4-19-2025 Water Baptism & Baptism in the Spirit
Say what? didn’t he just do this the last time? Yep. But I was preparing this for a bible study at the church I attend and as I was double checking things, Father gave me a few more things to consider concerning baptism. Hopefully, the information He added will help us gain a little more understanding so don’t just assume this is a duplicate of two weeks ago. It is, but with more info!
Baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ's death on the cross, His burial in the tomb and as we rise up, His resurrection from the dead. It is a symbol of our brand new life as a Christian. It is an outward ‘cleansing’ of the body reflecting the inward cleansing of the soul. It is symbolic so we don’t take a bath when being baptized with water (don’t take the soap, lol).
Washing away our sin
Baptism with water is an outward indication of the cleansing of our soul within. But before we can be cleansed, we need to acknowledge that all of mankind are sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:19-23), even me. Then we need to acknowledge that Jesus as the Son of God who came into this world to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and sin (1 John 1:7-10). Then we need to confess Jesus as Lord of our lives with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, then we shall be saved (Romans 10:9).
God is not bound by ‘human’ protocol but by His Word (Heb. 6:13-20). So our ‘human order’ of events is not necessarily God’s order.
Rom. 6:1-11 Buried with Christ in death but
raised to life eternal in Jesus.
The thief on the cross did not receive ‘scriptural’ water baptism. The Jews did not allow a body to remain on the cross on the Sabbath so the thief’s legs were broken, before sunset. Thus we know the thief was dead by the time he was taken from the cross (John 19:31-32). Ergo there was no water baptism for thief. The Jewish day was (generally) 6PM to 6PM. In Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23 & 31 God said the evening and the morning were day #1, etc.
Luke 23:39-43 This day you will be with me in
paradise
When the thief said “Remember me …”, he was acknowledging Jesus as his Savior and Jesus replied “today you will be with Me in paradise”. Jesus acknowledged the thief’s confession unto salvation and gave him the promise of eternal life.
Rom. 10:9 (again) Confess with your mouth and believe in
your heart ….
This
passage is pretty clear – we believe that Jesus is our Savior, confess the same
with our mouth and believe, with all our heart) that we will be with Him
throughout eternity. We will!
Rom. 10:13-15 Believing comes by hearing/hearing by a
preacher/the preacher is he who was sent
So how do we get the opportunity to make our decision? Usually, a preacher (or someone other than ourselves) will share Jesus with us, but God has to inspire that someone to come to us so we can hear about the love of Jesus so we can believe and choose.
Isaiah 38:17 Sin
cast behind My back
Micah 7:19 Cast our sins into the depth
of the sea
So what happens to our sin? God forgets all confessed sin and does as Isaiah and Micah say. I like to say ”God forgives us our sin, put them behind his back and they slide off into the sea of forgetfulness.” And that’s the truth!
Acts 22:16 Be baptized and wash away
your sins
1 Peter 3:21 Baptism washes our conscience
clean
So we are baptized in water as a symbol of our sins being washed away by the blood of the lamb (Jesus) and we are raised a new creature in Christ Jesus. But more importantly, our conscience is clean. As we said, God forgets forgiven sins. So should we!
Matt. 3:11-17 Jesus is baptized with water
Jesus had to be baptized by John (the Baptist) indicating that he has washed away the sins of the world so He would be qualified to step in as our savior. Understand that Jesus’ heart was always right with Father (Matt. 3:17, Math. 17:5). Yet He gave an outward expression for our benefit and was baptized with water. He was obedient to that which was necessary.
Acts 8:5-15 In Samaria, Phillip baptized with water
but later Peter & John baptized people in the Holy Ghost
Acts 8:28-38 Eunuch baptized by Phillip
Philip expresses the need to continue with water baptism as an expression for our salvation experience. The eunuch agreed and when they came to some water “what prevents me now?” Yet Peter and John indicate that there is more to come.
Acts 10:34-47 Cornelius and his family baptized in the
Holy Ghost then in water
Acts 19:1-6 Paul baptizes twelve disciples in
Ephesus. “Have you received the received
the Holy Ghost since you believed?”
The twelve with Paul clearly understood who God is and had received John’s baptism for repentance but did not necessarily include knowledge of who Jesus nor the Holy Ghost is. These passages reflects Father’s focus on our heart and not just on what we do. Note that when the thief on the cross acknowledged who Jesus is, then Jesus acknowledged the change in the thief’s heart and assures him salvation.
