There are really only differences; there is almost no similarity.
I actually see only 1 similarity. Both are a baptism, that is, an immersion. Water baptism is an immersion in water, Spirit baptism is an immersion in the Holy Spirit.
Beyond that, there are only differences. Water baptism is a symbol, a symbol of the new birth. A symbol that we have died spiritually and risen into a new life.
The baptism in the Spirit is not a symbol, but is an experience.
What is baptism in the Spirit?
There is a lot of ambiguity about that. How is it different from the new birth? Let's briefly list what happens when you become a Christian. Becoming a Christian consists of four main events. They are 1. conversion, 2. new birth, 3. water baptism and 4. baptism in the Spirit or filling with the Spirit.
Two happen immediately when you come to faith. These are conversion and the new birth.
You repent to the living God and come to believe in Jesus Christ.
At that moment, you are born again and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you.
For the Bible says in 1John.5:1 "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God.
The conversion you do yourself and the new birth God does in you. It usually happens without you noticing it at the time. The Bible says that when you are convinced that Jesus is the Messiah is proof that the Holy Spirit dwells in you.
And two events usually take place a little later, water baptism and baptism in the Spirit. Again, the first is something you do yourself, water baptism. You decide yourself to be baptized. The other, the baptism in the Spirit or filling with the Spirit, God does.
What is the difference between the new birth and baptism in the Spirit?
The new birth usually occurs unnoticed and may remain invisible even afterward.
We see this in the life of Jesus. The moment the Holy Spirit came into his life happened in his case at his birth. From his birth, he was born of God. But only when he was filled with the Holy Spirit after his water baptism did this become visible to others.
At the new birth, the Spirit comes to dwell in us. At the baptism in the Spirit you are filled, you become full of the Spirit. Jesus clearly said what happens then.
He says in Acts 1:8 "you will receive divine power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses."
And the filling with the Holy Spirit also brings gifts. There are many different gifts. These gifts are given to us so that we can be good witnesses of Jesus.
So in summary, the new birth brings us eternal salvation. The filling or baptism in the Spirit gives us power and gifts to serve God and be good witnesses.
Author: Gijs van den Brink
From: Study Bible Magazine
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