28 July 2012: Baptism!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3v21 (NLT)

The Scripture here talks of baptism as a response to God – that I have heard, believed and accept what you have said. Mark 1v4 (AMP) tells us about John the Baptist who came as a forerunner of Christ, and was baptizing people: “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (desert), preaching a baptism [obligating] repentance (a change of one’s mind for the better, heartily amending one’s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) in order to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins.” Our Lord Jesus also came to be baptized by John, “[The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus] When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened” Luke 3v21 (NIV). However, John the Baptist made it clear that he was not the Christ, and made a distinction between the baptism he was doing with water, and that which Jesus would do. Mark 1v7-8 (MSG) says “As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The Star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism – a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit – will change you from the inside out.”

Supplementary Text

“While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper inland districts and came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [on Jesus as the Christ]? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he asked, Into what [baptism] then were you baptized? They said. Into John’s baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, continually telling the people that they should believe in the One Who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus [having a conviction full of joyful trust that He is Christ, the Messiah, and being obedient to Him]. On hearing this they were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus. And as Paul laid hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in [foreign, unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesied.” Acts 19v1-6 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for the baptism by water and of the Spirit. Indeed Lord we thank You for being able to respond to You and to receive the Holy Spirit of God. Thank You Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in Jesus name, amen.