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NASB | Matthew 3:11 ¶ "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 3:11 ¶ "As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self--your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment). [Luke 3:16] |
Bible Question:
I want to get baptized but want to fully understand what the full meaning is. Also what is the difference between being baptized by the Holy Spirit and being Baptized with water? Thank you and God Bless Alice |
Bible Answer: Alice: Your answer will depend on whom you ask. The question of what is the baptism of the Holy Spirit is easy to answer: "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." --Ephesians 1:13-14 The baptism of the Holy Spirit (the "sealing" mentioned above) occurs when one places his trust in Christ as Lord and Savior, and it is a separate event from water baptism: "Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." --Acts 1:4-5,8 Since the day of Pentecost (recorded in Acts 2), those who trust in Christ are baptized and sealed by the Holy Spirit, marking us as the people of God. Now we come to water baptism, which is not only just a good idea, but a commandment of God. All those who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ are to be baptized: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" --Matthew 28:19 Baptism in water is not the same as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is really what effects in us the new life in Christ. However, we see in the book of Acts that the common practice was to baptize the convert immediately upon conversion when possible: 'As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"' --Acts 8:36 'All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.' --Acts 10:45-48 "And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household." --Acts 16:32-33 So what exactly is this commanded water baptism? Well, there are different opinions on exactly what it represents. Some say that it is merely a "picture" of what God has done in the life of the believer, and is nice but unnecessary. Others go to the other extreme of saying that we water baptism is one of the essential components of being saved. Myself, I hold that baptism in water is an outward sign and visible seal of what God has accomplished in the believer's life. Baptism was not considered a "nice option," so I believe that baptism actually "does something," not by the water itself, but by God's grace utilizing water as a visible outward sign of an inward reality. In other words, baptism in water points to the baptism of the Spirit (but again, the two are not the same). Where does baptism fit into the Christian life? I agree with the Westminster Confession of Faith on this point: "Although it is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it: or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated." --WCF 28.5 Hope this helps your understanding of baptism. What all Christians will agree on is that it should be done, so I praise God that you are taking this step! --Joe! |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Matt 3:11 | Author | ||
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ALICE | ||
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believer57 | ||
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Reformer Joe | ||
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Leftwich | ||
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joetatep | ||
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Dalcent | ||
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lionheart | ||
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regguh | ||
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jason32 | ||
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rs8795 | ||
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Carey516 | ||
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servant4 |