Baptist and Baptism

Paul mentions belief does not automatically assure that a person has been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" (Acts 19:1-6) Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit is a requirement for a person to be considered a child of God. (Rom. 8:9) The experience of the 12 Ephesus disciples was not to establish a church. Also consider the Samaritan's experience speaks to the same truth. People can hear and believe the gospel message, and even be baptized in water, yet they may still need to receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost.

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women...
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

...The other main thing is .. when was Saul converted? At this point or earlier?
...

When asked what Jesus required of him, Saul was sent to wait for Ananias at the street called Straight. There is no coincidences in God's word. Consider references to straight and what they imply... Strait is the gate, (Matt. 7:13-14) ...Make straight the way for the Lord (John 1:23)

"And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (Acts 8:6)

After the encounter, Saul was three days without sight. (Acts 8:9)

The Lord told Ananias,"...Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul.
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."

Saul/Paul's experience speaks to words Jesus spoke in John 3:3-5. Unless a man is born again he cannot SEE the kingdom, and unless he is born of water and Spirit he cannot ENTER the kingdom. (John 3:3-5)

As such, the conclusion becomes obvious, Saul was not converted on the road to Damascus. Yes, he believed it was the resurrected Christ Jesus who appeared to him. However, he like all others was required to believe and obey God's established means of being born again in association with Jesus' sacrifice. The gospel of Christ provides steps of faith required of all whether Jew or Gentile. Scripture reveals repentance, (Luke 13) remission of sin, (Mark 1:1-5, Luke 3:3) and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11) must occur for the NT believer to be born again. (John 3:3-5, Acts 2:36-42, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7, 22:16)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For THEREIN is the righteousness of God revealed from FAITH TO FAITH: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Rom. 1:16-17

Well thanks for the reply. But John 3 regarding Nicodemus is regarding water of the womb.. at birth.. not water baptism. The reason? Because that is what Nicodemus meant and Jesus didn't correct him.. but added being born again by the Spirit.

Secondly, most other refs to salvation in the book of John have no baptism. So the odds are neither does this verse regarding Nicodemus.

Lastly.. what does Paul say about his own conversion? He refers not to the baptism experience but earlier.

it always amazes me how they use John 3 as proof text. yet not once in John 3, when Jesus told Nicodemus HOW to be born again, did he mention the word baptize..