E 1.5.3 : A COLLECTION OF EVENTS OF : CHRISTIAN IMMERSION WATER BAPTISM, FOR THE BELIEVER, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Please observe the close connection between receiving the Holy Spirit Baptism and Adult Christian Immersion Water Baptism
1. On the day of Pentecost Acts 2 : 4, 40–42 ( …. and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit )
2. When they newly received the Word of God (new believers) in Samaria Acts 8 : 14 – 17 ( ….. they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus ….. prayed for them ….. laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost )
3. When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8 : 34 – 38
4. On Paul’s conversion – who also is called Saul Acts 9 : 17-18
( …. that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit …. and was baptized.)
5. When Cornelius and his household heard the Word Acts 10 : 44-48
( …. the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the Word …. and Peter commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord.)
6. When the word of the Lord was spoken to the Jailer and his family Acts 16 : 32 – 33
7. The Disciples at Ephesus Acts 19 : 1 – 6
( …. those who had received John’s baptism, were baptized again in the Name of the Lord Jesus …. when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them …. ).
Events 3 and 6 are the only two places where the sign of speaking in tongues by the believers are not mentioned. In all other events, the believers spoke in tongues, while receiving the Holy Spirit Baptism.
The baptism given by John was for repentance, without giving any recognition to Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, as the Christ and as the Son of God.
The baptism given by John did not also acknowledge the atoning sacrificial death of Jesus of Nazareth on the Cross nor His Resurrection nor His Ascension – which is the basis for the Gospel (=The Good News of Salvation to all those who believe in Jesus).
But Christian Immersion Water Baptism acknowledges this provision of God for getting saved through Jesus of Nazareth by the believer. That is why Paul baptized the disciples at Ephesus again.
Therefore, each believer is obligated to examine himself likewise, regarding what kind of baptism he has really taken. The purposes and the beliefs based on which the baptism is taken validates the baptism, and guides the believer to follow the biblical method of full immersion in water.
THE OTHER WATER BAPTISMS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT :
1. The Baptism given to Jesus by John ( …. and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting upon Him …. ) – Matthew 3 : 13 – 17
2. The Baptism given by the disciples of Jesus before His death – John 4:2
THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM AND ADULT CHRISTIAN IMMERSION WATER BAPTISM
• We observe that they confessed that Jesus is Christ and Lord and received the Immersion Water Baptism.
• Receiving the Holy Spirit Baptism is closely associated with the events of Immersion Water Baptism throughout the Book of Acts.
• Therefore, every believer who has been water baptized, must have a strong desire to receive the Holy Spirit Baptism as well.