When Are We Baptized Into The Body Of Christ By The Spirit?
By Allan E. McNabb

Last week we explored the meaning of “baptism of the Holy Sprit,” a phrase that doesn’t appear in the Bible. Today, this phrase is used in religion to denote immersion in the Holy Spirit, resulting in the ability to perform miracles. The most frequently cited example of baptism of the Holy Spirit is on Pentecost when the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5), whereby they received power from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) to speak in tongues (Acts 2:1-11).

In the previous article we learned that the Holy Spirit fell upon men as described in Acts 2 only twice, at Pentecost (Acts 2) and when Peter went to Cornelius’ house to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 10).

The Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Sprit just as Peter and the other apostles had been baptized. That day, baptism with the Holy Spirit was a sign that God had granted the Gentiles repentance leading to life (Acts 10:45-48; 11:15-18).

Last week we also learned that other Christians, but not all Christians in the Bible, were given miraculous power to perform miracles. But they were not immersed in the Holy Spirit as were the apostles and Cornelius. They received the Holy Spirit and the power to do miracles by an apostle laying hands on them (Acts 8:14-19; 19:5-6).

The Holy Spirit has a Role in Baptism and Salvation
Today, we do not receive “baptism of the Holy Spirit” as defined in religion. But the Holy Spirit does have a role in baptism and our salvation. Paul tells us that we are baptized into one body by one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).

Added to the Church when Baptized in Water
We are immersed (baptized) into the body of Christ, when we obey Jesus (Heb. 5:9) and we’re baptized in water (Matt. 28:18-19; Mk. 16:16).

• The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:24).
• We are added to the church, Christ’s body, when we are baptized in water (Acts 2:38-47).
• Therefore, the Spirit baptizes (immerses) us into the body of Christ, when we obey Jesus and we’re baptized in water (Rom. 6:3-5; 12:5).

United with Christ when Baptized in Water
Paul also tells us that we are united with Christ when we are baptized in water (Rom. 6:3-5). Having been united with Christ, we are members of His body (Rom. 12:5) in which there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free man, male nor female (Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Cor. 12:13). The Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ, when we obey Jesus and we’re baptized in water.

Born of Water and Spirit
As Jesus taught, we are born of water and Spirit (Jn. 3:5). When we obey Jesus and are baptized in water, we are buried with Him and made alive with Him (Rom. 6:3-7; Col. 2:12-13); we’re born of the Spirit as He adds us to Christ's body (Acts 2:38-47; Rom. 6:3-5; 12:5; 2 Cor. 5:17).

Conclusion
We are baptized (immersed) into the body of Christ by the Spirit, when we obey Jesus and we’re baptized in water.