Salvation and baptism are two different things and cannot be confused with one another. Once we have received Salvation as an eternal gift from Jesus Christ we are commanded by Jesus to be baptized. (Matt 28:19-20) Jesus said "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16: 15-16)

Jewish law provided for the use of water in ritual cleansing. (Lev. 11:25,40; 15-57). A Syrian commander named Naaman had leprosy, which in those days was incurable. Leprosy was associated with sin. Elisha commanded Naaman to dip himself in the Jordan River to be cleansed of leprosy. Naaman became furious and said to himself, He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and heal the leprosy. (II Kings 5:11)

First of all Naaman became furious. Second he acknowledged God as Elishas God, not his own. In his rage he almost missed his deliverance because it was not as he thought it should be. It sounded too simple to him. Our human nature tends to over complicate God. We try to conceive God and the infinite ways of God with our finite mind. For as the leaves are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher the your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55: 8-9) In our own ability we remain lepers unclean and full of sin. Only when we acknowledge God for who He is and accept His word by faith are we cleansed. We should run to the River of Jordan not questioning the word of God but holding fast to the commandments of God.

When Naaman was through questioning God and stopped being angry he went to the River of Jordan, and did as the Lord commanded and was cleansed. His flesh was restored. He returned to the man of God and said Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the world, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.

There are three forms of baptism and we will look at each on individually and in proper perspective. Proper perspective is a key word because many denominations major on the minor issues and minor on the major issues simply because pride might get in the way when someone had to admit they are wrong about a certain issue. I would like to state for the record, I believe the word of God (The Bible) as infallible. It is we humans that has either read into or taken out of context the word of God to form our own perspective. I do believe however, that as long as we stay focused on Jesus Christ who is the way the truth and the life (John 4:16). That we will pursue truth and that truth will be revealed in any area that we may have distorted truth, been deceived about, or are just plain ignorant in a specific area. In other words, if we are wrong about lets say water baptism then as we draw closer to Jesus, He will reveal the truth since He is the Truth. Some say you should be completely immersed in water; others think sprinkling or pouring is acceptable. Various churches believe that only believers should be baptized, while others affirm that babies should be baptized. Some say, I baptize you in the name of Jesus, while others say, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and or the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Still others use a combination of these into a lengthy statement. I feel that all of these are minor issues. I believe that the motive of our heart when we perform a baptism or are being baptized is the important issue. That we recognize the God and deity of Jesus Christ and that we allow free reign of the Holy Spirit to do His mighty work through and in our lives.

Now that we have the minor issues out of the way, lets look at the more major issues. The issues that I feel that are separate and isolate various parts of the body of Christ. There are three forms of baptisms. The first and foremost important baptism is the spiritual transformation that takes place when you make Jesus Christ Lord. Without this form of baptism the other two are not even conceivable. The transformation that takes place spiritually when we confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in or heart that God raised him from the dead, is that our spirit, which is at carnal enmity with God, is crucified with Christ and the Spirit of God regenerates and renews our spirit through the washing and renewing of the Holy spirit. (Romans 10: 9-10, Romans 8:7, Titus 3:5). Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God? the Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born? Jesus answered Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:3-5)

This renewing process is a spiritual process. A couple of examples are the great flood and when the Earth will be renewed with fire. They are both in a sense a type of baptism. They both are a physical manifestation of something that takes place spiritually. Just as the Flood in the days of Noah did not do away sin neither can baptism. The only redemptive value that baptism has is that when we were baptized into Christ Jesus we were baptized into His death. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should was in newness of life. (Romans 6:4). The word buried translated from the Greek word sunthapto which means to assimilate spiritually. Sunthapto is used only two times in the original Greek text and both times it was associated with baptism. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead?. ( Col. 2: 11-12 )

This is the one faith one baptism spoken of in Ephesians 4:5. Because it is only through our faith in Jesus Christ that we can be born again ( see salvation). There is one body and one spirit just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, and in you all.(Eph. 4:4-6). Does this mean there is only one baptism No! It means there is only one way that leads to salvation for Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) As we relinquish control of our life to Jesus Christ to do with it as He sees fit we allow the Holy Spirit to cohabit with our spirit. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwell in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwell in you. (Romans 8:11)

