Was baptism only for the Jews? (3)
Question:
Good day.
Does I Corinthians 12:13 refer to Holy Spirit baptism? Was water baptism only for the Jews? Did it stop when Paul got his assignment to the Gentiles?
Thanks.
Answer:
I Corinthians 12:13 tells us who was behind the means by which we can be saved. The Holy Spirit revealed God's plan. See Terry Benton's article "By One Spirit" and my sermon "By One Spirit."
Baptism obviously did not stop with Paul's commission. Paul received his commission from Jesus before his conversion to Christianity (Acts 9:15), and he was baptized afterward (Acts 22:16). And after Paul carried out his commission, he baptized people (Acts 18:8; I Corinthians 1:14-16). He taught that all were to be baptized to become Christians (Romans 6:3-7; Ephesians 4:4-6).
Nor can it be said that baptism was limited to the Jews. Peter ordered Cornelius' household to be baptized in water even though they were Gentiles (Acts 10:47-48).
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