Message #19640

[Kilika]

Indeed they did, and Peter denied Jesus 3 times. None of us in practice are doing it correctly. We all fail at it. That's the whole point of the Spirit, to get us through this mess in the flesh. Even Paul knew the point wasn't water baptism, it's all spiritual. If it was important, what does it say about Paul not even remembering if he had baptized people?

What is important, a must for salvation, is baptism by the Holy Ghost, the spiritual baptism, the circumcision of the heart.

That said, I do encourage a water emersion baptism for the person who is coming to the faith as an act of faith to move from being physical to being spiritual. You could say it's their last act of walking after the flesh by doing the ritual baptism in water. But the Holy Ghost is not given as a result of baptism in literal water, but by belief in the Word.

"And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." John 1:33 (KJB)

21   Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 
22   And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
John 20:21,22 (KJB)