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PROMISED BAPTISM
MONDAY, JULY 6
Acts 1:5

John 14:16-18

 

“…for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you.”

 

PROMISED BAPTISM
 
Many Christians today seek for a “second” baptism, a post-conversion experience to confirm that they are truly born-again believers. They say, “I was baptised by the Holy Spirit and after a series of tutoring I was able to speak in tongues!” However, the book of Acts makes no mention of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit of God does not baptise but Christ.
 
Baptism with water: John the Baptist’s main mission was to announce the coming of the Messiah. In John 1:29, he pointed to Jesus as the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” His was the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
 
Baptism with the Holy Spirit: The promise was for the disciples to be baptised with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:5) which is described as the Holy Spirit coming upon the believer. It was further clarified in Acts 2:4 as a filling with the Holy Spirit.
 
The disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were already indwelt with the Spirit since they were already believers. Although Acts 1:5 appears to have the idea of a second baptism or a second blessing, the baptism mentioned among the disciples of Christ was about the filling of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4 tells us that they were “filled” with the Holy Spirit. “This baptismal filling of the Spirit was not for salvation, but for service” (Khoo). The purpose of Jesus Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit was to instruct them in the doctrines they were to proclaim to the people and that they might be strengthened to withstand the conflicts which they would face. It is not a second baptism nor the gibberish and ecstatic utterances of the so-called “tongue-speaking” of today’s Charismatics. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit who would enable Christians to witness both near and far.
 
Have you truly believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you filled with the Spirit of God? Are you able to speak forth the gospel of Jesus Christ to others?
 
THOUGHT: Am I baptised with the Holy Ghost?
PRAYER: Father, please fill me with Thy Holy Spirit and let Him abide with me forever.

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