In Acts 9:17, we have the story of Paul’s interaction with Ananias. That account agrees with 22:13. In both, Ananias comes in and says, “Saul, brother….” Baptism comes later. The only way Saul could be his brother is if he had already been regenerated. And he doesn’t say, “be baptized and wash away your sins,“ he says, “wash away your sins calling on His name.” This agrees with Peter, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21).” He saves us through the washing of REGENERATION and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). What shall I give unto the Lord for all His benefits for me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord (Ps. 116:12-13).
I don’t dispute baptism is necessary. However, baptism in water without baptism into the Holy Spirit is an empty ritual. The Spirit of the glorified Jesus is the reality of the water according to Jn. 7:37-39. The reality of baptism, is first into the name, or person, of the Triune God. The Father is in the Son, the Son became a life-giving Spirit, so whether you are baptized into the Name of the F, S, and S, or the name of Christ, or the Spirit, it is the same, because They are one. But that’s not all. No one baptizes himself: “In one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body…” Through baptism in the Spirit, we are placed into the Body of Christ. That’s why the accounts of those baptized were through a member of the Body. Baptism in water is a testimony to God, the angels, Satan, the demons, the world, our friends and family, and the members of the Body of Christ, that we have chosen by faith to be transferred out of Adam, who is under condemnation and the authority of Satan, and into Christ. We are transferred through faith, Baptism in water is a testimony of the reality that has taken place.
There are 2 parts of receiving the Holy Spirit. The first is seen on the day Jesus was resurrected and appeared to the disciples, in John 20:22. “He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was the Spirit expected in John 4:14 and 7:39. This is the water that becomes a fountain IN us when we come to Him to drink [unrelated to baptism]. The second part was in Acts 2:1-4, which was the fulfillment of the Father’s promise in Luke 24:49. In Acts 2, the Spirit as a rushing, violent wind came as power UPON the disciples for their work [also unrelated to water baptism]. Remember, they had already received the Spirit inwardly on the day of resurrection. So, they were filled with the Spirit inwardly to be their life, and they were filled with the Spirit outwardly as their power to be Christ’s witnesses.
Ananias calling Paul brother: A brother is one who has the same father. When we are regenerated, the life of God (Gr. Zoe), the very eternal, uncreated life of God, comes into us. That IS eternal salvation. All those who have received this life from the Father are brothers. Jesus said, “go to My brothers and say to them, I go to My Father and to your Father (Jn. 20:17). Jesus did not use the term “brothers” until AFTER His resurrection.
What point are you trying to make with regard to Demas, Hymenaeus, and Philetus?
Re: washing away sin in baptism, I refer you back to the point I made previously. Btw, I cite the verses so you can look them up for yourself. The Bible is my authority. Anyway, to repeat, you are linking “be baptized” with “washing away your sins.” No so, “washing away your sins” is connected with “calling on the name of the Lord.” Ananias tells Paul, “Be baptized” AND “wash away your sins calling on His name (Acts 22:16).” (More fully discussed previously)
In Acts 9:17, we have the story of Paul’s interaction with Ananias. That account agrees with 22:13. In both, Ananias comes in and says, “Saul, brother….” Baptism comes later. The only way Saul could be his brother is if he had already been regenerated. And he doesn’t say, “be baptized and wash away your sins,“ he says, “wash away your sins calling on His name.” This agrees with Peter, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21).” He saves us through the washing of REGENERATION and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). What shall I give unto the Lord for all His benefits for me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord (Ps. 116:12-13).
I don’t dispute baptism is necessary. However, baptism in water without baptism into the Holy Spirit is an empty ritual. The Spirit of the glorified Jesus is the reality of the water according to Jn. 7:37-39. The reality of baptism, is first into the name, or person, of the Triune God. The Father is in the Son, the Son became a life-giving Spirit, so whether you are baptized into the Name of the F, S, and S, or the name of Christ, or the Spirit, it is the same, because They are one. But that’s not all. No one baptizes himself: “In one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body…” Through baptism in the Spirit, we are placed into the Body of Christ. That’s why the accounts of those baptized were through a member of the Body. Baptism in water is a testimony to God, the angels, Satan, the demons, the world, our friends and family, and the members of the Body of Christ, that we have chosen by faith to be transferred out of Adam, who is under condemnation and the authority of Satan, and into Christ. We are transferred through faith, Baptism in water is a testimony of the reality that has taken place.
There are 2 parts of receiving the Holy Spirit. The first is seen on the day Jesus was resurrected and appeared to the disciples, in John 20:22. “He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was the Spirit expected in John 4:14 and 7:39. This is the water that becomes a fountain IN us when we come to Him to drink [unrelated to baptism]. The second part was in Acts 2:1-4, which was the fulfillment of the Father’s promise in Luke 24:49. In Acts 2, the Spirit as a rushing, violent wind came as power UPON the disciples for their work [also unrelated to water baptism]. Remember, they had already received the Spirit inwardly on the day of resurrection. So, they were filled with the Spirit inwardly to be their life, and they were filled with the Spirit outwardly as their power to be Christ’s witnesses.
Ananias calling Paul brother: A brother is one who has the same father. When we are regenerated, the life of God (Gr. Zoe), the very eternal, uncreated life of God, comes into us. That IS eternal salvation. All those who have received this life from the Father are brothers. Jesus said, “go to My brothers and say to them, I go to My Father and to your Father (Jn. 20:17). Jesus did not use the term “brothers” until AFTER His resurrection.
What point are you trying to make with regard to Demas, Hymenaeus, and Philetus?
Re: washing away sin in baptism, I refer you back to the point I made previously. Btw, I cite the verses so you can look them up for yourself. The Bible is my authority. Anyway, to repeat, you are linking “be baptized” with “washing away your sins.” No so, “washing away your sins” is connected with “calling on the name of the Lord.” Ananias tells Paul, “Be baptized” AND “wash away your sins calling on His name (Acts 22:16).” (More fully discussed previously)