May you all have peace! Unfortunately, the Bible actually does not say what some here suggest on this matter. If you will permit me, I will share with you what it does say... and what my Lord has borne witness to me is TRUE:
1. Water baptism was for Jews/Israel, only... and not the nations. Because water baptism... the baptism of "John"... is in symbolization of having "died" as to sin manifest by means of the Law Covenant - sins of the FLESH. So, only those under the Law Covenant need(ed) to undergo water baptism. Which means... only Israel... because the nations were never under the Law. They never entered into the Covenant (which Israel did when they approached God at Sinai). However, they (the nations), now along with Israel who accepted it, could now enter into the NEW Covenant... which THEY enter by approaching "Zion"... and being baptized with FIRE/SPIRIT... in symbolization of dying as to the sins of the SPIRIT (many of which far, far surpassed Israel's transgressions of the flesh!). Water "cleanses" as to the flesh; fire cleanses as to the spirit. Holy spirit is "living water". And so while water baptism is in symbolization of repentance and cleansing of transgressions committed under the Law... and of the flesh... baptism by fire and spirit cleanses of BOTH: transgressions of the flesh AND of the SPIRIT.
2. John (the Baptizer) said that although HE would baptize with water, there was one coming after him, the sandals of whom he wasn't fit to tie, who would baptize in fire and spirit. Matthew 3:1, 11; Mark 1:6-8; Luke 3:16; John 1:19, 25-31
3. Cornelius and HIS household... Israelites (by means of being from among the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel, the "Samaritans", and so not a Jew)... received holy spirit FIRST... and THEN were baptized in water. Acts 10:1-4, 24, 44-48
4. About 12 men... who had been water baptized ("in John")... did not receive holy spirit until some time later, when they ran into Paul, who "baptized" them by laying his hands on them. Acts 19:1-7
5. The reason Paul said that there was ONE baptism... is because he was addressing the Ephesians, people of the NATIONS, for whom there really was only one baptism, by fire and spirit... because they Ephesians had not ever been under the Law:
"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ [Jesus] you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groupsone and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through himwe both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
" Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by hisSpirit." Ephesians 2:11-22
Some will try to dispute what I have shared here by using Cornelius and the Ethiopian Eunuch. However, both men were Israel, Cornelius, a Ceasarean, which was a town in Samaria. The Samaritans were those of the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel (vs. the 2-tribe kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, the Jews). That's why my Lord had the particularly discussion he did with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. When she said, "Our forefathers used to worship in these mountains," she meant hers AND my Lords forefathers... the men of the 12 tribes. They worshipped in the mountains before Solomon built the temple... and after the rift between Solomon's son, Rehoboam, and one of Solomon's general's, Jeroboam, split the kingdom... "Israel" (the 10-tribe kingdom) followed him BACK to the mountains... where he established an unsanctioned priesthood at Bethel, the capital of Samaria. Cornelius... was a Samaritan.
The Eunuch was a Jew by birth/blood, but an Ethiopian by nationality. Ethopians were the descendants of Cush and this one was of the remnant that was to be recoved from Cush, through Benjamin, and thus, a Jew by means of the 2-tribe kingdom of Judah/Benhamin (Judges 3:15; 1 Chronicles 7:10; Psalm 7:1 supp; Isaiah 11:1; 18:1). He had come to Jerusalem to worship at the temple and was reading from Isaiah when Philip was told to approach him. Once Philip explained Christ to him, the Eunuch was baptized... BY Philip... in the baptism of "John" - water baptism. The account does not say he received holy spirit just then, but there is no reason to believe he didn't receive later, and maybe even pretty quickly.
In order to know whether one should undergo one (baptism by fire and spirit)... or both (baptism by fire/spirit and water)... one would have to know whether one is an Israelite by BLOOD... and the ONLY way to know that is by holy spirit (not all who profess to be Israel are Israel). Because it is through this that Abraham's blood "speaks" to God. If one is concerned, one can simply ask... and put faith in what one hears from the Spirit. And if one hears that one is NOT Israel by BLOOD... then only baptism by fire and spirit are necessary.
If one asks and hears that one IS Israel by blood... then one should undergo water baptism... if one wants to do "just so." Even if one has never practiced Judaism. Because, as a "christian", one most probably was put back UNDER the Law... by whatever "christian" religion one practiced. And if you obey one... you are bound by all. In addition, Israel bound its progeny. So, again, if one wants to do "just so"... and has heard that one is Israel by BLOOD... one should consider it.
HOWEVER, it is not NECESSARY: baptism by... and into... Christ, the baptism with fire and spirit "covers" ALL sin, save only blasphemy against holy spirit. So, if one decides to seek only that baptism, it will not be held against them if they forewent water baptism.
I hope this helps... and, again, peace to you, all!
Servant to the Household of God, Israel... and those who go with... and a slave of Christ,
SA
