Is the Baptism Associated with Salvation Holy Spirit Baptism?
To circumvent the connection between water baptism and salvation, some have suggested that the baptism discussed in passages such as Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16 and 1 Peter 3:21 is Holy Spirit baptism. But such a position cannot be correct. Christ commanded his followers – after his death and Ascension – to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). That same command applies no less to Christians today. During the early parts of the first century, we know there was more than one baptism in existence (e.g., Johns baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, Christs baptism, etc.). But by the time Paul wrote his epistle to the Christians in Ephesus, only one of those baptisms remained. He stated specifically in Ephesians 4:4-5: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism . . . Which one baptism remained? One thing w
