Baptism

Introduction

     What exactly is baptism?  When someone is “baptized” into a group, it means that person is now recognized as being part of that group.  This can be seen with police officers.  You can’t really be part of their group until you show your DESIRE to be part of their group.  You must prove this desire by facing the same pressures and violence alongside them first.  Eventually you get “baptized” into their group.  They accept you as one of their own.  

     Spiritual baptism is much the same thing.  It’s a passage for being accepted into God’s family.  

     There are two types of spiritual baptism.  There is baptism by Spirit and there is baptism by water.  Jesus carries out the baptism by Spirit and people carry out the baptism by water.  

 

Baptism By The Spirit

     First let’s talk about being baptized by the Spirit.  The Spirit we’re talking about here is the Holy Spirit.  Jesus gives us His official invitation to join His family when He gives us the Holy Spirit.  

     How does this baptism occur?  How do we get the Holy Spirit in us?  The answer is through obedience.  Not obedience to our own self-righteousness, but obedience to the Word.  Remember, the Word and Jesus are so tightly woven together that they can be considered the same thing.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2).  

     When we are obedient to the Word we prove to Jesus that we love Him.  He’ll then ask His Father to give us His (the Father’s) special Spirit that has all the Father’s power, the Holy Spirit.  If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate...The one having My commandments and keeping them, that one is the one loving Me; and the one loving Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and will reveal Myself to him (John 14:15-16, 21).

     There isn’t necessarily any manifestation that happens when we receive the Holy Spirit.  Don’t expect anything to be obvious.  Just know that Jesus and the Father are faithful and will follow-through with their end if we first are obedient.  After receiving the Holy Spirit you may notice that you are able to cast out demons, heal the sick and injured, speak in tongues, read the bible with new enthusiasm, understand scripture more deeply, etc.  This is all due to the Holy Spirit, who’s in you, helping you along.  Of course many of these things only come when you SEEK them.  

     Don’t think that because you received the Holy Spirit you are automatically going to heaven.  When Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, He welcomes us into His family.  But your spiritual struggles aren’t over, they have just begun!  Now you must die to yourself daily.  You must put Him over yourself in every thought, desire, and feeling.  Remember this, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman.  He doesn’t coerce us to do things like demons do.  Even though He’s in us we must continually SEEK His will and follow His lead.  His will is Jesus’ will.  The Holy Spirit will guide us, in part, by giving us “conviction,” which is that yucky feeling when we are grieving Him.  We must be sensitive to His convictions and stop doing whatever is grieving Him.  Our very salvation revolves around following the Holy Spirit’s lead.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Law (Galatians 5:18).        

          

What Happens When We Let The Holy Spirit Lead Us?

     Being led by the Holy Spirit is the backbone of Christianity.  You want to know when we move from being under Old Testament law to New Testament grace?  It’s when we are being led by the Holy Spirit.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Law (Galatians 5:18).

     You want to have deeper insight into scripture?  You want God to reveal deep spiritual truths to you?  You want eyes to see and ears to hear?  Such things aren’t revealed through our own intellect.  They are revealed when we are being led by the Holy Spirit.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and shall remind you of all things that I said to you (John 14:26).

     You want a close relationship with Jesus?  You want to be part of His family?  You want to know Jesus’ will in everything you do?  You want a bond with Jesus that can’t be broken?  This relationship, this bond, develops as we are being led by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will reveal to us only what Jesus tells Him to reveal to us.  But when that One comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you into all Truth, for He will not speak from Himself, but as many things as He hears, He will speak; and He will announce the coming things to you.  That One will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will announce to you (John 16:13-14).          

     You want to overcome a stronghold in your life?  You want to kick a sinful habit?  This can be done when we are being led by the Holy Spirit.  But I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that not whatever you may will, but these things you do (Galatians 5:16-17).

     You want spiritual power?  You want to not only overcome your own strongholds, but you want to help others overcome theirs?  You want to cast out demons?  You want to heal the sick?  You want to raise the dead?  You want to walk in signs and wonders to prove the Word is true?  Such things only happen when you are being led by the Holy Spirit.  But you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and you will be witnesses of Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).  What did the disciples do after Jesus ascended to heaven to be with His Father?  And going out, they preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the miraculous signs following after.  Amen (Mark 16:20).