Again,
water baptism reflects the cleansing of our heart and soul. Sometimes, even Christians get hung up on the
order of protocol and if things aren’t done in a certain order they are not
valid. I thank God that He judges our
actions as He looks at our heart.
But understand, we first have to receive Jesus into our heart before we
can receive either baptism with water or the Holy Ghost!
1
Corinth. 10:1-2 Even
Israel was baptized in water (as they crossed the Red Sea).
Israel followed the ‘cloud’ (God’s presence (Exod. 13:21) so they passed through the Red Sea under the cloud, thereby receiving their water baptism.
So now let us talk about receiving power.
John 14:15-17 As we abide in Jesus, the Comforter (HG)
shall be in us.
We saw the Holy Ghost come upon Jesus with His baptism by John. Jesus promises that the Holy Ghost shall abide in us as well.
John 20:22 Jesus commands us to receive the
Holy Ghost
Acts 1:4-8 Promise of the Holy Ghost for it is
He who brings us power
The Holy Ghost is the breath of God (pneuma G4151) and this is the same Holy Ghost in which Jesus operated. It is also the same Holt Ghost through wWhom God created all things (Gen.1:1-2). Jesus gave us the authority (G1849 exsousia (Matt. 10:1, Luke 10:1, 17) but through the Holy Ghost, we gain dunamis power (G1411), violent or explosive power, the ability to get the job done!
Acts 2:1-18 Apostles and disciples receive
baptism of the Holy Ghost
Acts 9:17-18 Ananias prays Paul to receive the Holy
Ghost
Acts 10:34-47 Cornelius and his household receive the
Holy Ghost
Acts 19:1-6 The twelve in Ephesus receive the
Holy Ghost
Four New Testament examples of people, other than Jesus, being baptized with the Holy Ghost after Jesus ascension(Actds1:9-11). Note that both Jews and Gentiles (us non-Jews) are also to receive the Holy Ghost and It is not ‘just’ a suggestion. A thing is established by two or more witnesses (Matt. 18:16).
Rom. 8:26-27 Holy Ghost helps us to pray, He
intercedes for us.
1 Corinth.
14:14-19 Praying in the Spirit edifies
us but we don’t understand what is being said. Pray in the Spirit, but also
pray with understanding so all may be blessed (even ourselves).
Want a closer relationship with the Lord? The Holy Ghost helps us to do just that.
1 Corinth.
13:1-2 Love is the foundation of our ‘Spiritual’
speaking with others
Luke 12:11-12 Holy Ghost will give us what we should
say
2 Tim. 2:7 Holy Ghost will give us
understanding
John 16:13-15 Holy Ghost will guide us into truth and
show us things to come
Eph. 6:18 Persevere in all prayer and
supplications in the Spirit
The Holy Ghost is He who gives us knowledge, understanding and wisdom so we know how to deal with all situations which come upon us. He is our strength to persevere. He will never lie to us and He gives us direction in this life. So whatsoever we say and do should be in love and done to edify others and the Holy Ghost will give us what we need when we need it. We need to keep a prayerful attitude. Obviously we cannot be on our knees 24-7, but the Holy Ghost will help us in all situations!
John 14:10-13 We can do those things which Jesus did
and greater. If we ask anything in His
name, He will do it!
The Holy Ghost gives us the power to do that to which Father has called us. Our job is to believe, receive, then do (Matt. 21:22).
1 John 4:13 We know that God is in us via the
indwelling Holy Ghost
Should we doubt, this passage tells us that the Holy Ghost will confirm our salvation.
1 Thess.
4:16-17 We shall be caught up in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air
The Holy Ghost in us is who gives us the power to meet Jesus when that time comes.
Many believe that we receive the Holy Ghost when we receive Jesus into our heart. Some of these passages imply that may not necessarily be the case. Not going to argue here, but consider this: should we receive the Holy Ghost at the same time we receive Jesus, too many Christians, perhaps without realizing it, immediately put Him (the HG) in a closet and don’t allow Him to operate fully in our lives. That is we “quench” the Holy Ghost. And Paul reminds us “not to quench the Spirit (HG)” (1 Thess. 5:19). As we allow Holy Ghost free reign in our life, we will see these passages and more become manifested in us and through us! Glory to God!
Again water baptism reflects the heartfelt commitment we’ve made to Jesus and the baptism of the Holy Ghost truly gives us the power, to have a productive life and to live in, for and through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
