There is a lot said about receiving the baptism of the holy Spirit amongst Pentacostals. The Baptists do not mention it at all. They say Eph 2:8,9.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Jesus made it simple...
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
To believe in this instance is to trust and to be committed to him. John's baptism was for repentance, Jesus' baptism for forgiveness and the filling of his spirit. Water baptism is in obedience. We are filled for service, not for salvation. Salvation is God's work in our hearts by faith in him...
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
(The power is his Spirit)
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And these are favorite verses for salvation:
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
The work of salvation results in the presence of His Spirit within.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
We don't know how we get the Spirit, but God gives it following our coming to Jesus.
Gary
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