ICS Daily Devotions
The Doctrine of Baptisms
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
One of the many reasons for the collapse of a building is a bad foundation. The same goes with the Christian life. We need to build the right foundation so that we will not give up easily when the stress of life takes a toll on us.
Today, we will be discussing “baptisms”, plural.
There are only two main Christian baptisms mentioned in the New Testament – water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus mentioned these two baptisms in the following passages:
Matt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4-5,8 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”…. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
When we acknowledge that we are sinners and repent to the Lord for our ways, the Holy Spirit is given to us as a seal of our salvation. With this conviction, we would want to go through the water baptism as an outward expression of our inward conviction that we have been crucified with Christ. We have died to our old self, we are buried with Him when we are immersed in the water and we come out of the water into a new life.
Just as water baptism is a voluntary immersion in water, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a voluntary immersion in the living water of the Holy Spirit.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers us and gives us a prayer language and to do the work of the ministry as a believer. We will not be able to serve the Lord based on our own strength but through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we can.
Acts 10:44-46 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered.
Acts 11:15-17 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant for everyone, Gentiles and Jews alike. The people listening had the same experience as the 120 disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, and God is doing the same work today.
Sermon Series: Laying the Foundation
