Baptism of the Holy Spirit is essential for salvation

I'm really glad I asked you to clarify what you meant by the two different baptisms because yes, I did not understand what you meant. Now I do. We do have some different beliefs. The first baptism you are referring to is water baptism. We agree on this one. You also brought out a good point when you said about water baptism, "...it doesn't mean you are actually born again. Anyone can be baptized whether or not they will actually truly repent, receive the Godly sorrow into their hearts and allow Christ to transform them is another story completely." I agree that water baptism will not save anyone. People can just go through the motions of being water baptized. If they do not do what the Bible tells us to do, to become born again, they still will not be saved.

You also said, "The second baptism is being baptized by the Holy Ghost and by fire, as stated by John the Baptist, not my words. It is at the time of second baptism by the Holy Ghost that you are actually born again."

This is where we disagree. I agree that there is a baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire because this is what the Bible says. I disagree with this statement that you made, "It is at the time of second baptism by the Holy Ghost that you are actually born again." This statement is not Biblical.

Consider the following passage:

"And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly..." Acts 19:1-8.

Here Paul was speaking to people who were already disciples of Christ. They were already believers. They were already water baptized. In other words they were already born again. Paul asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Paul also asked them, “Into what then were you baptized?” This shows that Paul was referring to a receiving of the Holy Spirit as a baptism. I believe that this is the baptism that is referred to in the Bible as the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. It obviously does not have to happen at the time of being born again because that was not the case in Acts 19 and else where. They were already born again.

Having said that, I do believe that when one becomes born again they do receive the Holy Spirit, but it is not referred to as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit is even with the unsaved to some degree. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts men whether saved or not. Refreshed posted a lot of verses about the Holy Spirit. Thanks Refreshed. John 14:17 says "...You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." Many of these verses show that the Holy Spirit is with us as our Helper, our Comforter, our Counselor etc. As I said before, all of us when we become saved receive the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit at salvation for regeneration, guidance, help and comfort. We receive the Holy Spirit to make all things new in our lives and to lead us into all truth. He does these things for us as we allow Him to work these things in our lives. This receiving of the Holy Spirit that we receive at our new birth (also called becoming born again or becoming saved) is not called a baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are many verses that show these other things that the Holy Spirit does, but they are not referred to as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There has to be a different experience of baptism of the Holy Spirit because this was the case in Acts 19. It appears to me that when a person receives this baptism of the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit now is adding to His work in that person. After the baptism of the Holy Spirit people spoke with boldness. They had more power of God.

You said, "You use many different words in your post, salvation, new birth, being born again, and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. My opinion is that these are all indeed the same thing."

I believe they are all the same thing except for "receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit."

You said, "Here Jesus is talking about being born again:
John 3:5: Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. and verse 6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Now, it doesn't say Holy Spirit in this scripture, but there is no other Spirit he could be referring to, is there?"

The Spirit here is referring to the Holy Spirit, but again this is not referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As I said before, the Holy Spirit is mentioned many times in the Bible, but not all of them are referring to His baptism. The Holy Spirit has many works. Here is just one example of a verse that fits in with the context of John 3:5.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" Titus 3:5.

The Holy Spirit is at work within us to regenerate us and make all things new in our lives, as we allow Him to do this, once we become born again. These are different works of the Holy Spirit than His works in baptism of the Holy Spirit.

You also said, "Also in this verse it doesn't say specifically that to be baptized by the Holy Spirit but to be born in the Spirit, but just before it says a man be born of water, what does it mean to be born of water? Our only conclusion is being baptized by water correct?"

Indeed John 3:5 is much debated as to the meaning of what born of water means. Some believe as you do that it means to be baptized in water. Others believe it means the physical birth because before birth we are in a water sac in our mother's womb. Others believe that it means the washing of water by the Word as described in Eph. 5:6.

In order to interpret scripture correctly we must interpret it in context. We must first look at the passage in which it was written. In this case we need to look no further. Many times scripture will interpret scripture. Jesus explained it Himself in the following verse when He said, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6 Here Jesus is clearly saying that when He was referring to being born of water He was referring to being born of the flesh. This would mean our natural birth given to us by our mother. Her water does break in the process.

You said, "This verse doesn't say specifically that it is essential to salvation to receive this baptism of the Holy Ghost, but why would Jesus give it to us unless it was essential to our salvation and certainly receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost directly through our Savior Jesus Christ, if far more important than receiving the symbolic gesture of baptism by water."

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not given to us for our salvation. That is no where in the Bible. In Acts chapter one, Jesus commanded His disciples to not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father. The people He was talking to were already saved. He said in Acts 1 verse 5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." He also made it clear as to why He is giving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. He explains that in Acts 1:8. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." The baptism of the Holy Ghost is for power to do God's will. It is for power in our witnessing to others.