Spiritual or Water Baptism?

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bobinfaith

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In Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter gives a beautiful sermon to the crowd in verses 14-41. Then, in verse 41, 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. - KJV

We're talking 3000 persons were saved that day, so were these souls spiritually baptized, or immersed in water (water baptised) that day?

This is not a trick question, but a discussion that would be beneficial to all of us.

God bless you all and your families.
 
You know how analogies break down at some point. Well, the following is filled with holes, but it does draw some comparisons.

Lets pretend there was a virus that infected the world (I know that is kind of a stretch, but use your imagination) And the CDC & WHO ordered everyone to wear a mask to prevent the spread and protect yourself.

For what seemed like 50 years, this mask mandate was in place and people became accustomed to wearing the mask. Then one day the decree come out that in 10 days masks would no longer be necessary to protect and prevent, a new thing called H20 had been found that was not only healthier, but necessary for life.

On the tenth day …..many souls (about three thousand and twelve) removed their mask and breathed in that new life, ……. and Sooooooooooooolowly people began to remove the masks.

But their were many people who were hesitant …others said “we will wait for the Delta variant” and yet others said “I like the mask, it makes me feel good” “I will cut a hole in the mask so I can breathe this life giving oxygen, but still feel good.”……………and so it was.



On the day He was taken up Jesus Christ made a decree.

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The Word BUT in verse 5 is a conjunction and sets in contrast that which preceded it.

John TB also prophesied about this in Mat 3:11.



What about Peter water baptizing the Gentiles in Act 10:48 ….

Cornelius and the others had already spoke in tongues, which means they were born again before Pete mentions taking a dip. And later when Peter is recounting the event that took place with the Gentiles, Peter states Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with/in the Holy Ghost.

Philip and the Eunuch Act 8:35

Who asked for it …It was the Eunuch …..which, in reading the account, Philip stated “it is permitted…” He didn’t say… it is necessary. And I am not so sure I wouldn’t do the same thing if someone asked for it….it’s nothing more than symbolic.



Obviously, my vote is for Spiritual
 
This verse shows a distinction being made between baptism and the receipt of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

The verse is the strongest indication that both are important. Peter says repent and be baptized then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is symbolic, while the receipt of the Holy Spirit is truly cleansing.
 
In my life I've tried different denominations, and each insisted that I got baptized by their church. So I have been baptized many times and in different ways. Each time I felt inspired (in Spirit) to spread the Word. However, my most memorable baptism was after I sought a Christian full of Life and Light. He spoke to my heart with profound conviction. When I got home, I had a strong urge to have a hot shower, in which I started to repent everything about me. I cried like a lost soul yearning for God. My words were gibberish, as if all I could say was the first syllable of every chapter in my life. After that I went to bed and slept unmoved all night.

The next day I told my Christian friend about my experience. He started to weep with joy and love. He told me that I spoke in tongues. He had to explain to me what that was. Since that day, I continually experience Christian truths before I read about them (revelations before the facts). God constantly teaches me one step at a time.

To me, baptism, regardless of how it is done, is a metamorphosis of the soul to another stage towards God; like Saul becoming Paul. It is a belief changing into the obvious (Truth), a conviction of love for God, that no-body can change back to its former state. God's ways confound the human in us. It is God's way to keep us humble in unconditional faith, truth, and love. It is God's Grace which supports us, without God, we fall.
 
Peter Luke said:
each insisted that I got baptized by their church.
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problem with that is its not Bible if a person has been saved there is no need to be baptized again unless they feel the need to rededicate and at that it should be the person choice. i know a few churches who hold to that and i question why . that is a man made doctrine
 
Hello everyone;

I was asking what the context of Scripture is saying in Acts 2:41, 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. - KJV

Those who gladly received His word were spiritually saved, yes, that is what I understand as a Spiritual Baptism.

But, is this passage revealing that 3000 were actually water baptized?

Some of you are stating water baptism is not the conversion to being saved. I agree.

Spiritual Baptism is actually baptism by the Holy Spirit that unites us to Jesus Christ, the body of believers and the church. This conversion is becoming a Christian that saves us.

When I read that "water baptism is a man made doctrine, or symbolic" my response is, then how do we reconcile that statement to the Scriptures when Jesus was baptized by John in Matthew 3:11-17, 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Or, in Acts 8:34-39 when the Eunuch accepted Christ (spiritual baptism,) then he took the initiative, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

In the Bible, water baptism was not required but why would a believer dwell on requirement? They chose water baptism in order to share their testimony, their public proclamation of the remission of sins, the only thing standing in the way for the penitent believer was baptism.