     Well, you probably get the picture at this point.  God the Father and Jesus are in heaven.  The third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is  in us.  We are being led by the Holy Spirit when we submit our soul (thoughts, desires, and feelings) to Him.  The world influences us through our soul.  We must choose who we follow...the world or the Spirit.  

 

Baptism By Water

     Water baptism is meant for someone who, with mature understanding, can make a decision to submit their own will to God’s will.  A ceremony of water cleansing performed on someone who is too young for mature understanding shouldn’t be considered a water baptism.  

     Water baptism is spiritually important.  We probably won’t understand its full importance until we pass from this world, but we do know a couple reasons why it’s important.    

     The spiritual world sees that when we go under the water, we are choosing to die to our own will.  When we come out of the water, we are showing the spiritual world that we have been born again, choosing to put His will over our own.  Like Jesus died and rose again, through baptism we are dying and rising again.  Having been buried together with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, the One having raised Him from among the dead ones (Colossians 2:12).  

     Water baptism is humble repentance for having walked according to our own will.  John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for remission of sins (Mark 1:4).  Repentance is often required before the Holy Spirit is willing to move.  

     In this world water baptism is just symbolism.  In the spiritual world, it’s a devastating weapon used to help destroy the works of the devil.

 

Both Baptisms Go Together         

     Getting baptized by the Spirit and getting baptized by water should go hand-n-hand.  We should get water baptized soon after we believe.  During Pentecost, when the disciples first received the Holy Spirit, they began speaking with authority.  The crowd believed them, but didn’t know what to do next.  ...they were pierced in the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men, brothers, what shall we do?  And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...the ones gladly welcoming his words were baptized.  And about three thousand souls were added that day (Acts 2:37-38,41).  Later when Philip was making new disciples he wasted no time in getting his converts baptized.  But when they believed Philip preaching the gospel, the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women (Acts 8:12).  When Paul had his encounter with Jesus and was told to start his ministry, what did Paul do?  And now what are you going to do?  Rising up, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).    

Unleash The Beast

     Water baptism helps draw in the Holy Spirit.  Is it possible to receive the Holy Spirit before being water baptized?  Yes.  Should we be water baptized soon after we become a believer anyway?  Yes.  Even if we have the Holy Spirit already, He is hindered in fully working through us until we get water baptized.  

     Remember, water baptism shows repentance.  The Holy Spirit loves repentance and is eager to move after seeing it.  Therefore, when we get water baptized and strive to be obedient to the Word...the beast is unleashed!  The Holy Spirit is eager to move through us in amazing power if only we seek Him.  

     If you seek Him, you’ll find yourself interceding for people.  You’ll be teaching the Word deeply.  You’ll be seeing miracles.  You’ll be helping people in ways that only God can help them.  You’ll be like the first disciples...teaching the Word and then walking in power PROVING THE WORD IS TRUE.    

 

Are Both Baptism By Spirit And Baptism By Water Necessary For Salvation?

     Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, if one is not generated out of water and Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5).  The world reads this and believes it means water baptism is a box to be checked as part of our resume to make it into heaven.  They see water baptism as a legalistic requirement for salvation.  This happens because the world doesn’t know what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit.    

  Now let’s look at this scripture through spiritual eyes (with the help of the Holy Spirit)...  We are reminded that salvation comes when we let the Holy Spirit lead us.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Law (Galatians 5:18).  We know it’s Jesus’ will for us to get water baptized.  Therefore, IF the Holy Spirit is leading us, we WILL get water baptized.  Water baptism is simply the fruit of a Holy Spirit led (saved) life.            

       

Follow Jesus’ Example

    Jesus led from the front.  He put Himself through water baptism.  We should always follow His lead.  And having been baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water.  And, behold!  The heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove, and coming upon Him (Matthew 3:16).  

     After receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus continuously chose to let the Holy Spirit lead Him.  And full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the deserted place, forty days, being tried by the devil...And having finished every temptation, the devil departed from Him until a time.  And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.  And a report went out through all the surrounding region about Him.  And He taught in the synagogues, being glorified by all (Luke 4:1-2, 13-15).

 

Disciples Are Obedient

     Before Jesus ascended into heaven He gave His disciples their marching orders.  These orders are known as the great commission.  The great commission is still in effect for current disciples.  The great commission orders disciples to make more disciples.  We are to do this by spreading the Word, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and continuing to do everything that Jesus commanded his direct disciples to do.  ...disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, as many things as I commanded you… (Matthew 28:19-20).