To more easily understand the ordinance and doctrine of baptism, it would be more accurate to describe baptism as “baptisms,” in its plural form, since by definition we must be completely “immersed and overwhelmed” in both elements, water and Spirit. Otherwise the ordinance is incomplete. A man with proper authority performs the prior and God performs the latter, subject to the fulfillment of the requirements associated with the promised blessing. Or in other words, the actual gift comes through obedience to that law upon which the promised blessing (in this case, the reception and
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