... the wonderful blessing that people have been saved. We are celebrating with these folks `by being obedient to the commands of Jesus and the disciples to repent and then, be baptized in water. Matthew 3:11&13 (NKJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. Looking at three baptisms.
1. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:11 (NKJV) “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” Listen to this simple illustration. Our baptismal candidates have water in them (made up mostly of water) but in a few moments they will be completely submerged or covered with water…inside and out. When you received the Lord Jesus Christ the Spirit of God came to live inside of you. This is salvation. John 20:22 (NKJV) “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” Then, He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Promise of the Father which was the outpouring of Holy Spirit. They needed more than salvation. Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;”
2. Baptism in Fire. Matthew 3:11 (NKJV) “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” I believe the disciples were so much like us…they were filled with sin, filled with self, filled with doubt, filled with fear, filled with guilt, filled with shame. They needed to be cleansed. Jesus said He would baptize them (us) with Holy Spirit and with fire. Why? To clean us, to purify us, and to set us free from our old life that would hold us back. We still need a baptism of fire.
3. Baptism in Water. Okay, Pastor, we understand why we need to be baptized in Holy Spirit and in fire but why be baptized in water? Simple answer: The kind of heart that can be baptized with Holy Spirit and with fire is an obedient heart. On the Day of Pentecost when 3000 people were saved what did Peter tell them about water baptism? Acts 2:37-38 (NLT2) “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Water baptism identifies us with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus said it was to fulfill all righteousness. Enough said!
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