The Purifying Baptism

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins… And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you WITH THE HOLY GHOST.. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the GOSPEL of the KINGDOM OF GOD, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT YE, and BELIEVE the GOSPEL” (Mk. 1:4,7,8,14,15). “For the KINGDOM OF GOD is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy IN THE HOLY GHOST” (Rom. 14:17). “And [Jesus] being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized WITH THE HOLY GHOST not many days hence. But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:4,5,8). “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place… And they were all filled [BAPTIZED] with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1,4). “For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1:16). “For the KINGDOM OF GOD is not in word, but in POWER” (I Cor. 4:20). “Therefore being justified [freed from guilt] BY FAITH [believing on Jesus], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). “He that BELIEVETH ON ME, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [But this spake he OF THE SPIRIT, which they that BELIEVE ON HIM should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.] (Jn. 7:38,39).

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the [ceremonial] works of the law, but by the FAITH of Jesus Christ, even we have BELIEVED in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and NOT by the works [ceremonial ordinances] of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16). Most of the apostle Paul’s writings were to explain how that faith in Jesus alone, which produces the Spirit baptism, is the ONLY means of being justified from sin; and that NONE of the ceremonial works of the law had anything at all to do with that process. That would include the ceremonies which bedevil God’s people today, namely water baptism and what is called ‘communion.’ Jesus fulfilled ALL of the law, and we have the fulfillment of that if we have the Spirit of God (Mat. 3:15; Mat. 5:17; Lk. 22:15-18; Rom. 8:4; Col. 2:10; I Cor. 12:13; Heb. 10:14-16). As Colossians 2:10 says so well, “[We] are COMPLETE [by being] IN HIM.” And as 1 Corinthians 12:13 states perfectly, we GET in him by being baptized with the holy Ghost. The following is the account of Peter preaching the Gospel to the first Gentiles, who had not been though ANY of the ceremonial works of the law, but rather they only had faith: “That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly… To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:37-40,43-46).

The following is Peter’s later recollection of that event: “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and BELIEVE. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, GIVING THEM THE HOLY GHOST, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH” (Acts 15:7-9). I don’t know how it could get any clearer my friend. Go back through this post and take special note of the capitalized words, and you will see the Gospel messaged fitted together like pieces to a puzzle. It’s all just scripture correlated with scripture that makes perfect sense of the true Gospel message. Jesus came here for one reason, to make the way for sin to be truly removed from the hearts of men, and thereby man be literally reconciled to God. Jesus suffered, died, and rose again for one reason, and that was to baptize those who believe on him with the holy Ghost, even as he and his forerunner stated clearly. The baptism of the holy Ghost is THE experience of FAITH IN JESUS that “purifies the hearts” from sin by the holy power of God. The Gospel of the kingdom of God “IS the POWER of God unto salvation,” and the kingdom of God “IS righteousness, and peace, and joy, IN THE HOLY GHOST.” The holy Ghost is what EVERYONE receives WHEN they believe fully on Jesus. And when anyone OBEYS the Gospel message of “Repent ye… for the kingdom of God is at hand,” “God gives them the holy Ghost” (Acts 5:32). Now that my friend, is enough. Nothing else is needed, except for more of the same (Col. 2:6). I think that says it. God bless.