Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!
Why must a person be Water and Holy Spirit Baptized?
Water Baptism
“And he said to them, go to all the world, and preach my gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; and he who does not believe shall be condemned.” (Peshitta Mark 16:15-16)
These are the words of Jesus Christ Himself as He was speaking to His disciples just before His ascent into the Heavens. This is the final instructions to His disciples on what they were to do when He left them. Jesus Christ made it very clear that they were to baptize all of the world! In fact, I think that Jesus Christ made it very clear here in verse sixteen, that He equated baptism with salvation.
It seems the Apostle Peter had also understood baptism as an essential part of salvation when he preached on the Day of Pentecost. In the Book of Acts, the Apostle Luke recorded Peter’s sermon to the crown of devout Jews the need for water baptism in the name of the LORD Jesus!
The Apostle Peter understood that water baptism was a requirement for salvation. The rest of the apostle’s present did not correct Peter, so they also understood the same thing. If Jesus commanded water baptism and the Apostle Peter preached it, who are we to say that we do not need it for today?
Later, the Apostle Philip, also water baptized people in Samaria! “But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, they were baptized (water), both men and women. (Peshitta Acts 8:12).
Philip would later also baptize an Ethiopian God-fearer out in the desert. “And he commanded the chariot be stopped: and both went down into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.” (Peshitta Acts 8: 38).
When Saul, the accuser of the brethren, traveled to Damascus to arrest the Christians there. Jesus intervened and converted Saul in a miraculous way! When Saul (Paul) agreed to salvation, he was baptized in water! “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” (Peshitta Acts 9: 18).
When the Apostle Peter traveled to Caesarea to preach to Cornelius and his family and friends, he baptized them all in water. After the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they were all baptized in water! “Then Simon Peter said to them, can any man forbid water, that these people who have received the Holy Spirit, just as we have, should not be baptized?” (Peshitta Acts 10:47).
When the Apostle Paul was preaching to some disciples of John the Baptist, he felt that it was necessary to rebaptize them in water and they had received Spirit baptism. “When they heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ.” (Peshitta Acts 19:5).
The Word of the Lord is very clear by the mouth of Jesus Christ and the actions of all of His apostles that we should all be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, so that our sins may be washed away!
Holy Spirit Baptism
They Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) moving on people has been around for thousands of years. We also see it in a limited way throughout the Old Testament. But the Full Mention of the Holy Ghost in the Bible is found in the first two chapters of the Book of Acts. That is the contextual epicenter of the subject and al other references must be filtered through those two chapters.
But first, Jesus Christ Himself declared to the disciples that power would be come to them soon. “And I will send upon you the promise of my Father; but you remain in the city of Jerusalem, until you are clothed with power from on high. (Peshitta Luke 24: 49).
In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, the first apostles of the new church were fill with the Holy Ghost. “And when the day of Pentecost was fulfilled, while they were assembled together, suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues which were divided like flames of fire; and they rested upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in various languages, according to whatever the Spirit gave them to speak. (Peshitta Acts 1:1-4).
In the second chapter, we find the Plan of Salvation. “When they heard these things, their hearts were touched and they said to Simon (Peter) and the rest of the apostles, our brethren, what shall we do? Then Simon said to them, repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of the LORD Jesus for the remission of sins, so that you may receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise was made to you and to your children, and for all of those who are far off, even as many as the very God shall call.” (Peshitta Acts 2:37-39).
Later when the Apostle Philip preached to the Samaritans, they believed and were baptized in water, but none of them had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Peter and John then went down unto them and then they received the Holy Ghost. “Who, when they went down, prayed over them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet it had not come upon them although they had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Peshitta Acts 8: 15-17).
These verses show us a distinction between the baptisms of water and the Spirit. A further distinction would be shown by the Apostle Paul when he encountered twelve men whom had been baptized in water years ago, but not of the Spirit. “When they heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in divers’ tongues, and prophesied.” (Peshitta Acts 19:5-6).
As I have just shown, if we want to be right with God and receive salvation, after repentance, we must receive both water and Spirit baptism. The two are completely separate and yet both are completely necessary for our salvation from our sins!
William James Roop, M.A.B.S.
