January 11, 2012 Holy Spirit, the Baptizer

Holy Spirit, the Baptiser

Mark 1:8-9 “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

JOHN the Baptist or
“Baptizer” is called so because he focused his ministry on calling people to declare their repentance to God through the form of water being poured over them or being briefly submerged in a body of water such as the Jordan River. Baptism has its roots in the Old Testament as God moved his people “through the waters” of the Red Sea to escape Egypt’s army. Later in the desert, God’s law required the priests to do a ceremonial washing prior to their entering the Tabernacle. Water washing was a sign of moving from the old to the new. John’s baptism of water pointed the way to the New Testament, the new promise of grace in the Holy Spirit’s baptism.
Yes, John knows the water baptism is a sign of God’s next step in purifying his people. God is about to send his Messiah, and he will baptize in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit’s baptism will be not symbolic—it will be eternal. When the Spirit of God comes upon people, he will awaken them to the truth that they are sinners. He will awaken them to a desire to repent of their sins. He will awaken them to the truth of Jesus Christ.
Spirit baptism is not a liquid washing of water, but it is a spiritual washing of the blood of Christ over you. Yes, it is Jesus, “who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Rev 1:5).
As you call Jesus “Lord and Savior” know the Holy Spirit has baptized you to that truth. If you are yet to make that faith statement, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to baptize you with the truth of Jesus Christ, that you too, may be saved.

Pause and consider the work of God to save your life to have life with him.