Baptism - Water, Spirit or Fire

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 NLT
 
This passage in Matthew is much like what we read in Luke 3:16 about John the Baptist—being unworthy to even carry Jesus’ sandals. Here in this New Living Translation, John indicates that he will baptize with water those who repent and turn to God. Still today those who repent and turn to God are baptized. I was sprinkled as a teenager when I went through a ritual confirmation in the church I attended. There was a six or eight week class that a dozen of us teens attended to learn more about God, the Bible and church history. Then those who hadn’t been baptized as a baby were baptized—that was me. The next Sunday we were “confirmed” by being questioned about our knowledge of God and the Bible in front of the congregation. It was head knowledge. There wasn’t much relationship developed at that point. Later, when I was in college, I repented of my sin and accepted Christ as my Savior—starting my own relationship—a heartfelt devotion to Him. A few years later I felt a deep conviction to be baptized by immersion. My Bible Study leader had baptized a couple of other ladies in her bathtub—and that was good enough for me, but she asked if instead her husband could baptize me along with several others in a local church baptism pool. So after a late night revival meeting we drove over to another church and Joe proceeded to baptize several of us—sharing scripture and our individual testimonies of repentance and belief before each of us were dunked. What a powerful feeling it was—to know…

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT.

I have been crucified with Christ. Those that John baptized didn’t experience that since Jesus had not yet died…were they baptized again after His death? I doubt it if their repentance was real when they entered that Jordan River and allowed John to baptize them. Have you had that baptism experience? It is not an experience that will get you into Heaven…but you may want to be baptized after repentance if you have not already done so. Where do you stand with the Lord?

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit—I am so unworthy of Your blessing…unworthy to untie or carry Jesus’ sandals. Refresh me with Your love and grace that others would see You and feel Your love drawing them to the Father, to Jesus and to You, for You are worthy of our love.

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

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