John and Jesus: About BAPTISM

John the Baptist said in Mat 3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Mat 3:16 depicts the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist: "When Jesus had been baptized, He immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens opened up for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him." Some people believe this is when Jesus received the Holy Spirit. This is a misconception because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col 2:9). The voice of God was heard at this moment saying, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

Did you know Jesus never baptized anyone while He walked the earth (John 4:2)? Do you know what His baptism is? It's called the "baptism of the Holy Spirit".

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus (the Spirit of God) as confirmed in John 14:16-17 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Parakletos, which means Advocate, Paraclete, Comforter, Counselor and Helper), that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you."

John 4:23 states, "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers."

In Acts 1:4 Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for what the Father had promised. In verse 5, Jesus says, "for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." In verse 8, Jesus told them that they would receive POWER after the Holy Spirit has come upon them and they shall be witnesses throughout all the world.

There is at least one Christian church that teaches that water baptism actually forgives sins. This is based on Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." I bolded the words based on their understanding of this passage. However, "the name of Jesus Christ" should have been bolded, who remits (forgives) our sins.

Even when we are told to forgive others, they must first repent before we forgive them. (Luke 17:4)

Again, let's look at four passages that confirm water baptism is that of repentance (not forgiveness):

Mat 3:6 "and they were being baptized by him [John] in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins."

Mat 3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Acts 2:38 "Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 19:4 "Paul said, 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.'"

John 4:1-2 "Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were)," Why wasn't Jesus baptizing in water? Because no one could receive the baptism of the Spirit until their sins were forgiven through the cross.

Acts 18:25-26 show us that a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, instructed in the way of the Lord and teaching accurately the scriptures, was only acquainted with the Baptism of John.

Acts 19:2-6 explains it all! It is an account where Paul asked believers, “'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said to him, 'No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.' So Paul asked, 'Then what baptism did you receive?' 'John's baptism,' they replied.

In Verse 4, Paul says, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.'

Baptism in water is a reflection of the death and burial of our old man, and the resurrection into the new man in Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 5:17 states, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

If we stop at water baptism and do not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we "have the form of godliness, but deny the POWER thereof" (2 Tim 3:5).

In Acts 1:8 Jesus told His disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

The disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, which gave them the power to become apostles (Eph 4:11-12).

Acts 2:1-4 tells us what happened on the day of Pentecost: "And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." Now, not everyone filled with the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues (1 Cor 12:11). Indeed, they witnessed powerfully and 3,000 souls believed and were baptized that day! (Acts 2:41)

Acts 8:15-16 show us that merely being water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus is not enough!:  "Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)"

Acts 10:44-48 shows us that the Gentiles received the baptism of the Spirit while hearing the Word of God preached by Peter. They also began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now, keep in mind that they had to be forgiven of their sins before the Holy Spirit could indwell them! They were forgiven before they were baptized in water. Indeed, after receiving the baptism of the Spirit of God, they went to be water baptized as a confession of their faith.

Acts 18:25-26 show us that a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, instructed in the way of the Lord and teaching accurately the scriptures, was only acquainted with the Baptism of John. Verse 26 states that when Priscilla and Aquila heard him speaking boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Acts 19:2-6 explains it well:

It is an account where Paul asked believers, “'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said to him, 'No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.' So Paul asked, 'Then what baptism did you receive?' 'John's baptism,' they replied.'

In Verse 4, Paul says, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.”

How do we receive the Holy Spirit? ASK God!!

Luke 11:13 states, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

John 16:24 states, "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full."

To be “born of the Spirit" (John 3:6) is to be "baptized in the Spirit” (Mark 1:8). Again, Jesus said in John 15:16, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.”

Eph 4:4-6 "There is one body and one Spirit, just also as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

So what is this "one baptism"? 1 Pet 3:21 confirms water baptism (the puting away of the filth of the flesh) just like physical circumcision, does not save anyone. It is the circumcision of the heart (repentance) and baptism of the Holy Spirit that saves and seals us until the day of redemption. Thus John 15:16, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.” Eph 4:30 states, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

Let's review the three truths about repentance, forgiveness and power to live the Spirit-led life:

· Water baptism is a public confession of our repentance.

· The blood of Christ forgives our sins, whereby we are saved.

· We are "born of the Spirit" and endued with power when we are baptized in the Spirit.

Now, let's look at four examples that show that water baptism is not necessary for salvation, people can receive the forgiveness of sins before the act of water baptism, and people can receive the baptism of the Spirit upon or after being water baptized.

Water baptism not necessary for salvation:

· The thief on the cross was never baptized in water, but he received his salvation that day-that moment because of his faith in our Lord. He couldn't be baptized in water; it was too late. However, Jesus forgave his sins and saved him because he confessed Him as his Lord and Savior.

Believers forgiven and received the baptism of the Spirit before being water baptized:

· Per Acts 10:44-48 above, new believers, immediately upon receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Right after that, they then went to be baptized in water.

Believers receive the baptism of the Spirit at the time of being water baptized:

· Acts 2:38 "Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Believers received the baptism of the Spirit at a later time, after being baptized in water:

· Those in Acts 19:1-5 believed and were baptized in water, but didn't receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit until later.

My Testimony:

Like those in Acts 19:1-5, I was saved in a Baptist Church. I knew only the baptism of John and didn't understand what it meant to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, that of yielding to His leadership and Lordship in my life and thus receiving His power! This didn't happen until many years later when someone like Priscilla and Aquila, named Paul and Gretta took me aside and explained to me the way of God more accurately. They laid hands on me in prayer and I received the baptism of the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I tell of my experience in my hubs Interpretation of Spiritual Tongues and Healed of Spinal Meningitis!

How do we know we are saved and have received the Holy Spirit of God? Mat 7:16 states, “You will know them by their fruits”, which are listed in Gal 5:22. But, we cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit unless we have the Holy Spirit!  The Holy Spirit gives us "gifts", which are listed in 1 Cor 12:8-15. Mark 16:17 tells us, "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." I invite you to read my hub Fruit & Gifts of the Spirit.

In Matthew 12, Jesus cast out demons and was accused of being Beelzebub (Satan). His response to the Jewish accusers was this: "Whoever speaks a word against [blasphemes] the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against [blasphemes] the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."

We see tongues manifested consistently as a sign of baptism of the Spirit. Based on 1 Cor 13:8-10: "Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away." Now look at verse 12: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." I don't know about you, but a face would mean a face, not a Bible.

As Paul exhorted the church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 13:13 states, “But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE", we must not ignore the next verse, which is Chapter 14:1: "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts...". Truly, the gifts of the Spirit have not ceased, nor are they to be called "of the devil", for that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit! Be blessed in His Name. Amen.

^{Disclaimer regarding above hub by b4u2c}

^{b4u2c's hub contains a wealth of confirming study and information; however, any inference to the separation of the Godhead (Deity) or to The Holy Spirit as 'holy spirit' is not supported by my theology.}