Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.
Below is a discourse on the ordinance of baptism.
It should first be noted that there are two baptisms spoken of in the bible.
The first is John's baptism, or the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance
for the remission of sins;
The second is the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost
not many days hence.
The two are distinctly separate baptisms, one is of water and the other is of the Spirit.
Water baptism is an ordinance, instituted by Jesus himself.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Water baptism is an ordinance that we should observe, but is not essential for salvation. The thief on the cross
next to Jesus never had occasion to partake of water baptism, yet Jesus said he would be in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
The act of water baptism is symbolic of having your sins taken away, (baptism for the remission of sins).
Water baptism represents the old man going down into the grave, and the new man being resurrected from the grave.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
While the act of water baptism is largely symbolic, it is however essential that you have your sins remitted.
The remission of sins comes through faith, not the washing of water.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him
shall receive remission of sins.
This explains how the thief received salvation without water baptism. It also explains how some received the
Holy Ghost before water baptism, while others received the Holy Ghost after water baptism. (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:47-48)
It is the remission of sins, not the water, that is important.
The Holy Ghost baptism is the baptism that Jesus spoke about to James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
Mark 10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask; can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and
be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them,
Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
They could not possibly partake of the same physical water baptism that Jesus partook of, it had already happened,
but they could partake of the spiritual Holy Ghost baptism that Jesus received. (Luke 3:22)
James and John did partake of that baptism on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:5, 2:4)
Today, we too can partake of that same Holy Ghost baptism.
It is interesting to note that there is no account of the Holy Ghost working with anyone other than Jesus
from the time of his baptism to the day of Pentecost.
On the day of Pentecost Peter said, "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." (Acts 2:38)
In the verses above and below we see the water baptism and the Holy Ghost baptism that Christ said was
necessary to enter the kingdom of God, which is likened to being born again.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
In the above verse the water represents the remission of sins, (whether one physically goes down into the water
or not, such as the thief on the cross) and the Spirit that we receive makes us the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)
In essence one must have his sins washed away and walk in newness of Spirit.
This act of being born again is an instantaneous act. When one repents, his sins are taken away, they are granted
forgiveness, and the Holy Ghost fills that person and they are saved.
You cannot be saved without the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Water baptism alone, or the remission of sins alone cannot save you.
Jesus said "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Another verse validates this teaching.
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
What Spirit did Christ have? The Spirit of God. The Holy Ghost.
The word tells us there is only one Spirit. (Ephesians 4:4)
Thus we see the importance of not just going down into the water, but of also walking in the Spirit when we come up.
Have you been baptized?
