Yes! But which baptism is required: Spirit or water?
The Bible says that there is one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, God and likewise, there only one baptism!
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:3-6)
Don't you have to be born of the water and the Spirit?
Yes! But that's not about baptism. It's about being born physically (flesh gives birth to flesh) and then spiritually (the Spirit gives birth to spirit --born again).
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (John 3:3-6)
Who wasn't baptized before being saved?
Some Gentiles received the Spirit and were recognized to have been saved --and then they were baptized after the fact!
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (Acts 10:43-48)
But doesn't the Bible say that water saves?
There is a passage in First Peter about water baptism. But it says that the water is only a symbol. Being baptized by the Spirit is the Real Thing!
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also -- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Peter 3:20-22)
There is only one baptism that saves --and that is with the Holy Spirit!
Baptism Demonstrates Our Identity
What happens to white cloth that is immersed in purple dye? It emerges with a brand new new identity: Purple Cloth! The white cloth is gone.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
(2 Cor 5:17)
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14)
We were baptized (united together) to form one body. No more Jews or Gentiles -just One Body and Jesus is the Head!
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body- whether Jews or Greek, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Cor 12:12-13)