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Is Including the Spirit Excluding the Water?
A Pew Moments with Perry – Does Including the Spirit Exclude the Water?
There are those who conclude water baptism can’t be for today based upon Jesus saying, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). Does Jesus including the Holy Spirit exclude the water?
Since baptism in water is mentioned specifically in Acts with the eunuch and Cornelius (chs.8,10), please consider this alternative understanding of what Jesus (and John) meant.
“John baptized with water (only), but you will be baptized with (water) and the Holy Spirit”.
It’s called an elliptical statement. An ellipsis is the omission from speech or writing of a word or words that are superfluous or able to be understood from contextual clues. “Water” can be understood from the contextual clue that Jesus Himself was baptized in water when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. So, Jesus was baptized in water and the Spirit.
For prophetic reference, consider how God already stated that both water and His Spirit could work together in harmony and not be in exclusion of one to the other:
Isaiah 44:3 (CSB) For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring.
Now let’s look at fulfillments:
• Jesus said, “Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 5:5).
• Peter said, “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Paul said, “He saved us – not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)
Jesus wasn’t taking away water baptism. Jesus was adding to it the Holy Spirit. When we apply the water, Jesus applies the Spirit.
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