DEFINING BAPTISM AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

By Pastor P Zondi

Baptism in water and the Holy Spirit

Baptism

Before we delve into baptism we need to know from where the word baptism originates. It originates from the Greek word ‘baptizo’, which was used by Greek women when they dye their garments. For the dye to impart the colour equally to the garment they had to immerse the whole garment in the water (dye). When they take it out of the water (dye) it would have changed colour completely(beingbaptized).

Baptism as a practice

Before the emergence of John the Baptist, the Jews were baptizing the gentile converts. This was a way of initiating them into the Jewish religion which meant they were accepting the law ofMosesandallreligiouspractices.

Baptism by John the Baptist

In the book of Luke chapter 3 verse, 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He willbaptizeyouwiththeHolySpiritandfire.”

John the Baptist introduced a new era and even told people about another form of baptism that was going to come after him. John’s baptism was of repentance and forgiveness of sins hence he accused the crowds of claiming to be the children of Abraham but could not produce the fruits that are in keeping with repentance. People who came to him for baptism were not only the gentiles but even Jews came to him, the Tax collectors. Matthew 3:7 tells us that even the Pharisees and Sadducees came to John for baptism. Before people were baptized, they will confess their sins and express their remorse as a sign of repentance.

According to Luke 3:10-14, John replied the crowds, Tax collectors, and soldiers who were questioning him on what to do to show repentance. This meant repentance was not an event or something you do because you want to be baptized but it was a complete transformation that should be manifested by a holy living even after baptism. Agarmentthathasgonethroughthedyeingprocessmustshowanewcolour.

The Great Commission

In Matthew 28:19, scripture states: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,oftheSonandtheHolySpirit.” Jesus did not negate the practice of baptism that started before John the Baptist time which he himself underwent by requesting John to baptize him. Though he did not baptize anyone he instructed his disciples to carry on with this practice. Why did Jesus want this practice to continue? When his authority was questioned by the priests and the teachers of the law in Luke 20:1-8 in verse 4 he asked them, “John’s baptism – was it from heaven or from men?” This tells us that he knew that baptism was from God, so as a practice it must continue even after he had left. The book of Acts 2:38-41 reveals to us that the practice continued, on the day of the Pentecost, Peter called the people to repentandbebaptizedandaboutthreethousandwerebaptized.

Going back to the concept of a dye this is what Paul says about baptism in Romans 6:1-14, we can’t continue living in sin if we are baptized into Christ. Since we are baptized in his death and resurrection, therefore, we may have a new life. Hence Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,theoldhasgone,thenewhascome.”

Baptized with Holy Spirit and fire

Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothedwithpowerfromonhigh.”

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end oftheearth.”

John the Baptist talked about the baptism with the Holy Spirit which Jesus was responsible for. Jesus picked up what John the Baptist talked about with regard to the Holy Spirit but according to Jesus in the book of John 14: 26 the Holy Spirit will be sent by the Father in the name of Jesus. This gives us a sense of unity between God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist point at Jesus as the one who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit but instead of Jesus coming up and saying, “I will send you the Holy Spirit”, he says “My FatherwillsendtheHolySpiritonmyname.”

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Holy Spirit is God. Holy Spirit is not it but him. God operates as a unit God the Son was sent by God the Father on earth and God the Son talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit who will be sent by the Father. According to Jesus, he is the Counsellor, to guide believerstoalltruthinthatsenseheistheSpiritoftruth.

John the Baptist talks about the Holy Spirit and fire in Luke 3:16 and in verse 17 fire is referred to as judgment. This judgment is picked up by Jesus in John 16:7-11, the Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. This is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins and that’s the fire John the Baptist is talking about, “For our God is a consumingfire.”Heb.12:29.

The Holy Spirit was prophesied by Joel in Chapter 2:2832, this prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament in the book of Acts 2:1-21. Luke has made the Holy Spirit his focus and the Books of Acts talk about the acts of the Holy Spirit in the world, establishing the kingdom of God i.e. the church. Hence Acts 1:8 talks about the power of the Holy Spirit which convert believers into witnesses of Jesus to take the gospel to the whole world. That is another element of the Holy Spirit to believers, he gives us the zeal to preach the gospel, “in the last days, God says. IwillpouroutmySpiritonallpeople.

Yoursonsanddaughterswillprophesy…”Acts2:17Peter,Paul, Silas,Barnabas,andotherswereusedbytheHolySpirittotake thegospeltotheworld.HolySpiritisstillusingustodaytotake thegospeltotheworld.Anybelieverwhoisnotintothe preachingandspreadingofthegospelwithasenseofurgency isnotbeenbaptizedintheHolySpirit.Anybelieverwhoisnot livingaccordingtoscripturelivingaholylifehasnotwelcomed theworkoftheHolySpiritinhis/herlife“Thespiritoftruth” whoconvictsusfromsin.

ThebaptismoftheHolySpiritisreal.Itisnotonlymanifested byspeakingintonguesbuteventhroughthecourageofbeing Christ’switnesstoeverypersonallthetime.WhatJohnthe BaptistspokeaboutwasfulfilledonthedayofthePentecostin Acts2.Itdidn’tendtherebutreadActs2:39andActs19:3-7

Conclusion

-Baptismisnotbeingsprinkledwithwaterbutitistobe immersedinwaterlikeagarmentbeingputintoadyeand havingacompletecolourchange,soisourbaptisminthedeath andresurrectionofJesusChristtoacquirenewlifeinhim.

-Baptismisnotforinfantsbutforanyonewhoisgrownenough tohearthegospelandmakeachoicetoacceptthemessageof thegospel,infantscan’thearanddecide.

-BeingbaptizedintheHolySpiritisbeingbaptizedinthepower ofGodtocontinuebeingsetapartforGod.Livingaholylifeand becomingawitnessforChristinallcircumstancesandallthe timerequiresthepoweroftheHolySpirit.