What is the baptism that puts us into Christ — water or the Holy Spirit?
The baptism that places a believer into Christ is not water but the Holy Spirit. By one Spirit every believer is baptized and inundated into the body of Christ. This spiritual baptism occurs the moment a person believes the Gospel, not through ritual water baptism, and it is not something felt.
Les explains from I Corinthians 12:13 that by one Spirit all believers have been baptized into the one body. He defines baptized as being inundated, completely covered, and illustrates it with a Greek classical writer describing a ship baptized at sea—sunk as the ocean filled every crook and cranny. But this baptism is not water; it is the invisible person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, who has inundated us in Christ. It is not limited to the clergy or the most spiritual, but every believer receives it at the moment they believe the Gospel, and you do not feel a thing.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
How do we get into Christ?
A person enters Christ by believing the Gospel and allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work. The Spirit then places the believer into the Body of Christ, making him a new creation and a work of God. This occurs in the invisible, eternal realm that only God can touch or accomplish.
How do we get into Christ — is it by water baptism or by the Holy Spirit?
We get into Christ by the Holy Spirit, not water baptism. Scripture says by one Spirit all believers are baptized into one body. Baptism means complete inundation; the Holy Spirit inundates us in Christ at the moment we believe the Gospel. No water is involved.
More Questions
When does the Holy Spirit baptize a believer?
The Holy Spirit inundates (baptizes) us the moment we believe the Gospel.
Is the baptism in 1 Corinthians 12:13 water baptism or Spirit baptism?
In 1 Corinthians 12:13 the baptism Paul speaks of is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, not water baptism, since there is no water at all in the verse.