February 7, 2025

Baptism is a cleansing after repentance, which was the baptism of John. However, our baptism is the baptism of Jesus; the person baptizing you lays their hands on you and baptizes you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit lit on him like a dove, and God spoke verbally, introducing Jesus as his son. Does it happen to us like that? Not likely. Most people in the United States are dead to the movement of the Holy Spirit, so there is little evidence of his infilling, like speaking in tongues and prophesying. During Paul’s time, Apollos preached but only received John’s baptism. He was an eloquent preacher, knew the scriptures, and believed in Jesus, but Aquila and Pricilla filled him in on the missing truths about Jesus to help his message. Nowhere does it say he was baptized in the Holy Spirit, but I believe he must have been at some point in his ministry, possibly by Aquila and Pricilla. Otherwise, his message would have fallen flat. If you are saved and haven’t been baptized, make an appointment with your preacher and get it done; it is your public profession of faith. Baptism is also obedience and has significance in the kingdom of God. 

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Acts 18:25-26