Water Baptism Vs Holy Spirit Baptism

A study of acts 1 3 8 shows the following points about holy spirit baptism.

Water baptism vs holy spirit baptism. I d also like to define what the baptism of the holy spirit is. Most people who claim holy spirit baptism today also practice water baptism. Yet three verses later i think. If as you say water baptism and the infilling of the holy spirit go hand in hand then those whom john baptized must also have been filled with the holy spirit.

Spirit baptism brings about our salvation. The baptism of the holy spirit is an historic event that ushered in a new age. Spirit baptism brings about our salvation. It occurred for the jews.

About 3 000 jews trusted christ as their savior that day and were baptized in water acts 2. The element of baptism in romans 6 3 4 and colossians 2 12 is not the holy spirit. It was promised to only a few. Water baptism cannot fulfil this prophecy.

The element in this baptism is water acts 8 35 39. Water is specifically associated with baptism in 1 peter 3 20 21. Water baptism should follow this as a physical act of obedience on our part in response to the regenerating work of the holy spirit. By default it must be water baptism.

2 jesus never baptized anyone jn 4 2 and never even mentioned the ritual. It is well to start such considerations with three pertinent facts. According to this passage that would be two baptisms not one. Caldwell water baptism is not to be equated with spirit baptism.

Water is specifically identified with baptism. 1 john said emphatically that while he himself was baptizing with water that ministry was preparatory to the coming of the messiah who would baptize with the spirit and fire as opposed to water e g mk 1 8. Baptism in water was one of the old testament shadows cast by the approaching light of christ. Baptism is merely symbolic but the baptism of the holy spirit is transforming.

Moreover if your claim that water baptism and the infilling of the holy spirit accompany one another then paul who was not sent to baptize must have deprived people of the holy ghost. 3 there is no water baptism whatsoever in any of the new testament epistles including 1st peter chapter three where the baptism. Note that john here contrasts water baptism and holy spirit baptism showing them to be two separate and distinct baptisms. But remember that only one of them is in effect today ephesians 4 3ff.

I think this clearly indicates that acts 2 38 refers to the indwelling of the holy spirit at salvation. It was never a command but a promise. The baptism of the holy spirit is when the holy spirit falls on a believer immersing him or her. The element in holy spirit baptism is of course the holy spirit.