Good question. For the Jews who were under the Kingdom Gospel, water baptism was the mechanism for the remission of sins AND the filling of Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For us who are now under the Gospel of Grace:
2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
See the differences? Those under the Kingdom Gospel are nowhere said to be sealed by Holy Spirit through water baptism. Jesus said of them that they will have to "endure unto the end" to be saved. That never was applied to us under the Gospel of Grace. For us, it is not by water baptism, but by simply believing in the death, burial and resurrection on the third day of Christ Jesus. I just like to point that out for the benefit of others who have never read these passages carefully enough to pick up on the elements within.
Ephesians 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...
See that everyone? The gospel of our salvation is not through baptism, but simply believing, which then seals us with Holy Spirit. Nothing that we may DO through effort or will can ever replace what is given simply on the basis of faith in what Christ Jesus accomplished on the cross as an offer to all of mankind, and within which we are sealed, given the EARNEST of the spirit, which is very much like economics and earnest money. The Greek term has the same parallel meaning, in that we receive and EARNEST of Holy Spirit, guaranteeing our salvation that those who will fall under the Kingdom Gospel will not have should they fail to persevere.
For those under the Kingdom Gospel, water WAS the required beginning for them, and it was also a matter of obedience. Those who would refuse to be water baptized did not receive remission of sins nor Holy Spirit until they obediently were baptized; just as Noah, had he not obeyed the Lord in building the ark, well, he was subject to drowning until he obeyed.
The spirit baptism is indeed an amazing event in the life of a believer. Amen.
MM
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For us who are now under the Gospel of Grace:
2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
See the differences? Those under the Kingdom Gospel are nowhere said to be sealed by Holy Spirit through water baptism. Jesus said of them that they will have to "endure unto the end" to be saved. That never was applied to us under the Gospel of Grace. For us, it is not by water baptism, but by simply believing in the death, burial and resurrection on the third day of Christ Jesus. I just like to point that out for the benefit of others who have never read these passages carefully enough to pick up on the elements within.
Ephesians 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...
See that everyone? The gospel of our salvation is not through baptism, but simply believing, which then seals us with Holy Spirit. Nothing that we may DO through effort or will can ever replace what is given simply on the basis of faith in what Christ Jesus accomplished on the cross as an offer to all of mankind, and within which we are sealed, given the EARNEST of the spirit, which is very much like economics and earnest money. The Greek term has the same parallel meaning, in that we receive and EARNEST of Holy Spirit, guaranteeing our salvation that those who will fall under the Kingdom Gospel will not have should they fail to persevere.
For those under the Kingdom Gospel, water WAS the required beginning for them, and it was also a matter of obedience. Those who would refuse to be water baptized did not receive remission of sins nor Holy Spirit until they obediently were baptized; just as Noah, had he not obeyed the Lord in building the ark, well, he was subject to drowning until he obeyed.
The spirit baptism is indeed an amazing event in the life of a believer. Amen.
MM