Your thoughts?

God bless you all and your families.
 
The penitent believer has, through being unconditional, an open heart.
Those caught up in procedure are are stuck with conditionality through fear of self getting it wrong.
The penitent believer has faced their fears of vulnerability and exposure of self. There is nothing (veils of denial) standing in the way. Their mind and heart /soul is open to the Truth (God). The Spirit of Truth is free to fill them with God's Grace. They become the Light in this world of darkness (witnesses for God's presence, here and now, walking among the lost sheep).

It does not matter about procedure. What matters is the truth of the penitent mind and heart (faith in action).
 
Not sure about Acts 2 being one or the other but I am convinced Rom 6 is speaking of spiritual baptism...

Romans 6:3-7 (NASB) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.

I believe the context points to spiritual baptism.
 
crossnote said:
Not sure about Acts 2 being one or the other but I am convinced Rom 6 is speaking of spiritual baptism...

Romans 6:3-7 (NASB) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.

I believe the context points to spiritual baptism.
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There is symbolic death in water baptism as well.
 
bobinfaith said:
In Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter gives a beautiful sermon to the crowd in verses 14-41. Then, in verse 41, 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. - KJV

We're talking 3000 persons were saved that day, so were these souls spiritually baptized, or immersed in water (water baptised) that day?

This is not a trick question, but a discussion that would be beneficial to all of us.

God bless you all and your families.
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I think it was both, because verse 38 has Peter saying repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Notice the AND. He didnt just say 'you're all going to get the gift of the Holy Ghost'. Or 'you'll just be baptised and thats it'. One follows the other.

I am sure its not THAT hard to get 3000 people wet in the River Jordan or wherever they were. I think modern day people are just sceptical because all they can imagine is it being done in a swimming pool or the tiny little tub under the floorboards they have in many church buildings.
 
Sounds like a great baptising day though!

I would have loved to just to see the entire church go underwater and everyone just get throughly, soaking wet and full of the joy of the Holy Ghost.
 
Lanolin said:
I think it was both, because verse 38 has Peter saying repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Notice the AND. He didnt just say 'you're all going to get the gift of the Holy Ghost'. Or 'you'll just be baptised and thats it'. One follows the other.

I am sure its not THAT hard to get 3000 people wet in the River Jordan or wherever they were. I think modern day people are just sceptical because all they can imagine is it being done in a swimming pool or the tiny little tub under the floorboards they have in many church buildings.
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Hi Lanolin;

That's a good point regarding the Jordan. There were many areas of water surrounding Jerusalem.

Imagine 3000 getting water baptized on the Day and Feast of Pentecost, a lot of festivities were going on that day. But it was 9am early in the morning with several pools or waterholes in Jerusalem taking several hours to baptize each one.

Notice in Acts 2:14-41 it doesn't mention that Peter was not a Levite or rabbi with authority and could have had consequences.

But it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that anointed authority on this fisherman and apostle Peter, to lead the water baptism immediately after receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior.

God bless you, Lanolin and your family.
 
bobinfaith said:
In Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter gives a beautiful sermon to the crowd in verses 14-41. Then, in verse 41, 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
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Your verses says....>"received his word"...........so that is the "all that call on the name of Jesus shall be saved".
That is Phillip telling the Eunuch in Acts 8:37..."if tho believest....with all thine heart........THEN you may be water baptized".

This makes sense , when you consider these verses...>"faith is accepted AS righteousness".. "Abraham was justified by Faith". "Abraham is the Father of our FAITH".....and ....."Justification BY faith, without works, and "Grace through faith"..

And then consider this verse.... "he that believes and is baptized, shall be saved, but he that believes not, shall be damned".

So, here we see that the damnation, and the BELIEVING NOT< are related,....... but the water is not related to the damnation, because water is just the symbolic.

Which explains why this verse says that damnation is based on not believing, with nothing said about water, which makes sense, when we consider that God saves based on the Cross of Christ and the Blood of Jesus.
John 3:36
Thats not water.
That is "the gift of Salvation" that is given when we BELIEVE..., and the consequence of dying in unbelief is judgement for being a Christ Rejector.

"faith comes by hearing"...... and the new birth comes when God accepts our faith.....

Water then follows Salvation... exactly as communion follows Salvation.
 
