:10. The believer is made complete/perfect, by Faith ""IN Him"")

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
(MY NOTE: OT circumcision covenant was a physical sign of belonging to God's chosen covenant people. Spiritual circumcision covenant is divine, ""made without hands"", internal ""IN Him/IN you"" & transformative. This Spiritual circumcision is performed by Christ. A covenantal break from the old order sin nature, it's success enabled by by Christ' Holy Spirit now dwelling ""IN you""!)

SEALED
2 Tim 1:14 The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you
(MY NOTE: The Holy Spirit dwelling within us > PRESENT TENSE. Is God's good deposit/down payment)

2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the "earnest" of the Spirit
(MY NOTE: God has > PAST TENSE, given us the earnest/Holy Spirit/a down payment/pledge DONE DEAL)

2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
(MY NOTE: God has given the believer > PAST TENSE/DONE DEAL. The EARNEST = DEPOSIT/PLEDGE/PROMISE/SEAL)

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(MY NOTE: The gospel/good news of your salvation: you believed & were > PAST TENSE SEALED/DONE DEAL! With/by God's salvation sealing Holy Spirit promise)

Eph1:14 Which is the "earnest" of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
(MY NOTE: The Holy Spirit by which only Christ baptizes. SEALS & FOREVER [Jn 14:16] indwells us. Is God's earnest = a down payment/pledge)

Eph 4:30 grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are "sealed" unto the day of redemption
(MY NOTE: Believers are SEALED until their next unrepentant sin? NO! SEALED until the day they receive their heavenly body. Christ's indwelling Holy Spirit, is Christ's pledge/promise that he will come for every believer. Jews received this "Promise" at the Acts 2 Pentecost, gentiles at Acts 10 Cornelius. And now any/every Jew of gentile that repents (from unbelief to belief) in Christ' death & resurrection. Is given/receives "IS SEALED" with the salvation sealing H/S. Promise)

Additional recourses:
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words: Salvation
[ A-1,Noun,G4991, soteria ]
(b) of the spiritual and eternal deliverance granted immediately by God to those who accept His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, in whom alone it is to be obtained, Acts 4:12, and upon confession of Him as Lord, Romans 10:10; for this purpose the gospel is the saving instrument, Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:13 (See further under SAVE);
Salvation - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

(MY NOTE: "ETERNAL DELIVERANCE GRANTED IMMEDIATELY" by God. To those who accept His conditions of repentance (from unbelief to belief) & faith in the Lord Jesus death & resurrection)

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words: Seal - (Noun and Verb)
[ B-1,Verb,G4972, sphragizo ]
(d) ownership and security, together with destination, Revelation 7:3-Revelation 7:5 (as with the noun in Revelation 7:2; See A); the same three indications are conveyed in Ephesians 1:13, in the metaphor of the "sealing" of believers by the gift of the Holy Spirit, upon believing (i.e., at the time of their regeneration, not after a lapse of time in their spiritual life, "having also believed," not as AV, "after that ye believed;" the aorist participle marks the definiteness and completeness of the act of faith); the idea of destination is stressed by the phrase "the Holy Spirit of promise" (See also Ephesians 1:14); so Ephesians 4:30, "ye were sealed unto the day of redemption;" so in 2 Corinthians 1:22, where the Middle Voice intimates the special interest of the Sealer in His act;
Seal (Noun and Verb) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

(NY NOTE: The SEAL is a promise/sign/seal of Ownership & Security. Conveyed in Eph 1:13, in the metaphor of the "SEALING" of believer, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Action upon believing/at the time of their regeneration, NOT after a lapse of time in their spiritual life)

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: EARNEST -
(Noun) [ 1,,G728, arrabon ]
originally, earnest-money" deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed, was probably a Phoenician word, introduced into Greece. In general usage it came to denote "a pledge" or "earnest" of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine "pledge" of all their future blessedness, 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; in Ephesians 1:14, particularly of their eternal inheritance. In the Sept., Genesis 38:17-Genesis 38:18, Genesis 38:20. In modern Greek arrabona is an "engagement ring."
Earnest (Noun) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

(MY NOTE: Denotes "a pledge or deposit by the purchaser". Christ/God the Son is the church purchaser (1 Cor 7:23, 2 pet 2:1, Mat 20:28, Mar 10:45, 1 Tim 2:6). Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. In modern Greek arrabona is an "ENGAGEMENT RING". The Holy Spirit deposited in-us 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, Eph 1:14 is an "ENGAGEMENT RING".)

