The Greater Baptism
Dearly beloved of God, John the Baptist knew that Jesus Christ would baptize with the holy spirit. See John 1:29-33.
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus Christ said that he would send the promise of the Father and baptize them with holy spirit. See Acts 1:4 and 5.
The Apostle Peter testified that that is what occurred on Pentecost. All twelve apostles were filled with the holy spirit and they spoke in tongues as God gave them the words to speak. Read Acts 2:1-4.
That day three thousand others were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, received the gift of holy spirit, and the remission of sins. See Acts 2:38, 41.
To be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ was made possible because of his accomplishments, and by his new position as both Lord and Christ. God made Jesus Lord of all in heaven and on earth, of the living and of the dead.
Due to his resurrection from the dead and his ascension, and seating at God’s right hand in the heavenly realm he is far above all in this age and in the comings ages. God made Christ the head of the Church, which is the body of Christ and filled all of the members of his body with all that he accomplished.
The Lord Jesus Christ sent the promise of the Father, the promised holy spirit. The gift of holy spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. We are sealed with the holy spirit of promise, and we have entered a new covenant relationship with God, that of the spirit.
John had baptized to make Jesus Christ manifest to Israel. It was not to establish some new rite, it was to set forth Jesus Christ as the one that would baptize with the holy spirit. He would send that promised by the Father not many days from then.
Acts 1: 5
For John indeed baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the holy spirit not many days from now.
The baptism with the holy spirit was a greater baptism than that of water. Once Jesus Christ accomplished the will of his Father, God had him send the promise of the spirit. There was no longer a need for water baptism.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion: holy spirit].
To be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is to be baptized with the holy spirit. It is a greater baptism than the one John performed to make Jesus manifest to Israel as the Lamb of God.
In Acts 10, we have the record of the Gentiles receiving the gift of holy spirit at Cornelius’ house. Peter told the apostles in Jerusalem:
Acts 11:15-18
And as I began to speak the holy spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the holy spirit. Forasmuch then as God gave unto them the like gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?” When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”
When a person is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ they are baptized with the gift of holy spirit. It is the spirit that makes us a child of God. We are born again of the spirit from God, and have entered the kingdom of God, and have been sealed to receive the inheritance of eternal life when Christ returns to gather us up to him in the air.
Everyone that confesses Jesus as Lord and believes that God raised him from the dead is saved, and baptized with the gift of holy spirit.
Furthermore, that spirit can be manifested by speaking in tongues. You cannot see the spirit, but you can see the manifestation of it when you speak in tongues.
Dearly beloved, the manifestation of the spirit of speaking in tongues is the God-given proof that we are the children of God, His heirs, and joint heirs with Christ. God’s spirit witnesses to our inner being that we are the children of God. Read Romans 8:15-18.
God enabled every believer in Christ to manifest the proof of their salvation. He enabled us to manifest the spirit by speaking in tongues. It is the God-given proof of our salvation. Rejoice forevermore, dearly beloved of God!