Behold said:
Your verses says....>"received his word"...........so that is the "all that call on the name of Jesus shall be saved". That is Phillip telling the Eunuch in Acts 8:37..."if tho believest....with all thine heart........THEN you may be water baptized". This makes sense , when you consider these verses...>"faith is accepted AS righteousness".. "Abraham was justified by Faith". "Abraham is the Father of our FAITH".....and ....."Justification BY faith, without works, and "Grace through faith"..
And then consider this verse.... "he that believes and is baptized, shall be saved, but he that believes not, shall be damned". So, here we see that the damnation, and the BELIEVING NOT< are related,....... but the water is not related to the damnation, because water is just the symbolic. Which explains why this verse says that damnation is based on not believing, with nothing said about water, which makes sense, when we consider that God saves based on the Cross of Christ and the Blood of Jesus. John 3:36 Thats not water. That is "the gift of Salvation" that is given when we BELIEVE..., and the consequence of dying in unbelief is judgement for being a Christ Rejector. "faith comes by hearing"...... and the new birth comes when God accepts our faith.....Water then follows Salvation... exactly as communion follows Salvation.
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Hello Behold;

Well said and thank you for sharing. As you share John 3:36 and throughout the Bible we have the opportunity to learn the distinction between the baptism of salvation and baptism through immersion.

God bless you, Behold, and your whole family.
 
Lanolin said:
I am supposing it's no accident that Jesus trained a bunch of fisherman to be his disciples, who were used to getting wet.
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And isn't it interesting that Jesus never personally water baptized anyone, and Paul the "gentile apostle" who was personally chosen by Jesus..... said...>"Christ sent me not to water baptize".. in the "time of the Gentiles".

It would be interesting to take a poll of all the Christians in the world and find out how many understand that "born again", is to be born again Spiritually, which is the "baptism into Christ",= "In Christ",...... vs, water baptism, which is the symbolic of having been literally spiritually born again....to find out how many dont understand the difference and think that the water is the spiritual birth.

Ive talked to people who told me......"see over there where it says that Noah and family were "saved by water", and i tell them, no, its the ARK that kept them OUT of the water that saved Noah and family and the rest, as that water killed everything outside the Ark that was breathing and standing on 2 or 4 legs or more...., and in fact had Noah and family gotten into that "saving" water, they would have DIED also.
And the class looks back at me like a Deer caught in the headlight....

"but it says that they were " saved by the water'.

Yes, i can read..........However, the water didn't save them.. The ARK saved them by keeig them OUT of the WATER.
THe "ARK" is symbolic of the CROSS..

The bible is interesting, as when you try to read it like a pulp fiction, and dont understand that its a spiritual book that has to be rightly divided, and "spiritually discerned" by the Holy Spirit in you.... (you have to be born again) .....then the world ends up with all sorts of denominations and all sorts of Christian Forums, and all sorts of heresy based cults...., all created by "Christian Leaders" who read the bible and took it all literally, and once you do that, you end up with all type of heresy which explains why there will never be any complete agreement on "but the word says it".
Yes, the word says it, but thats not how the bible reveals itself.
Its not a dictionary.
Its a Spiritual Light.
 
He did send certain people to preach, and others to baptize, wasn't Paul saying I planted, Apollos watered but God have the growth.

There was water, that's how plants get their start, there roots are there to find the water. They can't germinate without certain conditions, moisture, and a certain temperature.

For people to say water has nothing to do with how we become christians is really missing what water REPRESENTS. Not only is it life giving but its for washing away sin. I mean pretty basic stuff unless all you do is dryclean everything. Thing is we can see water, we can't (well most of us) can't see spirit. So there needs to be a symbol or representation of spirit that we as humans in the flesh can see for it to be relateable to us. There are also mentions of the Bible of loads of other word pictures. Eg fruit of the spirit. Does that mean fruit actual FRUIT is important? Well in a way yes we don't have LOLLIES of the spirit do we.
 
Lanolin said:
For people to say water has nothing to do with how we become christians is really missing what water REPRESENTS. Not only is it life giving but its for washing away sin.
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If watar washes away sin, then that's going to be quite a revelation to the Cross, and the Blood of Jesus, and to God who gave the blood of Jesus as the only way your sin is washed away.

Water gets you wet.
Water touches your body.
To be born again, you have to have a spiritual birth of your SPIRIT, and water cannot touch your Spirit, it can only get your body wet.
God has to touch your Spirit, and He does not do that with water.
He does that with the Holy Spirit.
 
Water baptism is symbolic only. It does not produce the actual cleansing. It doesn't cause the old man to die and be reborn new. Water baptism is still important I believe as the outward sign of conversion and the symbolism we can learn from it.

The Holy Spirit on the other hand is the agency whereby we can be cleansed and the old man is put to death.
 
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