Water Baptism:

Baptism in water is a basic, foundational principle of Christianity.  Baptism
was not done in Old Testament days ... circumcision was done.  The purpose
of circumcision was the tearing away of the flesh as a symbol of tearing
away from sin.  In New Testament days, baptism in water symbolizes the
washing away of sin.

Baptism is for the remission of our sins.  Its importance is not in the
cleansing of the body, but in the cleansing of the conscience.  The Holy
Spirit, through baptism, joins us with other believers into one Body ... the
Body of Christ.  When we are baptized, we "put on" Christ.  We take on His
covering ... His "mantle" ... which is symbolic of His power and authority.  
Our spirit is joined with the Holy Spirit, and we become a new creature in
Christ, as well as a new part of His Body.
The act of baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
Christ ... and symbolic of our death, burial and resurrection in Him.  
Immersion into the water symbolizes the death.  The baptism of repentance
brings us to this "death."  It means that we were once "dead" in sin, and
must come to repentance in order to be saved.  The immersion into water
symbolizes our baptism into the death of Jesus Christ.

The time spent immursed symbolizes the burial.  We were "buried" with
Christ as we complete this act of obedience.

Coming up out of the water symbolizes the resurrection to new life.  Jesus
Christ was raised to new life, and so are we.  We now have victory over
death and sin ... "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of
His death, we shall also in the likeness of His resurrection.  Knowing this,
that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is
freed from sin."  (Romans 6: 5 - 7)
Do I HAVE To?:

Many note that the thief on the cross next to Jesus was not baptized
before death.  Yet Jesus promised him that he would be with Him that day
in Paradise.  Baptism is not a prerequisite for salvation.  And neither is the
method by which we are baptised.  In fact, full immersion into water may not
be physically possible, and those who have not been fully immersed in
water need not fear for their salvation.  

But baptism is a command, and a privilege that should not be ignored.  Mark
16: 16 tells us, "...believe and be baptised ..."  We must realize that all
things a re lawful (possible) but not all things are expedient (profitable).  
We too could be admitted to Heaven without the blessing of water baptism,
but much more will be gained by obedience to this command.  Do it
because you WANT to.  Follow the example given by Jesus, Himself, and be
baptized.  Do it out of a desire to be obedient to the God who has given so
much and done so much out of His love for you!
Baptism In The Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, who comes to live inside of
us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.  (See Lesson #2, The Trinity.)
 This Gift is ours in the very heartbeat of our acceptance of Jesus.  He is a
good Gift, and is given because we are now children of God.  And as we
have seen in the lesson on the Trinity, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us
gives us the grace and power to live the life of Godliness that our Heavenly
Father would have us to live.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a different experience.  It is an outpouring
of the Holy Spirit, given for the first time at the day of Pentecost.  A mighty
rushing wind was heard and cloven tongues of fire were seen, and 3,000
came to know the Lord on that day.

The Bible tells us to repent and be baptized, and (then) we SHALL (future
tense) receive.  The folks at Ephesus believed and were saved, but had not
yet even heard that there was a Holy Ghost to receive!  They heard the
Word, believed, and were baptized in the Holy Ghost ... and THEN they were
baptized in water.  So we can see by these Scriptures that these were two
different experiences.
The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, is to bring power (anointing)
for service.  Although this baptism is received through the laying on of
hands, Jesus Himself is the Baptizer.  Signs that follow the baptism in the
Holy Ghost are speaking in tongues, prophesy and casting out demons.  
Gifts that accompany this baptism are the word of wisdom, the word of
knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophesy, discernment,
divers kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.  The purpose of
these gifts is for the full operation of the Body of Christ.  Just as we have
different parts in our physical bodies that accomplish different tasks, so it is
in the spirit realm, with each gift accomplishing its varied purpose.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit, along with its accompanying signs and gifts,
are to be greatly desired.  They are to be coveted earnestly and zealously.  
They are not to be forbidden, and they are not to be feared.  (God doesn't
give us a spirit of fear ... but of power and of love and of a sound mind!)  
GOD set this in order, not man!

God wants us to know about this gift.  But still some don't believe.  Many
base their doubt on I Corinthians 13: 8 - 10, which tells us that the gifts,
which we know in part, shall be done away with when the perfect is come.  
They believe that the Perfect already has come ... Jesus Christ.

But the baptism in the Holy Spirit did not even begin until the day of
Pentecost ... which was after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension
of Jesus! No ... I Corinthians 13: 8 - 10 refers to a time yet to come ... a time
when the Perfect, Jesus Christ, comes back.

God has given us the awesome power of choice.  We can choose to believe
His Word and receive this Gift, or we can refuse ... just as we can refuse any
other type of gift.  It's up to YOU!
Scripture References:

Water Baptism:

Hebrews 6: 1, 2               I Corinthians 10: 1, 2           Acts 10: 48
Acts 22: 16                       Acts 2: 38                             I Peter 3: 21
I Corinthians 12: 13        Galatians 3: 27                     Colossians 2: 13
Mark 16: 16                      I Peter 3: 21                         Mark 1: 4
Luke 3: 3                          Romans 6: 4                         Colossians 2: 12
Romans 6: 5 - 7               Matthew 3: 16                       Exodus 14: 21, 22
Hebrews 9: 10                 Matthew 28: 19                     Matthew 3: 13 - 15
Mark 1: 9                          Acts 2: 38 - 41                       Acts 8: 35, 37

Baptism in the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1: 5                           Romans 8: 11                       Luke 11: 13
Acts 2: 38                         John 7: 30                            Acts 10: 44, 45
Galatians 4: 6                   Romans 8: 16                       I John 4: 13
John 14: 17                       Luke 2: 25                           Acts 2: 1 - 4
Acts 19: 1 - 7                     Acts 10: 44 - 48                   Acts 1: 8
Acts 19: 6                          Luke 16: 17
I Corinthians 12: 4 - 30

I Corinthians, chapters 12 - 14, tell all about the gifts of the Spirit

I Corinthians 12: 28            I Corinthians 12: 31
I Corinthians 14: 12            I Corinthians 14: 5
I Corinthians 14: 39            II Timothy 1: 7
I Corinthians 12: 1              I Corinthians 2: 10         
Walking Toward The Light ... Lessons in Discipleship
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