What does that simple question reveal?

Yeah, the way it was worded sure was confusing, and when I first questioned it, the matter
was further confused by him saying that is correct when it was not what he meant at all. LOL


Ephesians 1:13-14

I agree that's why I began by asking them to explain it first instead.

No. That is not what Scripture states at all. That is a false doctrine which perverts the truth about the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This question was limited to a very specific situation. It is not for general application. So we need to keep the context in mind.

You are conflating 2 things. Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit as Romans 8 reveals. It is not possible to be a child of God without such.
The verse you quoted is dealing with what is taught in Ephesians 1:13. Unlike the indwelling of the Spirit which is nonexperiential and positional...we are placed into Christ, this expression of the Spirit is partially inward but also has an outward manifestation. Rather than judicially placing us into the body of Christ, its purpose is to seal and authenticate to the believer that what is wrought in him or her is genuinely of God. It is God's seal and assurance to the believer.
In the book of Acts you find this happening alongside belief or at a later time.
The reason believers don't experience this to a much greater degree is because it's not spoken of in many circles and taught errantly in others.

I believe being sealed and indwelt with the Holy Ghost are references of the same experience. The detailed conversion accounts reveal when the individuals actually received the indwelling presence. (Acts 2:2-39, 8:17, 9:17, 10:44-46, 19:6) The accounts also reveal that believing in Jesus is the first step of faith in the process. And, as you noted Romans 8:9 reveals that being sealed/indwelt by the Holy Ghost is not optional.

I am reminded of Jesus' words recently referenced by Pilgrimshope:

"Then said Jesus to those Jews WHICH BELIEVED on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32

This was what was lacking in the 12 at Ephesus. Paul helped them be empowered / Baptized in the Holy Spirit, which is the Baptism of Jesus which is not in water.

Which begs the question... why were they baptized in water in Jesus' name? It's one and the same thing... you are immersed (baptized) in water, simulating the death and burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which also immerses you into the Holy Spirit. See Acts 2:38
Dunking someone in water does not "save" them, but it's a necessary part of salvation... our outward sign of our joining in covenant with Jesus...

Acts 19:1And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7There were about twelve men in all.

If you read the CONTEXT of this, it says "he found some disciples" (of John). So Paul explained about receiving Christ, THEN they believed. Afterwards, they were baptized according to the NT scriptures, for John's baptism was one of repentence during the old covenant.
V6 Then Paul laid his hands on them & they received the Baptism in/of the Holy Spirit with the evidence.

It's sad to see in this forum that some here are mentioning the indwelling HS AS the baptism in/of the HS as if they are the same thing. They are not.
All christians can to a great degree walk in the Spirit by denying the flesh & walking in obedience to the Bible. But to walk in the Spirit the way those of Acts did they cannot because they have not received the Baptism in/of the Holy Spirit "since they believed". They did not know it was still available to the church because of the teachings of the traditions of men.
So, I ask you who have been saved, "Have you received the full immersion of the Holy Spirit since you believed?
And to those who have, have you been refilled since then?
There is nothing wrong with the current Op or the question.

They were not baptized in water in Jesus' name. That is assumed. The baptism of The Lord is with the Holy Spirit, not with water. In fact, there is no scripture that says Jesus himself Baptized anyone in the water.

What do see is The disciples baptizing, BUT Jesus did not baptize anyone. John 4:2

Did the water Baptism of Jesus save Him? No. Neither does it save us. Jesus is our salvation, not water baptism. Water baptism is an act of obedience as OUR Lord, too, was Baptized.

You continue to make no sense

At the time that all of the NT was written, if "baptism" (immersion) was mentioned, it ALWAYS meant water. There was no other definition of it, other than immersion in liquid.
Jesus gave us another understanding of how we were to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.... we would be baptized with the Spirit.... in other words, we would be immersed in the Spirit. THAT is the spritual baptism that Jesus told us would happen. Not only would we be baptized in water, at the same time, we are being immersed in the Spirit..
It is very evident in scripture that baptism in water was expected of every new convert... but after Jesus resurrection, there was added the baptism in the Spirit when we are baptized in water. "...unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the Kingdom.... " John 3
The eunuch that Philip taught ..... "see, here is water, what prevents me from being baptized?..." Acts 8
The apostle Paul, after being blinded when being confronted by Jesus, not eating or drinking for 3 whole days.... the FIRST thing he did after regaining his sight was to rise up and be baptized. Acts 9
Baptism in water is an essential part of becoming a believer.... no, the act of baptism does not save you. Nor does believing, nor does simply having faith....... ALL of those are a part of becoming a believer/follower of Jesus.... a participant in the new Covenant...

You continue to insult and be incapable of understanding.

Jesus is telling Nicodemus you were born of the flesh. NOW you need to be Born of the Spirit.

I have heard that explanation, and it could possibly mean exactly that.... except when a baby is born, it is not normally said that the baby was "born of water"..... they were simply "born".

Jesus could have been hinting at the water breaking during a human birth, but he also could have been using that hint to say "not only do you get baptized in water, you also will be baptized in the Spirit...... because remember, again, anytime anyone during that time said "baptism", it always meant immersion in water. (unless they were discussing making pickles...)

It would be similar to the comparing of water immersion baptism to the "saving" of Noah and his family..... "baptism, which corresponds to this (Noah being saved from destruction by water) now saves us.... " Noah's family was saved from a degenerate earth by the cleansing power of the water....

Being born of water and Spirit?

The Spirit is simple.

Water refers to the gospel. See 1 Peter 1:23 and Romans 10:17.

In response to CS1, we are born of the Spirit upon being baptized into Christ since its at that point we get the Holy Spirit per Acts2:38. It's the indwelling of the Spirit which is received at baptism into Christ.
????? Water never ever equated to the gospel! Coming to that conclusion by the scriptures cited is beyond a stretch and another desperate attempt to discredit baptism as being irrelevant and unimportant. You are dreaming.