The second baptism is an ordinance of Christ and is referred as the baptism of repentance. ( Luke 3:1-2) (Acts19:14). For it is an outward sign of what takes place inside. The actual baptism itself does not remove sin. Only Christ can remove sin in our lives. When we die to our old sinful nature we are to bury the past. Put away our carnal desires by allowing Gods Spirit to live through us. We allow His Spirit to resurrect our spirit. Sometime we like to dig up the old man and live in our past but if we truly are repentant we will continue to put to death that carnality. It is through faith that we identify with the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And out of that act of faith we receive power to die to our sin nature, By going down into the water we associate with the death of Christ and the birth of the new nature is symbolic from the raising out of the water. Again there is no partaking in any special pardon from sin nor do we become immune to sin. If we could obtain salvation through baptism alone then why did Christ have to shed his blood for remission of sin? (Hebrews 9:22) Much more then, having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5: 9-12)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is one that initiates the most controversy therefore we will look more in depth at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Luke 3:16) Jesus himself said after being baptized with water by John the Baptist. (Matt 3:13-17, Mark 1-11, Luke 1-22, John 1: 19-34) If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39)

Jesus made a promise to those that believe that He would send his Holy Spirit who is our intercessor, derived from greek word parakletos, which also means an intercessor, counselor:- advocate, comforter. The promise is a gift and can only be received as a gift. In other words God will never force Himself on someone. It would no longer be a gift if God forced His Spirit upon His children. Jesus said But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 15:26-John 16: 1-13)

After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to the disciples and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which he said, you have heard from me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:5-8) This promise was not made to just the disciples but to all that call on the name of the Lord. Peter said to the 3,000 men who saw Jesus during his forty days prior to the Ascension, Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to all your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2: 38-39).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not performed through water nor can the gift of God be purchased. It is obtained by faith through the laying on of hands. When Philip went to Samaria to preach Christ to them he cast out demons and healed many who were paralyzed and lame through the power of the Holy Spirit. He also baptized many in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8 16-27, Acts 19: 2-7) The key word is received not just laying on of hands. All we need to do to receive the Holy Spirit is to ask. Jesus said Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may also be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him: but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14: 12-17) This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15: 12-14) In other words as long as we are motivated by love and we are seeking first the kingdom of God then God will give us the desire of our heart. (Matthew 16: 33) Then how much more would he give us His own Spirit to overcome sin? It is Gods will that we all be baptized with the Holy Spirit. All we have to do is ask and believe that we receive when we do ask. Faith comes by hearing and by hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 ) The faith that comes by hearing is enough to believe that you receive when you ask. Peter said whoever believes in Him will receive remissions of sins. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the mane of the Lord. (Acts 10:43-48)

Some might ask why, Why should we be baptized in the Holy Spirit if being born-again is enough to obtain eternal life (salvation)? When we receive the Holy Spirit we receive power, the power to stand before a government that was killing those that believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. Peter before receiving had denied that he ever even knew Jesus even after Jesus told him he would deny Him. (Matthew 26: 30-35, Matthew 26: 69-75, Mark 14: 26-31, Luke 22: 34-39, Luke 22:55-62, John 13: 37-38, John 18: 15-18,25-27 ) We receive power to overcome trials and tribulation. Power to overcome sin. We receive the same power Jesus used to raise the dead, cast out demon and heal the sick. Likewise the Spirit also helps in or weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26) God wants us to desire spiritual gifts. He that speaks in tongues speaks to God for no one understands him, in the spirit he speaks mysteries and it edifies himself. (I Corinthians 14:1-5) For this is called praying in the spirit. Speaking in tongues and praying in the spirit are often confused as being the same. When we speak in tongues an interpretation should follow so that the church is edified. There is a balance to excercising the gifts of the spirit. (I Corinthians 14:26) We will look at this in another chapter. For now lets focus on the results of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the result then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (I Corinthians 14: 13-15) Through that Spirit we speak wisdom not the wisdom that man equates as wisdom as wisdom. God reveals His wisdom through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except for the spirit of the man which is in him. Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the wold, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which mans wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they or foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet, he himself is rightly judged by no one. (I Corinthians 2: 10-16)

Many people do not receive due to lack of understanding. Many people expect God to overcome them and speak for them. That is not Gods will. If God were to do that it would be forcing His gift on us. God is never going to force anything on us much less His Spirit. It is as if the rivers of life flow out of our heart but until we take the bucket and draw the water up out of the well ourselves it stays in the well. If we do recieve and have not love then it is as aWe are to speak out of mouth exactly what we hear in our spirit.