"Baptism in Water & Receiving the Holy Spirit"

"Baptism in Water & Receiving the Holy Spirit"
(Learning Through the Book of Acts)

18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, (Acts 9:18)
16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’(Acts 22:16)
The above verses were Paul's testimony, that on the road to Damascus, he encounters God and he became blind, but after receiving sight (when the Lord sent Ananias), he immediately went to be baptized.
Here we see, that after we are being freed by the truth that we are sinners, true repentance happens next if we respond correctly to the Gospel. Then after that is the Baptism of water. (See also Acts 16:33, 18:8). Why? Because a person who is truly repentant never hesitates to be baptized.
True repentance is necessary for the remissions of our sins (Acts 2:38). Remission means God is pardoning our sins even before rendering us His judgment. After we recognized that our life is not fitted before God, we ask God for forgiveness and God forgives us. And water baptism is necessary to cleanse us from our unrighteousness and sins for the Holy Spirit cannot come to a vessel that is dirty. After baptism of water, that is only when the Spirit of God will come to our life. (Acts 1:5)
Another purpose of water baptism is to ordained us as witnesses to the resurrection of Christ (Acts 1:22). Meaning, our real journey of Christian faith starts only from the point of Baptism.
In Acts 10:37, the preaching of the Word of Christ happens after the baptism of John. Why? Because John's Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins or Baptism of Repentance. However, the true baptism that saves us is the Baptism in the name of Christ. Baptism on Jesus is believing on His Word and on Jesus Himself (Acts 8:12-13,16 and 8:37-38)
Acts 10:47-48 No one can prevent us from undergoing baptism except for our own selves. Meaning, it is a personal decision and conviction to hate sin and leave the life of sin, so that I can finally live a life that glorifies the Father.
(Acts 11:16, 13:24, 18:25, 19:3-4)
John's baptism is only a physical symbol of our separation from our life of sin, but the Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is our spiritual circumcision to turn from our idols to God and to serve the one and true living God, as we believe in Jesus Christ and His words, for it is only through Jesus that we can receive the Holy Spirit of God. (or the washing of water by the Word)
(Acts 16:15)
Any person who is baptized by water and Spirit always wants to dwell in the presence of the Lord. Also, the craving of the word of God is evident in their lives.
Summary of the first Process to Salvation:
(1) Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
(2) Repent from Sins
(3) Baptism of Water
(4) Receiving the Holy Spirit

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