The Debate of Water Baptism vs Holy Spirit Baptism

The Messiah’s Baptism takes a hard look at the rite of water baptism; focusing on the fact that what the Lord Jesus promised us was the Holy Spirit baptism.  Then it considers why Paul would thank God that he no longer continued with the water baptisms, even stating that the various washings (baptisms, in Greek) were no longer imposed in the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:9-10).

Is it possible that the Church focus on water baptism has caused many to become somewhat dry and legalistic? Paul said that the letter kills but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6), so perhaps the Spirit baptism should rather be our focus? 

What if we could go to straight to God (through the Lord Jesus) for washing and forgiveness, rather than needing the middle man of a priest, pastor or rabbi at water baptism in order to obtain forgiveness and salvation? What if we could be cleansed, forgiven and made completely right with God by accepting the shed blood of Christ, without needing a man on earth to immerse us and say a prescribed set of words?  The Messiah’s Baptism reveals history that shows the early Messianic Jews believed that salvation came by faith and not through the works of water baptism. But their beliefs were shut down by the powerful Roman Church who believed that salvation was only obtainable by a valid water baptism, with their prescribed set of words spoken. 

Did the Old Covenant washings in water (called baptisms) merely point forward to the Holy Spirit washing (baptism) that the Lord Jesus kept promising? In The Messiah’s Baptism the reader is invited along for a fresh look at this history, and also at key scriptures, to consider if what has been handed down is truly accurate.  Yes, the Jewish believers continued worshipping in the Temple, and immersion in water (baptism) was required before entering, but was this to continue? Various scriptures from Paul make it clear that he certainly didn’t think so. May the reader be edified and see new truth as they consider God’s word from the perspectives of the first century Jewish believers, and to see if what has been handed down from Rome really aligns with what Jesus promised.