Baptism: Water Or Spirit?

"Christians" must read the Bible. Reading the Bible construe to fellowships with God, our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our Savior. Frequent fellowships with God and Son forged a relationship resulting in the Holy Spirit revealing God's Truth to us. Truth is vital because when you don't have the Truth, you cannot discern lies and deceptions within you.

Many of us perceived "The pastors, priest or the church leaders" who have authority over us could never be wrong in justifying what they do because these are "men of God" or "men appointed by God."

The perception is if the entire world is practicing the same, how can "we" be wrong?

Don't forget that 2000 years ago, it was Jesus versus the world at large who was against the son of God! The entire world, including God's chosen tribe, the Jews, who affirmed that God is their true Father is against Jesus. Still Jesus spoke against them. "No, you are imitating your real father, the devil. They replied. "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true father." John 8:41

Is our baptism correctly performed? Were you correctly baptized? And I wished to add by asking whether water baptism is necessary?

While Jesus himself undergo water baptism, Scripture did not record any of Jesus' disciples undergo water baptism- why?

I will cite the relevant verses from the Bible and leave you to decide for yourself by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal you the truth! The truth about understanding baptism and it's relevance.

I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am- so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11 (These are John the Baptist own words regarding our Saviour Jesus. John, who was chosen by God, the Father, defy himself as being unworthy even to be a slave of Jesus)

Once when Jesus was eating with his disciples, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gifting of the Holy Spirit he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:4-5

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (Without the Holy Spirit, no one can do the works of God, the Father)

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. Matthew 3:16) Even Jesus, the son of God was equipped by God's Spirit and with power before setting out to do the Father's will.

While Apollos was in Cornth, Paul traveled through the interior region until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. "Did you received the Holy Spirit when you believed?" he asked them. "No" they replied, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." "Then what baptism did you experienced?" he asked. And they replied, "The baptism of John the Baptist." Paul said, "John's baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus."

As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:1-6

The above verses articulated Jesus' message on the significance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's only way to protect His chosen children, redeemed by the precious blood of his son Jesus, from evil. Jesus, himself spoke at length about the Holy Spirit and his role in our earthly lives in John 16.

Why the baptism of the Holy Spirit supersede water? I mentioned earlier that I personally believe that the gifting of the Holy Spirit is God's personal reason to guard and protect us, His chosen children against deception from the false teachers. Our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus our Saviour knows that His children are vulnerable to fall and stray away from His grace without His protection.

Our heavenly Father through our Saviour Jesus made a couple of statements in the Bible about the importance of his children worshipping Him in Spirit, hence the baptism in the Holy Spirit is important.

John 4:23-24, But the time is coming- indeed it's here now- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Romans 8:14, 16 For all who are obedient to the Spirit of God are children of God. For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.

Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you this question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Holy Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Jesus.

Ephesians 4:30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Spirit by the way you live. Remember, God has identified you as his own child by his Spirit, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the last day. Take note that without the Holy Spirit in us, God will not be able to identify those who belongs to Him.

1 John 4:13 And God has given us his Spirit as evidence that we live in Him and He lives in us.

Above are, but only a handful of God's messages in the Bible about how important His Spirit's role is in our earthly lives. Living obedient to the Holy Spirit is living in God's grace! Let's be expounded by Galatians 2:20, I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore-it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith, trusting in the Son of God who alone loved me and gave himself to save me. It's important that you understand we no longer live under law rather, we now live by God's grace in Christ Jesus, our Saviour.

God's Word above simply explain that we cannot be saved unless we put our trust in his son, our Saviour Jesus to live out our earthly lives by obeying the Holy Spirit gifted to us when we confessed and believed in our hearts that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.

Baptism simply means surrendering totally to our sinful life or dying to our sinful ways and commit to live a new life obedient to God's Spirit through Jesus who will guide, teach, counsel us to live to please God, the Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour. Our sins cannot be washed away by water but by total repentance from a contrite heart who trust in Jesus to help us.

Our Saviour Jesus resurrection has provided us victory over death. That what Jesus meant when He says in John 14:6, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Baptism is simply being truly sorry for all the wrongs we committed against God, the Father and sincerely asked to be forgiven by a repentant heart to live a new life believing and trusting Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

And God, through Jesus Christ his son, our Saviour will gift the Holy Spirit to those who are truthfully repentant of their sins and seek a new relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Lastly, please note that the Holy Spirit is only gifted to those after they have acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, Creator of heaven and earth and everything in it, and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day to provide us victory over death and by trusting in Jesus that someday through this hope, our Saviour will return to bring us, His chosen children home safely to the loving arms of the Father.

True baptism is genuine repentance of your sins from the heart.

No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29

Keep a date here to read and discover the true meaning behind baptism and circumcision.