As people in the New Testament (prior to the ministry of Jesus) came to John the Baptist they heard his message of repentance and participated in baptism. This single immersion into the water represented their repentance from their old life and their desire to follow after God. John, speaking of Jesus said in Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Fire was both a symbol representing God as well as an image of purification, often through trials. But key to that statement is the idea that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. What is meant by baptism? Baptism (βαπτίζω) is a word meaning to wash through immersion. It is to be fully engulfed by something. At that time in history it was often used to indicate inclusion in something. Applied to water, it became a symbol in Christianity of inclusion in the church. The baptism of the Spirit then has a rich meaning. It is to be fully engulfed by the Spirit and included in the Body of Christ. While water baptism is a symbolic picture, Spirit baptism is a spiritual reality. The indwelling of the Spirit is the moment of baptism which includes the believer in the Body of Christ. We see this illustrated by 1 Corinthians 12:13 which says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” The idea of washing is also applicable to the Spirit as well. At the moment a believer places their faith in Christ they are justified. And immediately the Spirit then indwells them and begins the process of sanctification which could be described as a spiritual washing as we are gradually made to conform to the image of Christ. Titus 3:5 in fact refers to, “the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”