During Jesus time an engagement/BETROTHAL was a legally binding contract. Marking the start of the marriage covenant. To show commitment the groom paid a bride price (Mohar). Jesus/our Bridegroom paid the ultimate price (1 Cor 6:20, 7:23, Acts 20:28, Eph 1:14). Hallelujah, praise the Lord, thank you Jesus. AMEN & Amen.

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BrotherJJ said:

John the Baptist's purpose & baptism were preparatory, not remissive. His repeatedly stated mission was to prepare the way of the Lord (Mal 3:1, Matt 3:3, Mark 1:2–3). His "baptism of repentance" was a call for Israel to return to God (Strong’s H7725 — https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7725.htm)—an outward & inward cleansing that prepared the people to meet their long‑promised Messiah who alone would forgive sins. John, Jesus & Peter spoke Aramaic & Hebrew, where "repent" meant: ISRAEL return to GOD! Not the later Greek idea of "change your mind."

Acts 19:4 confirms this: "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
(NOTE: John preached to ISRAEL, "You're off course repent/return & believe in the 1 coming after me," Messiah, who alone will/can remit & pardon sins.)

John's water baptism did not remove or remit sin. "Nothing external removes sin." Israel's sacrificial system dealt with sin only by covering it. It did not remove or forgive sin. Once a year the high priest offered innocent animal blood sacrifices for the whole nation, but these sacrifices only covered sin & only for 1 year. The process had to be repeated annually..

Water baptism does not remit or pardon sin. Repentance does not remit or pardon sin. Obedience does not remit or pardon sin. Sabbath observance does not remit or pardon sin. Tithing does not remit or pardon sin. "Nothing external removes sin."

What removes sin, how & why:
Only faith & faith alone-placed in the finished, sin‑redeeming death & resurrection of the Lord Jesus-brings forgiveness. All glory, all credit, all praise belongs to our great God & Savior, Jesus the Christ.

The Word became flesh (Jn 1:1, 14 & Rev 19:13), born of a woman (Gal 4:4) by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:18-25 & Luke 1:26-38). His humanity was real & His blood was sinless (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Jn 3:5; 1 Pet 1:19; 1 Pet 2:22).

Scripture is clear: "Without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb 9:22). Jesus said, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt 26:28). Revelation affirms the same: He washed us from our sins in His own blood (Rev 1:5).

Hebrews identifies the Lord Jesus as our great High Priest (Heb 4:14), called by God after the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:10). Under the Old Covenant, the pattern was sin-imputation by the high priest. In Leviticus 16:21, Aaron laid both hands on the substitute, confessed the sins of the nation, transferring-imputing-those sins onto the innocent victim. That was the foreshadow.

Jesus is the fulfillment.

Jesus is the mediator of the New Testament (Heb 9:15 & 12:24), our great High Priest (Heb 4:14) & the One who offered Himself as the sacrifice (Matt 26:53). The risen Christ is the New Covenant High Priest who performs the real sin-transfer.

When we call on the name of the Lord (Acts 2:21 & Rom 10:13) & place our faith in Jesus' sin-atoning death & resurrection, He forgives all our sins (Heb 10:10–18) & imputes our sins onto Himself (Heb 10:10; 2 Cor 5:19; Rom 4:8, 11, 22–24). At that same moment, He places His forever (Jn 14:16), salvation‑sealing (Eph 1:13–14; 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; 2 Tim 1:14) indwelling Holy Spirit in you.

Anyone can dunk someone into a pool of water. Only Jesus, who knows the true heart of man, can baptize-place-His Holy Spirit in-you. Jesus then imputes His righteousness to us (2 Cor 5:21, Ja 2:23 & Isa 61:10), the very righteousness pictured as the white robe in Revelation 19:7–8 that grants us entrance to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Finally:
The only thing that removes sin from the soul is faith placed in the finished, sacrificial, sin‑atoning work of our great God & Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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