This term.. has been taken to mean a whole lot of things but what is it really?
Penny for your thoughts
This Holy Spirit baptism is our only means of salvation
Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
(NOTE: John the Baptist say's Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Ghost)
Christ & Christ alone can baptize with the Holy Ghost. This is a spititual covenantal circumcision done without water or hands Col 2:11.
Deut 30:6 (A) The LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart
John's repeated stated purpose: PREPARE the way of the Lord: Mal 3:1, Matt 3:3, Mk 1:2, Mk 1:3, Lk 3:4.
John's BAPTISM of REPENTANCE: Change your mind & direction towards God. Purify/wash/clean yourself-up outside & inside in PREPARATION of meeting your long time promised Messiah. Who will remiss/forgive/pardon your sins.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, 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 the Baptist is sent to preach, the BAPTISM of REPENTANCE. That they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Who would remitt/forgive/pardon their sins.)
Water baptism doesn't remiss sin, repentance doesn't remiss sin, obedience doesn't remiss sin, sabbath observance doesn't remiss sin, tithing doesn't remiss sin.
Faith & Faith alone, placed in the finished sin redemptive work & resurrection of Christ. Is the only way anyone's sins are remissed/pardoned! All the credit, all the glory, all the praise belongs to our great God & Savior, Jesus the Christ!
John's water baptism didn't remove sin. The Jew had a sacrificial system that delt with/covered (NOT REMOVED or FORGAVE SIN) Once a year the High Priest made sacrifices for the whole nation. Anyone could bring a personal (5 different types) sin sacrifice to the Temple. Again, these sacrifices only covered sin & only for 1 yr.
John the Baptist proclaimed:
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
(NOTE: Behold the Lamb of God, which TAKES AWAY the sin of the world)
Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
(NOTE: John say's Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Ghost)
Additional backgroud:
ABLUTION - JewishEncyclopedia.com jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/338-ablution
There are three kinds of Ablution recognized in Biblical and rabbinical law: (1) Washing of the hands, (2) washing of the hands and feet, and (3) immersion of the whole body in water.
Jacob receives PREPATATION instructions before meeting the Lord at the alter
Gen 35:
1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God,
2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
(NOTE: Jacob was to PREPARE/wash-up & change his cloths before meeting the Lord at the alter)
Levitical law required PREPATATION purifying/washing on many occasions.
The Lord gives Moses PREPATATION instructions before meeting the Lord on the morrow.
Ex 19:
9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.
(NOTE: The Lord tells Moses I will appear is a thick cloud & speak to the people)
10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
(NOTE: In preparation of meeting me, have the people clean & ready to meet me)
14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
(NOTE: Moses carries out the Lords PREPATATION instructions)